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Importing Car into Canada from US

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Comments

  • vikingz2000vikingz2000 Member Posts: 1
    Enjoyed your post. What if I purchased a new or newer vehicle in the U.S. (I am a Canadian living in the U.S permanently) for my daughter, drove it to Canada (Toronto) then just left it there for her to drive. Then in a year or so sign it over to her. How would that work?
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    The 'fly in the ointment' in that scenario is that she would be driving a US-tagged vehicle while she has a Canadian driver's license. It may not matter unless she gets pulled over for an infraction and had to explain why. Also, how would insurance coverage on the vehicle be, since a US-tagged vehicle might not be insurable in Canada for prolonged periods of time?
  • faridsolimanfaridsoliman Member Posts: 4
    Hi
    I would like if someone can help me in this scenario
    I have my brother living in New Jersey, he is willing to help me all the way in buying a new car … (and screw the greedy Canadian automakers and dealers...). I may not be able to pay the whole price of the car in cash upfront… so how we can get advantage of his US residency and established credit record to get the car financed through the US dealership then transfer the car into my name and import it to Canada.

    thanks
    A pissed off canadian
  • thfwongthfwong Member Posts: 2
    Hi Dan,

    I have a question regarding to the MSO when crossing the border. Were you able to pass customs with the MSO in your name and your friend's US address? Did the customs people ask you to show US identification with the same US address?

    I am trying to do the same and my dealer agree to put my name on the MSO but insist he must put my relative's US address on the MSO. I don't have any US identification with my relative's US address so want to make sure I can do so with my Canadian ID.

    Tony
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    BMW has just updated their Canadian website, and I'm very disappointed to see that there is no real reduction in prices (at least not for the X3 and 3 series). They juggled around the option packages as usual, but it appears to be the same greedy pricing, aside from one or 2 items included as standard equipment, such as 18" wheels, and rollover sensor on the X3 3.0si.
  • tri_bikertri_biker Member Posts: 35
    Financing through the US dealership comes with risks. Specifically, if you're in Canada, you are likely earning Canadian dollars. So... if the CDN dollar depreciates, all of a sudden the loan that you have in US dollars now costs you more to pay. Sure, it could go the other way, but if cash is tight now, you probably don't want to make a currency bet.

    My suggestion -- arrange a personal loan in Canada. That way your debt is in Canadian dollars and you don't get snagged by currency risk.

    Good luck!
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    It is more likely for the US greenback to depreciate further than other currencies, according to this guy. But either way, a US purchase to be paid with Canadian funds will always have to deal with monetary fluctuations. Even if a loan is obtained to pay the debt in full and the US greenback takes a further dive, the loss from the loonie appreciation will be there.
  • franckgfranckg Member Posts: 5
    I am also looking at importing a 2008 Highlander. I called riv about a 2008 and the response that I got was that as long as the vehicle has an immobilizer it is acceptable. I didn't get anything in writing and the guy I talked didn't seem that up to speed. I am planning on calling again and getting something firm.
  • dayfutdayfut Member Posts: 11
    So, 2 weeks ago, I put a downpayment on a Civic 08 at a honda dealership in Montana and the sales rep told me 08 hondas should be cleared by RIV soon. Does anyone know why there is such a delay? It seems like only Honda and Toyota are left. And does anyone have any idea when 08's will be cleared for importation? Should i continue waiting for ask or my downpayment back? Its been about 2 weeks since I put my deposit.

    This is my first post, just found this forum. Thanks everyone.
  • scrolllockscrolllock Member Posts: 126
    Welcome to the forum. I think you might be a lucky one. It appears to me from my travels from one site to another that several people have purchased the 08 models and have driven them into Canada. They are waiting for the models to be included on the list.
  • andrew87andrew87 Member Posts: 9
    I talked with the US Customs and Canada Customs this morning and they are not concerned about the car being in your name with a US address. I am also thinking of doing this.
  • netdognetdog Member Posts: 66
    Not sure about the Hondas but 2008 Toyotas are admissible despite not being on the list yet. I received confirmation from RIV by phone and by email that the 2008 Siennas are admissible. I've heard that the list may not be up to date so call RIV directly to check.

    Carl
  • crownsevencrownseven Member Posts: 2
    Here's my story, I hope someone has some advice.

