Importing a Car from US to Canada
by dug320 » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:03 am
I used do this with regularity. It may require updating as some of the direct links have changed but the process has not.
If you are going to use an importer go here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importat ... search.asp
If you wish to import the vehicle yourself read on.
1. Buying the car:
- Check out http://www.riv.ca . Check out this to see how easy it is to import a vehicle http://www.riv.ca/.
- You'll need a bill of sale with VIN#, mileage, date, and price (in the currency of sale), signed by the seller and buyer. You will need the valid Title (Certificate) when you pick up the car
- If you are driving the car from A to B, you SHOULD have a "BINDER For Owner's Interim Certificate of Insurance." The form from ICBC is APV38. You will need the VIN for the car and your driver's license. This insurance is not cheap a minimum cost is $53 a day.
- Plates SHOULD come with the car from the state it was previously registered in. (if it was registered at all!) In Washington State you can transfer the plates into your name and for a cost of $4. If you have new plates issued you will have to pay Tax.
- To legally drive a car, it must be registered (does not matter where) and Insured!! A current license plate serves as your registration, and an ICBC binder will serve as your insurance, so you are legal to drive the car until you arrive at your destination!
If you are a resident of BC and have a car in BC plated and insured out of province for a period greater than 6 months ICBC considers the insurance as VOID. While difficult to enforce an accident can cause attract the gaze ICBC investigators. Remember ICBC likes to assume you are guilty until you prove your innocence.
2. Exporting the car from the US:
- A FAX machine will make your life easier.
- At least three business days before you plan export the vehicle you need to contact the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. If you plan to import through Blaine WA you can call 360.332.2632 and leave a message requesting a Vehicle Export Kit to be FAXed or email blaine-export@customs.treas.gov
- US Customs will FAX you 5 pages; page 2 is important. Page 2 is the Vehicle/Equipment Export Worksheet. Complete the worksheet and FAX it and a copy of the Title to 360.332.2639 and the bill of sale (to show you own the car).
- The form is straight forward. There will be two names and their respective addresses on the worksheet. The name of the individual (this can be you) or company that moves the vehicle across the border is recorded in the Transporting the Vehicle.
- Wait for the phone call (most likely the next business day) telling you when the vehicle is cleared for export. If they do not call you the next business day call them and leave a message that includes your name, contact telephone number, year make and VIN of the vehicle to be exported.
- The vehicle must remain the US until it has been cleared by US Customs.
3. At The Border USA
- The Export Hours at the Pacific Hwy Crossing in Blaine WA are 8:00AM - 3:30PM Monday to Friday. No Exportations on Weekends or Holidays.
- At the border, park car outside customs, and take original title inside and get it stamped: "US Vehicle Export". Look for the Vehicle Export Office (tiny little sign over a small window). Hand the Agent the original VIN.
- Once stamped you have successfully exported your vehicle.
- Go outside to car and drive to CDN side of the border.
4. At the Border - Canada
- At CDN border, you must declare the value of your car purchase. The border officer will write a slip with that value which you must take inside the Customs and Immigration Building. Park your car outside.
- Inside the Customs and Immigration Building, a Customs Officer will fill out Vehicle Import Form - Form 1. You will be asked to present the original Bill of Sale and the Title. At this point you will be charged a Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) fee of 195.00 + GST ($195.00 + GST and QST in Quebec) this fee includes the Federal Inspection Charge. The fee is processed through Transport Canada.
- You can ONLY use a Credit Card (CC) when paying the RIV fee. If you use a cheque, it will take 10 days to clear, and only then will the RIV get your info from the border. ***They do not take cash or debit for the RIV fee.***
- The Cashier in Customs will process the GST (Duty if applicable) and air conditioning; Casual Goods Accounting Document. These charges are processed through Canada Border Services Agency. You can pay the GST, Duty, and AC fee via Debit or CC. The form is B15-1(FLAT) (05/10)
Congratulations you have now exported a car from the USA and successfully imported it into Canada.
5. Driving your vehicle
- You may legally drive your plated vehicle. However you must insure the vehicle. For each day driven you need to have a valid Binder; this can be expensive so try to arrange inspections for same day.
- You may legally drive your vehicle across the border. If asked be prepared to produce your Stamped Title for the US and Casual Goods Accounting Documents for Canada. Canada Customs Officer at the booth will probably ask about RIV status.
