WOW ---- New cars from US up to 30% cheaper (cost to import under $200)

[Cars4Canadians]

Grrrrrrrrr those dirty rotten car manufacturers are pigs, god i hope they lose their shirts, especially the a-holes in the USA, since they dont' have to ship their cars over the atlantic/pacific into our market, plus we got free trade going with the USA and they still gouge the crap out of us.

So I've been harping for a few years on how Canadians are getting gouged by Canadian Car Manufacturers. Even with their feeble attempt with the current incentives, the prices on average are STILL 26% higher in Canada. There's no reason for that.

To prove my point even further, almost everyone respects Consumer Reports and their comments.

They are now on the bandwagon and saying that even with the current incentives, Canadian standard car prices are on average $8000 more expensive than in the US. The price difference for high-end models are even wider.


http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate?tf=/ctv/mar/video/new_player.html&cf=ctv/mar/ctv.cfg&hub=TorontoHome&video_link_high=http://esi.ctv.ca/datafeed/urlgen2.aspx?vid=36156&video_link_low=TO0304_consumer&clip_start=00:00:00.00&clip_end=00:02:09.00&clip_caption=CTV Toronto: Pat Foran compares U.S. and Canadian car prices&clip_id=36156&subhub=video&no_ads=&sortdate=20070607&slug=toronto_consumer_pat_foran2&archive=CTVNews

You can also reach the story at http://autos.ctv.ca/ and search the videos on the main page. Look for "CTV Toronto: Pat Foran compares U.S. and Canadian car prices"

[tataynik]

Grrrrrrrrr those dirty rotten car manufacturers are pigs, god i hope they lose their shirts, especially the a-holes in the USA, since they dont' have to ship their cars over the atlantic/pacific into our market, plus we got free trade going with the USA and they still gouge the crap out of us.

Shouldn't it be those a-holes hear in Canada? They are the one's gouging us here, not the US.

[Dano76]

Hate to quote myself, but it seems there a few people in the same boat as me (I've received a few pms already)... namely that have been shopping around for dealers in the US. We're basically looking for referals to salespeople and dealerships that are good to deal with and reasonably priced. I've been looking around online myself, but wouldn't mind a leg up from any successful RFDers that have had good dealings with the folks in the US. Thanks in advance.

A coworker and I are finally gonna take the plunge on a pair of Subarus. Would any of you mind sending me a pm with contact info for the dealers/salespersons that you dealt with (that is, those of you that have not already posted that info in this thread.)

Any references/referrals would be greatly appreciated.

[mikered]

For those of you who purchased a USED vehicle in the states ... what did you do (and who did you use) for a pre-sales inspection (to make sure it wasn't in an accident, etc)?

What I did was bought from a dealer, used carfax to search for a writeoff or accident, purchased a "certified Toyota" which comes with the remainder of the warranty as well as an extended 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.I bought the vehicle site unseen other then pictures sent to me buy the dealer. Worked out fine other then a few surface scratches that didnt show up in the pictures.Otherwise no issues.Buying from a dealer gives you some peace of mind. If I was to do it again I would use AMA to search for an approved garage to inspect the vehicle for me. I used Maplewood Toyota in Minnesota , very good to deal with.

[HP_John]

Toyota will honor the factory warranty as well as the ECP (Extra care plan or the extended warranty) for your imported Toyota cars. You may call Toyota Canada to confirm.

Months ago they told me Lexus would honour the factory warranty & the ECP but not the Certified Pre-Owned warranty.

[PrimeBane]

What I did was bought from a dealer, used carfax to search for a writeoff or accident, purchased a "certified Toyota" which comes with the remainder of the warranty as well as an extended 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.I bought the vehicle site unseen other then pictures sent to me buy the dealer. Worked out fine other then a few surface scratches that didnt show up in the pictures.Otherwise no issues.Buying from a dealer gives you some peace of mind. If I was to do it again I would use AMA to search for an approved garage to inspect the vehicle for me. I used Maplewood Toyota in Minnesota , very good to deal with.

+1

The dealer I purchased from also had a 7 day money back return policy and 30 day exchange.

[CheapScotsman]

What I did was bought from a dealer, used carfax to search for a writeoff or accident, purchased a "certified Toyota" which comes with the remainder of the warranty as well as an extended 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.I bought the vehicle site unseen other then pictures sent to me buy the dealer. Worked out fine other then a few surface scratches that didnt show up in the pictures.Otherwise no issues.Buying from a dealer gives you some peace of mind. If I was to do it again I would use AMA to search for an approved garage to inspect the vehicle for me. I used Maplewood Toyota in Minnesota , very good to deal with.

+1

The dealer I purchased from also had a 7 day money back return policy and 30 day exchange.Thanks the the info

I am looking for a 2007 Sienna LE with virtually no options (okay, we are fixed on two colors only) ...

From out here in Vancouver looking across the border (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah) most of the dealers are running around $23K to $25K with 25K+ miles on them. I've found a private dealer with 10K miles and $21K ... but he is a private dealer.

I am trusting that I can take the car for an independent inspection and not rely JUST on carfax.

How much did you manage to talk the dealers down on a used car?

[PrimeBane]

How much did you manage to talk the dealers down on a used car?

The place I dealt with had set prices, even when I offered cash in full.

On the plus side, I found comparible vehicles elsewhere in the US were priced much higher, so I felt I was getting a fair price.

[michelb]

What I did was bought from a dealer, used carfax to search for a writeoff or accident, purchased a "certified Toyota" which comes with the remainder of the warranty as well as an extended 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.I bought the vehicle site unseen other then pictures sent to me buy the dealer. Worked out fine other then a few surface scratches that didnt show up in the pictures.Otherwise no issues.Buying from a dealer gives you some peace of mind. If I was to do it again I would use AMA to search for an approved garage to inspect the vehicle for me. I used Maplewood Toyota in Minnesota , very good to deal with.

Months ago they told me Lexus would honour the factory warranty & the ECP but not the Certified Pre-Owned warranty.

I was told the same (that standard and extended warranty are valid in Canada but Certified pre-owned warranty not) about 3 weeks ago but Toyota
USA Customer Service although another member did say that he recently bought it and was able to register into the program.

[michelb]

...
From out here in Vancouver looking across the border (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah) most of the dealers are running around $23K to $25K with 25K+ miles on them. I've found a private dealer with 10K miles and $21K ... but he is a private dealer.


Those are not very good prices actually; that's around what you should be paying for a brand new 08 LE ($24k to 27k) depending on the options (unfortunately, as you might have gathered from this forum, the hard part is finding a dealership that will sell you new but even with that, I think you should be able to pay under or around $20k for a used 07 with less mileage).

To give you an idea, I just had a deal that fell apart for a loaded 07 Sienna LTD (nav, rear dvd, power 3rd row, HID, trailer hitch, running boards, rear spoiler, etc) with under 7k miles for $30k ( actually I suspect that after the dealership my offer and deposit, someone else offered more and the a**holes
took it :( but it gives you an idea of the prices - a loaded LTD costs quite a bit more than a LE with no options)

[dsds]

Hello fellow importers!
Would you please review and comment on this plan:

- Canadian friend lives and works in TX (for many years)
- looking to buy 2 Toyota cars (one for him and one for me) to import
- planning to buy in state near border using US address since probably won't find one who will sell to Canadians.
- MSO and recall letter will be part of deal.

- So now with two MSO's in friend's name, does the friend have to import both and then sell one to me after registered in Canada? Is there any other way to get ownership to me? I know he can't just sign over an MSO to me. And of course, the vehicle will not have been titled. Am I correct in that it can't be sold until registered? Perhaps my name could go under his US address so we each have an MSO?

- what other benefits do I have with this friend? Maybe we could just buy in TX as two Canadians and have a bit of a drive?

- does anyone know if WA, ID, and MT have agreements on sales tax for out-of-state buyers?

Thanks for your advice!

[bulgurc]

Best thing to do is, he buys both cars to his name, then you draw a private bill of sale from him to you, effective before you enter Canada. He gets stamps from US customs, you do the paperwork for your own car at Canada customs, using the Bill of Sale. A lot of people here done it like that. If your friend registers the car in Canada before selling to you, you will pay PST twice, although there is no sales tax in Alberta, right?
The benefit using your friend is that they sell to him and he can get US prices (some dealers try to sell you at "special" Canadian prices, a few thousand higher). You need to check with the dealer about the sales tax agreements.

[vim]

Thanks the the info

I am looking for a 2007 Sienna LE with virtually no options (okay, we are fixed on two colors only) ...

From out here in Vancouver looking across the border (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah) most of the dealers are running around $23K to $25K with 25K+ miles on them. I've found a private dealer with 10K miles and $21K ... but he is a private dealer.

I am trusting that I can take the car for an independent inspection and not rely JUST on carfax.

How much did you manage to talk the dealers down on a used car?


When you say LE with no options -US LE with no options is like Canadian CE. You need LE Pckg #2 +Alloy wheel package to match what is Canadian LE. Make sure you compare Apples to Apples.

When I was shopping for new Toyota Sienna prices for new LE+Pckg2+AlloyWheels+DLR was about 26000$ total from US dealer. Since then rebates were introduced and I saw that US people can buy new 08 LE for 25k and less.

[DollarsToDonuts]

Hi All. I am thinking at buying a Nissan Altima coupe from a private seller in Tennessee. I am a little hesitant, since it is a private seller, and the horror stories about lemon or flood cars etc. I am looking for some advice before I decide to go ahead or not.
1) I would like to get the car inspected before I fly down. Has anyone done this and if so what company would they recommend (CarChex?). Can anyone recommend a garage/inspetor in Nashville area (long shot I know)?
2) If the owner faxes title to me and I fax this to the border (and show up later with real title in my name), is that ok, or can I only fax the title after it is in my name?
3) If the carfax and inspection are clean, is that enough to put me ease, or is there anything else I should be checking? (can you tell I’m nervous)
4) Any tips or things to watch for others who have bought privately would be very much appreciated.
5) For the few who bought an Altima coupe, the price is $19,000 (maybe neg to $18,500), 2.5 with < 6,000 miles, convenience package, sunroof and mats. Does the price seem good to you?
6) ALso for the few who bought an Altima coupe, what modifications had to be done to the vehicle for it to pass inspection? Any problems getting it registered.
7) For the people who have imported a Nissan in the Ottawa area, any difficulties from dealers concerning service on your US vehicle?
8) The car is an automatic (I have only owned manual), if I find I really miss the stick and decide to sell the vehicle (certainly not my intention), has anyone sold a vehicle they have imported? Was it difficult or are buyers leary?

I appreciate any thoughts, comments or help you can provide and my sincerest thanks in advance.
PS: The only help I can provide is for those in the Ottawa area, if you bring a bank draft over $10,000 to Accu-Rate Corp they wil give you a very good rate (about half a cent from true exch rate).

[perfchris]

Be wary of private sellers. I would recommend searching autotrader.com. You might be surprised what dealers are able to go down to.

[mikered]

Thanks the the info

I am looking for a 2007 Sienna LE with virtually no options (okay, we are fixed on two colors only) ...

From out here in Vancouver looking across the border (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah) most of the dealers are running around $23K to $25K with 25K+ miles on them. I've found a private dealer with 10K miles and $21K ... but he is a private dealer.

I am trusting that I can take the car for an independent inspection and not rely JUST on carfax.

How much did you manage to talk the dealers down on a used car?

I bought a loaded 06 highlander. I was only able to get them down $1500 from their asking price.I did not haggle much as the dollar was at ~$1.05 when I was dealing . I found the Toyota dealers in Washington were quite a bit more then some of the other states.I also found dealers were cheaper the further south I looked. Good Luck. I didnt have the guts to bye privately not only because of the inspection etc. but the exchanging of money. I only had a couple of days so I wasnt willing to fly somewhere , make the deal and then have to wait 72 hours for the paper work to clear. If you are near the border and close enough to go see the vehicle and have it inspected etc. no big deal.

[norm07]

I appreciate any thoughts, comments or help you can provide and my sincerest thanks in advance.
PS: The only help I can provide is for those in the Ottawa area, if you bring a bank draft over $10,000 to Accu-Rate Corp they wil give you a very good rate (about half a cent from true exch rate).[/QUOTE]

I purchased an 08 Alltima Coupe in November 08, bought it new in Amherst NY. Just for your info paid $35,400 all taxes licence charges etc sitting in my driveway ready to go. It was a 6cyl LE with every option available. Only modification were the daytime running lights...but no warranty in Canada, would have to take it to the American dealer...but with used if it has been registered in the states for at least 6 months (you have to confirm this on an 08) you should be OK for warranty. Two weeks ago I imported an 07 Pathfinder with 7,000 miles, registered in the states (Ohio) for 12 months, I pulled into the Canadian dealership, they registered the warranty and I have had work done on the vehicle no questions asked. My only suggestion is to let the Canadian dealership do the driving lights. My dealer was not impressed with the job done in Buffalo, too messy and you risk screwing up the warranty if its not done right and messes something else up...further....I dealt with a dealer (not Nissan) on my Pathfinder, very helpful, and after importing three vehicles and helping with several others I would be hesitant about dealing private. My 2 cents

[dsds]

Best thing to do is, he buys both cars to his name, then you draw a private bill of sale from him to you, effective before you enter Canada. He gets stamps from US customs, you do the paperwork for your own car at Canada customs, using the Bill of Sale. A lot of people here done it like that.

Thanks! Does friend have to be at border with MSO? Could I send US Customs the MSO, copy of Bill of Sale, and their export worksheet 72 hours ahead, and then show up at border only by myself?

[bulgurc]

For your own car you can do that... Some people have done it like that

[rAfChOw]

Does anyone know of any Honda or Toyota dealers located near New York City that are willing to sell to Canadians? I called a few and they seem to be clueless.

Also, what is the nearest state to NY that does not charge sales taxes to NY residents?

[Metal_Driver]

To answer rAfChOw

It is getting much harder to find any dealers that will sell directly to Canadians. There may be a few left out there if you spend a lot of time on the phone. As you may be aware there are other work arounds as mentioned on this site and others, such as;
As for the "how to" there are a couple of different ways you can approach the problem as discussed by others on other forums:
- Having a friend or relative with a US address who will 'buy' the vehicle for you and 'sell' it back to you. Have them buy it out of State to avoid having to pay State taxes,
- I've heard of some getting a US PO address or using a friends US address which may work in certain cases.
- You may be able to arrange to purchase a fairly new 'used' vehicle from a dealership are they are not allowed to sell new to Cdns,
- There may be a few importers who will charge a small fee to take care of the process for you. In some cases they have US contacts who purchase and sell the vehicle to the importer who in turn gets it to you.
These are only a few of the suggestions that have been put forward by others.

Check out carburner.com for a list of taxes by States.

[CheapScotsman]

When you say LE with no options -US LE with no options is like Canadian CE. You need LE Pckg #2 +Alloy wheel package to match what is Canadian LE. Make sure you compare Apples to Apples.I agree that the LE packages don't match but I don't really don't need the extra CDN features that jack up the exorbitant price anyways (okay, maybe the wheels) ... however, I am pretty sure the US LE is more than the CDN CE ... but you are right. I need make sure I have the options that I want.

When I was shopping for new Toyota Sienna prices for new LE+Pckg2+AlloyWheels+DLR was about 26000$ total from US dealer. Since then rebates were introduced and I saw that US people can buy new 08 LE for 25k and less.sigh ... yeah ... the only problem is that I am less than confidant that I can swing a new LE from a dealer at invoice or less but I guess it doesn't hurt to try ... so ...

Anybody who knows of a Toyota Dealer anywhere North and West of Texas that will sell new to Canadians, please PM me ... thanks very much

[dsds]

Any rule on importing multiple vehicles at the same time?

Can a Canadian living in the US with only a US drivers license (because had to give up Canadian one to get US one) import to Canada?

[michelb]

Hi All. I am thinking at buying a Nissan Altima coupe from a private seller in Tennessee. I am a little hesitant, since it is a private seller, and the horror stories about lemon or flood cars etc. I am looking for some advice before I decide to go ahead or not.
1) I would like to get the car inspected before I fly down. Has anyone done this and if so what company would they recommend (CarChex?). Can anyone recommend a garage/inspetor in Nashville area (long shot I know)?
2) If the owner faxes title to me and I fax this to the border (and show up later with real title in my name), is that ok, or can I only fax the title after it is in my name?
3) If the carfax and inspection are clean, is that enough to put me ease, or is there anything else I should be checking? (can you tell I’m nervous)
4) Any tips or things to watch for others who have bought privately would be very much appreciated.
5) For the few who bought an Altima coupe, the price is $19,000 (maybe neg to $18,500), 2.5 with < 6,000 miles, convenience package, sunroof and mats. Does the price seem good to you?
6) ALso for the few who bought an Altima coupe, what modifications had to be done to the vehicle for it to pass inspection? Any problems getting it registered.
7) For the people who have imported a Nissan in the Ottawa area, any difficulties from dealers concerning service on your US vehicle?
8) The car is an automatic (I have only owned manual), if I find I really miss the stick and decide to sell the vehicle (certainly not my intention), has anyone sold a vehicle they have imported? Was it difficult or are buyers leary?

I appreciate any thoughts, comments or help you can provide and my sincerest thanks in advance.
PS: The only help I can provide is for those in the Ottawa area, if you bring a bank draft over $10,000 to Accu-Rate Corp they wil give you a very good rate (about half a cent from true exch rate).

