skMarch31 said:
That was very helpfull.
Can you tell me what all documents do I need to import the car. And Do i need to do anything to export the car as well. Its already gone with the mover and is on way to canada.
I found googled some excellent web sites last year on how to do this.
Basically, to export out of the US, you fax or email a pdf of your car title (us ownership papers) to the US customs office at intended port of entry, requesting the export of your vehicle. They will respond with the standard instruction that you need to keep the vehicle in the US for the next 72 hours. If all goes well, shortly after the 72 hours has expired, US customs will contact you again to inform that you may now proceed to take your vehicle across the border.
At that point, you drive your vehicle to the intended land border crossing, stopping first at the US departure hall on the US side. You present the original copy of your title which you have previously sent the copy of, they pull their own paper copy of your title. After a cursory review of documents, they stamp "EXPORT" on your title. It all takes only about five minutes once your each the US customs counter. Very simple.
Since you have a mover shipping your car, they are most probably handling this exchange.
Once on the Canadian side of the border, you tell the first CBSA border office at point of contact that you are importing your vehicle as a newly landed permanent resident, bringing with you the newly exported US title and the B4A/B4 canadian customs document. CBSA customs will process import paperwork. I believe duty-free but am curious whether the $100 Excise Tax on auto aircon is due and a few other small fees.
Twice three years ago, I attempted to perform a temporary import of my US vehicle. This is allows for up to 36-months, also duty free and in this case, also free of the RIV requirements. But both attempts, I went through the 72-hour procedure on the US side only to drive to the Canadian side and told I didn't need to register my vehicle in Canada even when working long term in the country. I pointed out that the car needed to be registered in Canada, by law, since I live here now. They insisted that many Americans never bother so I shouldn't either. In every case, I was refused the opportunity to even go inside the customs counter in the arrivals hall to discuss the matter. So I aborted the attempt.
Now it's for keeps so I assume the process will go through to completion.
So, documents needed by Canada I believe are:
RIV wants a letter from auto manufacturer stating all recall notices have been complied with. I have tried three times to obtain such a letter from the manufacturer. Their head US office informs me to go to a dealer for this. The two dealers I have requested this for either did not know how to do so or claimed their computer system was inoperable and unable to do so.
RIV also wants to know that the vehicle has daytime running lights and kilometres-per-hour speedometer displayed on an adequately sufficient scale. I don't know exactly what this means or how to establish this with the RIV.
I also do not yet know at what point RIV requirements must be formally met as this was not required with CBSA Customs at point of landing as I had anticipated. So at some point after landing but I suspect before the vehicle is actually register with the Province. Not sure. Or maybe they give you some period of time to satisfy the import with RIV after you register. I am only speculating. Maybe someone can chime in on this if they know details.
At landing, CBSA also informed me that when a vehicle is brought in at landing for the duty-free benefit, that you cannot sell or otherwise dispose of the vehicle until after one year from the day of importation.
That's as much as I know. You can visit the RIV and CBSA web sites for more detail. Again, I also found other web sites that went into good detail on this. I also note there is a pamphlet published by CBSA on how to do so that I see every time I have been at a CBSA arrivals hall at both land crossings and at the Customs office at the local international airport that may also be helpful (perhaps this pamphlet is even available in pdf form on their web site).
Best of luck!
