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Importing Car into Canada from US

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Comments

  • showmeanimportshowmeanimport Member Posts: 31
    Well, the party is over on this one for me....I just got off the phone with RIV and the guy told me that any SUV, regardless of manufacturer, manufactured after Sept. 1 2007 is admissible only if you have a CMVSS114 compliance letter from the manufacturer....Here I was thinking that there were some exceptions (Eg the 4Runner based on how I was interpreting the list)

    So my thoughts above that a 2008 Toyota 4Runner manufactured after Sept. 1 /2007 would be admissible without a compliance letter from Toyota is wrong. This is unbelievable.

    The current list in the case of Toyota almost implies that only the Rav4 and Highlander need a compliance letter but according to RIV (at least the guy I talked to) this is not the case....all of them need one....Including Subarus...Subaru may be willing to issue compliance letters...I don't know, but Toyota will not....

    Why do they have any Toyota's listed in the admissible column at all??!?!?!?!?! Clearly they are not practically admissible because you will never get a letter...leaving the list structured like this only serves to further confuse Canadians and potentially lead them into a situation of financial hardship...Is it possible that this guy didn't know what he was talking about??!?!?!?!?!?!?

    I will likely take the time to write my MP but don't hold out much hope that it will make a difference...for me, after this conversation, I am essentially giving up any immediate thoughts of importing my vehicle...the manufacturers have got what they wanted with respect to me it seems...this is an impossible battle at this point...

    Really sad when you think about how disrespectful these manufacturers are towards us as Canadians...wow...

    I have such a bad taste in my mouth about this whole thing at this point that I don't think I can possibly even hand my money over to Toyota Canada for a 4Runner...just on principle...

    I guess I will be going used here in Canada or new with any Canadian manufacturer that starts showing more respect to Canadians on price...if they are exhibiting some respect and have a product that meets my requirements for towing etc. then they will be getting my money...even if I am not crazy about their product...

    Cheers
  • hammatimehammatime Member Posts: 38
    Stay tuned. Things may happen to correct all these injustices, but not likely for a while.

    I would write to Toyota Canada and copy Toyota USA: "you guys just lost a customer forever, and I'll be telling everyone I know". At some point, we should compile a list of the manufacturers that have tried to or have *^%&ed us and not buy from them, Unfortunately, this is collusion amongst the major manufacturers so it will be a long list.
  • jsmith1957jsmith1957 Member Posts: 17
    I don't believe any of your MP or Stephen Harper can help in car import at all. It is totally up to us - consumers. I have read before: Canadians are like sheep, the more [non-permissible content removed] you put on them, the quiter they get.
    What can be done? I have no clue. But here are a few suggestions:
    - You can contact CNN Lou Doubs and let him know about how NAFTA works just when it is good for Manufacturer and they go against NAFTA when it is bad for them. Toyota, Honda is perfect example where they do not allow dealers to sell to Canadians. Lou Doubs likes these type of stories, so if he will air it, then that is going to be a big big blow to Toyota, Honda.
    - Toyota, Honda don't care if you say that you will boycott them. If at the end of the month number of cars sold is good for them, nothing else matters.
    - If somebody would orginze a few "information sessions" in the neibourghood of these dealers with signs "wait for price drop to match US prices", then I am sure canadian press will pick this up. These manufacturers don't want to see "US price" articles in newspapers or in the news. That would make a direct hit on dealers - as any sale they loose is a big deal for them. And that would send a good message to manufacuturers that maybe we are not a sheep after all.
  • b_lum81b_lum81 Member Posts: 25
    What kind of Benz did you import if you don't mind me asking? I was told the CLK can be anywhere from $3200-8000, but I saw a post on another message board saying a CL55 cost $3200 so I would 'hope' that the CLK would be around that price if not cheaper since it is a cheaper car.
  • wrajinderwrajinder Member Posts: 58
    I like to tell you all. From friday afternoon 2008 toyota highlander limited model is only admissible model for which you DO NOT NEED ANY LETTER. It has been confirmed by RIV agents. Limited model has immobilizer built into it as standard and Toyota USA has confirmed this with TC. So please when you call RIV people if they say you still need letter. Just tell them to double cheek with their supervisors and you will get what I told you. This is 100% sure about limited model only.
  • jvswjvsw Member Posts: 8
    Hello ,

    I am new to this forum. I am looking at buying a new Honda pilot or a Highlander in the next few weeks but the warranty issues are worrying me.

