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Importing Car into Canada from US

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  • glenn44glenn44 Member Posts: 1
    Hi, thinking about buying a new subaru and would like to talk with your friend. Questions: New Hampshire has no sales tax , wouldn't that be the best place to buy a new vehicle? U.S. customs requires proof of ownership at the border crossing 3 days prior to bringing the car across. How does one get around that?

    Glenn
  • sinosino Member Posts: 3
    Hi, could you please tell me the name of the dealership in States who is willing to sell you that? I am also looking to get the IS 250 AWD. Maybe if we get it together, we can push for more discounts.... I am so desperate. Please help me out. Could you email me the dealship name and # to sunejaa@hotmail.com.

    I appreciate it so much. Also, which border are we talking about? AB? or Toronto? I live in Toronto.
  • sinosino Member Posts: 3
    This means you're going to be paying States tax plus Canadian tax of 14% and the duty. Is it worth it now?
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    elle11, sino has a point. If you do tag it with FL plates, you would need to pay the sales tax of the FL county in order to get the tags. And then, duty and Canadian sales tax on top of that. Although, it would still be lower since the selling price is lower (and the duties and taxes are based on that), you may be better off purchasing it from a non-sales tax state like NH and import it from there. However, you cannot tag it in NH since you have no address there. It would be a straight import muck like others have been doing. Good Luck.
  • eddy11eddy11 Member Posts: 11
    As I know you do not pay States tax for export and you pay only GST 6% in Canada. No duty for cars made in North America.
  • bankonebankone Member Posts: 44
    I just got an e-mail from Heritage Toyota at Vermont telling me that their are no longer able to sell new vehicles to Canadian residents due to the agreement between Toyota US and Toyota Canada.
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    I reiterate the point made by other posts to this forum. I was dealing with a cooperative dealer in WA who suddenly becaume uncooperative after receiving a threatening letter from other Toyota dealers who accused him of breaking the rules. According to my dealer in a phone conversation his name was passed on by someone (not me) in this car forum (Edmunds) through "private" email accidentally to a US Toyota dealer posing as an interested Canadian buyer. I would caution you to NOT share info to a hotmail or yahoo type account and only to a recognized Canadian email account (shaw, telus, etc) and with someone willing to give you their phone number for verification. If they are truly interested, they will give you that info as several have given to me; if they do not, they are not interested enough. Two months later I have found another willing dealer.
  • tri_bikertri_biker Member Posts: 35
    Completely agree. Why subject the dealer to unnecessary scrutiny, particularly when they're helping Canadians save money! I'm in Toronto and would love to get the number for the Toyota dealer you mention in Pennsylvania. Can you share with me?
  • sinosino Member Posts: 3
    Could you please provide me with the contact details for this dealer to sunejaa@hotmail.com? Thanks.
  • dlaudlau Member Posts: 6
    Hi, I am from Toronto, and plan to attend that seminar by Canada Border Services re. importing cars to Canada, anyone from here planning to go, any good? My car is getting really old, looking for a replacement car. Can you give me the dealer who is willing to sell to Canadian? We have not decided which car we want yet, so will work with a willing dealer to save some money. Pls send info to dlau25@hotmail.com. Tks a lot!
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    Pls see my post #774 and #781. Happy to share the info that way.
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    Pls see my post #774 and #781. Happy to share the info that way.
  • dlaudlau Member Posts: 6
    Pls send info to chow.stephen@rogers.com. Thanks so much!
  • smart3smart3 Member Posts: 4
    I am interested to buy a toyota vehicle. Could you please email me the toyota dealer contact details to ahim101@yahoo.com, Thanks.
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    One dealer I spoke with is willing to sell me a car through an American. I have a friend who is willing to do this. But I am not sure how that would work for the border/registration/insurance etc. I believe if an American brings a car to Canada they can not sell it here - but need to bring it back to the States to sell.

    Do anyone have any experience with this? How is the title handled? etc.