6. FEDERAL inspection - Required only for cars LESS than 15 years old:
- Once in Canada, Fax your Form1 to RIV at 416.626.0366. Include your FAX number and or an Email address in order to receive Form2. Do not wait for Customs to send the form to RIV. Phone RIV at 1.888.848.8240 to check to for their reception. Ask when you will receive Form 2. Form 2 outlines the items necessary for your vehicle into in order to comply with Transport Canada Guidelines.
- You will need a letter from the US Company HeadOffice on company letter head stating that the vehicle is not involved in any previous or current service campaigns.
http://www.riv.ca/english
- You do not need to change the speedometer as long as it has km/h. The odometer can remain in miles.
- Most likely the vehicle will need Daytime Running Lights (DRL). Some US vehicles came with the DRL disabled others without the factory wiring. Either way DRL's can be added by yourself or through an installer. If equipped with air bags they must work. English/French Airbag instructions are required (on the visors). If your car does not have these you can go to a wrecking yard and pull the visors off of a Canadian Model
If the car went through the RIV program, you have 45 days (+10 day grace period) to get the FEDERAL inspection done.
- A Federal Inspection can be done at Canadian Tire. The fee is covered by the RIV Fee.
- Canadian Tire Store can FAX the information to RIV.
- If you require a Provincial Inspection ask if they can do one after the other. In BC Inspections Stations are designated by the Ministry of Transportation
- http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/CVSE/vehicle_in ... _forms.htm
- If you pass the Federal Inspection Canadian Tire will give a completed form to take to your licensing bureau. If you pass the BC inspection you will receive a completed Private Vehicle Inspection Report that must remain with the vehicle for 1 year.
5. Registration:
- Once you have a completed one or both inspections, present the completed forms to your licensing bureau. In BC, ICBC is one stop shopping.
- Provide proof of insurance.
- You will have to surrender your plates.
- You will pay the PST on the declared value of the vehicle in Canadian Funds. They will ask to see Customs B15-1(FLAT) (05/10) to see the amount you paid the day the vehicle entered the country.
6. Congratulations you have successfully imported your vehicle.
- Taxes (GST, Duty and PST) are based on the sale value of the vehicle. The Vehicle Title and the Bill of Sale must have the same amount. If the value looks too low it will be challenged. Don't be stupid!
If you are going to use an importer go here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importat ... search.asp
If you wish to import the vehicle yourself read on.
1. Buying the car:
- Check out http://www.riv.ca . Check out this to see how easy it is to import a vehicle http://www.riv.ca/.
- You'll need a bill of sale with VIN#, mileage, date, and price (in the currency of sale), signed by the seller and buyer. You will need the valid Title (Certificate) when you pick up the car
- If you are driving the car from A to B, you SHOULD have a "BINDER For Owner's Interim Certificate of Insurance." The form from ICBC is APV38. You will need the VIN for the car and your driver's license. This insurance is not cheap a minimum cost is $53 a day.
- Plates SHOULD come with the car from the state it was previously registered in. (if it was registered at all!) In Washington State you can transfer the plates into your name and for a cost of $4. If you have new plates issued you will have to pay Tax.
- To legally drive a car, it must be registered (does not matter where) and Insured!! A current license plate serves as your registration, and an ICBC binder will serve as your insurance, so you are legal to drive the car until you arrive at your destination!
If you are a resident of BC and have a car in BC plated and insured out of province for a period greater than 6 months ICBC considers the insurance as VOID. While difficult to enforce an accident can cause attract the gaze ICBC investigators. Remember ICBC likes to assume you are guilty until you prove your innocence.
2. Exporting the car from the US:
- A FAX machine will make your life easier.
- At least three business days before you plan export the vehicle you need to contact the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. If you plan to import through Blaine WA you can call 360.332.2632 and leave a message requesting a Vehicle Export Kit to be FAXed or email blaine-export@customs.treas.gov
- US Customs will FAX you 5 pages; page 2 is important. Page 2 is the Vehicle/Equipment Export Worksheet. Complete the worksheet and FAX it and a copy of the Title to 360.332.2639 and the bill of sale (to show you own the car).
- The form is straight forward. There will be two names and their respective addresses on the worksheet. The name of the individual (this can be you) or company that moves the vehicle across the border is recorded in the Transporting the Vehicle.
- Wait for the phone call (most likely the next business day) telling you when the vehicle is cleared for export. If they do not call you the next business day call them and leave a message that includes your name, contact telephone number, year make and VIN of the vehicle to be exported.