    Do you know if a honda bought in the USA and imported to Canada still has warranty from the US dealerships once I have in registered home in New brunswick??? Or do I have absolutaly no warranty from nobody??

    I have a friend that will buy it in maine and sell it to me after. Thats sucks because of the money loss in Taxesetc but thats the only way I found to get around the "no sales to canadian rule". I would appreciate any advice if you have any to get around this.

    Thanks
  • showmeanimportshowmeanimport Member Posts: 31
    If I were you I would not take that as gold. I spent like 30 minutes on the phone with this particular agent and he was 100% saying what you are saying is wrong. He even put me on hold to confirm it. So they told you one thing and they told me another. This is not the first time different agents have told different information.

    My suggestion to you would be to go cautious on this and not accept what you heard as fact. There are problems right now at the RIV...this is the only thing that is clear. They are handing our misinformation left right and center. He seemed like he would have sworn on is grandmother's life that what he told me this morning was fact. This is the problem. This organization is unable or unwilling to hand out consistent and concrete information that we as Canadian consumers can rely on. I am leaning more on the side of "unable" because he openly admitted that they are totally at the mercy of the manufacturers, and that there is nothing that they can do. Bottom line --> At this point you are never going to get a 100% guarantee from our government that we will be protected. Nothing else to say other than this at this point. This is a fact.

    I don't know what to tell you man. Just be careful. The other thing he told me clearly was that anything on the list that is in the favour of your particular situation could change within a matter of hours. He also basically told me that there is nothing that our government will do for us if we get into a bind. The list is subject to change and this is just how it is. This a whole other issue...

    Cheers
  • showmeanimportshowmeanimport Member Posts: 31
    Just to clarify...I am talking about all Toyota SUVs made after Sept. 1 /2007

    Cheers
  • darferdarfer Member Posts: 50
    Buy a slightly used one from Ebay. You can get a smoking deal on low km Pilots. Used car dealers will sell Hondas to Canadians.
  • rutilusrutilus Member Posts: 14
    Please contact me about the Highlander LTD. Thanks
    rutilus99@hotmail.com
  • edmunds07edmunds07 Member Posts: 11
    I re-read the section 9 of VARUS.pdf
    It stated:

    "As part of the RIV inspection, the importer will be required to supply documentation to prove that the vehicle came equipped with a factory installed system that complies with CMVSS 114 or that a recognized aftermarket system that meets the intent of CMVSS 114, has been installed"

    The way I understand it if I install “recognized aftermarket system that meets the intent of CMVSS 114” on my Toyota that makes it admissible.

    Ww should fight. Send an email to Robert Lamb or Serge Bergeron
  • kbrarkbrar Member Posts: 12
    It is SL 65, and it cost us about $8500.
  • mccreepermccreeper Member Posts: 12
    but why oh why would you not buy a car from the best carmaker in the world. spending your money on any other carmaker would be assinine.... right.

    now people are starting to get it. dont buy a car at all from the manufactures that you feel wronged by. it is the only way to get something done. its like for example you buy a cadiillac in the states compared to canada. you do not get a maintenance package in the states that you do in canada. do you think the dealers care if you bring in a cadillac from the states when you have to do all the maintenance at the cadillac dealers . they will make all their money back and more even if you didnt buy that vehicle from them. peoplr are to quick to jump at what might be a good deal
  • sergelbergeronsergelbergeron Member Posts: 138
    Hey everyone - we are organizing ourselves. Robert and I met today and thanks to the input of many of you on the team already, we have mapped out our strategy to go forward. Our first goal is to work closely with all of you to to ensure that we fix the problem for those that have their car in the country but no plates, parked in their garage. We will need help, we will need stories, names, car models, dates. We have 3 or 4 people on the team that are researching the Immobilizor technical aspects to find the irrevocable truth - model by model starting with the Honda Civc and then the others. We will need IT Web talent urgently to lead and set a new secure Web site. We do not want to duplicate this forum. We will also work hard to complete our media plan. In the meantime we would appreciate everyone writing and emailing their MP's, MPP's and newspaper editors as well as consumer groups. We need to wake the people in every corner of Canada. Use some of the content of the letters posted today.

