Guide to importing car from Detroit to Windsor

[VOBuckeye]

I believe you cannot sell the items that you got tax free for one year after import. Trading is form of selling I guess.

Ok, thanks for your input. So I'm guessing I can't trade it in if I haven't imported it officially into Canada.

 

[VOBuckeye]

Did you check with your lienholder if they are ok to allow you to continue paying off the loan while you are in Canada and provide you with an export clearance letter - that should allow you I guess to export the car and have it registered - I really want to explore this option rather than pay off the loan here in US - wondering if any banks/credit unions will do this

I will check with them in a few weeks, but I'd like to get another car altogether that's suitable for my commute (daily border crossing) in winter weather.

 

[greencard14]

Hi, I'm moving to Canada on a weekend (Detroit-Windsor) and assuming I can't export a car on the weekend (is this correct?), is it possible to quickly bring it to the U.S. from Canada on a weekday just for exporting? Is there a rule that that car has to be in the U.S. at least for 72 hours?
Anyone did something similar?

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi, I'm moving to Canada on a weekend (Detroit-Windsor) and
1. assuming I can't export a car on the weekend (is this correct?),
2. is it possible to quickly bring it to the U.S. from Canada on a weekday just for exporting?
3. Is there a rule that that car has to be in the U.S. at least for 72 hours?
Anyone did something similar?

1. No. You can import any day as long as border is open for crossing. Check with them their comfortable time frame in a day to avoid much delays. Many borders are 24/7 and they allow 24/7 on importing/exporting. Its one of their daily business. Trucks cross every day including weekends.
2. I am not sure you can do it as they ask us to wait for 72 hours after we submitting the request. I am not sure if you can just do only export (as there will be unnecessary questions at the return border within US as we are not allowed without going through the border booth official).
3. Yes, as per the process instructions, we clearly get the email on asking us to wait after informing cbp on export - "Email sent to CBP with VIN number and ITN number 72 hours in advance".

 

[greencard14]

1. No. You can import any day as long as border is open for crossing. Check with them their comfortable time frame in a day to avoid much delays. Many borders are 24/7 and they allow 24/7 on importing/exporting. Its one of their daily business. Trucks cross every day including weekends.
2. I am not sure you can do it as they ask us to wait for 72 hours after we submitting the request. I am not sure if you can just do only export (as there will be unnecessary questions at the return border within US as we are not allowed without going through the border booth official).
3. Yes, as per the process instructions, we clearly get the email on asking us to wait after informing cbp on export - "Email sent to CBP with VIN number and ITN number 72 hours in advance".

Thank you! I just called Ambassador bridge CBP office and they are open 24/7, so looks like I can export the car on weekends too, so I will just do that instead of returning on a weekday. I should still call the CBSA office to see if they will also be open to import. How does the 72 hours work exactly - If I send the email Tuesday at 9 AM, then will I be able to export on Friday at 9AM or later?

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you! I just called Ambassador bridge CBP office and they are open 24/7, so looks like I can export the car on weekends too, so I will just do that instead of returning on a weekday. I should still call the CBSA office to see if they will also be open to import. How does the 72 hours work exactly - If I send the email Tuesday at 9 AM, then will I be able to export on Friday at 9AM or later?

If you are talking about ambassador bridge then you are good to go anytime. both sides are open all the time as i too enquired on both the sides when i took the car on the same bridge.
72 hours: Yes i think so, as they dont mention in days. Usually they dont look at strictly when we go there but on paper lets follow to avoid any issues. All they want to make sure is that they can start checking our VIN is not a stolen one.

 

[Binette]

Hello everybody. l need your advice. I received my PR couple weeks ago, l live in michigan 40 minutes away from windsor and l have a good job in the U.S. I am thinking about moving to windsor and going to work in michigan (pontiac) but l m not sure about the commute ( crossing the border everyday) Is this doable? By way l am still on H1B ( green card in process, interview next month).

thanks in advance

 

[VOBuckeye]

Hello everybody. l need your advice. I received my PR couple weeks ago, l live in michigan 40 minutes away from windsor and l have a good job in the U.S. I am thinking about moving to windsor and going to work in michigan (pontiac) but l m not sure about the commute ( crossing the border everyday) Is this doable? By way l am still on H1B ( green card in process, interview next month).

thanks in advance

I live in Windsor downtown and work in Warren, MI on H1B. My commute is about 30 minutes taking the tunnel as there's usually no traffic when I leave the house around 6.20 am each morning. I cross back and forth on weekends as well with no issues. Having said that, I think it would be difficult for you to maintain both PRs in my opinion. Both countries have a residency obligation that you must fulfill. If you're almost getting your US green card, would it be better to just wait on that? Maybe weigh the pro's and cons and see which country works best for you? Just my opinion.

 

[Binette]

I live in Windsor downtown and work in Warren, MI on H1B. My commute is about 30 minutes taking the tunnel as there's usually no traffic when I leave the house around 6.20 am each morning. I cross back and forth on weekends as well with no issues. Having said that, I think it would be difficult for you to maintain both PRs in my opinion. Both countries have a residency obligation that you must fulfill. If you're almost getting your US green card, would it be better to just wait on that? Maybe weigh the pro's and cons and see which country works best for you? Just my opinion.

Thank you for the inputs, you are right about the difficulty of keeping both PRs. I am still wondering ! The major reason l want to keep the canadian PR is to be able to invite my mom to visit canada.

