Better Not To Export old Cars from US to CANADA

[sandeepcanadaianbanenge]

I exported my 2003 nissan altima from US to Canada. It was an out and out loss that i endured and will strongly advice not to export old cars to Canada.I didnt know about another 70 point check - called provincial check that is done in BC, Canada inorder to get your car registered in BC. My car was all well i drove it to Canada from US and has never given me any problems.

Car was missing daytime running lights and it took me 200 bucks to get that installed and it easily passed the federal inspection. However, in the 70 point check, they just scanned my car as if it has to be 'showroom condition' from inside and out side and gave me a 2500 dollar bill to get it fixed(included rear wheel bearing making some noise - i never heard it!, slight crack on the side mirror- almost unnoticiable, etc etc). Ultimately, i was able to get it fixed for another 1500 dollars and was frustated because i had pay up for inspections again and again.

This tells me that it would have been easier to sell my car for 4000 odd dollars in the US and bought a newer used vehicle here in Canada

Also, even after registering my car to BC, Canada, if ever i move outside BC, i will have to get all the inspections done again..which is another risk.
so please take an informed decision.

thanks
sandeepraj

 

[Mabertia]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[gprasad.n]

Hi Sandeep, I have already posted this question in the forum, however I think I could get an answer from you.

have 2 cars (2012 / 2014) models in US. I would like to import them both in future, when I move in to Canada. I would like to include my cars in the goods to follow form, should I need to bring copies of car title along with me during landing and attach it with the B4 form or writing the VIN number of the cars would be good enough.

How about writing the values of the car, is that Ok if I put the car’s current value from Kelly Blue Book (KBB) or is there any other site to refer?

Thanks

 

[kateg]

We ended up importing our 2012 Subaru. It already had DRL, so it passed everything just fine.

The biggest issue with us was that it was not properly exported, so we had to re-register it in the states, then export it, which cost us another $250 or so.

Once the car is on the RIV, won't the inspections in other provinces be the same as if it was originally sold here?

 

[OntarioBound]

Wow, my experience was much better than yours. I imported my 2004 Honda Accord - no problem whatsoever, but this was in Ontario. Maybe my car was in a better condition than yours? Or maybe you had a very picky inspector, I don't know, but the only thing I had to get done was the daytime running light. The check and the work were both done at a local Canadian Tire store.

 

[novsaggi]

I think if you provide make/model & vin in B4 that should suffice.
I had done the same, and was able to get my car later

Hi Sandeep, I have already posted this question in the forum, however I think I could get an answer from you.

have 2 cars (2012 / 2014) models in US. I would like to import them both in future, when I move in to Canada. I would like to include my cars in the goods to follow form, should I need to bring copies of car title along with me during landing and attach it with the B4 form or writing the VIN number of the cars would be good enough.

How about writing the values of the car, is that Ok if I put the car’s current value from Kelly Blue Book (KBB) or is there any other site to refer?

Thanks

 

[sandeepcanadaianbanenge]

Coming back too late on this forum , so apologies,
Just to add, even when in BC, i tried to sell my US imported car, anyone who wanted a car even the poorest dealer/garage guy, would NOT take the car because its a US car.

So all in all it is not WORTH it!

 

[Mybarbiehead]

Coming back too late on this forum , so apologies,
Just to add, even when in BC, i tried to sell my US imported car, anyone who wanted a car even the poorest dealer/garage guy, would NOT take the car because its a US car.

So all in all it is not WORTH it!

I think it depends on the situation. My car is a 2006. It gets inspected every year where I live (according to state law) and it already has running lights, so I shouldn't have to modify it when I import it. I'm keeping it because although my Canadian husband has a good job, I have no idea how long it will take for me to find a job in Canada and I do not want to have to deal with making car payments while I'm unemployed. It's easier to drive my old faithful vehicle around until I have a steady income. I don't care if it's hard to sell when I get around to buying a new car. At its current age, it's not worth much anyway.

 

[nyctomtl]

Coming back too late on this forum , so apologies,
Just to add, even when in BC, i tried to sell my US imported car, anyone who wanted a car even the poorest dealer/garage guy, would NOT take the car because its a US car.

So all in all it is not WORTH it!

Could you import it back into the US and then sell it?