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Smart Shopper Importing Car into Canada from US
4513 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 8:40 PM
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Hello everyone, I'm considering purchase a BMW Z3 on Ebay. It is located in Florida, and I am in Toronto (Canada). If I drive over to Florida and purchase it, and then proceed to drive it back home, what do I need? Do I have to bring my current plates? Are their fees/taxes at the border? I also wanted to know if it would be possible to have the seller bring it over the border to me, and then I would take it from there. Would this help me to circumvent any duties/taxes? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Replying to: seandamien (Jul 09, 2006 4:25 pm) There's no way to circumvent the taxes. If you somehow miss paying them at the border, then you'll have to pay them when you go to register, because you'll have to produce the receipt. I'd be very very careful about importing a car from Florida (even if it is a POS Z3...) due to the recent Katrina happenings. The flood damage may not show on title yet. At the very least I'd order an inspection with CarFAX or someone like that, so that you don't spend a bucketload of money on a sight-unseen car that could have major electrical problems. Just because some dealer might have it doesn't mean they know exactly where the car has been. Here is the deal: Regardless of how you get it across the border, you will have to pay import fees (around $250), another tax if the car has AC ($100), import duties of 6.1% if the car was not manufactured in the US or Canada, and GST at 6% (as of July 1). Also, you must have the car inspected within 45 days at a Canadian Tire (fee there) and make any modifications / upgrades to bring the car up to Canadian standards if needed. Usually those are things like child restraints and daytime running lights. Those can get really expensive, so be sure to check up on that. At the border, you will need the Title, Bill of sale, and a notice from the manufacturer that the car is not subject to any outstanding recalls. You need to send a Certified copy of Title to the border crossing you'll be at at least 3 days ahead of time. Doesn't matter how you get it there, that's what you'll need. You won't be able to register the car otherwise. Good Luck!
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Replying to: sfaraday (Jun 22, 2006 11:34 pm) Yes ,I finally resolved that problem and most others, I purchased new 2006 Sonata in Atlanta ,Ga. and have subsequently driven it back to my home in Ontario. The dealership issued a temporary tag good for 30 days which allowed me to drive the vehicle home. Insurance was a bit of a problem as well however it was finally determined that the car was protected (for at least 15 days) under policy which I have for two other cars that I own. All the rest US Customs/Canada Customs procedures were pretty much as advertised on RIV site. The title for new car that US Customs insist on having for 72 hours prior to letting you proceed is referred to as MSO or certificate of origin for a vehicle...kind of like birth certificate for new car. It also wouldn't hurt to have some sort of document that shows there is nothing owing on the car. I was expecting to have to report to RIV office after dealing with Canada Customs but at Detroit/ Windsor crossing was only given paper work to mail to RIV along with the $206.90 Cdn import fee. I mailed the docs to RIV the day after I brought the car into Canada 03 Jul and to date 12 Jul have not heard from them. By the way, the temp tags issued by dealer satisfied the OPP as I was checked out only about a half hour after departing Windsor and got the OK to proceed. I anticipate having to obtain and install a daytime running light module to satisfy Canadian law and after questioning Hyundai Canada received info that Hyundai dealership would or could complete this work at an expense of $400.00. I don't think it should cost any where near that and was wondering if anyone else out there has had this done with any US spec car and if so how much and how? Thanks
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Replying to: knsgee (Jul 12, 2006 5:04 am) |
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Replying to: stavros1 (Jul 06, 2006 9:16 pm) My insurance company sold me a policy as soon i gave them the vin# no problem. I am very happy with this purchase, the deals available in the U.S. on american built subarus are incredible. when i went to the local Subaru dealer for a roof rack and told him what i paided for the tribeca he was in disbelief of the $17,000.00 cnd price difference he quoted me.
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Replying to: thonor (Jul 10, 2006 1:06 pm) I was also considering a BMW 318ti. The price is $5000. Wt do you think it would end up costing me in total after I'm done with all of the greddy Canadian hands? |
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My question is the other way around, but I am not able to find a thread for it so I hope someone can help me. I am not sure if I should bring my Toyota with me when I move to the US. Will I have any disadvantage selling my car because it was purchased in Canada? Thanks a lot.
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Replying to: danaf (Jul 15, 2006 3:35 pm) 1) If you plan to drive the car until the wheels fall off and the vehicle will be salvaged, then bring it on over. 2) If you plan to sell it in the US while it has some significant value, you should sell it in Canada as the vehicle will be considered to be TMU - "True Mileage Unknown" and will bring far less money than it is worth. I work for a large corporation which often relocates people on either side of the US/Canada border. Generally, people sell the car before heading across the border. |
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| Thanks a lot jlawrence01! No my Echo is pretty new so I was hoping to sell it after my one year assignment instead of shipping it back. I am glad I find out about the TMU now. Do they just ignore the mileage reading? | |
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