Normally I don't have any problems with private sellers but with imports it's a bit more of a pain.

I wouldn't worry too much about lemons or flooded cars since CarFax or AutoCheck should tell you that. My biggest problem is that you'll really have to trust the vendor which is somewhat risky for a private seller 500 or 1000 miles away in another country. If you agree on a price, you'll certainly have to give him some sort of deposit for him to hold the car for you and that's kind of risky and even then, doesn't garantee that he won't sell the vehicle before you get down there. You can have the car inspected by a mechanic but odds are way higher that he knows the seller more than he knows you so you can't necessarily trust him. Another thing to complicate matters is that with a private sale, it's more likely that there will be a lien on the vehicle which makes exporting more complicated.

One of the problems with importing around Ottawa is that all the nearby border points insist on having the actual title (and not a fax) 3 days before you import which means that you'll either have to spend 3 days after you go see the vehicle in the US or you'll have to send him full payment and agree to purchase it and he'll send you the signed title before you even see the car in person. This is particularly risky when dealing with a private seller.

Can't really help you with your other questions but personally I think you'll probably take a 10% hit selling a US car vs a CND car (which might still make it profitable for you) if you decide to sell it.

[CheapScotsman]

I bought a loaded 06 highlander. I was only able to get them down $1500 from their asking price.I did not haggle much as the dollar was at ~$1.05 when I was dealing . I found the Toyota dealers in Washington were quite a bit more then some of the other states.I also found dealers were cheaper the further south I looked. Good Luck. I didnt have the guts to bye privately not only because of the inspection etc. but the exchanging of money. I only had a couple of days so I wasnt willing to fly somewhere , make the deal and then have to wait 72 hours for the paper work to clear. If you are near the border and close enough to go see the vehicle and have it inspected etc. no big deal.What was their asking based on ... MSRP, invoice or ??? and if you don't mind PMing me the sales guys / dealer that you used?

I, too, notice that WA seems to be a bit more expensive and I am not sure I'll find much better unless I go a lot further away ... which costs more ... and even then with all that has happened, I am not sure I'm going to find a dealer who will cut a deal for a canuck.

[rAfChOw]

Thanks for the response Metal_Driver.

Having followed this thread almost from the start, I have also noticed how US dealerships are being more rigid in their dealings with Canadians. Though I think (or at least hope) this will change in the near future as the trend of decreasing car sales in the US continues (for their sake as well as mine!). If I had more time, I would definitely put off my car purchase for another month or two due to the US recession fears which will likely affect car sales (in a negative way) and encourage manufacturers to lower prices and/or increase rebates. But I don't have much of a choice so I hope to make my purchase when I go down to NYC in 2 weeks. I plan on calling a bunch of dealerships tomorrow so I'll see how that goes...

As for my question regarding out of state taxes for NY residents - carburner.com only has information on state taxes for Canadian residents. I ask this because I have relatives in NY and in the case that I am unable to find a dealer willing to deal with me directly, I would like to purchase through my relative in a state that will not charge him sales taxes (though I don't know which states these would happen to be).

[HacheyImports]

As for my question regarding out of state taxes for NY residents - carburner.com only has information on state taxes for Canadian residents. I ask this because I have relatives in NY and in the case that I am unable to find a dealer willing to deal with me directly, I would like to purchase through my relative in a state that will not charge him sales taxes (though I don't know which states these would happen to be).

The issue with state taxes...almost always, revolves around where the vehicle is titled. If your friend is taking the MSO to a state with taxes applied then you pay those taxes. If, however, you have it titled in a state without taxes...New Hampshire for example, then the vehicle is not charged any state tax.

If you do find a dealer willing to sell to you directly then you avoid this altogether if you register it upon return home of course.

Some states, California for example, charge the tax if your "tires hit the road" and leave you almost no option but to ship the car...even if it is only to the next state before driving.

The protectionist policy does not appear to me to be lessening any yet. I do agree the pressure may become to much and lack of sales will change minds...but maybe not. Less and less sell to me directly now and force me to go through an intermediary to buy new vehicles for customers.

Take care

[petaling108]

As for my question regarding out of state taxes for NY residents - carburner.com only has information on state taxes for Canadian residents. I ask this because I have relatives in NY and in the case that I am unable to find a dealer willing to deal with me directly, I would like to purchase through my relative in a state that will not charge him sales taxes (though I don't know which states these would happen to be).

The issue with state taxes...almost always, revolves around where the vehicle is titled. If your friend is taking the MSO to a state with taxes applied then you pay those taxes. If, however, you have it titled in a state without taxes...New Hampshire for example, then the vehicle is not charged any state tax.

If you do find a dealer willing to sell to you directly then you avoid this altogether if you register it upon return home of course.

Some states, California for example, charge the tax if your "tires hit the road" and leave you almost no option but to ship the car...even if it is only to the next state before driving.

The protectionist policy does not appear to me to be lessening any yet. I do agree the pressure may become to much and lack of sales will change minds...but maybe not. Less and less sell to me directly now and force me to go through an intermediary to buy new vehicles for customers.

Take care

Hachey,
I have a son who works in Philly,and a dealer in Subaru/Saab Delaware(45 mins away) which says he supposedly has to pay PA tax of 6 % if the car is sold to him.
They cant sell a Saab to me a Canuck directly.
For a Subaru they cant give me rebates if sold directly to a Canadian.
How do I get around (ie without my son paying the 6 % tax) that if my intention is just to get the car in his name and then to resell to me in Delaware before returning to Pennsylvania border?

[rAfChOw]

The issue with state taxes...almost always, revolves around where the vehicle is titled. If your friend is taking the MSO to a state with taxes applied then you pay those taxes. If, however, you have it titled in a state without taxes...New Hampshire for example, then the vehicle is not charged any state tax.

So that means as long as the state of NY charges sales taxes, a NY resident purchasing a car outside of NY will have to pay tax no matter which state he/she makes the purchase in, even if that person only plans on getting a temporary permit for the car upon purchase?

If that's the case, I don't understand how some people in this thread were claiming they got around the sales tax issue by purchasing under a friend's address in a different state (e.g., purchasing in NY with a friend's Florida address, even though Florida has a sales tax of 6%)?

[aqus]

Ok I read through the posts and am more confused than ever.
I am looking for a used Porsche Boxster 2000 and have noticed some from cars.com, autotrader, Ebay and craiglist. Cars here In Montreal run in the 20-25k range while in the states there are lots in the 14-16k range. Some of the best deals are from private but some really almost too good to be true deals from texas especially a place called merchants.com. 16K + 6.1% duty + +-$1000 trasport + GST and QST +$195 for RIV fees, still a lot cheaper than buying locally.
Is there a complete how to on buying across the border? Already looked at RIV.ca
Here are my questions:
Is there a broker that can search and take care of everything for a fee?
If I do it myself, how can I make sure I don’t send money (either deposit or final payment) to a private or dealer and never see a car? Even on Ebay most sellers don’t accept Paypal for cars(too expensive I guess)
How do I protect myself to make sure the car previous owner does not still owe money on it?
Sales taxes, Is there a way to pay the least possible? Are there any states where you have to pay there then again at the border?
I have a very trustworthy cousin in New Jersey, any way to use that to my advantage?
For transport especially from places like Texas or California(far away) Is it much cheaper to get the car to the Closest Canadian border or can I get it delivered directly to my house after completing border papers?
Too good to be true deals: If car passes carfax and seller says there are no problems with the car, no dents or scratches and interior is very clean, any horror stories of getting the car and it was all bull? If so any protection available? If from New Jersey or New York I can get my cousin to look at it?
Am I missing anything?
Buying new from US seems easier since you are dealing with big dealers but private dealers or privates seems a little scary….
Please advise needed before I take plunge.
TIA

[shopper-X]

Ok I read through the posts and am more confused than ever.
I am looking for a used Porsche Boxster 2000 and have noticed some from cars.com, autotrader, Ebay and craiglist. Cars here In Montreal run in the 20-25k range while in the states there are lots in the 14-16k range. Some of the best deals are from private but some really almost too good to be true deals from texas especially a place called merchants.com. 16K + 6.1% duty + +-$1000 trasport + GST and QST +$195 for RIV fees, still a lot cheaper than buying locally.
Is there a complete how to on buying across the border? Already looked at RIV.ca
Here are my questions:
Is there a broker that can search and take care of everything for a fee?
If I do it myself, how can I make sure I don’t send money (either deposit or final payment) to a private or dealer and never see a car? Even on Ebay most sellers don’t accept Paypal for cars(too expensive I guess)
How do I protect myself to make sure the car previous owner does not still owe money on it?
Sales taxes, Is there a way to pay the least possible? Are there any states where you have to pay there then again at the border?
I have a very trustworthy cousin in New Jersey, any way to use that to my advantage?
For transport especially from places like Texas or California(far away) Is it much cheaper to get the car to the Closest Canadian border or can I get it delivered directly to my house after completing border papers?
Too good to be true deals: If car passes carfax and seller says there are no problems with the car, no dents or scratches and interior is very clean, any horror stories of getting the car and it was all bull? If so any protection available? If from New Jersey or New York I can get my cousin to look at it?
Am I missing anything?
Buying new from US seems easier since you are dealing with big dealers but private dealers or privates seems a little scary….
Please advise needed before I take plunge.
TIA

New and Used is the same process except you get a title not a MSO.
Try www.carburner.com (http://www.carburner.com), there is some information I posted (and someone cleaned up, Thank you) on A&A Customs Brokers and all the fee's they charge. Click on "Using an Import (Customs) Broker"

[gilad]

I'm considering buying a used US vehicle. Has anyone had any experiences with any of the car inspection services such as CarChex or SGS? It seems like they really don't do all that much as part of their inspections, but it would be tricky to find a trustable "real" mechanic in the US to take a look at a car.

[DollarsToDonuts]

Thanks for the replies. Only the DTL lights sounds ok. Thanks for the heads up, I will have it done locally. A warranty would be a big bonus. I wasn't expecting one as I always assumed that it had to be registered to me in the US for 6 months. I will have to check this out.
As for payment, I would not send down any deposit. He would only get the full payment once the car passes inspection (if done on pick up) and I have driven and viewed the car and I am satisfied. I would be out the cost of the flight, but I could always go to the Grand Ole Opry. I would find a garage in Nashville and he lives an hour and a half away so I am hoping to get an honest opinion (unless the mechanic turns out to be his long lost cousin). He stated that he has no lien on the vehicle, and when I phoned the DMV to ask about tags and tax the lady volunteered to search the VIN for me. She said it was clear and in his name (hopefully she isn't a long lost cousin as well). I haven’t called the border crossings yet, but having to fax the actual title is a pain. I guess I could cross elsewhere or store the car in Ogdensburg for a bit. I have another question though. Will bringing $18,000+ (draft) across the border be a problem, or do I just declare it and off I go? Thanks All.

[d-kim]

Just got my mdx plated and registered!!!
Thanks to all that helped... especially mole211 here who gave some good advice.

One thing that totally surprised us, was the mto office requested a casual goods and services form! I never heard of that, and since a broker brought our car over, I had to call them to fax that to the mto office...

fyi,..... if you're bringing over a used car, you need one.
My car was classified as used, because the broker bought it on my behalf and titled it, for me, because Acura wasn't selling to Canadians anymore.

I saved about $15000 with the Canadian rebate, and more without the rebate!

Thanks to all here, and monsieurmaggot for starting this thread! I will never buy a new car here in Canada again, until the price reflects the actual foreign exchange rates

[amuzinkn]

which broker? PM me if you can

[d-kim]

which broker? PM me if you can
just pm'd you

[bulgurc]

So that means as long as the state of NY charges sales taxes, a NY resident purchasing a car outside of NY will have to pay tax no matter which state he/she makes the purchase in, even if that person only plans on getting a temporary permit for the car upon purchase?

If that's the case, I don't understand how some people in this thread were claiming they got around the sales tax issue by purchasing under a friend's address in a different state (e.g., purchasing in NY with a friend's Florida address, even though Florida has a sales tax of 6%)?
I think No Sales Tax states have strict guidelines for dealers that they have to charge the buyer's state sales tax, especially neighboring states. Best is to buy from a state who has state tax, but use an address of a no sales tax state, or of a state who does not have an agreement with the state you are buying form.
Also that changes dealer to dealer. A lot of dealers I dealt with try to charge me sales tax (in NY). I was adamant and told them it is a deal breaker. Some will budge on that, some won't. Guess which one I am gonna use?

[bargainhuntr]

One thing that totally surprised us, was the mto office requested a casual goods and services form! I never heard of that, and since a broker brought our car over, I had to call them to fax that to the mto office...

Just the receipt from Canada Border Services after you pay the GST. They convert your U.S. sale amount into Can. dollars and charge you GST on that amount. MTO charges their 8% on that value.

[CheapScotsman]

I'm considering buying a used US vehicle. Has anyone had any experiences with any of the car inspection services such as CarChex or SGS? It seems like they really don't do all that much as part of their inspections, but it would be tricky to find a trustable "real" mechanic in the US to take a look at a car.No experience but here is another one; they look quite expensive (around $350) but they will go to the customers site and will send you the report/pictures via email .... http://www.automobileinspections.com/rates.asp

Another option that may provide a bit more security of mind (over a single independent) is to try and find a garage chain that is local; one that has 5-10 stores strewn around the metropolis .. .assuming the locale you are buying from is big enough to have this.

[mole11]

Just got my mdx plated and registered!!!
Thanks to all that helped... especially mole211 here who gave some good advice.

One thing that totally surprised us, was the mto office requested a casual goods and services form! I never heard of that, and since a broker brought our car over, I had to call them to fax that to the mto office...

fyi,..... if you're bringing over a used car, you need one.
My car was classified as used, because the broker bought it on my behalf and titled it, for me, because Acura wasn't selling to Canadians anymore.

I saved about $15000 with the Canadian rebate, and more without the rebate!

Thanks to all here, and monsieurmaggot for starting this thread! I will never buy a new car here in Canada again, until the price reflects the actual foreign exchange rates
Yout welcome. Drives like a charm. So glad i chose the MDX over the X5.

[rAfChOw]

I think No Sales Tax states have strict guidelines for dealers that they have to charge the buyer's state sales tax, especially neighboring states. Best is to buy from a state who has state tax, but use an address of a no sales tax state, or of a state who does not have an agreement with the state you are buying form.
Also that changes dealer to dealer. A lot of dealers I dealt with try to charge me sales tax (in NY). I was adamant and told them it is a deal breaker. Some will budge on that, some won't. Guess which one I am gonna use?

It's tougher in my case because I'm looking for a Honda dealership and according to the ones I've called, Honda head office requires that the car be first registered in the US. But I'm sure there's a way to get around that. ;)

[HacheyImports]

Hachey,
I have a son who works in Philly,and a dealer in Subaru/Saab Delaware(45 mins away) which says he supposedly has to pay PA tax of 6 % if the car is sold to him.
They cant sell a Saab to me a Canuck directly.
For a Subaru they cant give me rebates if sold directly to a Canadian.
How do I get around (ie without my son paying the 6 % tax) that if my intention is just to get the car in his name and then to resell to me in Delaware before returning to Pennsylvania border?

The situation is one that dealerships will only answer the "right" questions, and often if you don't have the knowledge base they will eat you up. It is easy to say this or that is possible, but if the dealer says "no thanks" what can you do?

Your son will pay the tax of that state he titles the vehicle in, with little if any option in almost all cases. I utilize a buyer in the States who buys, titles then resells to my customers. It is clean and there is no issue with taxes as we title in a non-tax state. This always comes across as advertising and I am not the only one who provides this service, but if you are looking to save the money that is out there Can. vs. US and want to "do-it-yourself" then be sure to do your homework.

Your suggestion is muddy as you are playing with a couple of states, a foreign country and laws effecting driving/licensing and rebate concerns.

Contact me directly if you want help. I always offer advice for anyone wondering for no fee.

Take care

[HacheyImports]

It's tougher in my case because I'm looking for a Honda dealership and according to the ones I've called, Honda head office requires that the car be first registered in the US. But I'm sure there's a way to get around that. ;)

Honda will not honour the warranty...be very clear on this. It does not matter if you buy/title/insure/ this car in the US..no warranty comes to Canada. Some examples may be suggested of crossing back into the US and having work done...but please, please, please do not count on it.

With respect to buying new, that is the policy indeed. "Some" can be found, but that number gets smaller every day I find. I was comfortable coordinating direct buys for customers but now have to use an American buyer to get it done. Not a large cost and in fact has made it all a touch smoother, but still and all it is only a reflection of adapting to the market conditions.

Take care

[c3uo]

Well I just finished importing a "low mileage" 2008 MDX Tech. I'm happy that everything went really smoothly - thanks to the tips on this thread that I have followed closely since last summer.. I figure ~$15,000 savings based on the lowest cash price in Canada. Over $20,000 based on MSRP. I would have preferred to buy in Canada, but the discount was too great. I actually offered my local dealer $2000 off MSRP plus the cash incentive and they wouldn't take it (similar to what people are paying in Ontario - we only have two dealers in the Maritimes....). Oh well - I'd rather save the $15K I guess - I just wish I had a warranty.

So to everyone who has contributed to this thread - Thank You! It was very straight forward. Just carefully read all the information and ensure your paperwork is in order and you should have no problems. Also - The US Calais Border advised me they now accept faxes for the title and bill of sale instead of what used to be by drop-off only.