    I live in the US and my parents are in Canada. They wanted to purchase a new 08 Rav4. My local dealership was willing to sell the car to them as long as they could put a US address on the sales form. I was planning on using an out of state PO Box so we could avoid paying taxes.

    Everything was going great until he called me yesterday stating that Toyota had sent a letter to all dealers stating they could not sell to Canadians. Fine, then sell the car to me and I would resell it to my parents. He was fine with that but stated we could no longer user the out of state PO Box since Toyota would check to ensure it was registered in that state. So the only way he will sell it to me now is by using my local address which means I would have to pay sales tax!

    Any way of doing this so I don't have to pay sales tax? Go to an out of town dealer perhaps?
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    most likely an out-of-state purchase will be the way to go. i would not volunteer the info that you plan on reselling it to your folks, though, not that you know what the manufacturer's policy is.
  • scrolllockscrolllock Member Posts: 126
    2008 Honda and Toyota Passenger cars are not on the list, but SUVs get thru based on some "deluded wording" that does not make sense. -

    I am waiting for Honda US to submit their 2008 passenger vehicles to Transport Canada. Then Transport Canada can update the list that the RIV uses to approve Form2. I understand that many...many people have purchased 2008s and have been allowed into the Country based on the temporary - intransit permit.

    Last week someone on this site indicated the file would be updated this week.

    The RIV now tells me that my file will be on hold until Honda US does its thing and that I should not be driving the car even though I have a valid in-transit plate. They still insisted that I keep the car off the road until the file is updated!

    What have the rest of you folks been told??? My dealer wants to issue me another in-transit to get around the problem. He has also indicated that Honda US contacted them last Thursday October 11 and will not allow them to sell to Canadians any more. Needless to say this is upsetting to everyone involved. It appears that they had been selling 10- 15 cars a week to Canadians.
  • evenparevenpar Member Posts: 10
    I have been looking at around at getting a midsize SUV (Acura, Honda, Lexus or Infiniti) and I came across the Buick Enclave (Tiger Woods !). GM Canada apparently will warranty it after it has been in Canada for 6 months as well ! Sure beats having to deal with some of the "Japanese" mfgs who seem so paranoid about protecting their territory !
  • thecannyscotthecannyscot Member Posts: 45
    called RIV today and they confirmed that van's and SUV's and crossovers get in under Section 5 (multi-purpose passenger vehicles) So the 2008 vehicles don't have to be on the Section 3 list (passenger vehicles)

    Thanks again Ben!!! :)
  • ridgelineridgeline Member Posts: 4
    Would you mind sharing which dealership you are working with (email is kapolei1105@hotmail.com)? Our purchase was recently cancelled by a dealer we were working with on the west coast, as they are no longer selling to canadians, so we are searching for antoerh dealer to work with.
  • shunxshunx Member Posts: 17
    Thanks for the info andrew87 -- can anyone else confirm that US & Canada customs do not care about the car having a US address with a Canadian's name?
  • shunxshunx Member Posts: 17
    Not only the Japanese ones -- Chrysler will also void the warranty if imported.
  • defrederickdefrederick Member Posts: 52
    Tony,

    I was lucky in that my dealer elected to make out the MSO using both my name and my Canadian address. It appears, according to some recent posts, that crossing the border won't be a problem as long as the MSO is in your name. When I crossed, they surprised me by asking for the bill of sale, which wasn't in my name. I told him and he said that was fine.

    Mind you, I haven't yet got my RIV paperwork, so it's not yet registered in Canada. I do have a private bill of sale from my US friend, and hopefully they'll find that sufficient for the Canadian registration. You might want to talk to a registry about the requirements on the bill of sale to get your vehicle registered in Canada.

    Dan
  • silverboysilverboy Member Posts: 11
    At the risk of muddying the waters, I'll pass along the results of my conversation with RIV yesterday. They confirmed that minivans fall under Section 5 and that the 2008 models are admissible (provided you don't fall under the few exceptions referred to in Section 5.3). Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of the story. The guy I spoke with said that while the 2008 models are admissible, RIV won't process their paperwork unless the vehicle was manufactured prior to Sept. 1/07. I asked where that additional test came from because I couldn't see anything along those lines on their website. I didn't get a clear answer -- he made it sound like it was some sort of policy. If I understood him correctly, it seemed that even though minivans don't fall under Section 3, RIV was waiting for the same information they get from the manufacturers that they use to update the list in Section 3 before processing the paperwork for minivans made after Sept. 1. That doesn't make much sense to me so I may call RIV again and see if I get the same story twice. What I would really like is to get something in writing which says that all 2008 Siennas (which is what I am looking to buy) are admissible into Canada and can be registered in Canada. ">
  • evenparevenpar Member Posts: 10
    Just talked to a Calif. GMC dealer about the 08 Enclave and told him I wanted to bring it back to Canada and not register it into the US and he said that he CANNOT sell to a Canadian for export on threats from GM USA that they could lose their dealer's license. Can sell used vehicles just not new ones !! Sounds like slowly but surely all mfgs seem to be shutting the door down on the new 08's with various threats of either no warranty or just flat out won't sell the vehicle !!!
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Wherever you buy a car,you will pay sales tax.

