Help! Moving From Philly to Vancouver (Fly or Drive)

[Cheeseburger]

So I will be moving from Pennsylvania to British Columbia this November. I don't have an enormous amount of things. I have some electronics, (game systems, a couple mid size tvs) clothes, just the average stuff. Although I will say my parents would let me take their nice unused couch and chair if I want to, but that is quite an obstacle and probably isn't worth it to ship for just a couple couches. BUT one big thing I do have, is a car. I own a 2003 Cadilac CTS with about 59,000 miles. It has some slight body damage (not too bad, just a few dings and scratches), and is probably coming up on needing new tires, but besides that seems to be fine. My question is do you recommend I drive cross country with it? Or sell it, fly and buy in Vancouver? I am guessing the sell value might be $7,000-8,000 but we don't have an abundant amount of money to rebuy. Although who knows, the car could crap out on me and I might need to spend $4,000 to fix it. I have no idea what the policy is for bringing a car across the border either.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[rhcohen2014]

in order to bring a car across the border, register/insure it, and drive it legally in canada long term it must be exported from the US and then imported to Canada. here is the link for importing, i don't know about the exporting yet.

https://www.riv.ca/CostConsiderations.aspx

As long as it's on your b4 form as a conveyance, then i believe you are exempt from paying the duties on it. This is my hope anyway, and i welcome some more knowledge on that!

whether it's best to drive it cross country or sell it depends on the car and whether you want to make the trip. most cars have no issues driving cross country. i drove a sh**box corolla cross country in the us 4 times, it had no airconditioning and the oil needed to be filled every day.

 

[Cheeseburger]

in order to bring a car across the border, register/insure it, and drive it legally in canada long term it must be exported from the US and then imported to Canada. here is the link for importing, i don't know about the exporting yet.

https://www.riv.ca/CostConsiderations.aspx

As long as it's on your b4 form as a conveyance, then i believe you are exempt from paying the duties on it. This is my hope anyway, and i welcome some more knowledge on that!

whether it's best to drive it cross country or sell it depends on the car and whether you want to make the trip. most cars have no issues driving cross country.

I am fairly sure it will make the trip. I am more wondering, do you guys think it is worth it to do. I know every situation is unique and there are a lot of variables, so I don't even know if there is really a point to ask for opinions on this, but I am still curious to know what others typically do. I mean gas alone will probably be $600 to drive. Then costs to inspect and register it. It might be a fun a trip. I am also pondering if it is a waste to bring an 11 year old car, and if I should just rebuy (maybe lease). Ideally I would prefer to sell it and use only my wife's car, but she works so it would be difficult to get by with only one car when we are both working.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I am fairly sure it will make the trip. I am more wondering, do you guys think it is worth it to do. I know every situation is unique and there are a lot of variables, so I don't even know if there is really a point to ask for opinions on this, but I am still curious to know what others typically do. I mean gas alone will probably be $600 to drive. Then costs to inspect and register it. It might be a fun a trip. I am also pondering if it is a waste to bring an 11 year old car, and if I should just rebuy (maybe lease). Ideally I would prefer to sell it and use only my wife's car, but she works so it would be difficult to get by with only one car when we are both working.

sounds like you already know what you want to do. seems like you are convincing yourself to sell it. if that's the case, sell it and get a cheap, used car in vancouver.

 

[PMM]

Hi

sounds like you already know what you want to do. seems like you are convincing yourself to sell it. if that's the case, sell it and get a cheap, used car in vancouver.

The asking price for a 2003 Caddy CTS in Vancouver ranges from 5600 to 11K, so that might help you make your decision.