    Working together we will fix this.
    serge@bergeron.ca or robert lamb at zscrolllock@hotmail.com
  • like2drive2like2drive2 Member Posts: 5
    Just hope the following link helps for warranties of cars bought in the US:
    http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253

    According to this web site, Toyota Canada will honor US warranty, while Honda Canada does not honor the warranty.
  • woodytwowoodytwo Member Posts: 42
    See post 2150.
  • z06vette2z06vette2 Member Posts: 1
    I just brought in an 08 Silverado Dually 3500 Duramax with no problems
    Was new
    I had cert. of origin and it is now registered in Alberta
  • radar349radar349 Member Posts: 10
    Was the GVWR over or under 4500 kg ?
  • eieio2eieio2 Member Posts: 34
    there appears to be two eieio2's posting????? as you have replied to something that I did not post .....
  • wrajinderwrajinder Member Posts: 58
    send me email at wrajinder@hotmail.com for more info. If possible send me your contact no:
  • bigdadi118bigdadi118 Member Posts: 1,207
    www.Mastergard.com

    M6000 Vehicle Immobilizer is the aftermarket immobilizer that approved by Canadian authority. I am sure they have kind of letter to certifying your car had one installed. Since your imported car does not have registration plate yet, either tow to their install place or ask whether they can come to do installation.
  • survivor1survivor1 Member Posts: 17
    willywonder
    My email is aladinl@hotmail.com.
  • survivor1survivor1 Member Posts: 17
    Just wondering which manufacturers have the "No selling to Canadians" rule for their US dealers... Honda, Toyota, who else?
    How about Nissan and Mazda?
  • johnd64johnd64 Member Posts: 9
    Hi guys
    I have'nt bought a car in US and maybe I never will but I'd like to say that you are doing everyone a favor and deserve to be comanded for trying to put a stop to this ripoff .To get organized is a great idea.I think if one can take ads in the local newspapers and post the price difference for various vehicles as well as some
    other stories about the charades of these manufactures maybe more Canadians would wake up and say the hell with that Honda or Toyota or whatever manufacturer is treating customers like fools.
    John
  • whiterock2whiterock2 Member Posts: 9
    Hi Willywonder, I'm interested. please email me at mdruet at shaw dot ca.

    Thanks
  • hammatimehammatime Member Posts: 38
    I've called the Mastergard installer in Brantford, Ontario.

    He does a mobile installation. All the installer needs is a covered area. Cost is Can$450.
  • hammatimehammatime Member Posts: 38
    What do you bet that when you go into a Canadian dealer to take them up on their sudden "Forgive Me, I've Seen the Light !!! at parity pricing" (thanks only to the importers), you find you don't have a lot of negotiating power. What they are offering as reduction is likely what you might have negotiated anyway, especially on a 2007 model.

    Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

    Just more smoke and mirrors.
  • rutilusrutilus Member Posts: 14
    Please contact me about the Highlander LTD. Thanks
    rutilus99hotmail.com
  • collin999collin999 Member Posts: 5
    Has anyone talked to them today? I can't even get through. Any info on the mythical TC announcement that was happening "for sure" last week?

    Collin999
  • altaboyaltaboy Member Posts: 41
    i have email from toyota canada confirming that warranty is valid.
    Email dated september 28, 2007

    Willing to share if you want a copy.
  • tedd2tedd2 Member Posts: 23
    I purchased a 2006 SLK 280 that had been brought in. The procedure you outline is accurate, but MB Canada never charged $250 for an estimate of the work..what a bunch of crap that is. The modificaions were in the $7000 range though.
  • edmunds07edmunds07 Member Posts: 11
    I talk to RIV today.
    No news.
    they not talk about any anounsments any more.
  • mccreepermccreeper Member Posts: 12
    has anyone seen how many cars were imported into canada last year. that is a whopping 150,000 aproximatley. not exactly ground breaking stuff if you take into account all the dealers, auto brokers, and sheisters. the average consumer might account for a quarter of that. not really ground breaking stuff. nobody is gonna take notice at less than 4000 cars brought in are an actuall consumer purchase for there own personal use. people get real you wont win with those totals, the car manufactures are not hurting your just being like an anoying little sister who wont shut up for the time being. an anoying little sister who never gets her way cause the big sister will always get her way. think about it.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    The basic legal principal is, that soverign nations get to decide how and what kinds of auto's come into their country, and motor companies get to decide how to sell cars in a given market.