Lastly - for mole11 and d-kim (feel free to PM me):
1. Any sources on Canadian Nav DVD?
2. Are you buying an aftermarket warranty? I am looking into this - Ensurall has a ridiculous 5000 km / 3 month oil change requirement (I would rather follow the maintenance minder and use synthetic oil instead - better for the environment). Further I think Ensurall does not cover the Nav system.
3. Any idea how we could change to Deg C. on the HVAC. I'm sure it is possible, but I have yet to find a way.

[furore]

I've been reading this amazingly informative thread for months now and I'm finally in need of a new car.

I'm considering bringing in the Nissan Murano, and despite it being assembled in Japan (i.e. 6.1%) it's still a lot cheaper in the U.S.

Does anyone know why the Murano is not listed at all on the RIV list? It's neither admissable nor inadmissable...is it up to me to decide?:cheesygri

[Danno2005]

Check Page 25 on the admissable list - the 2009 Murano is admissable - but check the Notes first.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf

[tareks]

I've got a quick question about having to register a car in the US, specifically about the Nissan Altima coupe. Now Nissan HQ tells me that the warranty will be valid as long as the car is registered in the US for at least 1 day. Also it can't change ownership for at least 6 months.

My question is since I don't have any friends/family in the US, and therefore no access to some US address, am I SOL when it comes to registering it in the US? I don't care about the state taxes and such, I'd still be saving a LOT of money, but I would really like the warranty. So if there any way to register a car in the US without having an address there?

Thanks.

[rAfChOw]

Honda will not honour the warranty...be very clear on this. It does not matter if you buy/title/insure/ this car in the US..no warranty comes to Canada. Some examples may be suggested of crossing back into the US and having work done...but please, please, please do not count on it.

I realize this but as others have said, the savings benefit outweighs the cost of a void warranty. I will only hope that the car will live up to Honda's known reliability.

[HacheyImports]

I realize this but as others have said, the savings benefit outweighs the cost of a void warranty. I will only hope that the car will live up to Honda's known reliability.

I agree it will, but I usually advise that people put a portion of the savings in a "rainy day" fund if anything happens, or purchase a third party warranty for peace of mind.

Honda vehicles never break....just sure to be yours if you don't take measures.

[st7860]

I agree it will, but I usually advise that people put a portion of the savings in a "rainy day" fund if anything happens, or purchase a third party warranty for peace of mind.

Honda vehicles never break....just sure to be yours if you don't take measures.


Yes. Honda's have great engines. As for Toyota's, I heard they have sludge problems.

[DrXenon]

Yes. Honda's have great engines. As for Toyota's, I heard they have sludge problems.

Honda engines are more stressed than Toyota engines because they operate at higher compression ratios (and hence make more power). It's not clear that there's a significant penalty in reliability because of this.

There was a historical problem in Toyotas with engine oil cooking because of high head temperatures (to give greater efficiency), but this happened only to people who never changed their oil. The present Toyota engines have no such problems.

[HacheyImports]

There was a historical problem in Toyotas with engine oil cooking because of high head temperatures (to give greater efficiency), but this happened only to people who never changed their oil. The present Toyota engines have no such problems.

Dr.Xenon,


This is an interesting opinion. I had never heard it described this way, and it does make clear some issues I have heard of related to Toyota engines in the past.

"The present Toyota" being how old...when was this recognized and resolved?

Thank you in advance.

[DrXenon]

This is an interesting opinion. I had never heard it described this way, and it does make clear some issues I have heard of related to Toyota engines in the past.

"The present Toyota" being how old...when was this recognized and resolved?

Thank you in advance.

I looked into this quite extensively because I own one of the allegedly sludge-prone engines. The affected models, at least for the 4 cylinder engines, are MY 1997-2001 Camrys (or other models with the 5SFE engine). The efficiency of an engine is proportional to the difference between operating temperature and the ambient, so Toyota narrowed passages in the head to reduce cooling. They reversed the change in MY 2002.

The Toyota mechanics and people on a popular oil forum (bobistheoilguy.com) all said that they never heard of a sludge failure on a car where anything resembling a reasonable oil change interval was adhered to, and certainly never if the customer used synthetic oil.

Me, I use synthetic oil exclusively on a 7500-8500 km interval and have half a dozen oil analyses that show zero sludge, so I'm not worried about my MY1999 Camry.

There were also some reports of sludge in the 6-cylinder of approximately the same era, but I'm not familiar with it.

[Metal_Driver]

Glad to see a few others bringing home MDXs. :D

[st7860]

I looked into this quite extensively because I own one of the allegedly sludge-prone engines. The affected models, at least for the 4 cylinder engines, are MY 1997-2001 Camrys (or other models with the 5SFE engine). The efficiency of an engine is proportional to the difference between operating temperature and the ambient, so Toyota narrowed passages in the head to reduce cooling. They reversed the change in MY 2002.

The Toyota mechanics and people on a popular oil forum (bobistheoilguy.com) all said that they never heard of a sludge failure on a car where anything resembling a reasonable oil change interval was adhered to, and certainly never if the customer used synthetic oil.

Me, I use synthetic oil exclusively on a 7500-8500 km interval and have half a dozen oil analyses that show zero sludge, so I'm not worried about my MY1999 Camry.

There were also some reports of sludge in the 6-cylinder of approximately the same era, but I'm not familiar with it.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html

[sleepaholic]

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread over the years!

I successfully imported a 2007 VW Passat Wagon 2.0T. Loaded with everything except navigation, had to go a little way away, Alexandria, VA (just outside washington DC) but totally worth it.

$22,000 CAD plus GST/PST. You can't find a wagon in canada with less options for under $30,000.

Thanks again!

[shoprbccom]

Car makers put brakes on pricing parity

Dealers slash stickers but costs still 20-30% higher than US

http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/personal_finance/2008/5_finance_3.html

[perfchris]

The nav disk should have a decent map of Canada. If it does not you are stuck buying the Canadian disk from the honda.ca link.

With regards to the HVAC controls being in F, there is no way arounf that unless you change the ECU, the brain of your vehicle. On your nav unit, there is a calculator that converts your F into C.

Well I just finished importing a "low mileage" 2008 MDX Tech. I'm happy that everything went really smoothly - thanks to the tips on this thread that I have followed closely since last summer.. I figure ~$15,000 savings based on the lowest cash price in Canada. Over $20,000 based on MSRP. I would have preferred to buy in Canada, but the discount was too great. I actually offered my local dealer $2000 off MSRP plus the cash incentive and they wouldn't take it (similar to what people are paying in Ontario - we only have two dealers in the Maritimes....). Oh well - I'd rather save the $15K I guess - I just wish I had a warranty.

So to everyone who has contributed to this thread - Thank You! It was very straight forward. Just carefully read all the information and ensure your paperwork is in order and you should have no problems. Also - The US Calais Border advised me they now accept faxes for the title and bill of sale instead of what used to be by drop-off only.

Lastly - for mole11 and d-kim (feel free to PM me):
1. Any sources on Canadian Nav DVD?
2. Are you buying an aftermarket warranty? I am looking into this - Ensurall has a ridiculous 5000 km / 3 month oil change requirement (I would rather follow the maintenance minder and use synthetic oil instead - better for the environment). Further I think Ensurall does not cover the Nav system.
3. Any idea how we could change to Deg C. on the HVAC. I'm sure it is possible, but I have yet to find a way.

[tareks]

I've got a quick question about having to register a car in the US, specifically about the Nissan Altima coupe. Now Nissan HQ tells me that the warranty will be valid as long as the car is registered in the US for at least 1 day. Also it can't change ownership for at least 6 months.

My question is since I don't have any friends/family in the US, and therefore no access to some US address, am I SOL when it comes to registering it in the US? I don't care about the state taxes and such, I'd still be saving a LOT of money, but I would really like the warranty. So if there any way to register a car in the US without having an address there?

Thanks.

Sorry to bump my question up, but does anyone have an answer to this...thanks :)

[ottawa_hull]

Glad to see a few others bringing home MDXs. :D

So what do people think of 3rd party warranty companies. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated

[perfchris]

For those that are interested in a CR-V EX-L navi 4wd USA model with 6500 miles in excellent condition, check the BST section. Here is a direct link: (pictures included). Comes with warranty (3rd party)

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=563744&highlight=honda

[cocomin]

I read a while back (around Page# 800!) that there may be a way to get the US duty back (2%?)after importing a non-NAFTA car into Canada and paying the 6.1% duty. Anyone knows if there is any truth in that?

[diigii]

I've been hearing two long running radio ads from Nissan Canada for months now. When importing became a word-of-mouth with car buyers going to the US, the Canadian car manufacturers were calling their US counterparts and, presumably, asking them to deny Canadians of purchasing US-spec models for the purpose of importing them back to Canada. Along with it, threats of warranty denials and claims of superior features than US-spec models. But these two particular Nissan radio ads riled me because at the end of the ads, the Nissan guy says "Offers these good Americans are coming up here." Or so to this effect. I'm sure most of you who listen to the radio during your morning and afternoon commute heard it a few times. I don't memorize the whole tag line since it's more than a 1,000-word chock full of hypocrisy!!! So, if their prices are supposedly low that they even attract Americans to come up here, does that mean they will sell to an American buyer, while a Canadian shopper gets denied in the US? And this is not only addressed to Nissan, but to all the carmakers in general. Hypocrisy wreaks out of Nissan Canada executives who conceived and approved of the ads!!! So what does a pissed- off owner like me do? I have made a decision not to take my imported car to them for oil change service anymore. It might not seem much revenue for them but I'd rather take my car to a US dealer (Buffalo area) who deserves my business. Besides, I don't trust them as they might do something intentional just so my warranty claim would be denied. And when the warranty expires, Costco will earn my business just like how they have me with my other car.

[Priceslasher]

Hey Guys and Gals just wondering if anyone else is also looking into getting an SX4 crossover from the USA i just got quoted a little over 16 grand for the all equipped touring version...full load pkg...in Montreal the best price i got was a bit over 23 grand so i stand to save approx 6 grand after all is said and done..however it is Japan built so the 6.1 duty applies...my USA dealer is in Pennsylvania he told me alot of Ontarians are buying off of him so he is familiar with the whole deal....I love this car and i think i might go for it...any one have any comments...Thx

[Trexim]

A question: I got a stone chip on the QEW on my way back (:mad: :evil: :cry: ), would that affect my CT inspection? I want to fix it tightaway but don't want to drive around with the NY temp permit. Thanks.

[gregolds]

I've been hearing two long running radio ads from Nissan Canada for months now. When importing became a word-of-mouth with car buyers going to the US, the Canadian car manufacturers were calling their US counterparts and, presumably, asking them to deny Canadians of purchasing US-spec models for the purpose of importing them back to Canada. Along with it, threats of warranty denials and claims of superior features than US-spec models. But these two particular Nissan radio ads riled me because at the end of the ads, the Nissan guy says "Prices are these good Americans are coming up here." Or so to this effect. I'm sure most of you who listen to the radio during your morning and afternoon commute heard it a few times. I don't memorize the whole tag line since it's more than a 1,000-word chock full of hypocrisy!!! So, if their prices are supposedly low that they even attract Americans to come up here, does that mean they will sell to an American buyer, while a Canadian shopper gets denied in the US? And this is not only addressed to Nissan, but to all the carmakers in general. Hypocrisy wreaks out of Nissan Canada executives who conceived and approved of the ads!!! So what does a pissed- off owner like me do? I have made a decision not to take my imported car to them for oil change service anymore. It might not seem much revenue for them but I'd rather take my car to a US dealer (Buffalo area) who deserves my business. Besides, I don't trust them as they might do something intentional just so my warranty claim would be denied. And when the warranty expires, Costco will earn my business just like how they have me with my other car.

Americans coming to Canada to buy Nissans!!! Give me a break. A Canadian government with some guts would be charging these fraudsters with false advertising as they are misleading consumers.

[PrimeBane]

I hear that Nissan readio add nearly every morning... I always get a good chuckle out of it.

Yet it must be working a bit... vehicle sales are still up in Alberta.

[bulgurc]

I read a while back (around Page# 800!) that there may be a way to get the US duty back (2%?)after importing a non-NAFTA car into Canada and paying the 6.1% duty. Anyone knows if there is any truth in that?

I investigated a little bit that. I ended up calling a broker who specializes on this. The process is extremely complex I was told. They could do it for me for a percentage.(a third or half of it). However the car need to be held and inspected. Also needed cooperation of the Toyota USA (substitute your brand here) as they need proof of import from them. That is very unlikely as they are instructing their dealers not to sell to us. I decided it was not worth it, for 1-2% return. The duty is %2.5 in States.

[allknowing]

A question: I got a stone chip on the QEW on my way back (:mad: :evil: :cry: ), would that affect my CT inspection? I want to fix it tightaway but don't want to drive around with the NY temp permit. Thanks.

The riv inspection, no. A safety inspection, yes. Esp. if its in the drivers view.
I *think* the rule of thumb is if the crack is in the window wiper swipe, it has to be fixed. Are you talking a craaaack, or just a starburst? Starbursts can be repaired quickly and fairly cheaply.

[shopper-X]

A question: I got a stone chip on the QEW on my way back (:mad: :evil: :cry: ), would that affect my CT inspection? I want to fix it tightaway but don't want to drive around with the NY temp permit. Thanks.

I found this awhile back:

Vehicle Damage - I have damaged my vehicle on one of the following highways: HWY 403, HWY 401, HWY 410 or QEW or an on-ramp or off-ramp to one of these highways. What should I do? (http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/fileaclaim;jsessionid=TV2SDVOEIIRJ1TRPH3XT44WOF25W 2PW0?paf_gear_id=3700008&itemId=80900085&action=faqAnswer)

Answer
These highways are under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, not the City. Be sure to see a licensed vehicle mechanic to determine the extent of damage. Contact your automobile insurance company as you may have coverage for this type of loss. Alternatively, submit your claim in writing to:

Ontario Ministry of Transportation Management Board & Secretariat
Risk Management and Insurance Services
6 - 700 University Ave.
Toronto ON M7A 2S4

Or telephone them at (416) 314-3440.

[dumbass]

I've been hearing two long running radio ads from Nissan Canada for months now. When importing became a word-of-mouth with car buyers going to the US, the Canadian car manufacturers were calling their US counterparts and, presumably, asking them to deny Canadians of purchasing US-spec models for the purpose of importing them back to Canada. Along with it, threats of warranty denials and claims of superior features than US-spec models. But these two particular Nissan radio ads riled me because at the end of the ads, the Nissan guy says "Offers these good Americans are coming up here." Or so to this effect. I'm sure most of you who listen to the radio during your morning and afternoon commute heard it a few times. I don't memorize the whole tag line since it's more than a 1,000-word chock full of hypocrisy!!! So, if their prices are supposedly low that they even attract Americans to come up here, does that mean they will sell to an American buyer, while a Canadian shopper gets denied in the US? And this is not only addressed to Nissan, but to all the carmakers in general. Hypocrisy wreaks out of Nissan Canada executives who conceived and approved of the ads!!! So what does a pissed- off owner like me do? I have made a decision not to take my imported car to them for oil change service anymore. It might not seem much revenue for them but I'd rather take my car to a US dealer (Buffalo area) who deserves my business. Besides, I don't trust them as they might do something intentional just so my warranty claim would be denied. And when the warranty expires, Costco will earn my business just like how they have me with my other car.

I cringe every time I hear that radio ad. Anyone that's investigated prices knows that the ad is not true.

[fl4wless]

Ive been searching for a car for a few days now from the US, but most of the good deals are a good 1000 miles further than im willing to fly to and drive back.

What are some reliable and reasonable auto transport companies in the US?

DAS - http://www.dasautoshippers.com/ seems to fit the bill, but their nearest pickup depot to me is still 1000km+ away (i live in sask)...

any others?

[michelb]

Ive been searching for a car for a few days now from the US, but most of the good deals are a good 1000 miles further than im willing to fly to and drive back.

What are some reliable and reasonable auto transport companies in the US?

DAS - http://www.dasautoshippers.com/ seems to fit the bill, but their nearest pickup depot to me is still 1000km+ away (i live in sask)...

any others?

Much to my surprise, so far shipping a vehicle seems to be a total pain. There are tons of companies in the US that claim to do it but it looks like most of them are brokers and not actual shippers. (We've already lost one vehicle while waiting for shipping)

I would suggest checking with http://transportreviews.com/. I actually thought of using DAS but their reputation on that site is not exactly great.

[d-kim]

Much to my surprise, so far shipping a vehicle seems to be a total pain. There are tons of companies in the US that claim to do it but it looks like most of them are brokers and not actual shippers. (We've already lost one vehicle while waiting for shipping)

I would suggest checking with http://transportreviews.com/. I actually thought of using DAS but their reputation on that site is not exactly great.

i pm'd you guys

[stock_junkie]

Saw this on the deals page:

"While people outside of Quebec may be envious of the Hyundai Accent for under $10000 available there, Hyundai Canada is not unsympathetic. Effective March 1, 2008, the company slashed the cash purchase price on the 2008 Sonata to $18,995, a reduction of $5150. You can see more about this offer at Wheels.ca (at the bottom of the page)."

http://www.wheels.ca/article/197852

While I would not personally buy a Hyundai I'm hoping this will put pressure on Honda and Toyota to lower their prices on the Camry and Accord since the Sonata is their competition in the mid-size market.

[Coolers]

Thanks go out to all those who have contributed to the wealth of information in this post. My offer was just accepted by the dealer and am currently in process of working all the paperwork out.