    If you wish to contact me directly - my email is beaubali@yahoo.ca
    Please note that though this is a yahoo email -but it is a Canadian (i.e. yahoo.ca) address.
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    Also looking for Toyota dealers willing to see to Cdns. Preferably Montana dealers - but am open to other dealers.

    My email is beaubali@yahooc.a

    Please note that though this is a yahoo email -but it is a Canadian (i.e. yahoo.ca) address.

    thanks
  • subahondasubahonda Member Posts: 75
    Financial Post, Sep 26: "Canadian US manufacturers to face $2 billion class action over sales practices." Law firm Juroviesky and Ricci is suing over higher prices in Canada and blockage of cross-border shopping by CADA and NADA dealer associations. A lot of the items that are the sorts of things encountered on this string are mentioned: blocking a sale to a Canadian in the US, failing to honor warranties, penalizing dealers who sell to Canadians. "we allege a cross-border conspiracy by dealers." They cite a $10K difference in a Toyota Camry. A $40,000 Taurus here is $30,000 there. "A similar suit in the US against manufacturers and dealers has been certified, although Toyota has settled for $35 million, but it didn't admit to wrongdoing." Thus, Toyota manufacturing permits export while the dealer association blocks it and is still being sued. If you have a reason to join the lawsuit, contact the lawyers - you would have to show that you spent more than you were prepared to based on the restraint. The current pricing in C$ looks like a 75 cent dollar on the Ford and a 67 cent dollar on the Camry. It would be good to post a list of manufacturers/dealers that do not put in such restraints. I know of Subaru and Hyundai as being free to sell across the border and honoring warranties. There must be others. The lawyers might have a nice list.
  • tri_bikertri_biker Member Posts: 35
    Glad to see that someone is finally doing something about this. Imagine if McDonald's posted a sign in their Canadian restaurants "We do not sell to Americans", or vice versa for US restaurants banning sales to Canadians. At it's most basic level, what the manufacturers and dealers are doing is discriminatory. It is wrong and the people being hurt are the citizens of two countries that have agreed to "Free Trade". Crazy!!!!
  • kerussokerusso Member Posts: 24
    But if you ship your vehicle out of Florida, you will not pay sales tax in Florida! I know this because I bought a van earlier this year and had to pay 6% sales tax but still saved money as shipping a vehicle from Florida to Canada is quite expensive.
  • kerussokerusso Member Posts: 24
    There are other Toyota dealers out there that will sell to Canada. The further south you go the better chance you have. I just bought a pre-owned Tacoma and there was no problem. Possibly it is more difficult when you buy new???
  • kerussokerusso Member Posts: 24
    That seminar would probably be worthwhile but in all honesty it is not difficult to import a vehicle from the United States. I sourced every thing I needed to know off of the internet. Forums like this are also very helpful.
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    The premise is that the vehicle will be tagged with FL plates and imported into Canada. There is no way around that but to pay sales taxes. The dealership or the DMV could not care less if you ship it out of Florida. To have FL tags, one must pay sales taxes. A temp tag is different as FL allows out-of-state purchases. But, an actual FL plate...
  • kerussokerusso Member Posts: 24
    I still had to pay sales tax even with a 30 day FL temp tag.
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    All the Toyota dealers near the border who are balking at selling new to a Canadian quickly add that selling a used vehicle is no problem at all. Friend had a dealer in CA sell from the dealership to an employee and then sold to him to make it used, now that's a cooperative dealer (it was a US$100,000 sports car).
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    There's something FL dealerships provide for out-of-state purchases, as long as it is divulged in advance. Why pay sales tax if you told them you won't be registering it in FL, that you had no intention of getting FL tags? :confuse:
  • leftcoastautoleftcoastauto Member Posts: 18
    That's interesting, I imported a car out of Florida this summer. Deal was he was to provide me with a temp. plate, which he did, however the plate was Virginia state. Picked up my car off a car hauler in Seattle and stuck on the supplied plate. No State tax and no problem at the border.
  • kerussokerusso Member Posts: 24
    Believe me if I could have avoided paying that sales tax I would have done so. The van was purchased from a dealer and they had plenty of advanced notice. Possibly it was a county related tax??? I did as my research as possible and could not find any way to avoid paying the sales tax other than shipping the vehicle! I still saved a bundle and so I never pressed on with the issue. If anyone else out there has any experience with purchasing and driving a vehicle out of Florida with a Temp Tag can you please speak to this?
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    How quickly were they able to change title?
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    Have you had any leads on Toyota dealers willing to sell to Cdns? beaubali@yahoo.ca
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    I still can't find a Toyota dealership in the States to see me a new RAV4. So may have not choice but to buy it in Canada. But now that the lawsuit has been filed up here (but only for cars bought between August 2005 and August 2007) If I had bought last month, I could possible get my money back through the suit.