    There is no way that an American can buy a car in Mexico and import it into the US.
    When the last Beetle's went out of production, some Americans wanted to buy them. The DOT and EPA squashed that flat.

    If Canada decides that it doesn't want US cars imported,for whatever reason, they have the right to decide that.
    Likewise, if Toyota, or Chevy or BMW doesn't want its US retailers exporting cars, they have the legal right to determine that as well.

    The problem is, that neither of these decisions are being implemented correctly right now.
    Both the Gov't of Canada and the US car companies are sending mixed messages.
    both parties need to decide on a course of action and stick to it.
    Either allow the importation of cars, or forbid it alltogether.
  • bodble2bodble2 Member Posts: 4,514
    It's true Honda is pretty stingy with their rebates, but Nissan/Infiniti has been advertising rebates of up to $8,000, so maybe they'll all start to come around.
  • b_lum81b_lum81 Member Posts: 25
    I just received an email from Mercedes Canada and I've been told to provide them with the VIN# and they'll let me know if it's admissible or not. So I guess Mercedes Canada isn't charging the $250, it's the dealership.

    Where abouts are you located? It's a shot in the dark but does anyone have a hookup to an MB dealership in Vancouver Canada?
  • delwickidelwicki Member Posts: 27
    Which is good for them for saying that, but if you'll read the previous posts or contact RIV on this matter, you will find that only the car's Canadian manufacturer can provide a letter that RIV/TC will accept.
  • netdognetdog Member Posts: 66
    Here is my story:

    1. Bought a Toyota Sienna XLE 2008 back in early September. RIV confirmed its admissibility to me several times, under section 5 of the VAFUS.
    2. Vehicle arrived on the dealer's lot in mid-october, missing a few options so decided to search for another one with those options for a few weeks (big mistake in hindsight).
    3. Double-checked admissibility of 2008 in mid-october and received email confirmation so I decided to stick with the original vehicle I'd purchased and planned for pick-up in early November.
    4. Vehicle declared inadmissible by TC on Nov 1st. In the ensuing week, RIV declared an amnesty on section 5 vehicles purchased prior to being declared inadmisible and subsequently revoked it so I continued to wait.
    5. During the week of Nov 12th, I waited for the dreaded TC announcement on the matter which never came. However on Thursday afternoon a RIV agent informed me that an announcement would be made on Friday that would allow me to import the vehicle. That was good enough for me.
    6. I flew out on Friday morning from Toronto to Ohio, completed all the paperwork at the dealership and was on my way. I drove roughly 3hours to the Windsor/Detroit crossing. Oh yeah, I got caught speeding by an Ohio state trooper just minutes after leaving the lot (my bad). The guy was really nice and let me off with a warning.
    8. AT US customs, I double-checked that all of my paperwork was in order and just for good measure I also double-checked the VIN on the vehicle. I almost had a heart attack. The VIN on the vehicle did not match my paperwork! They gave me the wrong fr*@#$ car!!! Unbelievable!!!
    9. So I drove back to Ohio on Friday night, stayed in a hotel for the night, and switched the vehicles at the dealership on Saturday morning. I then made my way back to Detroit by Saturday afternoon (no speeding tickets this time).
    10. Everything went fine at the US export and Canadian Import offices. Got my Form1, paid my GST and was on my way. Note: CBSA are no longer collecting the RIV fee at the border, you have to pay online, by mail, or in person.
    11. I drove back to Toronto and parked the car for the rest of the weekend.
    12. This morning I went to the RIV office to pay my fee and get the Form 2 and was told that as of this past Friday, they are putting a hold on issuing From 2 for all Toyota 2008 models until TC makes an official ruling on their admisibility. Apparently, TC has even revoked the RIV's access to key system files for 2008 Toyota models that are required to issue the Form 2 so there is absolutely nothing they can do at RIV even if they wanted to. A good friend of mine purchased the same vehicle from the same dealer and on the same date as mine but got his Form 2 last week - no problem. Because I chose to follow RIV's instructions to wait, I have now joined a growing number of victims caught up in the post-Form 1 fiasco with a vehicle parked in my driveway that I cannot title.

