Exporting/Importing a car from the US

[awor]

Thank you so much for this thread! I've been so worried about the process.

Another question, can we fax the title *more* than 72 hours ahead of time? Like 4-5 days? When we land, we'll be driving back to Oregon, getting my things out of storage, visiting family, and coming back through the border. I'm not sure how long that will take. If the fax is "good" for more than 72 hours, then I can send it early and give us time to visit family and fix any problems that might pop up (sick kid, etc).

 

[mmshock]

Canada Dream -

From what I have found you do need to claim it when you land. Not sure if others have gotten around this, but from what I've heard its somewhat illegal to be driving a "visiting" car once you are officially a resident. I am visiting at the moment with a US car and know for a fact that my husband - Canadian resident/citizen - isn't legally allowed to drive it without me in the car.

I'd call your provinces Ministry of Transportation.

 

[jayde]

Canada Dream -

From what I have found you do need to claim it when you land. Not sure if others have gotten around this, but from what I've heard its somewhat illegal to be driving a "visiting" car once you are officially a resident. I am visiting at the moment with a US car and know for a fact that my husband - Canadian resident/citizen - isn't legally allowed to drive it without me in the car.

I'd call your provinces Ministry of Transportation.

erhm... seriously? I drive my visiting husbands car at least once a week, and he drives mine. he'll take my car to the shop during the day while i'm working etc... i need to check this out. that's alarming really.

 

[mmshock]

We've been as well Jayde. We only have one car and its mine from the US. Just something that was pointed out to me.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Thank you so much for this thread! I've been so worried about the process.

Another question, can we fax the title *more* than 72 hours ahead of time? Like 4-5 days? When we land, we'll be driving back to Oregon, getting my things out of storage, visiting family, and coming back through the border. I'm not sure how long that will take. If the fax is "good" for more than 72 hours, then I can send it early and give us time to visit family and fix any problems that might pop up (sick kid, etc).

Yes you can. I actually dropped mine in person like 2 months before I exported. Though they couldn't find it in there system when I was finally ready to export, they had stamped "received [with a date]" on my original so I had proof that I had done it. The RIV website says that US export office requires the title "at least 72 hours prior" so I think you will be fine if you send it a couple days earlier.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Hello All,

Please forgive my ignorance....

I am fine with process to import the car in "Goods to Follow".

But I am still confused and here is my case;

I want to travel to Canada from USA in my car for landing process purpose, at that time I am not importing my car to Canada.
But one of VIP member has mentioned in his post that there are cases, where officer at Port of Entry (forced) asked to import the car in landing visit so that VIP member has suggested to travel by rented car if someone want to avoid such case.

I wish to avoid to travel by rented car as I am planning to stay in Canada for 5-7 days, and that why can avoid to pay for rented car.

Question is - Can I complete landing process if I visit Canada by my own car, which will be in "Good to Follow" list.

Please reply...

I think the key here, as I understand it, is that you are only coming to land not to establish residence. Tell the officer you are crossing to land only and will be staying 5-7 days and that you intend to import the vehicle when you return to establish residence (actually move here). If you start the import process you have only a limited time to complete the steps to get your import sticker for your car (90 days I think, but I'm not sure). If the officer understands that you are returning to the US, he *should* allow you to drive into Canada just as if you were a visitor. No guarantee though as with anything in this process! I would suggest you try to call the customs office at the port of entry you intend to use just to confirm.

 

[can_usa_97]

They told me to get a fax confirmation - of the title sent so that you have proof that it was sent, things get lost.
My husband called about a half hour ago and the process was painless for him - he's now back in Canada.

I think they may ask questions, but in general will allow you to do goods to follow. They just want to understand why your doing it that way.

 

[canada_dream100]

I think the key here, as I understand it, is that you are only coming to land not to establish residence. Tell the officer you are crossing to land only and will be staying 5-7 days and that you intend to import the vehicle when you return to establish residence (actually move here). If you start the import process you have only a limited time to complete the steps to get your import sticker for your car (90 days I think, but I'm not sure). If the officer understands that you are returning to the US, he *should* allow you to drive into Canada just as if you were a visitor. No guarantee though as with anything in this process! I would suggest you try to call the customs office at the port of entry you intend to use just to confirm.

thank you for replying.... I am planning to land via Peace Bridge.... Where can I get (link/website) phone # for that POE office.... any clue?

thx again...