Slightly used 2008 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe, almost fully-loaded (aside from NAV), <8k miles for $36,5 USD. :D

[Cars4Canadians]

Thanks go out to all those who have contributed to the wealth of information in this post. My offer was just accepted by the dealer and am currently in process of working all the paperwork out.

Slightly used 2008 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe, almost fully-loaded (aside from NAV), <8k miles for $36,5 USD. :D

Nice price, way to go !
Never purchase Canadian if you can get away with getting it from the USA.

[CheapScotsman]

Anybody who knows of a Toyota Dealer anywhere North and West of Texas that will sell new to Canadians, please PM me ... thanks very muchSo I only have ONE person who can give me the name of a dealer who might be able to sell new in the entire western 1/2 of the US?

Wow, has this been locked up or what?

[HacheyImports]

Toyota has "circled the wagons" for sure. I have to utilize an American buyer and that is very acceptable to the dealerships. Hey, they would love nothing more than to sell directly, but the big boys are making threats that have caught their attention.

That said, the agents I use are able to get a better price with their fee included than most folks would buy the vehicles for anyway.

I read an article in a recent MacLeans detailing the "rise of GM" that is imminent. Toyota has displaced them as the biggest volume globally, but GM is trying to regain customer confidence and has improved quality significantly. It will be telling if Toyota/Honda are more cooperative to Canadian exports when the recession plus improved competition from the Big 3 start biting into profits.

Take care

[perfchris]

Thanks go out to all those who have contributed to the wealth of information in this post. My offer was just accepted by the dealer and am currently in process of working all the paperwork out.

Slightly used 2008 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe, almost fully-loaded (aside from NAV), <8k miles for $36,5 USD. :D

Have you looked into the modifications that need to be done to get the RIV stamp of approval. When I looked into it, the front bumper needed to be changed and repainted.

Buyer beware !

[mohitk]

Saw this on the deals page:

"While people outside of Quebec may be envious of the Hyundai Accent for under $10000 available there, Hyundai Canada is not unsympathetic. Effective March 1, 2008, the company slashed the cash purchase price on the 2008 Sonata to $18,995, a reduction of $5150. You can see more about this offer at Wheels.ca (at the bottom of the page)."

http://www.wheels.ca/article/197852

While I would not personally buy a Hyundai I'm hoping this will put pressure on Honda and Toyota to lower their prices on the Camry and Accord since the Sonata is their competition in the mid-size market.

Bloody hogwash! Down south you can get a GLS Auto for 16K MSRP (after the 3K rebate). And that car comes with ABS and Traction Control - something thats available only in the top of the line Sonata here.

Way to go Hyundai! Atleast Honda and Toyota don't skip on safety features for equivalent models!

[michelb]

Bloody hogwash! Down south you can get a GLS Auto for 16K MSRP (after the 3K rebate). And that car comes with ABS and Traction Control - something thats available only in the top of the line Sonata here.

Way to go Hyundai! Atleast Honda and Toyota don't skip on safety features for equivalent models!

That's not true - try to get an AWD Toyota Sienna in Canada without getting the Limited or even getting front/rear parking assist on a Toyota Sienna in Canada (not available - only available as rear only as an option). On the other hand Canadian Sienna LEs are much better equipped than US Sienna LEs ...

[perfchris]

Does anyone out there know how the posted rates at the CBSA offices are determined ?

Thanks

[michelb]

Does anyone out there know how the posted rates at the CBSA offices are determined ?

Thanks

I believe that they use the exchange rate posted BankOfCanada - either way though, it's pretty much a non-issue. Even on a $50k car, if their rate is off by 2% (and I don't think it would be off by that much), since it's only used for calculation of the GST / duty, you're looking at under $200 difference.

[CheapScotsman]

... On the other hand Canadian Sienna LEs are much better equipped than US Sienna LEs ...True but the option package in the US to bring it up to CDN equivalent is only $1150 or so.

So. the CDN Sienna LE's MSRP for $36,400 (PDI included) while the US LE's (with option like tow pkg, dual sliders, to bring to up to virtually the same as the CDN) MSRP for $27,675.

Edmunds has US invoice cost on LE (with options) for $24,095 and there is a $1500 mfg rebate to bring it to $22,595. People on siennaclub indicate their are getting theirs in the mid 23,000.

Its gonna be tough to get a Sienna LE in Canada for less than $33,000. Thats around $10k diff compared to the US

Not that it makes any difference from a practical point cause, at least here on the west coast, it probably impossible to directly buy a new US Sienna anyways.

ps ... thanks for the PM

[michelb]

True, but the CDN Sienna LE's MSRP for $36,400 (PDI included) while the US LE's (with option like tow pkg, dual sliders, to bring to up to virtually the same as the CDN) MSRP for $27,675.

Edmunds has US invoice cost on LE (with options) for $24,095 and there is a $1500 mfg rebate to bring it to $22,595. People on siennaclub indicate their are getting theirs in the mid 23,000.

Its gonna be tough to get a Sienna LE in Canada for less than $33,000. Thats around $10k diff compared to the US

Not that it makes any difference from a practical point cause, at least here on the west coast, it probably impossible to directly buy a new US Sienna anyways.

ps ... thanks for the PM

I certainly wasn't disputing the cost differences (we're trying to buy a Sienna and will be getting it from the US). I just wanted to correct the statement that only Hyundai was not selling equivalent vehicles for the same trim in Canada vs US. Don't know much about Honda's line so can't comment on it but I would argue that Toyota is probably the worst for it - they have tons of options / models available in the US that are not available in Canada.

[CheapScotsman]

I certainly wasn't disputing the cost differences (we're trying to buy a Sienna and will be getting it from the US). I just wanted to correct the statement that only Hyundai was not selling equivalent vehicles for the same trim in Canada vs US. Don't know much about Honda's line so can't comment on it but I would argue that Toyota is probably the worst for it - they have tons of options / models available in the US that are not available in Canada.Oh, I agree for sure.

For me, I find it prudent to make the assumption that any particular vehicle is cheaper in the states .... then do the research to prove otherwise

[DollarsToDonuts]

Hi All. Has anyone had any dealings with North Coast Auto Sales in Cleveland. There prices seem very reasonable, but that always makes one suspicious. Thanks.

[mohitk]

I certainly wasn't disputing the cost differences (we're trying to buy a Sienna and will be getting it from the US). I just wanted to correct the statement that only Hyundai was not selling equivalent vehicles for the same trim in Canada vs US. Don't know much about Honda's line so can't comment on it but I would argue that Toyota is probably the worst for it - they have tons of options / models available in the US that are not available in Canada.

I stand corrected. So hyundai copies toyota here too :)

[CheapScotsman]

In light of the CTV investigation on rebuilds (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080307/wfive_apa_080307/20080307?hub=WFive), I think it is a good idea to get an inspection AND the carfax report (when buying out of the US)

The majority of late model cars (06,07) toyotas that I am looking at are rental returns or lease returns.

Its not unforseeable that that rental companies get stuff fixed without it being reported ... so my question is ... Has anybody pulled a carfax and either


an inspection has indicated major damage and its NOT on the carfax OR

major damage has been reported on CARFAX for a rental/lease return

[st7860]

that show is a shill for the APA

[niceguy1234]

True but the option package in the US to bring it up to CDN equivalent is only $1150 or so.

So. the CDN Sienna LE's MSRP for $36,400 (PDI included) while the US LE's (with option like tow pkg, dual sliders, to bring to up to virtually the same as the CDN) MSRP for $27,675.

Edmunds has US invoice cost on LE (with options) for $24,095 and there is a $1500 mfg rebate to bring it to $22,595. People on siennaclub indicate their are getting theirs in the mid 23,000.

Its gonna be tough to get a Sienna LE in Canada for less than $33,000. Thats around $10k diff compared to the US

Not that it makes any difference from a practical point cause, at least here on the west coast, it probably impossible to directly buy a new US Sienna anyways.

ps ... thanks for the PM

If there is a US dealer willing to sell you a new Sienna, and knowing that the car will be exported to Canada, it is impossible for them to sell you at invoice. Beside, they will not get the rebate from Toyota USA if the bell of sale show CAD address. You may likely end up paying the US MSRP, but still save a lot of money.

[michelb]

In light of the CTV investigation on rebuilds (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080307/wfive_apa_080307/20080307?hub=WFive), I think it is a good idea to get an inspection AND the carfax report (when buying out of the US)

The majority of late model cars (06,07) toyotas that I am looking at are rental returns or lease returns.

Its not unforseeable that that rental companies get stuff fixed without it being reported ... so my question is ... Has anybody pulled a carfax and either


an inspection has indicated major damage and its NOT on the carfax OR

major damage has been reported on CARFAX for a rental/lease return


Interestingly enough, I just noticed one VIN that reported clean on CarFax but AutoCheck reported one accident - the odd thing is that AutoCheck reports the first accident one month BEFORE the first registration at 10 miles (I guess it's possible it was involved in an accident at the dealership although I don't really see them reporting it to the police (unless it was vandalism or something) (Autocheck records it as ' Police Report ACCIDENT REPORTED ')

I do know that accidents in Ontario do not show up on CarFax.

[CheapScotsman]

Interestingly enough, I just noticed one VIN that reported clean on CarFax but AutoCheck reported one accident - the odd thing is that AutoCheck reports the first accident one month BEFORE the first registration at 10 miles (I guess it's possible it was involved in an accident at the dealership although I don't really see them reporting it to the police (unless it was vandalism or something) (Autocheck records it as ' Police Report ACCIDENT REPORTED ')

I do know that accidents in Ontario do not show up on CarFax.Overall probably a good reason to get it independantly inspected even if you are buying it from a dealer. The guys on the CTV video took only a few seconds to look at the major structural points on a car to determine if the car had been involved in a serious accident.

[dsds]

Anyone have any comments about importing a Cadillac?

I know the XLR isn't admissible, the VIN # need to be above WR083596, and that the warranty is delayed 6 months /12000 miles. Other than that?

Do I have to pay GM for a recall letter or will a dealership printout do the trick? How's the sourcing of a friendly GM dealer these days?

Cheers!

[robersha]

Hi all, I have read through many pages on this post and am still looking for some answers...more so clarification and peace of mind!

I am in the process of buying a new Jeep out of Texas and registering it at a friends place in Montana as to avoid sales tax. I would then be driving back home (after 4 weeks for the title to be mailed to my friends address) with all the paper work and then registering the vehicle in Canada when home.

Question, is this a legitimate route? Will there be any snags at the boarder with a vehicle bought in Texas (with temp dealer tag/license plate) and registered in Montana?? The dealer says it is not a problem as well as saying the warranty will still be good as it was registered in the states first.

Also, the proof of recall clearance document, can the dealer request that for me or do I have to get that? Is there a cost for that?

I need to get this sorted ASAP as I am looking at driving back end of April which doesn't leave much time for the registration to get sorted out (receive title)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[HP_John]

Ive been searching for a car for a few days now from the US, but most of the good deals are a good 1000 miles further than im willing to fly to and drive back.

What are some reliable and reasonable auto transport companies in the US?

DAS - http://www.dasautoshippers.com/ seems to fit the bill, but their nearest pickup depot to me is still 1000km+ away (i live in sask)...

any others?

http://www.shipmyvehicle.com/dasglobal/default.aspx

That's their international shipping, they'll even ship to your door

[HP_John]

So what do people think of 3rd party warranty companies. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated

Every expert opinion on them say you're likely to spend less by paying for repairs yourself. 3rd party has a rough idea of how much claims will likely cost them & there's enough fine print to safeguard the 3rd party.

[stephenstay]

Anyone have any comments about importing a Cadillac?

I know the XLR isn't admissible, the VIN # need to be above WR083596, and that the warranty is delayed 6 months /12000 miles. Other than that?

Do I have to pay GM for a recall letter or will a dealership printout do the trick? How's the sourcing of a friendly GM dealer these days?

Cheers!

I imported a 2007 STS in December 2007. RIV accepted a letter on the dealership letterhead stating that there were no recalls or campaigns for my particular vehicle.
You may want to consider purchasing a low miles "lightly used" Cadillac rather than a new one. There are many manufacturer's vehicles out there at dealerships and you'll be the first titled owner and there isn't a delay on warranty as long as the car is 6 months old. I saved over 25K going this route, purchased out of Ohio and had it shipped to Washington and picked it up from there. PM if you want more details.
Cheers, SS

[d-kim]

Hi all, I have read through many pages on this post and am still looking for some answers...more so clarification and peace of mind!

I am in the process of buying a new Jeep out of Texas and registering it at a friends place in Montana as to avoid sales tax. I would then be driving back home (after 4 weeks for the title to be mailed to my friends address) with all the paper work and then registering the vehicle in Canada when home.

Question, is this a legitimate route? Will there be any snags at the boarder with a vehicle bought in Texas (with temp dealer tag/license plate) and registered in Montana?? The dealer says it is not a problem as well as saying the warranty will still be good as it was registered in the states first.

Also, the proof of recall clearance document, can the dealer request that for me or do I have to get that? Is there a cost for that?

I need to get this sorted ASAP as I am looking at driving back end of April which doesn't leave much time for the registration to get sorted out (receive title)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

It shouldn't be a problem, as long as you have the title faxed to the border ahead of time, and also signed over to you. It may be classified as a used vehicle by the ministry of transportation, so make sure when you cross the border, you get a casual goods and services form (blue and white form). I had never heard about that anywhere, but luckily my broker had it and was able to send it in.

[michelb]

... It may be classified as a used vehicle by the ministry of transportation, so make sure when you cross the border, you get a casual goods and services form (blue and white form). I had never heard about that anywhere, but luckily my broker had it and was able to send it in.

What's the 'casual goods and services form' for? I've never heard of that. Is this for the US or the CND border?


A bit more research on this seems to show that this is a Canadian form used to apply for reimbursement of duty and taxes paid (e.g. item returned to US, etc) but I don't see how it would apply in the case. Please let us know

[d-kim]

What's the 'casual goods and services form' for? I've never heard of that. Is this for the US or the CND border?


A bit more research on this seems to show that this is a Canadian form used to apply for reimbursement of duty and taxes paid (e.g. item returned to US, etc) but I don't see how it would apply in the case. Please let us know

When I went to register my car at MTO (the only place that asked for it), they said because it was titled instead of MSO, they required the casual goods and services for so that they could calculate the PST. Apparently they need this for used cars. My car was new, but classified as old because it was titled.

I'm not sure if it's US side or CAN side, because my shipper did all the border stuff for me. Just make sure you get it with your paperwork.

Never came across this on carburner or any other forum I was reading. But when you cross the border make sure you get it, if you car has been titled

[toyorav4me]

What's the 'casual goods and services form' for? I've never heard of that. Is this for the US or the CND border?


A bit more research on this seems to show that this is a Canadian form used to apply for reimbursement of duty and taxes paid (e.g. item returned to US, etc) but I don't see how it would apply in the case. Please let us know

When I cross last Monday, they give me this blue and white form call the " Casual Goods Accounting Document" which is a Custom receipt. On it, it show the exchange rate, value of the vehicle, GST, duty and total. Which MTO would use for PST.

[michelb]

When I went to register my car at MTO (the only place that asked for it), they said because it was titled instead of MSO, they required the casual goods and services for so that they could calculate the PST. Apparently they need this for used cars. My car was new, but classified as old because it was titled.

I'm not sure if it's US side or CAN side, because my shipper did all the border stuff for me. Just make sure you get it with your paperwork.

Never came across this on carburner or any other forum I was reading. But when you cross the border make sure you get it, if you car has been titled

When I cross last Monday, they give me this blue and white form call the " Casual Goods Accounting Document" which is a Custom receipt. On it, it show the exchange rate, value of the vehicle, GST, duty and total. Which MTO would use for PST.

Interesting, when I imported another vehicle (used) last spring, MTO just used my bill of sale (same as Customs) to calculate PST and I was never asked for anything like that - maybe they changed their policy.

[d-kim]

Interesting, when I imported another vehicle (used) last spring, MTO just used my bill of sale (same as Customs) to calculate PST and I was never asked for anything like that - maybe they changed their policy.

I think they may have, because this isn't even on the MTO checklist for registering a car in another jurisdiction. I even talked to the help line, and they never heard about it either.

But just an FYI, I got asked for it, and the poster before did, so maybe it is a new thing... basically keep everything you get, and don't throw anything out!

[docfreud]

The local DVLIO (Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office aka MTO) will use the B-15 (Casual Goods Accounting Form) to establish the Cdn price equivalent, based on the currency exchange rate, on the day you import the vehicle.

The PST is payable on the Cdn equivalent + duty (if any) + excise tax on air conditioning, if so equipped.

Hope this helps...

[MichaelKnight]

Anyone have experience importing a Nissan Xterra?

[xriddle]

To any with questions or doubts about sales taxes ... do your homework.

I took the plunge recently on my 2nd import. This one was from the state of Illinois. After finalizing a deal, the dealer told me he had to charge me taxes. After some homework and a few calls to the Illinois Revenue Service I was able to get the exact line in the State Tax Regulation Code that cleared me from paying state sales taxes. For anyone who needs the info YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY STATE TAXES IN ILLINOIS !! Here is the info. In my case the dealer just needs to fill in a tax exemption form and thats it. I gave the dealer this info ... He double checked with the Revenue Board himself and then agreed that I was exempt.

http://tax.illinois.gov/LegalInformation/regs/part130/130-605.pdf

Effective July 23, 1971, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(1)(A), the tax is not imposed upon the sale of a motor vehicle in this State to a nonresident even though the motor vehicle is delivered to the nonresident in this State, if the motor vehicle is not to be titled in this State, and if a drive-away permit for purposes of transporting the motor vehicle to the other state is issued to the motor vehicle as provided in Section 3-603 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/3-603] or if the nonresident purchaser has vehicle registration plates to transfer to the motor vehicle upon returning to his or her home state. The issuance of the drive-away permit shall be prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle will not be titled in this State.

