Selling your car in the US vs. importing it into Canada

[i_luv_cannata]

Hi guys,

As I prepare to permanently move to Canada, I'm debating whether to sell my car in the US, or to import it into Canada.

Do any of you have any experience with this? Is it too much of a hassle to import the car? Is a US driver's license valid in Canada? What are the insurance rates like?

Also, if you sold your car, how long before you moved, did you sell it? I live in a city where I absolutely need a car to get around, so I cannot just sell it right away. I was thinking maybe to sell the car and get a rental until my last day.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Hi guys,

As I prepare to permanently move to Canada, I'm debating whether to sell my car in the US, or to import it into Canada.

Do any of you have any experience with this? Is it too much of a hassle to import the car? Is a US driver's license valid in Canada? What are the insurance rates like?

Also, if you sold your car, how long before you moved, did you sell it? I live in a city where I absolutely need a car to get around, so I cannot just sell it right away. I was thinking maybe to sell the car and get a rental until my last day.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Go through these links:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/soft-landing-from-usa-via-road.529041/page-2
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/steps-to-export-the-vehicle-from-usa-to-canada.528187/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/exporting-a-vehicle-from-the-u-s-and-importing-into-canada-complete-step-by-step-guide.539649/#post-6662144
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/exporting-importing-vehicle-us-to-canada-only.415713/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/my-car-import-experience-helpful-tips-i-have-learned-us-can.390731/#post-4977027
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-car-export-import-my-experience.329097/

 

[trackgal1]

I imported my vehicle from the USA. I wouldn't say it was difficult, but time consuming for sure. A US driver's license is valid in canada for either 60-90 days after you land. Then you need to have a drivers license in whatever province you're living in. Insurance rates were higher (in Ontario) than it was in the USA ($1200 USA vs $2000 CAD/year, no tickets/accidents). There are a few threads that people who have imported have made, I suggest reading those as there isn't a ton of guidance elsewhere.

 

[chikoo1985]

Hi guys,

As I prepare to permanently move to Canada, I'm debating whether to sell my car in the US, or to import it into Canada.

Do any of you have any experience with this? Is it too much of a hassle to import the car? Is a US driver's license valid in Canada? What are the insurance rates like?

Also, if you sold your car, how long before you moved, did you sell it? I live in a city where I absolutely need a car to get around, so I cannot just sell it right away. I was thinking maybe to sell the car and get a rental until my last day.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I think if car is 4-5 years old then it's better to import it to Canada. The only logic I am applying is once you sell it here you are going to suffer some loss on the resale value then again buy there and pay the full amount makes no sense. But this only works out if you are planning to keep the car for long term. Resale value for US car in Canada is not so great.

But I would love to here from the person who has been through this experience.

 

[Mthornt]

I imported my vehicle from the USA. I wouldn't say it was difficult, but time consuming for sure. A US driver's license is valid in canada for either 60-90 days after you land. Then you need to have a drivers license in whatever province you're living in. Insurance rates were higher (in Ontario) than it was in the USA ($1200 USA vs $2000 CAD/year, no tickets/accidents). There are a few threads that people who have imported have made, I suggest reading those as there isn't a ton of guidance elsewhere.

I agree with trackgal1, lots of hoops to jump through and paperwork, inspections, etc... My insurance went from $112 per month in the US, to $156 a month in Ontario. My car is pretty old at this point, 8 years old, but in great shape and I'm planning to keep it for a few more years. My wife's car is alot newer, we're still deciding whether to just pay off and import it, or sell it on the US side, and buy new here. For my car, I had to:

1) Export at US Customs
2) Import with Canadian Customs/RIV
3) DRL Install at Canadian Tire
4) RIV Inspection at Canadian Tire
6) Got Ontario DL
5) Ontario Inspection
6) Find Insurance through a broker
7) Take all documents and register (which I didn't know I needed my items to follow list to accomplish, so this took multiple trips)