Ask the Car People.SM


Importing Canadian Vehicles to the U.S.

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

You are in the Smart Shopper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Car Buying

Messages Page 42 of 46

#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!

#409 of 448 customs ? by joeyfmx

Jan 19, 2011 (1:50 pm)

Did they already know your vin or did you have to fill that out on the hs-7 form? What did you tell them before you came so they were ready for you, and do you by chance have the phone # for customs in the airport?

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

Jan 19, 2011 (1:52 pm)

Replying to: janalapel (Jul 09, 2010 4:33 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!
 
Did they already know your vin or did you have to fill that out on the hs-7 form? What did you tell them before you came so they were ready for you, and do you by chance have the phone # for customs in the airport?

#411 of 448 Help needed - import Canada Kia Soul to US by importkia

May 24, 2011 (8:01 pm)

I am a US citizen living in Canada. I bought a 2010 Kia Soul from a dealer new about one year ago while living in Canada. I am now moving, next week or so, back to the US and am struggling to make sure I can drive the car into Canada and "import" it to stay with me in my new residence in the US.
Kia provided a letter stating the car complies with all US EPA standards, but will not provide a letter of conformance or compliance in regards to US safety standards. Nobody can seem to tell me what is non-conforming or what modifications would be required (if any) to make it conform.

#412 of 448 Re: Help needed - import Canada Kia Soul to US [importkia] by gmidd

May 24, 2011 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: importkia (May 24, 2011 8:01 pm)
I don't know what to say about this. Mine had a sticker on the door stating compliance with US saftey standards. But if it helps all that the border officers cared about was EPA. They never even looked at saftey.
Good Luck!

#413 of 448 Re: Help needed - import Canada Kia Soul to US [importkia] by medlowa

May 25, 2011 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: importkia (May 24, 2011 8:01 pm)
I imported a Chevy Camaro. GM supplied a letter compliance for safety but not the epa.
So we had it tested in AZ and it passed. we took this certificate along with the gm letter of compliance to the customs in Phoenix and filed out the paper work there.
It only took around 5 minutes and we were done, they did not keep any docs.

#414 of 448 want to resell my truck in US by berlaw

May 26, 2011 (12:45 pm)

I purchased my ssr truck in US & now want to sell it . If I sell it back into the US what do I have to go through at the boarder US customs ???? I do have the original Title from the original owner could I just drive threw and hand over the truck and original Title in US ???

#415 of 448 Re: Help needed - import Canada Kia Soul to US [medlowa] by pamarama

May 31, 2011 (1:22 am)

Replying to: medlowa (May 25, 2011 4:41 pm)
Felt I needed to post about my experience here, as I just went through this process today, with a 1999 Honda Civic, importing from Canada to the USA. I'm a Canadian citizen but permanent resident of the US for the past 8 years. I had a lot of anxiety about it, but it turned out to be a simple process As other posters mentioned, you do not need the HS-7. What you need is a letter on original letterhead from the manufacturer (in my case, American Honda, if importing a Honda manufactured in Canada into the USA). Do this in advance, as it took a few weeks to get this letter from them. I crossed the Windsor-Detroit border today with a temporary 10-day plate on the car I obtained in Ontario when the title was transferred to me (at a cost of $15). The customs officer asked me for the vehicle registration/title before even asking for my ID (a greencard, in my case), and when I planned to import the car. I said, "uh...now". I didn't realize there was an option?? Anyway, he sent me inside to fill out a form "CBP 7501" - "Entry Summary". They asked for the vehicle registration, my ID again, and gave me an explanatory form to help me fill out the form correctly. They inspected the car, had a big discussion about one ambigous line in the letter from US Honda stating the car was "non-compliant" re: instrument panel differences. (i.e. km/hr vs mph on the odometer), went out to inspect the car again, and then issued me 2 copies of the stamped, approved 7501, one for me and one for Secretary of State so I can register the car here in Mich. They were extremely courteous and helpful. As long as you have a letter from the manufacturer stating the vehicle complies with US standards, you will be ok. Make sure you have a temp plate on the car and insurance. Do your homework! Many late-model cars are importable into the USA. Expect to spend a half hour or so at customs going through the process, but they will help you through it.
 
  Oh, and another good thing...I was charged ZERO duty on it at the border. I asked the Customs Officer what I should write under the "value" section on the form, as the car was used and a gift to me from my dad. He guesstimated $2000, but wrote $0 in the value for duty section, so I was charged no duty. He said if I had been importing a brand new Ferrari, I'd be assessed duty, but not for an older car like the Honda.
 
When I register the car at the Secretary of State office on Tues., they will likely charge state tax on the assessed value of $2000. I'm ok with that!
 
Glad to see this forum here. The process of importing cars can be a bit mystifying. Just do your homework! The info is available online or with a phonecall or two. Just make sure you have your ducks in a row when you show up at Customs. They will help you with the paperwork.
 
Cheers! E-mail me if I can help in any way. I can relate to the confusion on this...took me months to sort it all out, but in the end, it was a process, but a smooth one.

Messages Page 42 of 46

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement