Exporting a Vehicle from the U.S. and Importing into Canada: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

[KBH]

Hello KBH

Thank you for your advise...I took a lot of quotes and finally settled on Johnson as they were the cheapest, finally finished my final step today and got the Ontario plates..all your posts were very accurate and I was able to go through the whole process without any issues. Thank you so much.

One final question on this topic...how did you return the old US plates back to your local dmv.

Glad to help! The process varies by state, so you’ll have to check on your state’s DMV website. I returned mine by mail.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

I returned my CT plates via Canada Post from Quebec.

 

[Forte]

Glad to help! The process varies by state, so you’ll have to check on your state’s DMV website. I returned mine by mail.

What if your plates were expired. I'm landing in August and my tags are also expiring in August. Do I still need to send them back?

 

[KBH]

What if your plates were expired. I'm landing in August and my tags are also expiring in August. Do I still need to send them back?

Again, it depends on the state, but most likely yes. It has nothing to do with whether they are expired or not. Typically, mailing back your plates is the only way your state’s DMV is made aware that you have moved elsewhere and are not driving around with expired plates and registration.

Around 10 years ago I mailed back my MD plates after moving to NY and apparently they got lost in the mail, because about 4 years later I got a bill from the state of MD to the tune of $3,000 as they believed I had been driving around with everything expired that entire time. I didn’t have to pay it of course after I called and explained. Moral of the story, mail back your plates!

 

[Forte]

Again, it depends on the state, but most likely yes. It has nothing to do with whether they are expired or not. Typically, mailing back your plates is the only way your state’s DMV is made aware that you have moved elsewhere and are not driving around with expired plates and registration.

Around 10 years ago I mailed back my MD plates after moving to NY and apparently they got lost in the mail, because about 4 years later I got a bill from the state of MD to the tune of $3,000 as they believed I had been driving around with everything expired that entire time. I didn’t have to pay it of course after I called and explained. Moral of the story, mail back your plates!

Sigh...as luck would have it, my 10 year old car gave up on me today so I won't be bringing it with me, and I will mail my plates out before I leave. Sad day but at least it didn't fail on the 16hr drive to Ontario.

 

[links18]

Whatever you do, do not cancel insurance without first returning your plates. Some states will consider you to have been driving uninsured during that time period and subject you to massive fines and penalties.

 

[links18]

Sigh...as luck would have it, my 10 year old car gave up on me today so I won't be bringing it with me, and I will mail my plates out before I leave. Sad day but at least it didn't fail on the 16hr drive to Ontario.

What make of car gives out after only 10 years? Let me know, so I can be sure never to buy one!

 

[badpusacat]

HELP PLEASE!

I’m buying my uncle’s 2010 Pilot in New Jersey and we’re driving it to Toronto. I am based in Calgary.

1. From NJ to border, I assume we can still use his US insurance for the car, right? How about when we’re in Canada (driving Toronto to Calgary), what insurance can I use/buy?

2. Once we completed our formal export process, can we go back to US with the car? Driving from Toronto to Calgary has two options: Canada side and US side. We are planning to do the US side but wants to make sure all formal export process is done.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Alex54321]

HELP PLEASE!

I’m buying my uncle’s 2010 Pilot in New Jersey and we’re driving it to Toronto. I am based in Calgary.

1. From NJ to border, I assume we can still use his US insurance for the car, right? How about when we’re in Canada (driving Toronto to Calgary), what insurance can I use/buy?

2. Once we completed our formal export process, can we go back to US with the car? Driving from Toronto to Calgary has two options: Canada side and US side. We are planning to do the US side but wants to make sure all formal export process is done.

Thank you in advance!

As I understand you buy vehicle first and drive it later, so you will have to have your "new" car registered, plated and insured in US on your name. You can drive your vehicle in NJ and in Canada as visitor. People say on this forum that if you export your vehicle from US you can drive her back only registered, plated and insured in Canada as US visitor?

 

[KBH]

As I understand you buy vehicle first and drive it later, so you will have to have your "new" car registered, plated and insured in US on your name. You can drive your vehicle in NJ and in Canada as visitor. People say on this forum that if you export your vehicle from US you can drive her back only registered, plated and insured in Canada as US visitor?

Yes, I think you're spot on here...

Car needs to be plated, registered, insured in the US (in your name) before you could export it. Otherwise you might want to consider towing?

After it's been exported from the US, you can't bring it back into the US until you've plated, registered, and insured in Canada.

 

[badpusacat]

As I understand you buy vehicle first and drive it later, so you will have to have your "new" car registered, plated and insured in US on your name. You can drive your vehicle in NJ and in Canada as visitor. People say on this forum that if you export your vehicle from US you can drive her back only registered, plated and insured in Canada as US visitor?

No.

I’m a PR who will buy the vehicle from a private person (my relative), drive it to the border (Toronto) for export process, and I need to drive it all the way to Calgary (where I live).

I will do the export process in Toronto because in case of any issue, it is still closer to NJ. Does it make sense?

Since there are two (major) paths to drive from Toronto to Calgary, I’m planning to take the US route. Hence, AFTER the export process, can we go back to US to drive to Calgary? We all have a multiple entry US visa and the original owner of the car, my relative, is an american is coming with us.

 

[badpusacat]

Yes, I think you're spot on here...

Car needs to be plated, registered, insured in the US (in your name) before you could export it. Otherwise you might want to consider towing?

After it's been exported from the US, you can't bring it back into the US until you've plated, registered, and insured in Canada.

Ok, I got you. The used car is US plated and registered.

So we can’t bring it back to the US after the export even the american (original) owner is driving? I’m just wondering because it is still US plate (after the export) that will be driven by someone with US driving license?

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Let's tackle it from different angle. What issues you expect during export process that's prompting you to finish export process in Toronto instead of Calgary. Why not just drive directly from NJ to Calgary?

 

[Alex54321]

No.

I’m a PR who will buy the vehicle from a private person (my relative), drive it to the border (Toronto) for export process, and I need to drive it all the way to Calgary (where I live).

I will do the export process in Toronto because in case of any issue, it is still closer to NJ. Does it make sense?

Since there are two (major) paths to drive from Toronto to Calgary, I’m planning to take the US route. Hence, AFTER the export process, can we go back to US to drive to Calgary? We all have a multiple entry US visa and the original owner of the car, my relative, is an american is coming with us.

In order to export from US the car should be Titled on your name with proper US registration and plate. In order to get a Title among the other things you have to bring to NJ DMV "Proof of New Jersey insurance. " You are Canadian PR with multiple US visa - a Canadian resident. Where do you get proof of New Jersey insurance?

https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/vehicles/preowntitle.htm

 

[badpusacat]

In order to export from US the car should be Titled on your name with proper US registration and plate. In order to get a Title among the other things you have to bring to NJ DMV "Proof of New Jersey insurance. " You are Canadian PR with multiple US visa - a Canadian resident. Where do you get proof of New Jersey insurance?

https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/vehicles/preowntitle.htm

The title has to be under my name to export? Is that accurate?

Isn’t it that in order for me to export I just need the title (even not under my name), bill of sale, and/or a letter allowing me to export the car.

It has a proper US registration plate.