Importing Car from USA

[oconnoec]

Overall, simple. There's a few steps involved so planning out to ensure you have the right documents, coverage, etc. helps avoid hiccups along the way. Here are step by step instructions I wrote a while back:

thank you!!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Overall, simple. There's a few steps involved so planning out to ensure you have the right documents, coverage, etc. helps avoid hiccups along the way. Here are step by step instructions I wrote a while back:

"Get the recall clearance letter (for Honda, my understanding is that you can register on their owner's website and print it directly or get it from a dealer on their letterhead). Send the letter showing no outstanding recalls to the RIV (document is valid for 30 day) to support @ support.riv.ca so they pre-process it. Call them to confirm all's set before you leave the US so you can get anything else necessary before you leave."

thanks so much for this awesome list. this is the first i'm hearing about needing a recall clearance letter. is this always needed, or is this more of a precaution?

 

[driftcars]

Recall clearance letter from the manufacturer is a must.

 

[OhCanadiana]

thanks so much for this awesome. this is the first i'm hearing about needing a recall clearance letter. is this always needed, or is this more of a precaution?

It is a requirement from the RIV and needed before they clear your car for inspection. For some manufacturers it's easy to get (e.g., Toyota offers a VIN lookup on their web site) whereas others you need to get it via the dealership or write to corporate.

 

[RajaJi]

thanks so much for this awesome list. this is the first i'm hearing about needing a recall clearance letter. is this always needed, or is this more of a precaution?

Recall clearance letter is definitely needed and it must be dated within 30 days or less from the day of import. Must be on official manufacturer letter head.

 

[Mariac819]

thanks so much for this awesome list. this is the first i'm hearing about needing a recall clearance letter. is this always needed, or is this more of a precaution?

I found this rhcohen when I was researching.

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


Ford also offers a VIN online look up which tells you if there are recalls on your VIN or not but sadly it doesn't show the VIN# on the final result and as per RIV the online printout of the VIN look up must show the VIN number, make, model etc. I am not sure how other dealer websites work but with Ford I will have to contact them for an official letter on their letterhead.

 

[Mariac819]

Overall, simple. There's a few steps involved so planning out to ensure you have the right documents, coverage, etc. helps avoid hiccups along the way. Here are step by step instructions I wrote a while back:

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I had some questions:

1. I have a mph speedometer but underneath it has a metric speedometer. Does that mean I don't need to change the speedometer?
2. Did you have to add day time running lights? Any idea on how much it would cost?
3. Does this have to be done before you import or can it be done in Canada before you inspect?

 

[driftcars]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I had some questions:

1. I have a mph speedometer but underneath it has a metric speedometer. Does that mean I don't need to change the speedometer?
2. Did you have to add day time running lights? Any idea on how much it would cost?
3. Does this have to be done before you import or can it be done in Canada before you inspect?

1. You don't need to do anything to the speedometer.
2. If it's made before 1989, day time running lights is not required. If it's more than 15 years old, you may or may not need to have DTRL, depends on the different provinces requirements.
3. You don't have to have these done when crossing the border, they are the items need to be check during the inspection.

 

[rhcohen2014]

3. You don't have to have these done when crossing the border, they are the items need to be check during the inspection.

awesome news!

 

[Mariac819]

2. If it's made before 1989, day time running lights is not required. If it's more than 15 years old, you may or may not need to have DTRL, depends on the different provinces requirements.

This is how much I know about cars. My husband just informed me that I have DTRL! lol We don't have to use them in NY so I have never used them. Silly me!

Thank you so much for all your help!

 

[driftcars]

If your car already has DTRL, you've been using it all the time. Because you don't actually need to do something to use it. The headlights will turn on by itself all the time when you drive the car, and turn off by itself when you shut off the engine. Silly you again, hehe....

 

[rhcohen2014]

If your car already has DTRL, you've been using it all the time. Because you don't actually need to do something to use it. The headlights will turn on by itself all the time when you drive the car, and turn off by itself when you shut off the engine. Silly you again, hehe....

no that's not necessarily true. us cars have DTRL - they are just not turned on for use. In order to import the car, the "switch" needs to be flipped so they are actually turned on. It's not something that needs to be physically "installed". from what i understand for most cars, it's simply a code the mechanic uses to turn on the feature in the car's computer. it's pretty simple, and shouldn't cost a lot of money to get done.