Jaymez

Alright , I am currently in the process of importing (my second American car) a Toyota Supra from the states and I have been doing tons of research on the idea and I really think an Offical thread to Importing should be made for Beyond.ca. by JAYMEZ_STi (If you are posting this across forums , please dont take credit for it, thanks =) )

So far this is what I have .
www.riv.ca is a major site , but some things may be confusing for the average joe.


Step 1. Make sure you can import the car.
Here is a Direct link for adobe on what cars are ADMISSABLE a.k.a cars you can import.
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf


Many cars that are in the US market do not meet Canadian safety standards (Yes even new cars) and are not importable at all.
So in order to get your car here from the states you need to understand a few things (Yes its a bit long to do , but I really think it is worth it!).

First off Canada has hired a private firm to allow cars to be imported and it is the company we know as RIV or Registar of Imported Vehicles , you can also reach them at 1-88-848-8240 you SHOULD call them just to double check if you can import the car you want.


Step 2. Things you need to do prior to importing.


You will need

- I think the new law is in , you need a Canadian Passport. If you have say a British passport , you will have more hassle and possible could need a Visa LOL.

-US Title to the vehicle

- Bill of sale/transfer of ownership (Basically like any normal car sale)

- You will also need a written notice from the manufacturer of the vehicle stating that any recalls that may be in effect have been done to the car .. This letter does not include dealerships , so it could be a little pain in the ***.

- Orignal stickers stating that it meets the Federal safety standards in effect of the date of manufactoring.

- You need to contact the US customs at least 3 days in advance telling them that you are going to exporting a vehicle from there country. http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/impoexpo/impoexpo.htm
You also might need to provide the original title or a certified copy , and 2 additional complete copies of the title at least 3 days , you should also Contact them to double check this ( I will be this week) this might change. (EDIT: You can just fax them this. For Alberta , you need to fax it to "WHITELAST MONTANA")
-Also when you call Whitelash station , they will fax you a peice of paper to fax back to them . It bascially just has your name , sellers name , car vin , ect...


Side note: Be very careful that the car does not have a lean on it , you will NOT be able to bring the car to Canada.

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WHILE IN THE US - Go to a DMV (Road registry) Tell them you need an exporting pass , it costs $15 US and is simple to fill out. The only hassle is waiting in line at the DMV.

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Step 3: Crossing the damn boarder.

---GET GAS IN THE US ITS CHEAPER , then cross.
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You must cross the right boarder , do not make the mistake like alot of people do by trying to cross the wrong boarder (charged more) so like I said before call the Canadian customs a head of time , its simple and saves alot of hassle. (I crossed at Coutts AB)

Next when arriving at the CORRECT booth , explain to the Customs officer what you are doing . And you will have to go into a Customs office. They will scan your passports , ask your price , ask for bill of sale.

At the CANADIAN BOARDER
You will need to fill out a bunch of papers . Like I said before you will need the title , bill of sale (duh) , mileage , and on the door jam , manufactor date. Once that is done , it is time to open up the wallet. Now when I went there , they got really snoopy and asked where I found the car , what internet site i found it on. So be prepared for these questions.

Step 4: Empty your wallet, 7 Percent and 6.1 percent on bill of sale price. (DONT LIE ON BILL OF SALE)

Everything is in CANADIAN $ .

- Paper work - $182 - This can be mailed and payed for later.

- Duty Tax - Duty tax is 6.1 % but does not include Canadian or US built cars.. Its best to call a head of time to double check what your car falls under. - Here is a phone Ive pulled off another guide 1-800-461-9999.

- Excise Tax - AC tax aka a bunch of BS. $100

- Tax - Yup you have to pay 7% on what the car is worth DO NOT LIE ABOUT THIS , THEY WILL INVESTIGATE IF THEY THINK YOU ARE LIEING.
You will be charged 25%+ on the portion you have lied about




Simple and easy. I will be doing this month , And I will be takeing pictures of areas to go to (Alberta) and pictures of all the forms and how to fill them out properly. I hope this helps people who plan to import , it can be intimidating but its defiantly worth it!



Also , I will be researching on towing companys.

ONCE IN CANADA THINGS TO DO

I totally forgot to post this. Yes you have a Canadian Car , BUT YOUR NOT DONE YET!.

Things you need to do with in a months time of haveing the car in Canada

- Installing Day time running lights ( This can be done at alot of places and is fairly easy to do - Canadian tire can do this.

