Brining my cousin's car to Canada

[Brejack1935]

Hi there, I wish I can get some advise here.

My cousin, whom's a PRC national, used to study in the US and brought a car during that time. He paid off the loan and the car's title is in his name. After graduation, he could not get a job so he left and returned to China. He left his car in a storage in NY and wanted me to bring the car over to Canada when he starts his PhD. Now he is about to start in early Sept, I would like to know what is the best option to do this. Should he get settled in Alberta first and get a US tourist visa so he can import it himself or should he flagpole in Alberta to import the car.

Also, should I be concerned what CBPA ask me when I cross the border with all his personal belonging?

Thanks,

 

[zardoz]

Hi there, I wish I can get some advise here.

My cousin, whom's a PRC national, used to study in the US and brought a car during that time. He paid off the loan and the car's title is in his name. After graduation, he could not get a job so he left and returned to China. He left his car in a storage in NY and wanted me to bring the car over to Canada when he starts his PhD. Now he is about to start in early Sept, I would like to know what is the best option to do this. Should he get settled in Alberta first and get a US tourist visa so he can import it himself or should he flagpole in Alberta to import the car.

Also, should I be concerned what CBPA ask me when I cross the border with all his personal belonging?

Thanks,

IMHO, you should not be involved in the importation of his effects/vehicle. This is his responsibility and he needs to be directly involved in the handling of the paperwork. Importing a vehicle is non-trivial and there may be duties/tax invoked on the incoming property.

 

[Brejack1935]

IMHO, you should not be involved in the importation of his effects/vehicle. This is his responsibility and he needs to be directly involved in the handling of the paperwork. Importing a vehicle is non-trivial and there may be duties/tax invoked on the incoming property.

Im only bringing it over, he will handle the paperwork (and the rest) himself. I just want to make sure CBSA will not give me a difficult time for driving his car over the border?

 

[zardoz]

Im only bringing it over, he will handle the paperwork (and the rest) himself. I just want to make sure CBSA will not give me a difficult time for driving his car over the border?

You'd better have absolutely watertight paperwork with you, as you will be the one actually importing the vehicle across the border.

 

[Bs65]

If this were me I would leave this to your cousin to sort out given exporting/importing a vehicle on a permanent basis can be quite an involved process although I guess cross continent road trip from NY to Alberta could be some attraction.

Add to that importing some of your cousins personal possessions as well , will you be taking responsibility for those if any customs issues. .

Also although I have no idea not sure I see how your cousin could flagpole processing the car, do you really mean that your cousin would enter the US and meet you in the US before travelling back or actual flagpole and pick up in the USCBP parking lot at the border ?

To me anyway what seems the best option for you to bring the car and so on to a US border city and for your cousin to meet you at an agreed meeting place, say Mcdonalds or Starbucks, then for your cousin with the necessary documentation in hand to import the car and possessions themself

So you get a road trip out of it and hopefully a return plane ticket but you avoid having the hassle of importing anything for someone else.

http://www.riv.ca/Home.aspx

Of course there is always option as a temp resident to import temporarily for duration of study after which the vehicle would need to be returned to the US but at least no import issues.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-visitors-1334.htm

 

[links18]

Come on guys, OP wants to help his cousin. No foul in that. But it does appear he might not be aware of how difficult that could be. OP, car needs to first be exported from the US before it can he imported to Canada and that is not easy. Might want to research a broker to do that for you, although obviously that costs money.

 

[zardoz]

Come on guys, OP wants to help his cousin. No foul in that. But it does appear he might not be aware of how difficult that could be. OP, car needs to first be exported from the US before it can he imported to Canada and that is not easy. Might want to research a broker to do that for you, although obviously that costs money.

No issues with the OP's motives at all. Just suggesting that this might not be as simple as just driving over the border. If, by some mishap, there is anything in or about the vehicle that CBP or CBSA get upset about, the OP is the one who will be held responsible. Example : a "joint" accidentally left in the glove compartment..

 

[links18]

. Example : a "joint" accidentally left in the glove compartment..

Or an assault weapon in the trunk.

 

[zardoz]

Essentially, this is the same as someone else asking you to carry their case through Customs at the airport. I certainly wouldn't do it.

 

[Bs65]

I don’t have issue either with the OP helping their cousin just seems the OP needs to weigh up the challenges involved in importing a car , especially one that does not belong to the OP. Add to that the comment about bringing some of the cousins possessions in as well that for me would make me very wary even if a completely innocent request , CBSA might not see it that way.

Seems like a better plan is for the OP to meet the cousin on the US side hand over the car and for the cousin to take responsibility from there on. Going to be a long drive though from NY to Alberta so hopefully the car is worth it.

 

[Brejack1935]

Wow, Thanks for all the advices. Would certainly pass on the info and call CBSA tomorrow and see what they think about it. Worst scenario, I will just sell the car in US and mail him the check.

 

[thisworks]

To me anyway what seems the best option for you to bring the car and so on to a US border city and for your cousin to meet you at an agreed meeting place, say Mcdonalds or Starbucks, then for your cousin with the necessary documentation in hand to import the car and possessions themself

I agree with this idea.

 

[Bs65]

Wow, Thanks for all the advices. Would certainly pass on the info and call CBSA tomorrow and see what they think about it. Worst scenario, I will just sell the car in US and mail him the check.

Seems to be the best option. It is not as though it is short road trip up to Buffalo but all way across to Alberta and then you have travel back. So gas costs , hotel nights and a return ticket plus any import fees if a permanent import the car would need to be special to do all that.

 

[zardoz]

It's about 2,500 Miles and 40+ hours of continuous driving..