    I can only hope that this nonsense will blow over. The Montreal Gazette story that ran this past Friday gives me hope in a quote by TC spokesman that suggested that they would be working on "finding a fair and balanced solution concerning the immobilization system". My Sienna is in fact equipped with an engine immobilizer system and I would be prepared to have it retrofitted with one that meets canadian standards if necessary. That, I believe, would be a fair and balanced solution to those caught up in this fiasco.

    For now, I will be contacting my MP and the group of crusaders (Robert Lamb, Serge, Jan), to do whatever is possible to get this mess cleared up.

    netdog
  • alfbcalfbc Member Posts: 2
    Mazda will not sell to Canadians
  • gabemangabeman Member Posts: 10
    Hi netdog,

    Did the Canadian custom let you in without the CMVSS114 compliance letter from the manufacturer?
  • crazy_canuckcrazy_canuck Member Posts: 9
    mccreeper, the only annoying person on this board is you. Then again, I suspect things at the dealership must be pretty quiet these days so you have a lot of free time on your hands.
  • hammatimehammatime Member Posts: 38
    Nice one Crazy Canuck!! This is the only type of email response the creep deserves.

    By the way, to all, I just completed "bringing across the border" (not to be confused with "importing" or "admitting" ) my 2008, Sept. 07 manufacture Maxima. Officers at US and Canada were great, except the Canadian guy at primary check.

    And to answer post #2195, Canada Customs does NOT need to see the CMVSS 114 letter. All they need is the same docs. you gave to US Customs, check on the vehicle compliance label, plus your passport (and your credit card!!).
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    they have the right to decide that

    Yes, of course governments have that authority but, in most of North America, the people also have the right to petition those governments for redress of grievance which is precisely what we are witnessing here.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Yes, of course governments have that authority but, in most of North America, the people also have the right to petition those governments for redress of grievance which is precisely what we are witnessing here.

    Agreed.
    However, gov'ts are notoriously disinclined to see the regulation of commerce as a grievance.
    For them, this is nothing more than regulating commerce.
    The problem is, the Gov't of Canada is being slipshod in its regulation.
    this really isn't difficult. Create a standard and stick to it.
    At least the US DOT is capable of that.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    OK - regardless of what you think of someone else's point of view, let's be done with the personal comments. Our Membership Agreement doesn't allow for them, and it's usually best just to ignore posts by members you don't care for.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Let's stick to the designated topic and avoid personal insults. :)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • netdognetdog Member Posts: 66
    The 2008 Sienna was listed as inadmissible so the CMVSS114 compliance letter was irrelevant although judging by the montreal gazette story that ran this past Friday, it would not have made a difference since TC issued a "do not bar" notice to all of their CBSA offices in regards to recently-listed inadmissible vehicles.

    Interestingly enough, the story also suggests that the Form1 for these "inadmissible" vehicles would be clearly stamped as "Inadmissible" although that did not happen in my case. My first sign of trouble was this morning at the RIV office.

    netdog
  • johnd64johnd64 Member Posts: 9
    First of all I noticed that the PDF file on the RIV site of is not available for viewing .
    In the HTML version it says "2007 AND 2008 All General Motors models built after September 1st, 2007 are inadmissible."
    How do you read the above statement ?
    No 2007 and 2008 are allowed in or just the ones made after Sept 1st ?
    thanks
    John
  • hoiyahoiya Member Posts: 14
    I would interpret it as any vehicle manufactured after Sep 1 /2007. I don't believe there were any 2007 model cars manufactured after this date though.
  • bloogenebloogene Member Posts: 15
    Please Email a copy of the aforementioned Toyota
    letter to bluegene@rogers.com

    Thank you
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