- You will need to get a car inspection (I believe the paper can be bought at a registry for $18) - They will check basic things like , lights , how it drives ect ect , this is pretty damn painless , and sometimes they might *cough* forget to do it and pass you.

- Get your damn insurance RIGHT AWAY

- Getting your plate - After all the necessary paper work is done ,you will need to go back to the registry and show them the paper work and importation papers - they will then hand you a plate.

- Provincal Inspection to completed , you have 10 - 15 days to complete this once you have applied for the inspection (This is how you can register the car.

-Federal Inspection sheet , 10 days after you import your car , you will get form 2 in the mail , this inspection you have to do at Canadian tire. You have 45 days to complete this.

-Getting insured -My insurance company was very easy on this , they didnt look at my car ..nothing , they just asked the make and model and it was done .


BY JAYMEZ

now

iTrader: (1)

remove the a/c pump if it has a/c you will save a hundred

Jaymez

^^ Lol you can do that if you want , I just hate messing around with customs , they are a bunch of grumpy people who have nothing better to do than bust people for stupid things.

Wrathritic

when insuring it do you have to pay 7% again

Jaymez

^^ No , why would you? But for other provinces (NOT Alberta) , you have to pay PST.

Manntis

I hate US customs. They pulled my dad over once when I was a kid (we were going down to Seattle for the day) and interrogated him for 2 hours before they figured out the 'mysterious object' on the passenger seat that they were getting so jumpy about was a Transformer toy of mine, made by Hasbro and as widely available in the US as in Canada (The one that turned into a fake walkman, in case you're wondering)

Recently I sold a retail business of mine. Some guy who ordered a $2 Black Label Society patch after I sold it keeps phoning me, telling me how he's a US customs agent and will make my life hell if he doesn't get the patch ASAP. I just keep telling him to call the store, not me, since I don't have a thing to do with it. Every freakin time he's like "You know I work for US customs, right?" to which I remind him "You know you bought the $2 patch off of Lee, the current owner, right? And have spent what - $15 in long distance charges to bitch that your $2 patch didn't arrive in less than a week from another country? Maybe it got held up in Customs."

Yeesh.

Jaymez

^^ LOL shity , next time he calls just say "You know I live in Canada right? " ... And yes US customs are a bunch of morons , I got interrograted for about 2 hours as well , because I had $30,000 in cash that I declared to Canadian customs. They thought I was a terrorist or something lol ... They just couldnt grasp that I would buy a car in the US.

Mikewolfe

Wow, I might move to Burnaby soon. My uncle is going to sponsor me. I didn't know it would be this difficult to bring my TII up there!! ****!!

Wrathritic

Do you need to get insurance on the car from the US, for when you are driving it back or do you insure it Canada before you leave? Can you drive the car in Canada to do all the modifications? Do you know how long it will take to get a passport?(its saturday everything is closed)
Also original stickers stating it meets federal saftey standards, how about do you go getting these? Will they be in the door jamb?

Wrathritic

A few more questions. So does the permit you get in the US have insurance or do you have to get it well your down there? How long does it take to get a passport? (Its saturday everythingis closed) Orignal stickers stating that it meets the Federal safety standards in effect of the date of manufactoring. Are these in the door jamb if not how would I go about getting them? Thanks alot Ryan

Fubawu

I just did it and it was really easy! Make sure you have the owner fax a copy of the title to US customs 3 days before you pick up the car. Once this is done you are set! I just drove it across the border and payed the tax on it.
John

salamander

Some cars require more modification than daytime running lights. FD's need a Canadian spec front bumper reinforcement bar. It only costs about $1,100 installed. Anything older than 15 years is exempt from this requirement.

The car's title confirms you are the rightful owner. A bill of sale establishes the car's value. I crossed the border with a clear title but without a bill of sale. In my case customs used the Kelly Blue Book to establish the car's value and therefore the amount of tax/duty to apply.

sub-zero

The US economy is going for crap. There are many deals to be found. I have purchased two vehicles this last year and it is very easy,just make sure you have all the paper work sent to the border and phone them to make sure your vehicle vin is on the list before going down to pick it up or shipped. I never got a exporting pass?



Steve

Wrathritic

So you never insured your car for the drive home? isn't that illegal.

sub-zero

Yes, I insured it from Canada? Not the US? Go to thr site it says nothing about an export pass.

sub-zero

Also I never paid any duty tax because I was the importer.