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So I was wondering if anyone has imported an Infiniti. I found an Infiniti dealership that said they will even sell new G37s to Canadians. Has anyone had any experience importing new and/or used Infinitis?
anyfeed back would be much appreciated. thanks.
Thanks.
Can you send me your deal price for siena LE.I will apprciate you help.
here is my e-mail:- kumarcan2008@yahoo.com
Thankyou.
Going quickly from memory....
1. I found a vehicle that I wanted - 08 Sienna LE with an Aug mfg date. I did not want to get caught up in the immobilizer issue and the dealer had one Aug mfg'd vehicle that worked for me. I also wanted to get a toyota as they claim to honour the warranty.
1a. Called Toyota US with the VIN and asked for a recall letter and they faxed me a clear letter very quickly no questions asked.
2. I purchased the vehicle site unseen (aside from the Internet) from an authorized Toyota dealer. I wired them the money and they sent me the invoice, purchase contract, certificate of origin. My experience is that the certificicate of origin MUST be original but everything else can be fax/copy.
3. Faxed purchase contract to my insurance and recieved fax back the proof of insurance.
4. Drove one hour to the border and dropped off invoice, bill of sale, original certificate of origin and a copy of the certificate (they actually wanted and asked for an extra copy). This all must stay at the border for at least 72 hours.
5. Arranged shipping from dealer to border. I did not want to drive through states without a permit, especially one that does not allow temp permits. It cost $500 but I saved this in travel and headaches.
6. Purchased a $9 transit permit that would take me from the border to the local CanadianTire store.
7. Met the driver in a large parking lot at a truck stop near the border. Checked for any damage, checked the VIN to see that it matched the paperwork and checked the compliance sticker and MFG date. Signed the shipping paperwork and sent the driver on his way.
8. Drove two minutes to the border. Agent asked me for another copy of the certificate of origin as they use this to locate the original paperwork. Agent verified the vin and stamped my paperwork, only took a few minutes.
9. Went to the Canadian side with my paperwork and recall letter. They filled out a form 1, I had to help, needed to know the l/100k fuel consumption. Paid the 5% tax plus $100 air tax and they faxed my form 1 to RIV. They incorrectly told me that we did not have to fax the recall letter (this was a Sat). They asked about the compliance sticker and mfg date and I told them but they did not go outside and check. This gets checked at CT later anyway.
10. As soon as I returned home, I paid my $200 riv fee online with the info from my form 1.
11. On Monday morning I faxed the recall letter to RIV with the VIN and the case # (the J number on form 1) in large bold on the letter. That same afternoon they faxed me my form 2.
12. Installed a fuse so my DRL would work so I could pass inspection.
13. Called Canadiantire and booked an appt to get my federal form 2 inspection and my provincial mvi inspection completed. CT stamped form 1 for me and kept form 2 which they fax to riv.
14. Took all the paperwork (stamped form 1, proof of insurance, certificate of origin, tax receipt from the border, purchase contract, etc) down to the gov't licensing and recieved my plates. In general, it's a good idea to keep a folder of all your paperwork as you go through the process as different agencies require different paperwork. For axample, I didn't relize that when they calculated my 8% provicial tax when I went to get my plates that they would need and use the tax receipt from the border agent.
That's a quick list from memory. Do not assume this is a complete list, please take responsibility and do your own research. Do not assume that the dealer, border agent, CT, licensing will do this correctly - know the process. In my case, the border agent made at least three mistakes 1. Tried to charge me a $4000 green levy because he mistakenly took mpg for l/100kms 2. Told me I did not have to fax the recall letter 3. Did not initial his stamp on form 1 and forgot to tick off several boxes which caused me some headaches when I went to get my plates.
Regards
I've just started to seriously look into this. I've read some bad things about Honda and if they aren't going to cooperate then I'd rather take my business elsewhere.