    the Toyota dealer cannot sell you a car using an out of state address to avoid sales tax anyway.
    If you are a resident of the state,you pay taxes in that state.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    With what the manufacturers are doing, there's got to be some sort of anti-trust law being violated!
  • defrederickdefrederick Member Posts: 52
    I just ran into an interesting scenario with registering my vehicle after coming home.

    I was told by the border agent that completing the online payment is the fastest way to get the inspection form. So I immediately processed my payment, assuming that RIV would send me the inspection form and we'd go from there. After a week I called them and they asked if I had sent them my recall letter yet. Apparently, this has to be done at the same time as making the payment, and there is no indication of that on the online payment pages.

    I also asked a registry about driving with temporary or in-transit tags. Apparently, that's a bad thing to do and we're going to have to park until we can get all the proper paperwork in place. oops! :shades:

    So, it appears the fastest way to get your US vehicle on the road is to: 1. go to www.RIV.ca once you've got Form 1 from the border; and 2. fax your recall clearance letter to the RIV at the same time at 1-888-642-9899. Once you get the inspection form, you've got 45 days to get it inspected and registered.

    Dan
  • scrolllockscrolllock Member Posts: 126
    When I went through the Border services folks wanted a copy of my recall letter. They were quite nice. I paid my 222.12 and my GST. I kept thinking that the process was so simple and straight forward.

    A few days later I found out that the 2008 car was not on the "admissible" list. But it was not on the "inadmissible" list. So now I am in limbo.

    Note: If you supply your email address the RIV will send you form 2 by e-mail, that is if your car is on the "admissible" list.

    The main issue is that are government departments seem to be on the defensive when dealing with the car manufacturers. These departments should tell the these big boys to stop playing games. They are wasting everyones time and money trying to protect a market that will soon disappear if they don't get with the program.

    One item that impressed me though, that thru this whole thing every Government employee I dealt with was extremely proffessional and ppleasant to deal with.
  • brian302505brian302505 Member Posts: 22
    Well, you are going to end up paying sales tax. As the Business Manager would get the address, then they go online to get your tax rate and the forms for the tax from your state, which only addsa bout 3 minutes. Sorry dude, no way out of it.
  • crazysammycrazysammy Member Posts: 3
    In a previous posting I got the impression that there was no/little cost to make changes to a 2006 Volvo S60 so that it is suitable for Canada. The Customer Service rep at Volvo Canada suggested I call a dealership service dept to get a list and cost. So, I called a local Volvo dealership and they said it would be $1700 - $2000 to convert the software and the instrument panel. Can anyone please share their experience and recommendations. Thanks!
  • username5username5 Member Posts: 2
    If anyone has succesfully imported and registered and licenced a 2008 Prius in BC please let me know about their experience with RIV. My US dealer says it's green to go, but I don't need a 25,000$ hybrid paperweight.
  • sr123sr123 Member Posts: 12
    honda/Acura you know the more i hear about if i buy one of these brands,No Warranty and now giving people a hard time over the Recall Letter.I'm almost tempted to buy a Lexus instead of a AcuraTL,S-Type.Has Honda not heard about Free Trade.Does someone know how to e-mail these jokers to let them know people are dropping there product for the competitions.
  • easytogoeasytogo Member Posts: 6
    Hi, new to be here, great post

    I am trying to import an 08 toyota highlander and once my relative talked about the recall letter, they turned down the deal.