 

[AllisonVSC]

thank you for replying.... I am planning to land via Peace Bridge.... Where can I get (link/website) phone # for that POE office.... any clue?

thx again...

Try here...

http://niagara.cioc.ca/record/NIA2256

 

[canada_dream100]

Try here...

http://niagara.cioc.ca/record/NIA2256

Cool... u deserve Champion Member status...thx again...
will try the no. ....

 

[QCSunshine]

Canada Dream -

From what I have found you do need to claim it when you land. Not sure if others have gotten around this, but from what I've heard its somewhat illegal to be driving a "visiting" car once you are officially a resident. I am visiting at the moment with a US car and know for a fact that my husband - Canadian resident/citizen - isn't legally allowed to drive it without me in the car.

I'd call your provinces Ministry of Transportation.

I have heard this too. Well, actually two separate things related to this.

1. That it was illegal for a Canadian person to drive a car that a US person has in Canada as a visitor. (Especially if if the US person is not in the car with the Canadian.) I heard the car can be confiscated on the spot if a Canadian is driving a US visitor's car and the US citizen is not there. I don't know if this is true, but it did concern us some after we heard about this.

2. Once you land and become a PR, immigration officers did tell me that you are not supposed to drive your US car that has not been imported. This provides some difficulties because to import it, one has to get the car to the certification place, the garage, customs, the provincial department of transportation place, etc. When we asked how to do this, the immigration officer said that we would most likely not be stopped and if we were, hopefully the officer would be understanding. This was a concern to us and we got the car imported immediately (the day after landing) and then began the registration process. (I landed at an airport and my car was already in Canada, which is how I landed with my car as "goods to follow" without importing it at a physical border.)

 

[canada_dream100]

I have heard this too. Well, actually two separate things related to this.

1. That it was illegal for a Canadian person to drive a car that a US person has in Canada as a visitor. (Especially if if the US person is not in the car with the Canadian.) I heard the car can be confiscated on the spot if a Canadian is driving a US visitor's car and the US citizen is not there. I don't know if this is true, but it did concern us some after we heard about this.

2. Once you land and become a PR, immigration officers did tell me that you are not supposed to drive your US car that has not been imported. This provides some difficulties because to import it, one has to get the car to the certification place, the garage, customs, the provincial department of transportation place, etc. When we asked how to do this, the immigration officer said that we would most likely not be stopped and if we were, hopefully the officer would be understanding. This was a concern to us and we got the car imported immediately (the day after landing) and then began the registration process. (I landed at an airport and my car was already in Canada, which is how I landed with my car as "goods to follow" without importing it at a physical border.)

1) - I think, One can drive with US licence in Canada for approx. first 3 weeks....

2) this is something unrealistic approach.... One can drive rented US car in Canada with PR landing, but not its own :-\

 

[mmshock]

I know, its so so screwy.....

1 - In Ontario I know I can drive (once I land) with my US license for 60 days. However, for now, as I am visiting and my car is US registered, if my husband (Ontario DL) got caught driving it without me we would be in serious trouble. SO having a US license isn't really issue here...

2 - In Ontario I also have a 30 day grace period once I import to get everything done with my personal, US registered private vehicle.

Once I got the somewhat cut and dry facts from all the agents, its just one of them thangs. Just a little more red tape before this is over.

 

[Huron]

My case is a little more complicated. I am a Canadian Citizen sponsoring my spouse. I will be returning to Canada and would like to bring our US plated car to Canada. When do I need to declare it? When do I turn in a goods to follow form for myself? During my first visit or when I am moving back and driving in the car?

I will most likely be visiting Canada soon to begin the job and home search. I will be flying in at that time. Neither I, nor my spouse, have a US nor a Canadian driver’s license, and I have not been to Canada in many years. (We do not live in the US)

Thanks for any guidance

 

[can_usa_97]

My case is a little more complicated. I am a Canadian Citizen sponsoring my spouse. I will be returning to Canada and would like to bring our US plated car to Canada. When do I need to declare it? When do I turn in a goods to follow form for myself? During my first visit or when I am moving back and driving in the car?

I will most likely be visiting Canada soon to begin the job and home search. I will be flying in at that time. Neither I, nor my spouse, have a US nor a Canadian driver's license, and I have not been to Canada in many years. (We do not live in the US)

Thanks for any guidance

My husband did this just Thursday. I had claimed it as my goods when I landed in June but when he secured a job and returned Thursday he exported/imported it as his goods and I will take it off my list. I do however live in the US.... maybe someone else will think otherwise.