Did you speak to a local dealer about the warranty? I take it the immobilizer issue is no issue with vehicles built after Aug.07?
So far I'm interested in the Highlander Hybrid. I'm in Calgary, Alberta, so if anyone has any tips on importing this vehicle please reply. I hear the Highlander is built in Japan an I will have to pay a 6.1% tax. Does anyone know if I'd have to do the fuse swap for the Highlander and if so is it as easy as with the Sienna?
olivben, thanks again.
Or check out other news today on the CWB home page, concerning a Canadian Toyota dealer selling US market cars...
My post was actually an offer to share the information with immediately previous poster.
Just doing my part to take customers away from Honda, we consumers can really make an impact on Honda. Please do your part and speak up against Honda. It will take a while but once the ball is rolling we can pick up a lot of inertia.
By the way, Kudos to Toyota.
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Good bye Honda!
I called 2 dealers, Autoplace and Dorschel and both were willing and knowledgable about importing to Canada. They have exported many vehicles and they know the process inside out and will take care of the details to make it dead easy to do.
It's quite different than BMW's $350 letter of admissability, $2000 instrument cluster change and $500 20 day wait for a recall letter. I think it's clear that BMW doesn't want your business.
Soooooo, since the car is being re-exported, should I not be able to apply for the import duties that were paid when it entered the US?
Any suggestions would be grateful.
(Canadian Snowbird) The car will live in Florida for my use 5 or 6 months of the year.
The dealership charged me a road bridge fee of $11.50, a license fee ($60.80), a $33.00 tittle fee and a 6 1/4 % Texas sales tax as well as a $50.00 dealer documentary fee. They also charged a Dealers inventory tax of $81.68 and a $5.00 full service Deputy fee as well as a $39.50 vehicle inspection fee.
I contacted the sales tax people in Texas and it seems they should all be fired! Here is their reply!
Thank you for contacting the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Your request for information has been received and will be assigned to an analyst for a response. Inquiries are responded to in the order that they are received. Our goal is to respond to your request within 7 - 10 working days. However, depending on the complexity of the requests received and number of requests that are pending, the response time may be longer. We appreciate your patience.
But MB is a step ahead.
They have advised their US Dealers to obtain a signed letter from every US buyer that they will not export the vehicle from USA. If they sell it to a second buyer, then it is their responsibility to get the same letter signed again from the second buyer. Failing to do so will result in heavy fines.
Also the dealer will be fined too and their quota of vehicles will be reduced up to 5 vehicle.
How smart is that by MB in preventing Canadians from getting their vehicles from USA by HOOK or CROOK ???
The Canadians should just STOP BUYING BMW and MB in Canada for one month as a token gesture ij my view.
They are not learning the lesson or getting the message from Canadians only because our Govt. (TC) is allowing them and giving BMW, MB and other high end automakers free hand and leaving the Canadians at their total mercy.
Shame on (TC) !
It´s obvious that these foreign multinational corporations have no intention of becoming good Canadian corporate citizens on their own. The only real solution is to open the floodgates and for the govt to announce the end of import restrictions on automobiles. As Canadian prices come down, the dealerships will be flooded with business. Everybody will make money, though of course at a lower profit margin per unit. Isn´t that how Walmart made millions---high volume and low profit margin?
My dealer asked me to provide a US address. Do you think it could be a problem at customs when my id address(Canada) is not matched with the address(US) on the document? The name will be the same anyway.
Much appreciate for any input.
mike.w5678@yahoo.com
Good luck
I was worried about this as well my first time through... In my experience they dont even look at it at either border station. If for some reason they ask you could explain you have a mailing address or bus address in the US???
I havent had a problem yet.
For a free car import guide see Import Car to Canada Free Guide
Thank you very much!
Mike
Thanks
rugzy
Thanks
rugzy
The formstates it is a FELONY to lie and provides for a possible 2 to 5 year jail term and / or a fine up to $1,000.00 OR BOTH.