Remember .. don't take no for an answer ... do your homework ... its worth the 30min or so.

[Kamloops]

Much to my surprise, so far shipping a vehicle seems to be a total pain. There are tons of companies in the US that claim to do it but it looks like most of them are brokers and not actual shippers. (We've already lost one vehicle while waiting for shipping)

I would suggest checking with http://transportreviews.com/. I actually thought of using DAS but their reputation on that site is not exactly great.

for shipping http://www.uship.com/ its awesome!

[Kamloops]

So I only have ONE person who can give me the name of a dealer who might be able to sell new in the entire western 1/2 of the US?

Wow, has this been locked up or what?

I know of at least 4 that will sell to a Canuck in the western usa

[verby]

Is it easy to purchase a vehicle privately instead of dealer?
Or...if some dealers don't want to sell to Canada, why don't you ask your amerifriend/family to purchase a vehicle and then you 'buy it' from them. Does it make sense?

[bonecho]

To any with questions or doubts about sales taxes ... do your homework.

I took the plunge recently on my 2nd import. This one was from the state of Illinois. After finalizing a deal, the dealer told me he had to charge me taxes. After some homework and a few calls to the Illinois Revenue Service I was able to get the exact line in the State Tax Regulation Code that cleared me from paying state sales taxes. For anyone who needs the info YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY STATE TAXES IN ILLINOIS !! Here is the info. In my case the dealer just needs to fill in a tax exemption form and thats it. I gave the dealer this info ... He double checked with the Revenue Board himself and then agreed that I was exempt.

http://tax.illinois.gov/LegalInformation/regs/part130/130-605.pdf

Effective July 23, 1971, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(1)(A), the tax is not imposed upon the sale of a motor vehicle in this State to a nonresident even though the motor vehicle is delivered to the nonresident in this State, if the motor vehicle is not to be titled in this State, and if a drive-away permit for purposes of transporting the motor vehicle to the other state is issued to the motor vehicle as provided in Section 3-603 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/3-603] or if the nonresident purchaser has vehicle registration plates to transfer to the motor vehicle upon returning to his or her home state. The issuance of the drive-away permit shall be prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle will not be titled in this State.

Remember .. don't take no for an answer ... do your homework ... its worth the 30min or so.

I purchased an Infiniti FX35 in Chicago in the Fall and saved $12,000+
The state sales tax issue is somewhat more complicated and many car salesman are really not very knowlegable in this area. It is true that state sales tax is not applicable. However, there have been instances where vehicles have been purchased by individuals claiming to be exporting the vehicle to Canada. Some of those same vehicles were subsequently registered in the state. When this happens, the dealership is forced to remit the state sales tax themselves, after the fact.
I came to an agreement with the dealership that I would pay them an amount equivalent to the state sales tax on a credit card. The next day, I faxed the dealership with proof that the vehicle had crossed the border for import and the payment was refunded on the credit card.

[Lukestereh]

Ive been searching for a car for a few days now from the US, but most of the good deals are a good 1000 miles further than im willing to fly to and drive back.

What are some reliable and reasonable auto transport companies in the US?

DAS - http://www.dasautoshippers.com/ seems to fit the bill, but their nearest pickup depot to me is still 1000km+ away (i live in sask)...

any others?

I used Hansen Forwarding Ltd. for three vehicles in the past 2 years. Basedin CAlgary with offices in Toronto and Vancover and I beleive they have a stop over in Regina as they use the rail system to transport all vehciles within Canada and trucks come up from the states via TO or Vancover.

[Lukestereh]

Have you looked into the modifications that need to be done to get the RIV stamp of approval. When I looked into it, the front bumper needed to be changed and repainted.

Buyer beware !

Yes I have a friend in VAncover that tried a TT in September and teh bumper conversion was $3,500 !! OF course at the Audi dealer .:(

[stock_junkie]

With gas prices right now, and projected to go up to $1.50 this summer, I'm seriously considering purchasing a Camry Hybrid. I know you can't get the Federal rebate (which is being discontinued anyways) but can get a rebate of up to $2000 on the PST. My question is do you get a full $2000 back?

[gravem]

I'm considering importing a Honda CRV from the US... I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has done this already. (Any problems at the border.... any additional modifications needed... and how much you were able to get it for....)

Does anyone know of any dealers in New York besides John Holtz that will sell to a Canadian? I thinking about driving down there in a few weeks and if there is some place closer to Buffalo, that'd save me some time. (Has anyone even dealt with John Holtz recently?)

I was originally thinking about a Toyota Sienna... but it looks like I'd have to go all the way to North Carolina for one of those.... plus the gas mileage is much better with the CRV. (Too bad about the warranty though...)

[HacheyImports]

John Holtz will not sell new Honda to Canadians for export. I have discussed this with them... I hope you are not being mislead. If you can arrange for new sale then my hat is off to you. Please post how far below MSRP they will go if so..I am very interested.

Take care

[gravem]

If John Holtz no longer deals with Canadians, does anyone know of any other Honda dealer who will? I would prefer New York as I don't want to pay state tax.

If anyone has successfully dealt with JH recently, please PM me.

From this forum, people were successfully dealing with JH as late as last Sept...

[Oiler11]

Anyone know of a bonded broker in the Western US? I want a Mazda, but they will not sell to Canadians.

On a side note, how do you check if someone is bonded or not?

Thanks.

[rockwell66]

Does anyone know if the US Queenston/Lewiston crossing processes cars for export on Good Friday March 21st? Thanks.

[perfchris]

Yes I have a friend in VAncover that tried a TT in September and teh bumper conversion was $3,500 !! OF course at the Audi dealer .:(

You DO NOT have the choice of doing at the Audi Dealer.....

[HacheyImports]

The Lewiston Bridge is open regular 8:00 am to 4:00 pm hours on Friday.

[rockwell66]

The Lewiston Bridge is open regular 8:00 am to 4:00 pm hours on Friday.

Thanks. I know that it's open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, but Good Friday is a holiday, is it still open?

[raymason]

If John Holtz no longer deals with Canadians, does anyone know of any other Honda dealer who will? I would prefer New York as I don't want to pay state tax.

If anyone has successfully dealt with JH recently, please PM me.

From this forum, people were successfully dealing with JH as late as last Sept...

We just purchased a new 08 Honda pilot but couldn't do it direct. Had to use a relative in the states to buy it for me and then I bought it off of him. Thats probably what you will have to do . If you don't have a relative or friend in the US then you might be able to do it through a auto broker.

[HacheyImports]

They have business as usual on Good Friday. I spoke with them directly and they will be processing vehicles 8-4 that day.

Call Phone: (716) 282-1500

Take care

[rockwell66]

They have business as usual on Good Friday. I spoke with them directly and they will be processing vehicles 8-4 that day.

Call Phone: (716) 282-1500

Take care

Great! Thanks so much!

[bulgurc]

Anyone know of a bonded broker in the Western US? I want a Mazda, but they will not sell to Canadians.

On a side note, how do you check if someone is bonded or not?

Thanks.
Try Russ Browning, google him. I did not end up using him, as I could do it myself. He seems to be very professional. Most brokers would want upfront payment, unless you go there and meet him.

[bulgurc]

I came to an agreement with the dealership that I would pay them an amount equivalent to the state sales tax on a credit card. The next day, I faxed the dealership with proof that the vehicle had crossed the border for import and the payment was refunded on the credit card.

Make sure you get that in written.

[bulgurc]

With gas prices right now, and projected to go up to $1.50 this summer, I'm seriously considering purchasing a Camry Hybrid. I know you can't get the Federal rebate (which is being discontinued anyways) but can get a rebate of up to $2000 on the PST. My question is do you get a full $2000 back?

Whoever is considering buying a Hybrid, a thing seriously to consider:

These cars use batteries and every battery has a life span. Very expensive to replace it once it goes. If you try to sell one of these say after 10 years, and the battery has not been replaced recently, it will be very hard to sell. I would say it will be next to worthless.

[rAfChOw]

I will be picking up my car from the U.S. in a week, if all goes according to plan.

Before I finalize the deal, I have a few questions:

1. MSO/MCO: Does this need to be signed by me? If not, I plan on asking the dealer to fax me a copy as well as to US customs before I arrive to pick up the car, which brings up another question - do dealerships normally release (fax) this document before payment has been receiving in full?

2. Insurance: My insurance co. (TD Home & Auto) is being difficult - saying they cannot insure the car until it arrives in Canada. I ask them how am I supposed to get it over to Canada without insurance - they tell me "get a shipping company". >:( So has anyone tried to drive their imported car back to Canada without insurance and achieved it successfully? Does US or Canadian customs ask to see proof of insurance?

3. Recall Clearance Letter: Does RIV require a letter with the manufacturer company letterhead as stated on their website or will they accept a printout from honda.ca or a "warranty enquiry" notice from the dealership (as per Carburner.com)?

Any input is much appreciated!

[PrimeBane]

1. MSO/MCO: Does this need to be signed by me? If not, I plan on asking the dealer to fax me a copy as well as to US customs before I arrive to pick up the car, which brings up another question - do dealerships normally release (fax) this document before payment has been receiving in full?

Yes, the dealer can fax the unsigned MSO/MCO to the border. You'll sign it once you pick-up the vehicle. I don't think the border even checked to see if the original was signed.


2. Insurance: My insurance co. (TD Home & Auto) is being difficult - saying they cannot insure the car until it arrives in Canada. I ask them how am I supposed to get it over to Canada without insurance - they tell me "get a shipping company". >:( So has anyone tried to drive their imported car back to Canada without insurance and achieved it successfully? Does US or Canadian customs ask to see proof of insurance?

I had no problem getting a pink card with my insurance (ING Direct). I'd go back to TD and tell them to take a flying leap... take your business elsewhere. I don't think I'd take the chance driving an uninsured vehicle in the US.


3. Recall Clearance Letter: Does RIV require a letter with the manufacturer company letterhead as stated on their website or will they accept a printout from honda.ca or a "warranty enquiry" notice from the dealership (as per Carburner.com)?

Any input is much appreciated!

Call RIV directly on that one... in my experience they wouldn't accept a GM printout. :(

[verby]

to all those who have a problem with purchasing from the dealer (ie honda, mazda etc.) why don't you get your friend or family member to purchase one and then you 'buy' from them?
is it more difficult to do a private sale rather than from the dealer?

[michelb]

to all those who have a problem with purchasing from the dealer (ie honda, mazda etc.) why don't you get your friend or family member to purchase one and then you 'buy' from them?
is it more difficult to do a private sale rather than from the dealer?

That's fine assuming that a) you have a friend or family (that you can trust) in the US and b) unless they live in a state with no state tax, they will have to pay tax on the purchase.

[doctordundurn]

2008 Subaru Forester 2.5x premium 4500 miles one car owner mint - 20,500 US - any thoughts

Thanks

[CheapScotsman]

2008 Subaru Forester 2.5x premium 4500 miles one car owner mint - 20,500 US - any thoughts

ThanksHow about a location and what options does the car have?

A 2008 manual with no options has an invoice of $22k. Don't know if there are currently any rebates

A used 2007 with 4500 miles has a private party sale price of $20,700 but that includes a regional adjustment of +$1100 (for seattle) ... so I guess the national base price is about $19,600

[verby]

Can someone explain (or has done it), how to purchase a vehicle privately ?

[HacheyImports]

Can someone explain (or has done it), how to purchase a vehicle privately ?

The process is not much different from a new car purchase in that you transfer funds to the vendor, receive a bill of sale and title in your name and drive it home.

The import across the border is exactly the same as buying new.

Issues such a liens, wire transfer, inspections, confidence in the seller etc. muddy it a bit for some, but the process is simple..if you choose it to be.

Take care

[rAfChOw]

Yes, the dealer can fax the unsigned MSO/MCO to the border. You'll sign it once you pick-up the vehicle. I don't think the border even checked to see if the original was signed.

I had no problem getting a pink card with my insurance (ING Direct). I'd go back to TD and tell them to take a flying leap... take your business elsewhere. I don't think I'd take the chance driving an uninsured vehicle in the US.

Call RIV directly on that one... in my experience they wouldn't accept a GM printout. :(

Thanks, that helps!

I realized I can just call my insurance company a couple days before picking up the car and provide them with the VIN# stating that the car is already in Canada because how would they know? I would have 20 days to provide them with the required inspection and registration forms, which is more than enough time. The only snag I can foresee is that they may want me to fax the signed MSO/MCO and import/export form to confirm the vehicle crossed the border. Has anyone experienced this?

[doctordundurn]

How about a location and what options does the car have?

A 2008 manual with no options has an invoice of $22k. Don't know if there are currently any rebates

A used 2007 with 4500 miles has a private party sale price of $20,700 but that includes a regional adjustment of +$1100 (for seattle) ... so I guess the national base price is about $19,600

thanks for the input its in florida and it is automatic. its from a mazda dealership that took it as a tradein. no other options.

[stock_junkie]

There are alot of myths out there about Hybrid Batteries. They are expected to last for the life time of the vehicle. There are people driving 2001 Prius's with hundreds of thousands of kilometers on them and the battery is still working fine. I'm actually more concerned about the trunk space being reduced from 15 cubic feet to 10 cubic feet over a regular Camry.

Whoever is considering buying a Hybrid, a thing seriously to consider:

These cars use batteries and every battery has a life span. Very expensive to replace it once it goes. If you try to sell one of these say after 10 years, and the battery has not been replaced recently, it will be very hard to sell. I would say it will be next to worthless.

[shopper-X]

There are alot of myths out there about Hybrid Batteries. They are expected to last for the life time of the vehicle. There are people driving 2001 Prius's with hundreds of thousands of kilometers on them and the battery is still working fine. I'm actually more concerned about the trunk space being reduced from 15 cubic feet to 10 cubic feet over a regular Camry.

Here is at least one article to support this:
Hybrid Batteries: None the Worse for Wear? (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-batteries-none-the-worse-for-wear-cga.htm)


According to Toyota, the life of the Prius battery pack is determined more by mileage than by time, and it has been tested to 180,000 miles. Supporting this are first- and second-generation Prius taxis in Canada that have reportedly traveled more than 200,000 miles without suffering any battery problems.

[chris1278]

Hey Guys and Gals just wondering if anyone else is also looking into getting an SX4 crossover from the USA i just got quoted a little over 16 grand for the all equipped touring version...full load pkg...in Montreal the best price i got was a bit over 23 grand so i stand to save approx 6 grand after all is said and done..however it is Japan built so the 6.1 duty applies...my USA dealer is in Pennsylvania he told me alot of Ontarians are buying off of him so he is familiar with the whole deal....I love this car and i think i might go for it...any one have any comments...Thx

Hi,

I have tried to purchase an SX4 from the US. The problem is that the US model doesn't come with an engine immobilizer. So you won't be able to import it (except if you install one ... lot of trouble)

[Monsieurmaggot]

Here is at least one article to support this:
Hybrid Batteries: None the Worse for Wear? (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-batteries-none-the-worse-for-wear-cga.htm)

According to some recent reports, I would be more concerned about the environmental impact a hybrid has when the vehicles' usability is over.

Disposing of 300lbs of cadmium, lead and other heavy metals and toxic materials has more of an impact on the environment than the fuel and emissions these cars actually save.

Depending on who you listen to, Hybrids are really just feel-good vehicles....

http://www.katu.com/news/7561002.html

According to the website http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Hybrid-vs-Hummer-Which-is-greener.html:

"The Hummer over the lifetime of the vehicle ends up being less of a drain of energy on society in general than does the Prius.” A key-determining factor was the hybrid battery’s use of nickel extracted from a mine that has emitted so much sulfur dioxide that acid rain has turned a once healthy nearby forest into a bleak landscape"

[bulgurc]

Thanks, that helps!

I realized I can just call my insurance company a couple days before picking up the car and provide them with the VIN# stating that the car is already in Canada because how would they know? I would have 20 days to provide them with the required inspection and registration forms, which is more than enough time. The only snag I can foresee is that they may want me to fax the signed MSO/MCO and import/export form to confirm the vehicle crossed the border. Has anyone experienced this?

If you have an accident in US, they would know... The car would not have been registered in Canad yet.

[icanwait]

A couple of comments:

When the Prius first came out I checked on the net and the batteries were $7000 and had a 7 year warranty.

That is $1000/year for batteries alone - more than I pay for gas.

Batteries usually depend on time rather than mileage. That's why you can buy a 2, 3, 4, or 5 year battery. I've never noticed a mileage mentioned in the warranty.

So for taxis - they may be saving money - but for me - even if a Prius used no gas at all - it would still cost me much more to drive than a Yaris or Civic.


And the SX4 in the U.S. has a 7 year warranty - I wonder if that would be honored in Canada.

[christr]

Hi:
I am from Ottawa and can someone recommend some Toyota dealers/salesperson close to the border. I am looking to purchase a used Toyota . Any information is welcome. Please PM me ...

Thanks in advance

[shopper-X]

Hi:
I am from Ottawa and can someone recommend some Toyota dealers/salesperson close to the border. I am looking to purchase a used Toyota . Any information is welcome. Please PM me ...

