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landing and importing car--totally confused, please help!

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
chuchay21 said:
Thank you for your patience in answering my questions. :) I just made the payment to RIV.

I'm just curious though. When i complete the registration/inspections process, aside from the insurance, should I also present an Ontario drivers license or does is matter? if ever, can I use my US DL as proof? I read somewhere that the US license can be used for 90 days so I haven't exchanged my license just yet.
They wanted my AB license when I registered my car and she was distressed that my husband didnt have one because he hasnt landed yet. So I dont know the answer to that, but you also have 90 days to register the car but the provincial inspection certificate may have to be turned in within a certain # of days from when you get it.

In AB the DL cost me $65. I asked the woman if they were going to gold plate it for me. lol
 

chuchay21

Full Member
Sep 15, 2010
24
1
lol! Yeah! I noticed that almost everything here in Canada is more expensive than in the US. I didn't want to buy any clothes yet because I learned that the sales tax here in ON is 13%!

By the way, when you got your DL, did you do an exchange and surrendered your US DL?
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
chuchay21 said:
lol! Yeah! I noticed that almost everything here in Canada is more expensive than in the US. I didn't want to buy any clothes yet because I learned that the sales tax here in ON is 13%!

By the way, when you got your DL, did you do an exchange and surrendered your US DL?
They wouldnt let me keep my MI DL - it is a $300 fine to possess more than one DL =(

On a positive note my car registration was significantly cheaper than in Michigan.
 

ljane79

Star Member
Oct 1, 2009
157
4
124
Florida
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-04-2010
AOR Received.
09-06-2010
Med's Request
Sent with entire application Miss.
Med's Done....
09-10-2009
Interview........
Waived July 23, 2010
Passport Req..
October 8, 2010 Mailed it October 8, 2010
VISA ISSUED...
October 15, 2010 Received in mail Oct 19, 2010
LANDED..........
Driving to the border on Friday!!!
heatherusa said:
They wanted my AB license when I registered my car and she was distressed that my husband didnt have one because he hasnt landed yet. So I dont know the answer to that, but you also have 90 days to register the car but the provincial inspection certificate may have to be turned in within a certain # of days from when you get it.

In AB the DL cost me $65. I asked the woman if they were going to gold plate it for me. lol
Just FYI, your husband can get a drivers license in Alberta even if he hasn't landed. I just got mine 2 weeks ago. I just needed my California drivers license, my husband's passport (he's a canadian) our marriage cert, and a piece of mail from our Alberta address with my name on it.
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
ljane79 said:
Just FYI, your husband can get a drivers license in Alberta even if he hasn't landed. I just got mine 2 weeks ago. I just needed my husband's passport (he's a canadian) our mariage cert, and a peice of mail with my name on it.
How did they take your picture?
 

ljane79

Star Member
Oct 1, 2009
157
4
124
Florida
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-04-2010
AOR Received.
09-06-2010
Med's Request
Sent with entire application Miss.
Med's Done....
09-10-2009
Interview........
Waived July 23, 2010
Passport Req..
October 8, 2010 Mailed it October 8, 2010
VISA ISSUED...
October 15, 2010 Received in mail Oct 19, 2010
LANDED..........
Driving to the border on Friday!!!
Do you all know of any threads or websites that give the details on how to import a car to Alberta?

On another note: I just called to ask if there were any recalls on my car and there were, but the mechanic said that the part has not been released yet. He said that he has no idea as to when it will be released. So do I have to just wait for the part to be released before I cross the border? Can I get it fixed in Canada at a later date?
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
ljane79 said:
Do you all know of any threads or websites that give the details on how to import a car to Alberta?

On another note: I just called to ask if there were any recalls on my car and there were, but the mechanic said that the part has not been released yet. He said that he has no idea as to when it will be released. So do I have to just wait for the part to be released before I cross the border? Can I get it fixed in Canada at a later date?
What information are you looking for? I posted a bit earlier in this thread info about importing.
 

ljane79

Star Member
Oct 1, 2009
157
4
124
Florida
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-04-2010
AOR Received.
09-06-2010
Med's Request
Sent with entire application Miss.
Med's Done....
09-10-2009
Interview........
Waived July 23, 2010
Passport Req..
October 8, 2010 Mailed it October 8, 2010
VISA ISSUED...
October 15, 2010 Received in mail Oct 19, 2010
LANDED..........
Driving to the border on Friday!!!
heatherusa said:
How did they take your picture?
Oh and they also needed my California drivers license. They took my picture with the camara at the licensing place. Is this what you mean?
 

ljane79

Star Member
Oct 1, 2009
157
4
124
Florida
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-04-2010
AOR Received.
09-06-2010
Med's Request
Sent with entire application Miss.
Med's Done....
09-10-2009
Interview........
Waived July 23, 2010
Passport Req..
October 8, 2010 Mailed it October 8, 2010
VISA ISSUED...
October 15, 2010 Received in mail Oct 19, 2010
LANDED..........
Driving to the border on Friday!!!
heatherusa said:
What information are you looking for? I posted a bit earlier in this thread info about importing.
Yes, and it was helpful thank-you. I'm just looking for if anyone has a complete list or knows of somewhere I can find a list of all the things together specific to Alberta. I had no idea that each prov. was different. I just don't want to miss anything....
 

USA2BCCANADA

Star Member
Aug 11, 2010
62
0
Oregon, US
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-07-2010
AOR Received.
01-09-2010
Med's Done....
01-05-2010
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
21-9-2010
VISA ISSUED...
1-10-2010
LANDED..........
30-11-2010
If daytime running lights are the major item that needs to be installed on the cars, is it ok to have it installed here in the states because it will, most likely, be cheaper than up in Canada? Is that okay to do? Or does Canada want us to specifically do it up there so they can approve it and take our money :)
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
ljane79 said:
Oh and they also needed my California drivers license. They took my picture with the camara at the licensing place. Is this what you mean?
I misunderstood what you were saying. My husband isnt here and that is why he doesnt have an AB DL. I thought that you meant that they had let you get one when you werent in the country! LOL
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
USA2BCCANADA said:
If daytime running lights are the major item that needs to be installed on the cars, is it ok to have it installed here in the states because it will, most likely, be cheaper than up in Canada? Is that okay to do? Or does Canada want us to specifically do it up there so they can approve it and take our money :)
You can do it anywhere. Your car just needs to be in compliance at the time of inspection.

I had them installed at Canadian Tire for about 150...but ... I was not happy with them when they did my inspection. The found numerous things wrong and then started work and jacked the price to double.... apparently the Alberta inspection is 400 pages and they have a million tiny things they have to look at... so when I had to take my car to another mechanic 10 days later for a worn hose and belt that they told me was VERY obviously worn out it made me angry that the cheap stuff was ignored and they found VeRY expensive stuff to fix. Interesting.

I will NEVER take my car back to them for anything... probably not even tires.