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Exporting/Importing Vehicle - US to Canada ONLY!

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
521
128
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
Im moving there permanently. Can i do the same as visitor?
No, it works for me since I am dual citizen and still US resident with family in Canada.
The rules in each province are different, but in Ontario when you've become a resident you have 2 or 3 months ( more like 2) to exchange your US DL to Ontario DL. Also if you are Canadian resident you WILL have a problem with Allstate coverage in case of accident.
 
Last edited:

Sensuju

Member
Dec 10, 2018
14
0
Do you know how i can have insurance while driving to canada? Im pretty sure i will be spending a couple days driving to canada (i live in Louisiana) so i hope to find out some info about the car insurance. Can i tell my insurance company to give me something and they can cancel my policy when i reach Canada
 

northern sunshine

Hero Member
Mar 22, 2017
674
715
USA
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2112
App. Filed.......
12-06-2018
AOR Received.
12-06-2018
Med's Done....
02-06-2018
Passport Req..
26-07-2018
LANDED..........
23-02-2019
Do you know how i can have insurance while driving to canada? Im pretty sure i will be spending a couple days driving to canada (i live in Louisiana) so i hope to find out some info about the car insurance. Can i tell my insurance company to give me something and they can cancel my policy when i reach Canada
Presumably you wouldn't cancel your policy until after arriving in Canada. Most insurance providers will cover you temporarily if you drive a US insured car into Canada. Check directly with your provider.
 

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
521
128
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
Presumably you wouldn't cancel your policy until after arriving in Canada. Most insurance providers will cover you temporarily if you drive a US insured car into Canada. Check directly with your provider.
Correct.
 

NW1

Member
Jul 19, 2018
12
12
It's been noted in other posts, but, the one step that is missing is to notify the border crossing you intend to cross at with all your information, either by email, fax, or, dropping it off in person.

For me this was Blaine (Pacific border crossing), don't expect different crossing to have the same policies and procedures :p

I needed to fill out a worksheet, only found by accident here: http://simplifiedtradesolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BlaineCBP-ExportWorksheet.doc (Blaine border crossing vehicle export worksheet)
I also sent as attachments the document with my ITN, a copy of my title, and the worksheet. I also put my vehicle description, VIN, and title number in the body of the email. This was accepted by them and I got a reply email stating when I would be clear to cross with my vehicle.
They also have a little bit in the reply email about how your vehicle must remain outside of Canada for the 72 hours and there are penalties and fines and they can seize your vehicle. In the end they never asked me, but, I jumped through hoops to make sure my vehicle was in the US for the period.

The last bit of info is, what to do at the border!
Act like you're driving to the Canadian border crossing (you will be right after). Park in the hi-lighted red area, there is a shack with big yellow letters that says KIOSK, that's the right place. Leave your vehicle unlocked and make sure your dashboard VIN is visible from outside. If you make a border guard walk outside twice to check you vehicle you'll catch shit. Don't park in visitor parking, they'll make you move it before they do anything.
It's weird walking across all the lanes of traffic, but nobody will stop you. The export window is inside on the left 3/4s of the way down the wall, it's just one little window. It's the little plus in my diagram.



Good luck!
If there is information you needed that was missing, signup and post it! I know you're done and want to forget about ever dealing with this shit, but, our experiences are the best documentation for this process!

Hi I am planning to go through the same procedure as you. Did you use an export broker ?
 

NW1

Member
Jul 19, 2018
12
12
I had a question if anyone else has done this before.
Is there any advantage to completing the forms online on riv.ca and paying the RIV fees before the day of import ?
 