Thanks in advance

Search this thread for "Toyota +Dealer" and you'll get your answer.

[JoKing]

Thanks, that helps!

I realized I can just call my insurance company a couple days before picking up the car and provide them with the VIN# stating that the car is already in Canada because how would they know?

OK I really hope you're kidding. You would be in for some huge liability and possibly criminal charges if you are in any kind of an accident, your fault or not.

[stock_junkie]

You're reasoning is off. Just because the battery has a 7 year warranty you assume it will need replacing the day after the warranty is up? Toyota says it has yet to replace a single battery on any of it's Camry or Prius Hybrids. THE BATTERIES ARE MADE TO LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE VEHICLE. Also the replacement cost of the batteries if it did need replacing is now down in the $3000 range. Do some research so you can make an INFORMED decision.

A couple of comments:

When the Prius first came out I checked on the net and the batteries were $7000 and had a 7 year warranty.

That is $1000/year for batteries alone - more than I pay for gas.

Batteries usually depend on time rather than mileage. That's why you can buy a 2, 3, 4, or 5 year battery. I've never noticed a mileage mentioned in the warranty.

So for taxis - they may be saving money - but for me - even if a Prius used no gas at all - it would still cost me much more to drive than a Yaris or Civic.


And the SX4 in the U.S. has a 7 year warranty - I wonder if that would be honored in Canada.

[Danno2005]

According to some recent reports, I would be more concerned about the environmental impact a hybrid has when the vehicles' usability is over.

Disposing of 300lbs of cadmium, lead and other heavy metals and toxic materials has more of an impact on the environment than the fuel and emissions these cars actually save.

Depending on who you listen to, Hybrids are really just feel-good vehicles....

http://www.katu.com/news/7561002.html

According to the website http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Hybrid-vs-Hummer-Which-is-greener.html:

"The Hummer over the lifetime of the vehicle ends up being less of a drain of energy on society in general than does the Prius.” A key-determining factor was the hybrid battery’s use of nickel extracted from a mine that has emitted so much sulfur dioxide that acid rain has turned a once healthy nearby forest into a bleak landscape"

I live in "the bleak landscape" talked about in the articles. Maybe those negative folks should pay a visit to our fine city. They must be looking at pictures from the 50s and 60s. It is been greened through a massive reforestation program and I would argue, we have some of the best outdoor life (clean lakes, fishing, summer/winter recreation) that ranks among the best in the world.

The astronauts visted in the 70s to see the meteorite shatter cones which are similar to what they would see on the moon - not because Sudbury looked like the moon. Sudbury is located on one of the largest impact craters on the earth. I wish the story would be reported correctly.

http://www.meteoritelabels.com/Astrobleme.html

[Tender]

Thanks, that helps!

I realized I can just call my insurance company a couple days before picking up the car and provide them with the VIN# stating that the car is already in Canada because how would they know? I would have 20 days to provide them with the required inspection and registration forms, which is more than enough time. The only snag I can foresee is that they may want me to fax the signed MSO/MCO and import/export form to confirm the vehicle crossed the border. Has anyone experienced this?

When I called my insurance company (PC) and asked about buying a car in the U.S., they said they wouldn't issue a temporary slip on a car that's not registered in Canada yet, and any new car would have been automatically insured under my existing policy without extra paper work (I already have one car insured with them).

However when I called later, I simply told them I need to add another car into my existing insurance and provided with VIN#. They checked into system and found the car. No questions on whereabout of the car and no problem, I now have the pink slip in my hand.

You don't lie to them, but I guess you don't have to tell them where the car is when you call, eh? If they insist, go to another insurance company. But don't lie, otherwise you're getting yourself into trouble.

[zircon]

With gas prices right now, and projected to go up to $1.50 this summer, I'm seriously considering purchasing a Camry Hybrid. I know you can't get the Federal rebate (which is being discontinued anyways) but can get a rebate of up to $2000 on the PST. My question is do you get a full $2000 back?

The $2000 is the maximum permissible in Ontario. The amount you get depends on PST applicable. I suspect you will get the full 2K (reduced in casesw where you make a trade, reducing PST - probably not applicable in your case). I bought an 07 lexus hybrid SUV (5K miles) and got the full 2K rebate.

[fl4wless]

Has anyone imported a Mazda CX-7? What are the required modifications? Riv says its admissible, but do they have a mod list for each vehicle model??

My guess is they'd need DRLs, they come equipped with an engine immobilzer, but not sure if it meets the riv 114 standards... any idea the cost of these and/or if the immobilizer needs to be changed?

[Marzipan]

The process is not much different from a new car purchase in that you transfer funds to the vendor, receive a bill of sale and title in your name and drive it home.


But do you ever get title in your name in the USA?

Don't you get the previous title document released - by an endorsement on the back? Then take it to your home province and show it along with the Bill of Sale to get licence plates?

[verby]

apparently you do, but in private sale you wait couple of weeks for tile.
at least that's what I've heard.
That would be good solution to buy vehicle which dealer doesn't want to sell to Canadians (ie honda/acura etc.)
just get your uncle, cousin or whoever to buy it for you ;)

But do you ever get title in your name in the USA?

[HacheyImports]

But do you ever get title in your name in the USA?

Don't you get the previous title document released - by an endorsement on the back? Then take it to your home province and show it along with the Bill of Sale to get licence plates?

That is exactly correct. My phrasing was poor.

That would be good solution to buy vehicle which dealer doesn't want to sell to Canadians (ie honda/acura etc.)
just get your uncle, cousin or whoever to buy it for you

This is what myself and others do for customers, although we utilize a buying agent in the US then resell to clients in Canada.

Take care

[DrXenon]

I have a friend in Maryland who might be persuaded to buy a new Outback on my behalf. Anybody know if I can avoid paying the 6% excise tax, which amounts to $1500? i.e. can my friend buy the car without titling it?

If I have to pay the tax, there's really no point in using my friend's services because I would gain the manufacturer rebate of ~1500 but lose the same amount in excise tax.

[rAfChOw]

If you have an accident in US, they would know... The car would not have been registered in Canad yet.

OK I really hope you're kidding. You would be in for some huge liability and possibly criminal charges if you are in any kind of an accident, your fault or not.

Ok - if in the rare event that I have an accident in the US on my way to the border, my insurance company would find out I lied to them and I would possibly be liable for the damages if it would be my fault. But how would that make me criminally liable?

The reason I am thinking of doing this is because I would have no other way of getting insurance on the imported car due to TD's stupid policy. From what I understand, the dealership in the US should check for insurance before releasing the car and US or Canadian customs check for insurance as well, am I correct?

[rAfChOw]

When I called my insurance company (PC) and asked about buying a car in the U.S., they said they wouldn't issue a temporary slip on a car that's not registered in Canada yet, and any new car would have been automatically insured under my existing policy without extra paper work (I already have one car insured with them).

However when I called later, I simply told them I need to add another car into my existing insurance and provided with VIN#. They checked into system and found the car. No questions on whereabout of the car and no problem, I now have the pink slip in my hand.

You don't lie to them, but I guess you don't have to tell them where the car is when you call, eh? If they insist, go to another insurance company. But don't lie, otherwise you're getting yourself into trouble.

That's the exact same response I got. My only concern is that when I call in to add the VIN the rep may check her notes from the previous call and get suspicious about whether or not the car is already in Canada. I guess I have no way of finding out until I try!

One other question: Are there any problems with adding a VIN to the insurance policy and later (in a matter of days) removing it? It turns out the Honda dealerships I was in contact with changed their minds and will no longer sell me a new vehicle - only used (as HacheyImports warned). So I will most likely buy a used car that I have found on the dealership's website, but I might change my mind when I see it in person and find out it is not in the condition I had expected.

[pulsar]

One other question: Are there any problems with adding a VIN to the insurance policy and later (in a matter of days) removing it?

Are you asking for the right insurance? Ask your insurance company for a Binder of Interim Insurance. Once you find the vehicle you like and work out a deal on it, go to your insurance company and ask to purchase a Binder of Interim Insurance for this vehicle by providing the VIN number of the vehicle. Do not ask for temporary insurance as that is a totally different type of insurance. Ask for this specific Binder.

[HacheyImports]

Are you asking for the right insurance? Ask your insurance company for a Binder of Interim Insurance. Once you find the vehicle you like and work out a deal on it, go to your insurance company and ask to purchase a Binder of Interim Insurance for this vehicle by providing the VIN number of the vehicle. Do not ask for temporary insurance as that is a totally different type of insurance. Ask for this specific Binder.


The above is very good and clear advice. I have never encountered a situation where an insurance provider would/could not cover your American purchase in transit home for you.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Actually you beat me to the same comment.

Too many people are asking about "temporary insurance". You would be hard pressed to find an insurance company to sell you that type of insurance.

If you're buying a car for personal use, tell your insurance company you BOUGHT A NEW CAR. That's all there is to it.

My insurer didn't care where I bought my car. As soon as I took possession, I was insured. Heck, I never even paid them a cent for insurance until about a month later when the bill arrived. My coverage was immediately transferred over to my new vehicle and my original car was also insured for 30 days (which gave me plenty of time to sell it).

[rAfChOw]

Are you asking for the right insurance? Ask your insurance company for a Binder of Interim Insurance. Once you find the vehicle you like and work out a deal on it, go to your insurance company and ask to purchase a Binder of Interim Insurance for this vehicle by providing the VIN number of the vehicle. Do not ask for temporary insurance as that is a totally different type of insurance. Ask for this specific Binder.

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

[DrXenon]

Are you asking for the right insurance? Ask your insurance company for a Binder of Interim Insurance. Once you find the vehicle you like and work out a deal on it, go to your insurance company and ask to purchase a Binder of Interim Insurance for this vehicle by providing the VIN number of the vehicle. Do not ask for temporary insurance as that is a totally different type of insurance. Ask for this specific Binder.

Note that rafchow is in Ontario - I don't think this terminology is used here. Simply call the insurance company and tell them that "I'm buying a new car; here's the VIN," like Monsieurmaggot says. If they give you any static, just tell them that they are required by Ontario law to give you coverage under your existing policy and escalate until you get satisfaction.

[jnmontario]

Two things:

1)
To ^^, all I had to do to get my 'new' Prius was to tell the Cooperators that I was getting a new car and gave them the VIN. Within 2 min. I had insurance.

2)

A BIG thankyou to mr.maggot (and the folks at carburner.com) for this thread. After 2 mo. I finally have my new car http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/korkidog/2007Prius1.jpg [identical to mine but without the roadsalt *sob*]. As it turns out, if you're wondering how easy it it to get a car from the US - it's DAMN SIMPLE. I looked for 2-3 weeks, found a car I wanted just across the border in Syracuse (driversvillage.com) and the salesman there did all of the paperwork for me - they welcome Canadian business (but won't sell brand-new). The only complication was stopping at the border on the way back at US customs (2 min.) to export the vehicle, then stopping for 20 min. at CDN side to import the car, pay my gov't raping fee and that's it.

2007 Prius package #3 in Canada - as near as I can tell from autotrader the average is about $29000+tax

For me - 2007 Prius #3 in USA - $21500 + $1311.50 [import fee of 6.1% (unavoidable) but after exchange was more like 6%] =~ $22811.50. The dashboard switch from mph->km/h involves a button-push and the DRL involves a dab of hot-glue to keep the lights 'auto-on' - I won't include the price of the hot glue in the calculation. That said, I had to take a special trip to Syracuse in my car which prolly adds up to $20 in gas. Add to that the RIV fee of $195

Total price of vehicle incl. all fees etc... = $23026

Total savings for me. $5974

My only words of caution - do some reading before you drive back across. If you have a customs agent that is unsure of the rules about the immobilizer stuff you might get bitten. Just be confident about the status of your vehicle (hell, if I wasn't honest I would've continued to let him think it was a NA vehicle and not had to pay my 6.1% import). There was a steady stream of folks importing when I came through - word's out!

[roy_miami]

Its probably been mentioned already in this massive thread but do you get any warranty on Toyota's when you bring them in to Canada? Are there any makes that do or do not honor the warranty?

[Marzipan]

That is exactly correct. My phrasing was poor.


Here is what I picked off the US CBP site pertaining to titles that are no longer valid (because the vehicle has been sold to you the importer.)
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

3. iv. Vehicles issued a title or certificate that is not in force ... For vehicles that were issued .... a title or certificate that is no longer in force ... THE OWNER MUST ESTABLISH THAT THE JURISDICTION FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE COMES DOES NOT HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SUCH VEHICLES and provide to Customs the original document that shows the basis for ownership or right of possession, such as a bill of sale, and two complete copies of that original document. Further, the owner must certify in writing to Customs that the procurement of the vehicle was a bona fide transaction, and that the vehicle presented for export is not stolen.

That last sentence - I can write a letter saying that but how can I be certain it was not stolen?

[sienna owner]

Its probably been mentioned already in this massive thread but do you get any warranty on Toyota's when you bring them in to Canada? Are there any makes that do or do not honor the warranty?

Yes...Toyota's Warranty is covered in NA...try the search option for other makes...

off the top of my head...

Honda - NO
GM - only have 6 months & 12,000 kms (or miles??)
Nissan - too complicated to explain

[HacheyImports]

Here is what I picked off the US CBP site pertaining to titles that are no longer valid (because the vehicle has been sold to you the importer.)
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml



That last sentence - I can write a letter saying that but how can I be certain it was not stolen?

I disagree with the idea that title is no longer valid. Why do you see that as pertaining to imports? A bill of sale along with title signed over....what is amiss in your interpretation? Provide the documentation that is specifically requested and it is in order for CBP.

Interesting discussion, but I am not seeing what you obviously do.

Take care

[aphextwin2050]

I will be picking up my car from the U.S. in a week, if all goes according to plan.

2. Insurance: My insurance co. (TD Home & Auto) is being difficult - saying they cannot insure the car until it arrives in Canada. I ask them how am I supposed to get it over to Canada without insurance - they tell me "get a shipping company". >:( So has anyone tried to drive their imported car back to Canada without insurance and achieved it successfully? Does US or Canadian customs ask to see proof of insurance?

3. Recall Clearance Letter: Does RIV require a letter with the manufacturer company letterhead as stated on their website or will they accept a printout from honda.ca or a "warranty enquiry" notice from the dealership (as per Carburner.com)?

Any input is much appreciated!

2. Yeah TD are sticklers, I just got mine shipped to the border. When I was at the border, they did not ask for insurance slip. They just want you to have the bill of sale and title. Then again, I only did this once and it could depend on the border crossing. The canadian border patrol guy asked me if I have plates though.

[Marzipan]

I disagree with the idea that title is no longer valid. Why do you see that as pertaining to imports? A bill of sale along with title signed over....what is amiss in your interpretation? Provide the documentation that is specifically requested and it is in order for CBP.

Interesting discussion, but I am not seeing what you obviously do.

Take care

"Not in force" is the phrase used by the regulations.

On the US Customs and Border Patrol Export page (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml)

b. 1. i. is for for U.S. Titled Vehicles This will not likely apply to Canadian exporters but to US citizens. But if that is the case the border officer will see that the exporter owns the vehicle because it says so on the title (which has not been endorced on the back.)

b. 3. iv. is for Vehicles issued a title or certificate that is not in force ... This is the more likely situation for a Canadian importing a used vehicle. The title document no longer describes who owns the vehicle because title has been released to a buyer. The certificate is not in force. Ownership has changed. This section requires additional documentation evidencing the sale to a new owner.

[rAfChOw]

2. Yeah TD are sticklers, I just got mine shipped to the border. When I was at the border, they did not ask for insurance slip. They just want you to have the bill of sale and title. Then again, I only did this once and it could depend on the border crossing. The canadian border patrol guy asked me if I have plates though.

Which border crossing was this?

[HacheyImports]

b. 3. iv. is for Vehicles issued a title or certificate that is not in force ... This is the more likely situation for a Canadian importing a used vehicle. The title document no longer describes who owns the vehicle because title has been released to a buyer. The certificate is not in force. Ownership has changed. This section requires additional documentation evidencing the sale to a new owner.

The above is in reference to a bill of sale I am sure. Often the US Border Service does not even ask for this, but I always have it provided with the package in case.

At the risk of appearing thick headed ( my wife says I am?). am I still missing your point?

[HacheyImports]

That last sentence - I can write a letter saying that but how can I be certain it was not stolen?

And indeed I was thick headed....your point was the above letter wasn't it.

I have never heard of this being required, and would like to hear an example from someone who has. It appears to be a bureaucratic safeguard in the case of suspicious movement of vehicles...

That said, I have no direct experience and that letter would be new to me.

[Tender]

Thanks to Monsieurmaggot and everyone who contributed to this thread. I finally got my Subaru Tribeca 7 passenger limited imported and plated.

I placed the order by the end of December, didn't get the cash rebate for 2007, but Van Bortel stick to their internet pricing. Total savings was more than $8,000 when compared to the Canadian version with the same options I had, after their $8,000 cash rebate and $1,500 stackable dealer rebate. (I used carcostcanada invoice price although we'd have to pay more in Canada).