Merely modifying the form before signing, to declare transfer (not to another state) to show the vehicle is going to Canada would void all penalties. My guess is that the Honda Dealers have been briefed / told to refuse such a sale by H.O.!
In my case, I really was taking it to Florida for use there (Canadian Snowbird) and will register / leave it in Florida for at least 6 months, maybe for years!
With all the BUZZ on this site about Honda's interferrence in free cross border trade, I am today making the very conscious decision - NO MORE HONDAS FOR ME or MY FAMILY OR MY COMPANIES - EVER!!!
I,m going to look at a new G37 Infiniti Coupe today, with a discount, it coss about the same as the Honda and warranty applies in both the USA and Canada.
I had purchased new Hondas for the past 31 years - but no more!!
P.S. Goodson Honda North DID refund the extra fees they charged me including the Texas sales tax - no problems there!
If you buy from a private party a used car (not the recently sold by the MB dealer recently) to that party, I guess it should be OK, but I am not sure if MB has any other underhand deal with the US and Canadian boarder agencies ?
Bottom line is that the Canadians have to get the Admissibility letter and Recall letter from MB of Canada and they are extremely un-helpful.
The only way is to stop buying BMW nad MB in Canada for one month only, starting from now to get the message through.
NO MORE HONDA! (meant to be capitalized). A co worker just purchased a SONATA and he did test drive the 2008 Accord. He was able to purchase a SONATA in the USA and saved thousands of dollars and still has a full warranty.
Honda you are going to loose big time.
Why would I purchase a Honda Accord in Canada when I can purchase the Lexus 350 In the USA for the same money.
Would you rather be driving an Accord EXL purchased in Canada or a LEXUS ES350 purchased in the USA for the same money.
Why does Acura make the MDX in Canada and sell it in the USA for $15,000 less than in Canada when the dollar is at par?
Honda, Wake up. The people are not stupid, ignorant and won’t stand for your shady business ways!
rugzy
http://vudyo.com/search_result.php?search_id=carswithoutborders&search_typ=searc- h_audio
Because of the low USD people from everywhere in the world are trying to buy cars from the US. Even people in Germany will try to buy MB's and BMW's here in the US. Why? Because they are 1/2 the price here. So what you say? Well if MB allowed exports to Canada how long would a Canadian MB dealer survive? A few weeks? Maybe a month?
The car manufacturers are simply trying to protect their non-US dealers from getting killed. That simple.
I think you have that backward. With the devalued dollar it takes twice as many of them to get that BMW into the U.S. There is definitely an exchange rate advantage (outside the U.S.) if the vehicle is made in the U.S. It's not a stirct 2 to 1 ratio, however, because parts come from all over the world to dilute the effects of exchange rate disparities along with other market considerations. E.g., the size of the U.S. market compared with the Canadian market keeps prices south of the border a little lower which gives Canadians some additional advantage with their favorable exchange rate.
The German customer will see no advantage in buying a German made car from the U.S. due to exchange rates because the U.S. dealer has to pay a lot more dollars upfront for that car. In effect, the German customer is paying half the Marks for twice the Dollars. That is, unless there is a significant devaluation in the USD between the time the U.S. dealer buys the car and the German customer buys it.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
You would be shocked to know what a new S550 sells for in Korea or China.
The car is manufactured in Candada shipped to the USA, purchased for by US dollars. (Canadian dollar at par with US dollar), your story doesn't hold.
Sorry.
Simply put if you are Canadian you are being screwed.
I'll second that. If the manufactures were genuinely concern for the welfare of their Canadian dealers, they would lower Canadian MSRPs. That being said, I think the Canadian dealers could be a little more aggressive and pro-active in trying to lobby for price adjustments.
By the way, has anyone read the message on bmw.ca addressing the issue of the US/Canada price difference? Let me tell you, what a load of Bavarian corporate crap! Makes me puke!