    Could anyone tells me how to get a recall letter from toyota, and any dealer that is willing to deal with you.

    email erictong@shaw.ca (<- Canadian email, safe to send)
  • watts3watts3 Member Posts: 2
    Im looking to buy 2008 Tribeca from a canadian dealer, it has been shipped from the US and is currently for sale in Canada, Is the Subaru warranty honored in Canada, I understand you may have to pay for warranty work and try to get remimbursed from Subaru in the US, This is new to me so if I may ask a couple questions
    Are there going to be any problems getting reimbursed?
    Is there a chance of Subaru not honoring the warranty?
    will a canadian dealer refuse this warranty work?
    Thanks
  • faridsolimanfaridsoliman Member Posts: 4
    Hi everybody
    I&#146;ve been following this forum for quite a while now, and I can feel the level of anger and frustration of the member of this forum, also I noticed that there&#146;s kind of apathy here, nobody is willing to get a positive move and do something about it…only one member that asked us to write to our MP&#146;s…
    Let us prepare a letter, we all will get involved, everyone with his opinion on it, and let us make noise… and send it everywhere…to MP&#146;s, to ministers, to newspaper, to those greedy Canadian automakers, to NAFTA, to free trade organizations, to judges, even to our PM. Why sitting like a lame ducks , let&#146;s challenge their practices in courts, where&#146;s our charter of rights, why they force the US dealers to discriminate Canadians because of their citizenship.i&#146;m working my butt off for my money , and it&#146;s my right to stretch it to the maximum…and when I&#146;m importing a car from US, I follow all the laws and regulations set by my government and I pay all the taxes and duties… nothing illegal according to my government…so why I have to face all kind of dirty practices by some greedy companies who want to suck our blood dry. Any legal advises is appreciated…any lawyers here that can help us and we will be very grateful. Come&#146;n people let us make some noise….
  • ryandkryandk Member Posts: 18
    I e-mailed Bill Siksay (NDP - Burnaby Douglas) a couple of weeks ago, but haven't heard back from him yet. I'm assuming he'll respond eventually, as he phoned me the last time I sent him an e-mail.

    Have any of you heard back from your MPs?
  • shunxshunx Member Posts: 17
    With Honda you don't need a recall letter just a screen cap from its website for owners. I read that RIV made this permissible after people complained about the inaccessibility of recall letters.

    So if any manufacturer is refusing to give out the recall letter, write to RIV about the details and ask them to make an exception for something that is impossible to get.
  • shunxshunx Member Posts: 17
    SUVs and minivans are permissible because they are considered MPVs and virtually all are permissible regardless of model year.
  • leftcoastautoleftcoastauto Member Posts: 18
    That sounds like a good price to do that work, however it is not a requirement to importing, insuring or driving the car in Canada. The OD will read in miles and the speedo is marked off in both miles and km. It is street legal as is.
    It's something to keep in mind, because it does effect resale.
    Life would be much simpler if the readout was all digital and had a miles/km switch as some cars do.
  • scrolllockscrolllock Member Posts: 126
    Hi, I don't think the main issue now is the recall letter. The RIV will accept a letter from the dealer (on dealer letterhead) along with an attached inquiry printout from the Computer system indicating no recalls.

    The real issue to some of us is that Honda US has not yet submitted the paperwork to Transport Canada to declare that the 2008 Honda Passenger vehicles meet Canadian Safety Standards. The Transportation department then updates the list that the RIV uses.

    The major flaw is that the Transport department operates in a passive role to the detriment of the Canadian consumer.

    The way I see it is that if:

    1) all 2007 Honda passenger cars that were made for use in the U.S. have all passed very stringent U.S State Safety Standards.

    2) all 2007 Honda passenger cars that were Manufactured for use in the US even the States of New York and Alaska have been deemed to be acceptable by Transport Canada. They require the owner to go to Canadian Tire and install Daytime Running lights and possibly a children&#146;s tether latch. That is the only difference between the Safety Standards of 50 US states and Canada.

    3) All 2008 Honda passenger cars that were Manufactured for use in the United States have passed all the safety standards of all 50 states! As a matter of fact the new Honda Civic EXL features Daytime running lights and Outboard lower Anchors and tethers for children and the ability to switch from miles to kilometers with the press of a button.

    4) all 2008 Honda Passenger cars that were manufactured for use in Canada and those Manufactured for US in the US have a couple of minor differences that are spelled out in the Owners Manual... These were the same differences in 2007. (Windshield washer reservoir size and indicators and labels on the dash are as "pictures" to accommodate bilingualism rather than just the words in English. (Note to self: they even have the same owners manual)

    5) therefore if A = C and B = C then A = B.