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
521
128
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
I had a question if anyone else has done this before.
Is there any advantage to completing the forms online on riv.ca and paying the RIV fees before the day of import ?
Yes and yes.
 

magnifico99

Full Member
Sep 23, 2017
26
10
Seattle, WA
Hey guys- I need some help:

I soft-landed in Canada as PR on Oct 17th, 2018. I did not bring any belongings with me as I only spent a couple weeks in Canad, and returned to the US Nov 4th, 2018. However- I missed doing my "Goods-to-Follow" list. Now, I plan to drive to Vancouver for settling permanently on Feb 4th. So what kind of duties/ taxes will I have to pay for my Car (Korea manufactured Kia Amanti 2005) because I did not declare before?

Will the Canadian authorities consider my plea that I did not land before (Oct 2018) with the intention of settling, and it is only this time that I am bringing my belongings with me?
 

APPNOV2014NY

VIP Member
Nov 21, 2014
3,005
1,099
Hey guys- I need some help:

I soft-landed in Canada as PR on Oct 17th, 2018. I did not bring any belongings with me as I only spent a couple weeks in Canad, and returned to the US Nov 4th, 2018. However- I missed doing my "Goods-to-Follow" list. Now, I plan to drive to Vancouver for settling permanently on Feb 4th. So what kind of duties/ taxes will I have to pay for my Car (Korea manufactured Kia Amanti 2005) because I did not declare before?

Will the Canadian authorities consider my plea that I did not land before (Oct 2018) with the intention of settling, and it is only this time that I am bringing my belongings with me?
Not sure about your Car but rest of your stuff you can bring duty-free. Just let CBSA agents know that you are moving to Canada to settle permanently for the first time and you are entitled to duty free import. I intentionally didn't get custom docs signed during my soft landing and got those signed in my last trip to Canada just before permanent move.
 
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magnifico99

Full Member
Sep 23, 2017
26
10
Seattle, WA
Not sure about your Car but rest of your stuff you can bring duty-free. Just let CBSA agents know that you are moving to Canada to settle permanently for the first time and you are entitled to duty free import. I intentionally didn't get custom docs signed during my soft landing and got those signed in my last trip to Canada just before permanent move.
Just an update: They did not charge me duties on my car!
 
May 15, 2016
14
0
Hi All,
I am planning to import my car this June. Please let me know if anyone got the consolidated list of documents I should keep with me during the border cross?
I am working on RIV documentation now.

Thanks
Tony
 

dsinghd

Star Member
Dec 13, 2018
136
49
Not sure about your Car but rest of your stuff you can bring duty-free. Just let CBSA agents know that you are moving to Canada to settle permanently for the first time and you are entitled to duty free import. I intentionally didn't get custom docs signed during my soft landing and got those signed in my last trip to Canada just before permanent move.
Guys have one question. After completing import formalities on Canada side . can I park the car at friends’s place(he has a garage space) and register it once I’m back from India. Actually I have to go to India for couple months before settling down and start new life in canada. So, how does it work, when exactly I have to surrender US plates and cancel my car Insurance. Can i park it without plates/insurance. Or should I first finish registration formalities in Canada before flying to India. Can someone please put light on this.
 

Kuchbhi

Hero Member
Jul 16, 2017
241
103
Guys have one question. After completing import formalities on Canada side . can I park the car at friends’s place(he has a garage space) and register it once I’m back from India. Actually I have to go to India for couple months before settling down and start new life in canada. So, how does it work, when exactly I have to surrender US plates and cancel my car Insurance. Can i park it without plates/insurance. Or should I first finish registration formalities in Canada before flying to India. Can someone please put light on this.
maybe get it out of your way and go worry free. Otherwise you'll have to check with RIV about the timeline to get Canadian plates etc. You can get a Canadian insurance and have it for fire and property damage since it will be garaged for the time you are gone.
 

Kuchbhi

Hero Member
Jul 16, 2017
241
103
Hi All,
I am planning to import my car this June. Please let me know if anyone got the consolidated list of documents I should keep with me during the border cross?
I am working on RIV documentation now.

Thanks
Tony
For Export - title and email sent 72 hours ago. + ITN
For import - landing as settler + some other forms / cant remember it would be in my earlier posts though.