    I'm in a tight spot. Not only are the cars in Canada about $8,000 more expensive - but when the prices come down - the resale value will plummet. So getting it from both ends.

    I've been renting for the past 2 months (former car died) and can't do it much longer.

    Question is this:

    What do people advise that I do? & What are other people doing?
  • jac_3232jac_3232 Member Posts: 5
    They talked about the lawsuit on "The National" on CBC last night. They said it would take over a year before it even gets to the courts.

    Just my opinion, but It'll be years before we see the outcome.
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    As per my earlier posts, I expect to conclude this in next 30 days or so; do not have title.
  • hybrid10hybrid10 Member Posts: 26
    The National CBC report mentioned 4 car manufacturers named in the lawsuit and the dealership association and NOT Toyota.
  • defrederickdefrederick Member Posts: 52
    firesky1 - I've been working my Toyota deal for two months now and after I was shut down the second time, have used a friend of mine in Boston to complete the sale on my behalf. I plan to pick the vehicle up next week, so I can't say how successful it has been until I actually return. There are still unknowns I need to deal with, like if I can just get my friend to sign the temporary tags into my name, or if I need to re-register the vehicle in my own name once I get my friend to sign over the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. Faxing a MSO in someone else's name signed over to me may also be an issue at the border. Finally, I've got concerns that the GST will be based on the CA price, since I'll technically be buying a used car. I'll post the results of my experience when I return in a couple of weeks.

    Send me a private note if you'd like a contact who will sell direct, but at a premium. It may be worth checking it out.

    Dan

    Dan
  • animagusanimagus Member Posts: 15
    e-mail me privately I have a suggestion.
  • dlaudlau Member Posts: 6
    Hi, I read that Subaru will honour their warranty cross border, is it true? Anyone has successfully import a Subaru? We are interested in the 2008 OutBack. Tks.
  • animagusanimagus Member Posts: 15
    Sorry I don't know about Subaru, but I would recommend you contact Subaru (U.S.) and ask them to e-mail you whether they honour the warranty in Canada (get it in writing). Toyota did this for me.
  • googzgoogz Member Posts: 7
    Subaru warranties differ depending on the model year.

    2007 and prior - Warranty fully covered by Canadian Subaru dealers.

    2008 and forward - 2 options for warranty service: either take it to a U.S. dealer for service or take it to a Canadian Subaru dealer for service, pay for the service yourself, and sent in reimbursement form to Subaru USA to be reimbursed.

    Makes the 2008 warranty service more of a pain obviously but at least it's still covered supposedly.
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    I still think they overcharged you with the sales tax if you did not register the vehicle with FL, because the sales tax charged is tied in with a vehicle VIN that is used for registration. In the absence of a vehicle to register, well, why would the dealership remit the sales taxes to the county/state? They pocketed the 6% you paid them. Oh well, as long as you are happy and satisfied with the purchase, that's all that matters. It just upsets me when people get taken by these unscrupulous dealerships.
  • dlaudlau Member Posts: 6
    Got reply from Subaru, Googz is correct, this is the reply I got from Subaru. Now I need to check the paperwork to see if it is feasible, and the price difference.