 

[VOBuckeye]

Thank you for the inputs, you are right about the difficulty of keeping both PRs. I am still wondering ! The major reason l want to keep the canadian PR is to be able to invite my mom to visit canada.

haha ok, I guess you could, but I don't think getting a Canadian visitor visa is hard.

 

[cram2017]

Hi, I'm moving to Canada on a weekend (Detroit-Windsor) and assuming I can't export a car on the weekend (is this correct?), is it possible to quickly bring it to the U.S. from Canada on a weekday just for exporting? Is there a rule that that car has to be in the U.S. at least for 72 hours?
Anyone did something similar?

Its open on weekend also. check the hours. Also car needs to be in the US for 72 hours before exporting. So better to do the export before moving to canada

 

[ganeshk85]

Car transfer - Hope it helps someone...more to come.

Step 1.
Exporting the car in Detroit - Ambassador Bridge
This part is very simple.
I used A&A customs for getting the ITN. They were great. Cost 150 CAD.
send over the documents A&A asks for - title, license, etc…
They will send over the documents to CBP 72 hours before. So you don’t need to do that.
Day of the export, go to the CBP Office.
The CBP Office is hard to locate. Here’s the directions: http://imgur.com/a/bIViD
Park the car next to the trucks parked there - the officer who let’s you through the gates will direct you
Do not take backpack to the CBP Office - they will send you back to leave it in the car
Just take the copy of ITN that A&A (or your ITN company) sent you, original title, license, and passport.
The officer will stamp the Title
the export part is done

Optional: Before you import, fill in the RIV form on RIV site.
https://www.riv.ca/OnlineForms/Home/Login
Register and file a new form.
The Advantage of doing this is to save time at the Canada customs. You won’t have to fill this form manually - this form is called “Form 1” - but on the form it does not say “Form 1” anywhere.

Step 2.
Importing the car on the Canadian side - Ambassador Bridge
Give the PR card to customs officer and tell him that you are importing the car because you are a landed immigrant, and moving to Canada.
Officer will direct you to the customs office
Give the officer Form 1, and show them the B4 which you should have filled when you landed. It should have the VIN of the car you’re importing. This is what I had, so I am not sure if you don’t have this. You might have to tell the officer that you are moving permanently and importing the car. This basically allows you to import the car without paying any tax.

This is all I have done for now. Just waiting on my Form 2 from RIV

Thank you for this detailed information on importing the car. I guess the B4 form is now called as BSF186. While landing, did you mention the VIN number of the car under the "Conveyances" table in the Goods to follow B4 form?

 

[sijimon]

Car transfer - Hope it helps someone...more to come.

Step 1.
Exporting the car in Detroit - Ambassador Bridge
This part is very simple.
I used A&A customs for getting the ITN. They were great. Cost 150 CAD.
send over the documents A&A asks for - title, license, etc…
They will send over the documents to CBP 72 hours before. So you don’t need to do that.
Day of the export, go to the CBP Office.
The CBP Office is hard to locate. Here’s the directions: http://imgur.com/a/bIViD
Park the car next to the trucks parked there - the officer who let’s you through the gates will direct you
Do not take backpack to the CBP Office - they will send you back to leave it in the car
Just take the copy of ITN that A&A (or your ITN company) sent you, original title, license, and passport.
The officer will stamp the Title
the export part is done

Optional: Before you import, fill in the RIV form on RIV site.
https://www.riv.ca/OnlineForms/Home/Login
Register and file a new form.
The Advantage of doing this is to save time at the Canada customs. You won’t have to fill this form manually - this form is called “Form 1” - but on the form it does not say “Form 1” anywhere.

Step 2.
Importing the car on the Canadian side - Ambassador Bridge
Give the PR card to customs officer and tell him that you are importing the car because you are a landed immigrant, and moving to Canada.
Officer will direct you to the customs office
Give the officer Form 1, and show them the B4 which you should have filled when you landed. It should have the VIN of the car you’re importing. This is what I had, so I am not sure if you don’t have this. You might have to tell the officer that you are moving permanently and importing the car. This basically allows you to import the car without paying any tax.

This is all I have done for now. Just waiting on my Form 2 from RIV

Thank you for the above inputs, I am in a similar situation and have a question to locate CBP office Detroit - Ambassador Bridge , should I stop at "Ammex Global Marketplace" and walk to the CBP Office or do I have to drive further. [I will be driving from Chicago]

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you for the above inputs, I am in a similar situation and have a question to locate CBP office Detroit - Ambassador Bridge , should I stop at "Ammex Global Marketplace" and walk to the CBP Office or do I have to drive further. [I will be driving from Chicago]

Its a confusing way to reach cbp for the first timers. Do not go till Ammex shop. You need to take the way before that where there will be a small board. If the gate is closed then wait in the car and someone will come - dont get out. Then you go further and can see parking lot and you can see the cbp office where you can enquire more. Here is the coordinates in the map where you need to take left before ammex. Hope this helps.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/42°19'11.8"N+83°04'49.3"W/@42.31995,-83.0809065,230m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d42.319949!4d-83.0803578

 

[sijimon]

Its a confusing way to reach cbp for the first timers. Do not go till Ammex shop. You need to take the way before that where there will be a small board. If the gate is closed then wait in the car and someone will come - dont get out. Then you go further and can see parking lot and you can see the cbp office where you can enquire more. Here is the coordinates in the map where you need to take left before ammex. Hope this helps.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/42°19'11.8"N+83°04'49.3"W/@42.31995,-83.0809065,230m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d42.319949!4d-83.0803578

Thank you so much, this is very helpful.