- The vehicle must remain the US until it has been cleared by US Customs.
3. At The Border USA
- The Export Hours at the Pacific Hwy Crossing in Blaine WA are 8:00AM - 3:30PM Monday to Friday. No Exportations on Weekends or Holidays.
- At the border, park car outside customs, and take original title inside and get it stamped: "US Vehicle Export". Look for the Vehicle Export Office (tiny little sign over a small window). Hand the Agent the original VIN.
- Once stamped you have successfully exported your vehicle.
- Go outside to car and drive to CDN side of the border.
4. At the Border - Canada
- At CDN border, you must declare the value of your car purchase. The border officer will write a slip with that value which you must take inside the Customs and Immigration Building. Park your car outside.
- Inside the Customs and Immigration Building, a Customs Officer will fill out Vehicle Import Form - Form 1. You will be asked to present the original Bill of Sale and the Title. At this point you will be charged a Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) fee of 195.00 + GST ($195.00 + GST and QST in Quebec) this fee includes the Federal Inspection Charge. The fee is processed through Transport Canada.
- You can ONLY use a Credit Card (CC) when paying the RIV fee. If you use a cheque, it will take 10 days to clear, and only then will the RIV get your info from the border. ***They do not take cash or debit for the RIV fee.***
- The Cashier in Customs will process the GST (Duty if applicable) and air conditioning; Casual Goods Accounting Document. These charges are processed through Canada Border Services Agency. You can pay the GST, Duty, and AC fee via Debit or CC. The form is B15-1(FLAT) (05/10)
Congratulations you have now exported a car from the USA and successfully imported it into Canada.
5. Driving your vehicle
- You may legally drive your plated vehicle. However you must insure the vehicle. For each day driven you need to have a valid Binder; this can be expensive so try to arrange inspections for same day.
- You may legally drive your vehicle across the border. If asked be prepared to produce your Stamped Title for the US and Casual Goods Accounting Documents for Canada. Canada Customs Officer at the booth will probably ask about RIV status.
6. FEDERAL inspection - Required only for cars LESS than 15 years old:
- Once in Canada, Fax your Form1 to RIV at 416.626.0366. Include your FAX number and or an Email address in order to receive Form2. Do not wait for Customs to send the form to RIV. Phone RIV at 1.888.848.8240 to check to for their reception. Ask when you will receive Form 2. Form 2 outlines the items necessary for your vehicle into in order to comply with Transport Canada Guidelines.
- You will need a letter from the US Company HeadOffice on company letter head stating that the vehicle is not involved in any previous or current service campaigns.
http://www.riv.ca/english
- You do not need to change the speedometer as long as it has km/h. The odometer can remain in miles.
- Most likely the vehicle will need Daytime Running Lights (DRL). Some US vehicles came with the DRL disabled others without the factory wiring. Either way DRL's can be added by yourself or through an installer. If equipped with air bags they must work. English/French Airbag instructions are required (on the visors). If your car does not have these you can go to a wrecking yard and pull the visors off of a Canadian Model
If the car went through the RIV program, you have 45 days (+10 day grace period) to get the FEDERAL inspection done.
- A Federal Inspection can be done at Canadian Tire. The fee is covered by the RIV Fee.
- Canadian Tire Store can FAX the information to RIV.
- If you require a Provincial Inspection ask if they can do one after the other. In BC Inspections Stations are designated by the Ministry of Transportation
- http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/CVSE/vehicle_in ... _forms.htm
- If you pass the Federal Inspection Canadian Tire will give a completed form to take to your licensing bureau. If you pass the BC inspection you will receive a completed Private Vehicle Inspection Report that must remain with the vehicle for 1 year.
5. Registration:
- Once you have a completed one or both inspections, present the completed forms to your licensing bureau. In BC, ICBC is one stop shopping.
- Provide proof of insurance.
- You will have to surrender your plates.
- You will pay the PST on the declared value of the vehicle in Canadian Funds. They will ask to see Customs B15-1(FLAT) (05/10) to see the amount you paid the day the vehicle entered the country.
6. Congratulations you have successfully imported your vehicle.
- Taxes (GST, Duty and PST) are based on the sale value of the vehicle. The Vehicle Title and the Bill of Sale must have the same amount. If the value looks too low it will be challenged. Don't be stupid!
- dug320
- Regular SolaraGuy Member
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:23 pm