    Why can't the Transport Department work in this proactive fashion!

    Am I overlooking something?
  • defrederickdefrederick Member Posts: 52
    I purchased our van in Nevada using a MA address, and we paid no sales taxes. The assumption was that when he registered the vehicle in MA, he'd pay the taxes. I'm not sure what would have happened if we had issued the MSO to Nevada for titling. I suspect that there may have been a tax issue at that time, either in NV or MA.

    Dan
  • easytogoeasytogo Member Posts: 6
    Yes, honda could be done by the website, but how about toyota?
    Even the dealership is refused to print out anything regarding the recall ...
  • shunxshunx Member Posts: 17
    I read that you may be able to cross US customs when the name on the MSO is not yours: "The trick is that you have to indicate to US customs that your relative is the purchaser/exporter and that you are the transporter. Their name will have to go on the MCO, and you cannot transfer the MCO ... Luckily, the Canadian system doesn't have the same restrictions ...I exported the vehicle from the US under my relative's name, and imported it into Canada under my name"
  • importer2importer2 Member Posts: 1
    I understand if you google Simmons-Rockwell Inc. that they are preparing to sell to this market, used and otherwise, and perhaps deliveries. You have to have your own broker.
  • raash73raash73 Member Posts: 11
    Hi, I just imported a toyota camry from Michigan, had I known that I had to pay the Michigan sales tax when I got the transit permit I would have taken my own Alberta license plate to drive the car back. My advise to you pls take your ontario license plate and just stick it on the car and drive it back. Also get the recall letter from the dealership while you are there, I got mine from the while I was down there. When you get to the border, pay the gst and pst in your case. They will ask you to fill out Form 1, customs canada will fax the form1 to riv, in my case I had to fax the form myself since riv did not get the faxed form from canada customs so fax it by yourself and also fax the recall letter. Call riv and ask them what # you can fax them and put it to a person attention rather than just send it as it is. After that riv will send you the inspection form, I had my provincial inspection done before riv email me the inspection forms, you will have to take the car to Canadian tire to have the federal inspection done. Oh btw you will have to pay the fee at riv.ca. Trust me its a very simple process, this is my second car importation since July. If you have any ques, email me. thanks and goodlucl.
  • survivor1survivor1 Member Posts: 17
    Hi,
    Would you mind sharing with me the Volvo dealer names that are willing to sell to Canadians? I don't seem to have any luck with all the Honda/Acura dealers I have contacted. Now I need to look at other alternatives. Please email aladinl@hotmail.com.
    My brother wants to import a new Toyota Camry into Canada. Has anyone (Canadian) successfully bought a new car from an American Toyota dealer within the last few weeks?
    Tx.
  • eddy11eddy11 Member Posts: 11
    Great idea!
    I think that the first good step will be to post here correct addresses of people and organizations we need to lobby (NAFTA, MPs, newspapers, PM etc...). It will certainly facilitate everyone's task.
  • eddy11eddy11 Member Posts: 11
    Thank you for sharing your experience. Was it easy to find a cooperative Toyota dealer?
  • doc911doc911 Member Posts: 56
    BMW wrote today that it will decrease the prices of their cars by $3000. if you are a cash buyer

    This corresponds to the amount they include as a cost in every vehicle to give leases that attractive 3.9% rate over the realsitic 8@ market rate for autu loans. Will people ever wake up about the hidden up front costs (in this case $3000 for cost of financing) hidden into each auto when leasing?????
  • andrew87andrew87 Member Posts: 9
    It appears the discount from BMW Canada is $3,000 on 2007 and only $1,500.00 on 2008.
  • kenjaskenjas Member Posts: 1
    Hi Autoadvr,

    Thanks for the info. Very Helpful. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind responding.

    Can you confirm the following transaction Details. I believe all this was done remotely since your brother is in Toronto. a) Select the RX 350 remotely and negotiate the price b) Make initial deposit with the dealer c) Wire the remaining funds to the dealers bank account d)Dealer couriers the Bill of Sale and Vehicle Title and other DMV forms to be signed by the buyer e) Buyer couriers the documents back to the Dealership f) Transport company picks up the car along with the Bill of Sale, Title Document and Recall clearance from dealership g) Custom company clears the custom forms and delivers them to your residence

    Please confirm the above process before I engage the custom brokers and the transport company.

    Thanks for your help.
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