Importing Canadian Vehicles to the U.S.

448 messages,  Last post on Mar 08, 2013 at 7:35 AM

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#399 of 448 importing a vehicle at the U.S. /Cn. border by janalapel

Jul 12, 2010 (9:19 am)

As I understand it....if you are entering the U.S. as a legal resident...with either citizenship or resident status...you can fill out the import documents at the time you cross the border and then you have what you need to get your Az. license plate. I had crossed the border as a snowbird with my van...since I wasn't sure if I was going to stay longer than 6 mos. at the time. I am a U.S. citizen but lived in Alberta for more than 30 years. Finding out about the airport customs saved me a trip back to Alberta...but if your vehicle is in B.C. and you have to go get it...you should be able to accomplish the importing at the border.
I do know they require a letter of compliance with U.S. safety standards from the manufacturer and likely they will require an inspection of some kind. Talk to the customs officers at the border crossing you will go through. hope this helps!

#400 of 448 Re: importing a vehicle at the U.S. /Cn. border [janalapel] by gmidd

Aug 07, 2010 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: janalapel (Jul 12, 2010 9:19 am)
Janalapel, earlier you wrote:
The ONLY required document I had to provide was the letter of compliance (one sentence!!) from Chrysler Canada (actually came from Chrylser in Michigan and that took a few days of begging and faxing different numbers to get to the right department) plus the registration from Alberta.
I am in the process of "importing" a car also. I have been denied this "Letter of Compliance" from Chrysler 3 times now. I even tried to get it through Dodge since the vehicle is a Dodge Van and a "Roadtrek" model. They say they will not supply the letter to a US citizen. Can you tell me what phone numbers you called or faxed? I already paid the Ca. citizen for the Roadtrek before I found out about the customs issue and the seller will not reverse the transaction. I'm stuck. Any other help or advice you or anyone else can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

#401 of 448 Re: importing a vehicle at the U.S. /Cn. border [gmidd] by janalapel

Aug 07, 2010 (5:32 pm)

Replying to: gmidd (Aug 07, 2010 4:29 pm)
I wonder if it is because I am also a permanent resident of Cn. but am a U.S. citizen...who was living in Alberta when I bought the Caravan there in 2002 (am the original owner of the van)...drove it here as a snowbird and decided to stay. .
 
I first contact Chrysler of Cn. but they forwarded my request for the letter of compliance to Michigan...customer service: Phone 800-992-1997 the bottom of the so-called letter contained this information:
Chrysler Group LLC CIMS 484-04-04 P.O. Box 21-8004 Auburn Hills, Mi. 48321
Letter signature "J.W.K." Senior Staff
The only information given was the vin number and that the vehicle met all U.S. federal safety and emission requirements...except labeling, in effect at the time it was manufactured.
 It didn't even require an inspection.
I am not sure why this letter is so difficult to obtain. I called alot of numbers and faxed several times...finally got somebody to provide this simple statement. Went to customs at the airport and filled out the forms...same thing at Motor Vehicles.
It took weeks...but in the end took minutes! All because of that letter...and bad information from the Cn./U.S. border in Montana saying I had to re-enter the U.S. to get the right documents when they can be downloaded from the internet!!!
Hopefully being persistent will bring similar results.

#402 of 448 Re: importing a vehicle at the U.S. /Cn. border [janalapel] by gmidd

Aug 09, 2010 (8:16 am)

Replying to: janalapel (Aug 07, 2010 5:32 pm)
Just trying to be clear. You said you called several numbers and faxed several places before you got someone to provide the "letter". Is the number you gave me in the last reply the one that finally provided the letter?
Thanks again for any help.

#403 of 448 Re: same question [toddsull] by medlowa

Sep 12, 2010 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: toddsull (Apr 20, 2006 6:30 pm)
Hi
I am trying to do the same as you did.
You have now idea hope this has eased my anxiety.
Can you tell me wher to go exactly at Sky Harbour ?
Really appreciate what you have done here.
 
Thanks
Alan

#404 of 448 Re: Importing a GM car into the US from Canada [dsorbara] by medlowa

Sep 12, 2010 (9:19 pm)

Replying to: dsorbara (Aug 16, 2007 9:31 am)
Hi
I am trying to do the same as you did.
You have now idea hope this has eased my anxiety.
Can you tell me wher to go exactly at Sky Harbour ?
Really appreciate what you have done here.
 
Thanks
Alan

#405 of 448 Re: bringing a canadian car to the U.S. [janalapel] by medlowa

Sep 13, 2010 (6:56 am)

Replying to: janalapel (May 23, 2010 10:44 pm)
Hi
I am trying to do the same as you did.
You have now idea hope this has eased my anxiety.
Can you tell me wher to go exactly at Sky Harbour ?
Really appreciate what you have done here.
 
Thanks
Alan

#406 of 448 Finally got my Roadtrek through customs by gmidd

Sep 13, 2010 (8:35 am)

Well I did finally did get through customs. I did a lot of research on websites. There is a notation on the EPA website that all 1997 Chryslers are approved for import. Since the 1997 Roadtreck I have is a Dodge that qualified me. It was a major discussion at the border but I had a previous discussion with a woman in the border import office in Buffalo who agreed with me that I don't need the letter because of that. I had the border officer call her and they let me through, reluctantly.
Gary

#407 of 448 Re: bringing a canadian car to the U.S. [janalapel] by medlowa

Sep 17, 2010 (9:42 pm)

Replying to: janalapel (May 23, 2010 10:44 pm)
Got it done......thanks again for your very helpful post

#408 of 448 Customs question by joeyfmx

Jan 19, 2011 (1:27 pm)

Did customs make a copy of the compliance letter or just look at it ,or take it? Is hs-7 the only form you needed to fill out? What exactly did they do at customs? thanks!
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