    Canadian residents who purchase a new 2008 Subaru vehicle in the U.S., then registers the vehicle in Canada, will have two viable options for obtaining warranty repairs: 1. Return the car to the U.S. for all warranty repairs at an authorized US Subaru dealer at no charge: or, 2. Have the car repaired at an authorized Canadian Subaru dealership, pay for the repairs, then submit a copy of the Repair Order marked Paid for reimbursement to Subaru of America at: Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru Plaza P.O. Box 6000 Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034-6000 Attn: CDS Department
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    That's a bummer. Canadian Subaru dealership were probably whining too much about the sales they are losing. Subarus, IMO, have one of the highest price discrepancies between Canada and the US. Hope that class action lawsuit balances out these massive discrepancies.
  • jpsv70rjpsv70r Member Posts: 6
    Hi everyone,

    Just wanted to share my experience. I just bought a brand new 2007 Volvo V70R AWD from a Volvo dealer in Kansas City. Just got the car today in Detroit to take it through customs. I am from Quebec. I did not pay any sales tax in Kansas and the dealer provided a 30 day tag. I was able to arrange insurance through my existing insurer after a long discussion. They started coverage when the car got off the truck in Detroit. US customs was easy / sent Manufacturer statement of origin by fax 3 days before and brought original with me to customs. At Canada border, easy again... Presented bill of sale, MSO, and paid for GST and Excise tax. Tomorrow will stop at the RIV office in Toronto to finalize paperwork, get inspection and then will drive to Quebec to get it's licence plate.
    Savings: bit over 20K
    Warranty: fully covered in Canada

    Great experience! and great information from this group.

    Thanks :)
  • aes1aes1 Member Posts: 1
    I am looking at a slightly used Honda CR-V to import, and know that the US warranty will not be honoured here. It's a certified vehicle from a Honda dealer, so I know it's in good shape right now, but obviously things can go wrong. Has anyone bought after market warranty policies from US dealers? My dealer uses MasterTech as the warranty provider. Any advice gratefully received.
  • firesky1firesky1 Member Posts: 15
    Dan -

    Not sure how to send you a private note. You can email me at beaubali@yahoo.ca.

    thanks,
    firesky
  • dlaudlau Member Posts: 6
    Hi JPSVS70R,

    Congrats! Another success story, just what I need to go forward to do similar.

    Actually I started off looking at the S60, that series of cars are beautiful. My question, why do you go all the way to Kansas city to buy it, is it tax reason? Did you find the dealer on the internet? Was it hard to convince the dealer to sell to Canadian? Now knowing that Volvo fully covered warranty in Canada, this maybe another reason to revisit Volvo.

    Last question, I am interested to know how many days do you have to spend waiting around at the border to facilitate this transaction?
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    Congratulations and thanks for sharing. Good to know Volvos are fully covered in terms of warranty.
  • hklhkl Member Posts: 9
    Thank you shunx. Appreciate your helpful info.
  • newguy300newguy300 Member Posts: 1
    Look for a Toyota if you can pass on the the name of the dealer that would be great: newguy300@hotmail.com
  • subahondasubahonda Member Posts: 75
    The repair record of the CR-V is excellent and the need for a warranty is minimal. You would probably be better off just saving the money and banking it in case you ever need a repair. It is not clear that the US warranty would not be honored or that you would be unable to send the bill to Honda US if it wasn't. Based on the recent class action suit, Honda may be rethinking its policies. Since this is a used car, the issue with dealers is not relevant.
  • subahondasubahonda Member Posts: 75
    Why is that situation such a bummer? Subaru US is willing to pay for all warranty repairs as an insurance company would. It costs them more this way because the work done by the Canadian dealer is charged at retail instead of warranty. Subarus are reliable, well-made vehicles and the amount of warranty work should be minimal. On the other hand, if there is a recall by the manufacturer, there should be no charges. Are the savings worth the trouble is always your own decision. You also wind up with a speedo in mph - an inconvenience. And if you want a Legacy wagon, they are now sold only in Canada.
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