The whole import process was smooth except a little traffic on the road. I drove a rental car down to Rochester at 6:00am on Friday, stopped once for breakfast, and was in Van Bortel's office by 10:00am. Finished paperwork in half an hour, returned the car to the airport and was on my way again by 11:00am. I followed the U.S. speed limit so it was 1:00pm when I got into US customs. Only one person working as the others were out for lunch. Waited 10 minutes for my turn, and was out in another 3 minutes. The agent didn't bother to look for my car. Back to the Canadian side, there was a line-up at the gate. Another 30 minutes wait and I was in the Canadian customs office. Filled out the form 1, paid GST/Air Tax, I was on my way again. There was a little traffic at Oakville, so it was close to 4:00pm when I got to RIV office. Finished the work there in about 20 minutes so I didn't have to pay for parking. Back home at 4:30pm. Got Canadian Tire inspection done on Saturday. The girl said I needed a safety but I brought the printout from MTO website stating "New, unregistered vehicles do not need safety inspection." Registered my car this morning, paid PST and got a plate in my hand. The only thing left now is waiting for RIV sticker.

For those uninformed, this is indeed a complicated process. Fortunately Monsieurmaggot started this thread, and with the helpful advice from all other contributors, plus carburner.com and riv.ca, I knew exactly what to do and prepared myself a step-by-step checklist so everything went smooth. Well worth the $8,000 savings. Thanks again for all who contributed.

[niceguy1234]

Its probably been mentioned already in this massive thread but do you get any warranty on Toyota's when you bring them in to Canada? Are there any makes that do or do not honor the warranty?

Yes. Toyota cover their factory warranty in canada. I also purchase the ECP (extended warranty). I paid US$880 (no tax) for a 7 year / 100,000 miles Platinum plan with $0 deductable. I ask for the same plan here in Vancouver BC, Toyota dealer ask for CAD$1999 + GST+PST.

Many people say I don't need extended warranty for Toyota. I think $880 for extra 4 years peace of mind is worth it.

[ottawa_hull]

Yes...Toyota's Warranty is covered in NA...try the search option for other makes...

off the top of my head...

Honda - NO
GM - only have 6 months & 12,000 kms (or miles??)
Nissan - too complicated to explain

What is the deal with CPO (certified extended warranty). Do I have to cross the border for service? I a looking at Lexus and extended warranty is a must to avoid costly repairs on a 2006 unit.

[petaling108]

. The girl said I needed a safety but I brought the printout from MTO website stating "New, unregistered vehicles do not need safety inspection." Registered my car this morning, paid PST and got a plate in my hand.


Can you provide a link.
I googled and the MTO site says what is needed(and obviously for a new vehicle safety inspection is not mentioned) but not what is not needed.
People at MTO may have trouble understanding English ,I am afraid.
so if you have a website saying safety insp is not needed,they may have no trouble understanding that.

[Marzipan]

Today (Monday), I set off downtown to get 17,000 USDs for my vehicle purchase ... already peeved because our currency had dipped 1.5 cents since Friday.

When I left home the mid market rate was .9990 CAD for 1 USD ie. we were slightly stronger.

BMO wanted 1.015 (ie. 17,000 X 1.015)
TD wanted 1.014
BNS wanted about the same
CIBC wanted 1.023 (there was a spike down for the CAD, which may have occurred when I was in this bank)

When I got back home an hour later the CAD had recovered a bit.

In other words the banks were taking from $250 to $410 plus $5.00 or $6.50 for the draft.

Then I phoned the Vancouver Bullion and Currency Exchange.
http://www.vbce.info/

You can phone them at any time to get a rate - (roughly about a third of the mark-up of the banks).

They add $25.00 for wiring it to your US dealer. (I think BMO takes .4% for wiring.)

If you like the rate you can rush down to your bank and transfer the calculated funds to VBCE.

If you use BMO, Royal or HSBC there is no charge for this transfer, I understand. (I confirmed this fact with BMO.)

VBCE say if the funds arrive by 11:00h the dealer is wired that day.

I haven't tried this yet but even if there is an extra day or a few more bucks to add on, it seems promising.

[buyingtoyota]

i really want one too even though i'm not a fan of the newer look...

duty is 6.1%... the 09 is still built in japan right?

Is the new Subaru Forester admissible for import? It's not on the RIV list. As a matter of fact, none of the Foresters are. Thanks!

[Marzipan]

Is the new Subaru Forester admissible for import? It's not on the RIV list. As a matter of fact, none of the Foresters are. Thanks!

Check Section 5.4 of the VAFUS list SECTION 5 - MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES (MPV) MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2007 . They seem to be admissible.

[Trudy2]

Can anyone provide me with a US Toyota dealer who will deal with Canadians near Cranbrook BC

[michelb]

Today (Monday), I set off downtown to get 17,000 USDs for my vehicle purchase ... already peeved because our currency had dipped 1.5 cents since Friday.

When I left home the mid market rate was .9990 CAD for 1 USD ie. we were slightly stronger.

BMO wanted 1.015 (ie. 17,000 X 1.015)
TD wanted 1.014
BNS wanted about the same
CIBC wanted 1.023 (there was a spike down for the CAD, which may have occurred when I was in this bank)

When I got back home an hour later the CAD had recovered a bit.

In other words the banks were taking from $250 to $410 plus $5.00 or $6.50 for the draft.

Then I phoned the Vancouver Bullion and Currency Exchange.
http://www.vbce.info/

You can phone them at any time to get a rate - (roughly about a third of the mark-up of the banks).

They add $25.00 for wiring it to your US dealer. (I think BMO takes .4% for wiring.)

If you like the rate you can rush down to your bank and transfer the calculated funds to VBCE.

If you use BMO, Royal or HSBC there is no charge for this transfer, I understand. (I confirmed this fact with BMO.)

VBCE say if the funds arrive by 11:00h the dealer is wired that day.

I haven't tried this yet but even if there is an extra day or a few more bucks to add on, it seems promising.

FYI, this is the rate I'm getting right now from TDCanadaTrust Borderless account for an online transfer for $17k US

Amount: $17,000.00 USD = $17,120.70 CDN
Exchange Rate: $1.00 USD = $1.0071 CDN

One thing I've noticed with TD is that there are levels which give you a better rate (next one is at $25k)

Amount: $25,000.00 USD = $25,040.00 CDN
Exchange Rate: $1.00 USD = $1.0016 CDN

Oh yeah, forgot to mention to that Yahoo.ca is currently showing 1$ CAD = $1.0155 USD (or $0.9945 CAD = $1 USD) (correction - oops that was wrong - had the currencies on the wrong side)

[Marzipan]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention to that Yahoo.ca is currently showing 1$ CAD = $1.0155 USD (or $0.9945 USD = $1 CAD)

There is a zero missing here. 1.00155 was the rate.

Here is one CME currency site that gives a chart of the past 24 hrs performance.
http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/fx/fx/canadian-dollar.html

And this one is the ultimate. Change EuroFX to to Canadian in the first drop-down box. Then figure it out.
http://equivalentsrdc.cme.com:443/index.html

[Tender]

Is the new Subaru Forester admissible for import? It's not on the RIV list. As a matter of fact, none of the Foresters are. Thanks!

The Foresters were not admissible based on immobilizer rule but Transport Canada changed the rule in December under customer pressure. The new rule states that vehicles equipped with an electronic immobilizer are now admissible.

Note that only 2.5XT model comes with electronic immobilizer though, not 2.5X (base, sports, L.L. Bean). So you need to check with the dealer to see if an electronic immobilizer can be installed on the 2.5X model, otherwise it'd be inadmissible.

[Tender]

. The girl said I needed a safety but I brought the printout from MTO website stating "New, unregistered vehicles do not need safety inspection." Registered my car this morning, paid PST and got a plate in my hand.


Can you provide a link.
I googled and the MTO site says what is needed(and obviously for a new vehicle safety inspection is not mentioned) but not what is not needed.
People at MTO may have trouble understanding English ,I am afraid.
so if you have a website saying safety insp is not needed,they may have no trouble understanding that.

Here is the link. It's actually under "Licensing a Vehicle that is Registered in Another Jurisdiction". Note this is for registered vehicles. Under number 3 it states "A Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) if the vehicle is registered "fit". This Certificate is not required for new, unregistered vehicles or trailers or motor assisted bicycles (mopeds) or vehicles registered "unfit"."

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/rgoutcan.htm

[Marzipan]

FYI, this is the rate I'm getting right now from TDCanadaTrust Borderless account for an online transfer for $17k US

Amount: $17,000.00 USD = $17,120.70 CDN
Exchange Rate: $1.00 USD = $1.0071 CDN

One thing I've noticed with TD is that there are levels which give you a better rate (next one is at $25k)

Amount: $25,000.00 USD = $25,040.00 CDN
Exchange Rate: $1.00 USD = $1.0016 CDN

Oh yeah, forgot to mention to that Yahoo.ca is currently showing 1$ CAD = $1.0155 USD (or $0.9945 USD = $1 CAD)

Thanks for the numbers. I took a hard look at them and found -

At $17,000 level, local bank branches were adding .0150 - i.e. the .9945 rate becomes 1.095.

At $17,000 level, your TDCanadaTrust Borderless adds .0126

At $25,000+ level your TDCanadaTrust Borderless adds .0071

At $20,000 level VCBE seems to add .0034

Conclusion: VBSE's mark-up is a quarter of the banks' branch rates. After all, the banks are just like car stealerships. They take from you what they can get away with.

You have to be very, very careful interpreting rates that are close to par. The statement above saying $0.9945 USD = $1 CAD is incorrect. It implies that the USD is stronger. $ave folks, $ave.

[fl4wless]

Can someone please answer how Title/Registration works for importation...im getting different info from different people.

The vehicle im about the purchase has has a clean title (from carfax, and confirmed by salesman, its a large toyota dealer that has a good reputation) and only had one previous owner. The previous owner traded in the vehicle for a brand new vehicle. Does this mean the title is currently under the dealers name (ie. they bought it back, and sold the new)? Or does it mean its still under the previous owner's name...
I dont think the above matters that much, but....essentially once i have completed the transaction, signed bill of sale, payed, and been given receipt... will the title be cleared (or released of the previous owners info), and contain my info?

Someone else told me that my name needs to be on the title, or registered to the title before I can take the vehicle into canada. This seems wrong... Im thinking i only need a bill of sale under my name, receipt, etc to prove ownership and that the title should not be (in fact i dont think i can even have it titled under my name since i dont have an address in the USA)... The dealer also mentioned that there is a difference in the title being under your name, and being 'signed off' to you. I think the 'signed off' meant like a temporary title or tag or something, that you require for the export. So which is accurate?


Also, What are the registration documents required at the border? Or are title signoff / registering the title the same thing. ie. there is only one title document required at the border? Or is the registration info different?


Thanks for any help!

[d-kim]

Can someone please answer how Title/Registration works for importation...im getting different info from different people.

The vehicle im about the purchase has has a clean title (from carfax, and confirmed by salesman, its a large toyota dealer that has a good reputation) and only had one previous owner. The previous owner traded in the vehicle for a brand new vehicle. Does this mean the title is currently under the dealers name (ie. they bought it back, and sold the new)? Or does it mean its still under the previous owner's name...
I dont think the above matters that much, but....essentially once i have completed the transaction, signed bill of sale, payed, and been given receipt... will the title be cleared (or released of the previous owners info), and contain my info?

Someone else told me that my name needs to be on the title, or registered to the title before I can take the vehicle into canada. This seems wrong... Im thinking i only need a bill of sale under my name, receipt, etc to prove ownership and that the title should not be (in fact i dont think i can even have it titled under my name since i dont have an address in the USA)... The dealer also mentioned that there is a difference in the title being under your name, and being 'signed off' to you. I think the 'signed off' meant like a temporary title or tag or something, that you require for the export. So which is accurate?


Also, What are the registration documents required at the border? Or are title signoff / registering the title the same thing. ie. there is only one title document required at the border? Or is the registration info different?


Thanks for any help!

pm'd you.

[iluvtofish]

Is the new Subaru Forester admissible for import? It's not on the RIV list. As a matter of fact, none of the Foresters are. Thanks!


All 2009 Foresters are.

See link: http://www.cars101.com/canada.html#to%20Canada

Look a little further for the 2009 specs and you will see that all 2009 Forester models come with immobilizers as standard equipment. They all come with VDC as well.

[niceguy1234]

Can anyone provide me with a US Toyota dealer who will deal with Canadians near Cranbrook BC

You may try Toyota dealer in Bellingham WA. They will sell you new car.

[gravem]

Some questions about importing a 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I was speaking with a Toyota dealer in Canada yesterday and he said the immobilizers in the US aren't up to the standard set out in CMVSS114. I assume he is just trying to get my business... but can anyone verify? If the vehicle has the window sticker saying an immobilizer is present, is this enough for crossing the border and passing inspection?

He also said the vehicles sold in Canada are better made for the harsh winters... is there any truth to this?

Is there anything I should be concerned about when purchasing this vehicle in the US? Are there any additional upgrades that need to be done? I don't want to get it into Canada to find I have to fork another $2000 for bringing it up to code.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the kph odometer installed... and where I can even get one?

Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.

Thanks for the help!

[Danno2005]

Some questions about importing a 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I was speaking with a Toyota dealer in Canada yesterday and he said the immobilizers in the US aren't up to the standard set out in CMVSS114. I assume he is just trying to get my business... but can anyone verify? If the vehicle has the window sticker saying an immobilizer is present, is this enough for crossing the border and passing inspection?

He also said the vehicles sold in Canada are better made for the harsh winters... is there any truth to this?

Is there anything I should be concerned about when purchasing this vehicle in the US? Are there any additional upgrades that need to be done? I don't want to get it into Canada to find I have to fork another $2000 for bringing it up to code.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the kph odometer installed... and where I can even get one?

Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.

Thanks for the help!

Yes - the US spec immobilizer will qualify and it is 90% as capable as the Canadian spec if in fact it is different at all for the Sienna. Just check the RIV list to make sure the US immobilizer qualifies.

Re: Cold weather - I guess Toyota does not sell Siennas in Northern Michigan or North Dakota???

I'll leave the rest for the group.

[HP_John]

What is the deal with CPO (certified extended warranty). Do I have to cross the border for service? I a looking at Lexus and extended warranty is a must to avoid costly repairs on a 2006 unit.

CPO warranty is NOT honoured in Canada. A word about extended warranties: Lexus knows what the avg car of a specific yr & model costs for repairs after warranty expiration. Then they figure out the highest price they can sell it for while still being able to sell a high # of ext warranties. On avg, you're very likely to save by paying out of pocket vs buying a extended warranty.

Lexus is generally 1 of the most reliable brands, & you still have about 2 yrs on the original warranty. Experts only recommend ext warranties on cars w/ poor reliability, it's generally not worth it for reliable cars.

[gravem]

Yes - the US spec immobilizer will qualify and it is 90% as capable as the Canadian spec if in fact it is different at all for the Sienna. Just check the RIV list to make sure the US immobilizer qualifies.


So, the RIV list of admissable vehicles says "2008 Sienna, if built AFTER September 1st, 2007. [EIS] (see notes)".

According to the notes:
"The letters [EIS] indicate that the vehicle is either equipped with an electronic immobilizer installed by the manufacturer but not
certified to meet Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 or that no electronic immobilizer is installed."

It sounds like the immobilizer does not meet CMVSS114 standards. What will have to be done in order to make it meet the standards? How much will this cost? Or might it meet the standard when Canadian Tire does the inspection?

[Tender]

So, the RIV list of admissable vehicles says "2008 Sienna, if built AFTER September 1st, 2007. [EIS] (see notes)".

According to the notes:
"The letters [EIS] indicate that the vehicle is either equipped with an electronic immobilizer installed by the manufacturer but not
certified to meet Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 or that no electronic immobilizer is installed."

It sounds like the immobilizer does not meet CMVSS114 standards. What will have to be done in order to make it meet the standards? How much will this cost? Or might it meet the standard when Canadian Tire does the inspection?

Look further at Note 9. IMMOBILIZERS:

"2. Electronic Immobilizers Installed as Original Equipment but Not Certified to CMVSS 114
Vehicles that do not comply with CMVSS 114 will require confirmation of the presence of an electronic immobilizer at the time of the
RIV inspection. They are listed as admissible with a special annotation [EIS] regarding the immobilizer. Demonstration of the presence
of an electronic immobilizer can be done through one of the following means:
- Presentation of the completed vehicle purchase agreement showing the vehicle identification number and indicating the presence
of an electronic immobilizer
- Presentation of the vehicle window sticker (Monroney label) showing the vehicle identification number and indicating the presence
of an electronic immobilizer
- A letter from the manufacturer showing the vehicle identification number and indicating the presence of an electronic immobilizer.
- Other type of information present on the vehicle or on the ignition key or fob allowing the positive identification of such a system."

My understanding to above: they are admissible. You just need to provide the extra documents mentioned above to prove that the immobilizer is installed. Window sticker should be sufficient and no need for modifications.

[Tender]

All 2009 Foresters are.

See link: http://www.cars101.com/canada.html#to%20Canada

Look a little further for the 2009 specs and you will see that all 2009 Forester models come with immobilizers as standard equipment. They all come with VDC as well.

That'll be good news for people who want Foresters. Geez I wish I had waited for this yet the dealer only told me about the immobilizer not available on 2008 2.5x models.

[donjuancarlos]

Question about buying from the States:

I want to buy a 2008 Accord LX-P. I know this is a mouthful, but if anyone knows...

1) Would it work to have my American sister buy the car and then "sell" it to me?

2) Would the dealer give her the title that she can sign the back of, or would it be a temporary one that you can't do that to?

3) Could she sign it over to me without registering it and paying US state taxes (if we bought it in a neighboring state), or would she have to register it before selling it to me?

[leseuldaniel]

That'll be good news for people who want Foresters. Geez I wish I had waited for this yet the dealer only told me about the immobilizer not available on 2008 2.5x models.

Other points on this.
On the Forester, you pay 6.1% duty (made in Japan)
Since Jan, you don't get any subaru usa incentives
You need to pay cash, meaning get your own financing in most cases (no 0%)

Taken together, it means the car will cost you 3000-6000 more than if you were an american. So I would recommend waiting for official canadian release and pricing. If by chance they lower the price (2009 model), keep they cash price rebate or 0.9% financing, the total saving might not be worth it. But then again, I really doubt they can get within 2000-3000 from us price, so I'll be ready to buy us next month. :)

[Tender]

Other points on this.
On the Forester, you pay 6.1% duty (made in Japan)
Since Jan, you don't get any subaru usa incentives
You need to pay cash, meaning get your own financing in most cases (no 0%)

Taken together, it means the car will cost you 3000-6000 more than if you were an american. So I would recommend waiting for official canadian release and pricing. If by chance they lower the price (2009 model), keep they cash price rebate or 0.9% financing, the total saving might not be worth it. But then again, I really doubt they can get within 2000-3000 from us price, so I'll be ready to buy us next month. :)

I priced the base 2.5x model with automatic transmission using Van Bortel's internet pricing (yes they will honor that to Canadians so don't worry about getting rebates as this would be your final price), and Subaru Canada's web price. The total savings would be $4,217.56 after all fees/taxes. So if you're getting discounts from Canadian dealers within a comfortable range, it may make sense to buy here. But it's your call eventually.

[sienna owner]

Some questions about importing a 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I was speaking with a Toyota dealer in Canada yesterday and he said the immobilizers in the US aren't up to the standard set out in CMVSS114. I assume he is just trying to get my business... but can anyone verify? If the vehicle has the window sticker saying an immobilizer is present, is this enough for crossing the border and passing inspection?

He also said the vehicles sold in Canada are better made for the harsh winters... is there any truth to this?

Is there anything I should be concerned about when purchasing this vehicle in the US? Are there any additional upgrades that need to be done? I don't want to get it into Canada to find I have to fork another $2000 for bringing it up to code.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the kph odometer installed... and where I can even get one?

Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.

Thanks for the help!


I've already imported a 2008 Sienna with immobilizers and had no issue passing federal inspection here and already registered since late January.

Funny my options I got including heavy duty radiator & Fan, etc...that and the fact they make all Sienna at the Princeton, Indiana Plant...do you really think they'll change the type of seal just cause it's going to Canada? ummmmm.....no...same for the immobilizers, which is why I think the fed gov't decided to step in.

I love how canadian dealers try to get your business still...my in-law and I test drove a Buick Enclave, and of course just for kicks or maybe curiousity, he asked about how much he would actually save if he brought in the states...guy says...umm...not much..maybe $1000-2000 max...blah blah blah blah....let's see...base model Enclave here off the lot...around $47k, fully loaded from the States...$51,888...how does saving around $20k for the Cdn equivalent translate to only $2000?? hahahaha

[sienna owner]

[QUOTE=gravem;6567989


Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the kph odometer installed... and where I can even get one?

Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.

Thanks for the help![/QUOTE]

odometer is only in miles or kms????? speedometer is in km/hr or m/hr???

no need to change the speedometer as the km/hr is the secondary marking and is sufficient...as for the odo, it's in miles, but the cdn tech didn't care and passed it..no conversion sticker needed...

[Tender]

I priced the base 2.5x model with automatic transmission using Van Bortel's internet pricing (yes they will honor that to Canadians so don't worry about getting rebates as this would be your final price), and Subaru Canada's web price. The total savings would be $4,217.56 after all fees/taxes. So if you're getting discounts from Canadian dealers within a comfortable range, it may make sense to buy here. But it's your call eventually.

A clarification: I used 2008 Canadian pricing on Subaru.ca as I can't find the Canadian MSRP for 2009 models. Given that edmunds.com shows 2009 US models had lowered price by $1,200 compared to 2008 models, hopefully Canadian side will do the same to make the price difference even smaller.

[greenbuttskunk]

Some questions about importing a 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I was speaking with a Toyota dealer in Canada yesterday and he said the immobilizers in the US aren't up to the standard set out in CMVSS114. I assume he is just trying to get my business... but can anyone verify? If the vehicle has the window sticker saying an immobilizer is present, is this enough for crossing the border and passing inspection?

He also said the vehicles sold in Canada are better made for the harsh winters... is there any truth to this?

Is there anything I should be concerned about when purchasing this vehicle in the US? Are there any additional upgrades that need to be done? I don't want to get it into Canada to find I have to fork another $2000 for bringing it up to code.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the kph odometer installed... and where I can even get one?

Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.

Thanks for the help!

Regarding the odometer change, do a search on the forums at http://www.siennaclub.org/forum. I remember seeing a thread there about it, including details about the cost, the shops that do it and whether there are any potential warranty issues if the odometer is changed.

[Monsieurmaggot]

You don't need to change the odometre (regardless of what the dealer tells you).

My odometre proudly displays the old Imperial measurement.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1108763136_51b1f73626.jpg

That's a shot of my odometre when I first saw my car.

If you have a dual speedometre, you're all set too.

[ryandk]

I understand that it's not necessary to change the speedometre, as most cars show both imperial and metric units, but in many cars, the smaller, secondary scale (metric scale in cars from the US; imperial scale in Canadian cars) isn't illuminated when you turn the lights on at night, making it difficult to read in the dark.

For people who want to change the speedometre on cars imported from the US, are there any other options available besides changing the instrument cluster on the dashboard? I heard Canadian Tire can put a sticker over the speedometre, but would that be easy to read in night driving?

Thanks.

[doctordundurn]

Regarding the odometer change, do a search on the forums at http://www.siennaclub.org/forum. I remember seeing a thread there about it, including details about the cost, the shops that do it and whether there are any potential warranty issues if the odometer is changed.

I just registered my newly imported 2008 Sienna this month no issue with canadian tire inspection re: the immobilizer, looked at the chipped key and passed it. by the way mine the van did not have daytime running lights installed and tks to the sienna forum information installed a fuse in the parking lot and activated the lights in 30 secs.

[rAfChOw]

Question about buying from the States:

I want to buy a 2008 Accord LX-P. I know this is a mouthful, but if anyone knows...

1) Would it work to have my American sister buy the car and then "sell" it to me?
Yes, it would work but you will likely pay tax twice (once by your sister in the US and again by you in Canada).

2) Would the dealer give her the title that she can sign the back of, or would it be a temporary one that you can't do that to?
From what I have read, US regulations don't allow you to transfer the title to another individual (don't know how much truth there is to that) but you can draw up a Bill of Sale between you and your sister and show that to Canadian customs.

3) Could she sign it over to me without registering it and paying US state taxes (if we bought it in a neighboring state), or would she have to register it before selling it to me?
Honda now requires that new vehicles purchased in the US need to be registered in the US and hence pay state taxes (unless the state in question does not have sales taxes). If there is a way around this, I would gladly like to know since I would like to purchase a new Honda in the US too (without double-taxation)!

[donjuancarlos]

Honda now requires that new vehicles purchased in the US need to be registered in the US and hence pay state taxes (unless the state in question does not have sales taxes). If there is a way around this, I would gladly like to know since I would like to purchase a new Honda in the US too (without double-taxation)![/QUOTE]

Ok, this is what I have found out since I last posted.

I went to the Utah state tax website where I would buy the car. (My sister lives in Idaho) There is a form you can fill out that allows you to buy the car and not pay taxes, with the understanding that you will take it and register it in your own state/country it is here:

http://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-721a.pdf

Idaho also has one of these. I gather most states do.

So I think I could get my sister to buy it etc. and not pay tax. As far as I know, all I have to do is legally get it off the lot, right?

[rAfChOw]

Ok, this is what I have found out since I last posted.

I went to the Utah state tax website where I would buy the car. (My sister lives in Idaho) There is a form you can fill out that allows you to buy the car and not pay taxes, with the understanding that you will take it and register it in your own state/country it is here:

http://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-721a.pdf

Idaho also has one of these. I gather most states do.

So I think I could get my sister to buy it etc. and not pay tax. As far as I know, all I have to do is legally get it off the lot, right?

I think the hard part will be getting the Honda dealership to play along. From what I understand it's the Honda policy, not a state regulation, that requires you to register and hence pay tax on a new vehicle in the US. From my conversations with Honda dealers in New York, they simply insist that the car be registered in the US first. I think this is due to pressure from Honda head office trying to protect its Canadian dealerships.

I just can't wait for a full-blown recession to occur in the US... instead of me asking if I can buy from them, American dealerships will be begging me to come back!

[donjuancarlos]

I think the hard part will be getting the Honda dealership to play along. From what I understand it's the Honda policy, not a state regulation, that requires you to register and hence pay tax on a new vehicle in the US. From my conversations with Honda dealers in New York, they simply insist that the car be registered in the US first. I think this is due to pressure from Honda head office trying to protect its Canadian dealerships.

I just can't wait for a full-blown recession to occur in the US... instead of me asking if I can buy from them, American dealerships will be begging me to come back!

Well, I'm calling a bunch of dealers tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I'll keep going south till it works or I hit Mexico. :)

[jhardy]

...
For people who want to change the speedometre on cars imported from the US, are there any other options available besides changing the instrument cluster on the dashboard? ....

Yes. Buy a model that isn't so poorly designed...

[CheapScotsman]

Does anybody know if both the US and CDN sides of the Surrey/Blaine truck crossing are processing vehicle imports on Easter Monday (March 24th)

Does anybody have a direct number for the CDN office in Surrey?

[Marzipan]

Does anybody know if both the US and CDN sides of the Surrey/Blaine truck crossing are processing vehicle imports on Easter Monday (March 24th)

Does anybody have a direct number for the CDN office in Surrey?

Link to the Directory of Canadian Border Service Agency Offices search page (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/menu-eng.html)

Link to the US Customs and Border Protection Ports search page. (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/)

[CheapScotsman]

FYI ... on Surrey/Blaine Border Crossing Info

The CBSA (http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html) indicates that the CDN side (truck crossing) is open 24/7 for processing car imports.

The USA (Blaine: 360-332-2632) only gives you an answering machine. They indicate they are open till 3:30pm except weekends and Federal Holidays (http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2007.asp ... which doesn't have Easter listed at all) ... so hopefully they are open on Monday

Left a msg and sent an email to ensure my paperwork is ready to go, hopefully I'll get an answer back soon.

[michelb]

Does anybody know if both the US and CDN sides of the Surrey/Blaine truck crossing are processing vehicle imports on Easter Monday (March 24th)

Does anybody have a direct number for the CDN office in Surrey?

FYI ... on Surrey/Blaine Border Crossing Info

The CBSA (http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html) indicates that the CDN side (truck crossing) is open 24/7 for processing car imports.

The USA (Blaine: 360-332-2632) only gives you an answering machine. They indicate they are open till 3:30pm except weekends and Federal Holidays (http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2007.asp ... which doesn't have Easter listed at all) ... so hopefully they are open on Monday

Left a msg and sent an email to ensure my paperwork is ready to go, hopefully I'll get an answer back soon.

I'd call to confirm but I believe in the US neither Easter Friday nor Easter Monday are stat holidays so it should be business as usual.

[aqus]

Hi I have read numerous how to's including this one which is great, but I still have one question that is not clear.
If buying from a private what is the best way to transact without sending money to some scam artist. If the car is close I will go myself and pick it up therefore not much worry since I will give money when title is handed over. But if car is in Texas let's say and I will get it shipped how do I send deposit and final payment and make sure I get a car(Porsche Boxster 2000).
Please advise, maybe good info for others on how not to get stiffed.

[usacars2canada]

I'd call to confirm but I believe in the US neither Easter Friday nor Easter Monday are stat holidays so it should be business as usual.

We called US custom for VIN # fax verification. When they called back, we explicitly ask them if they open on Easter Friday and Monday. They said they will open on both days. This is the Lewiston border.

[CheapScotsman]

I'd call to confirm but I believe in the US neither Easter Friday nor Easter Monday are stat holidays so it should be business as usual.

We called US custom for VIN # fax verification. When they called back, we explicitly ask them if they open on Easter Friday and Monday. They said they will open on both days. This is the Lewiston border.Thanks guys .... the export guys in Blaine confirmed that they are open as usual on Monday.

[michelb]

We called US custom for VIN # fax verification. When they called back, we explicitly ask them if they open on Easter Friday and Monday. They said they will open on both days. This is the Lewiston border.

Thanks guys .... the export guys in Blaine confirmed that they are open as usual on Monday.

Thanks for confirming it (I'm hoping our car gets here by Monday as well (although Tuesday or Wednesday is probably more likely).

[jnmontario]

I can't take credit for this one, but tkddad did the legwork (on the off chance he doesn't think to post it).

In Ontario you can get your PST back if you buy a "Vehicles Powered by Alternative Fuels" which includes hybrids, diesel fuel-efficient etc... This is a BIG deal since it was my understanding that you were not able to get ANYTHING back if you imported your car (damn the feds for not letting us get our ECO-rebate).

linky:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/English/guides/rst/702.html

the pdf's at the bottom of the page. (http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/forms/rst/pdf/1578.pdf)

[disk2050]

Two weeks ago I imported a used Toyota Certified RAV4. The car is now registered in Canada and I have already received Canadian Certification Label from RIV as well.

My question is do I need to register it as a certified vehicle with Toyota Canada?According to the US dealer, it is registered with the US Toyota as a certified car and it has coverage for 3000 miles / 3 months bumper to bumper and 7yr / 100,000 limited warranty.


TIA

[savvacon]

Hi all, I'm looking at importing a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr into Ontario. Does anyone know if it meets the following requirements:

-Daytime running lights
-8 km/hour bumpers (refer to Admissibility List)
- French supplementary restraint system label for airbags that require periodic maintenance (i know it probably doesn't have the labels but is this cheap to take care of?)

[DrXenon]

Hi all, I'm looking at importing a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr into Ontario. Does anyone know if it meets the following requirements:

-Daytime running lights
-8 km/hour bumpers (refer to Admissibility List)
- French supplementary restraint system label for airbags that require periodic maintenance (i know it probably doesn't have the labels but is this cheap to take care of?)

Where it says "refer to Admissibility List" you should, um, refer to the admissibility list. There's a link to it at http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html . That will tell you everything you need to know.

[Sunspot21]

I just successfully completed importing a new Toyota Sienna LE. My recap:

1) Check dealers in Canada for best price on Toyota Sienna LE - best on the road price = $39,700
2) Phone Toyota dealers in New York; no one will sell to Canadians
3) Get a reference from a neighbour to a dealer in nearby state that will sell to Canadians; I e-mailed the dealer and obtained a quote on an LE with a few extra options; dealer confirmed that they would sell to me but would have to register in the state and pay state tax. On the road price =$26,300.
4) Pay $500 deposit on creditcard
5) Dealer sends purchase documents by courier the next day; I sign the documents and send them back. I include the balance of the purchase price in the form of a bank draft
6) Dealer confirms the receipt of the documents the next day; says will take about 1-2 weeks to obtain title
7) Dealer phones 1 week later to say title is received; he faxes a copy to me; I get recall letter from Toyota US
8) I fax the title copy to Lewiston crossing; I phone and leave a message to verify that they received it; they phone back and conrim receipt about 3 hours later
9) I book an airline ticket to destination ($253); dealer agrees to meet me at airport
10) I fly to city one week later (friday) -early flight. Dealer takes me to dealership. Van is waiting. Dealer reviews features and gives me a gift
11) 3.5 hour drive to Lewiston; bored official stamps my title at US office
12) proceed to Canadian customs and fill in form 1 (they request only title and bill of sale); pay GST
13) drive back to Toronto
14) Monday proceed to RIV office; give them form 1, pay fee, and they give me form 2
15) Proceed to Canadian tire for inspection; 30 minutes later they give me the form; no problem with immobilizer as I kept the window sticker verifying that it was equipped
16) Proceed to MTO; they say it needs a safety; my arguments are ignored; I go back to CT for a safety
17) Go back to MTO and pay fees and obtain registration

Total cost with PST, GST, travel costs ,safety and RIV fees -$30,400. I save (or some would say I avoid losing) over $9000 by buying a van in the US vs. Canada. Mind you it took a good day + of my time to pull it off.

If you want the dealer reference, please PM.

[rob3blk]

congratulation sunspot21. I cant believe those people at the MTO office about needing a safety for a brand new car.( i was also told by the mto office clerk at cloverdale mall in etobicoke, but i told her it does not need one and someone agreed with me behind the desk. she then just processed my paper, without saying anything after. back in nov 2007) i thanked her after.
which office did you go to?

congrats again.

[pulsar]

congratulation sunspot21. I cant believe those people at the MTO office about needing a safety for a brand new car.( i was also told by the mto office clerk at cloverdale mall in etobicoke, but i told her it does not need one and someone agreed with me behind the desk. she then just processed my paper, without saying anything after. back in nov 2007) i thanked her after.
which office did you go to?

congrats again.

Sunspot21's Sienna is "technically" not brand new car as it was titled in the USA. A true NEW vehicle would be one with a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Sunspot21's was a title.

[Sunspot21]

I went to the downtown MTO office. The proplem is that mine had a title - not the MCO. Still, I wish they would employ a little common sense...

[bulgurc]

Sunspot21's Sienna is "technically" not brand new car as it was titled in the USA. A true NEW vehicle would be one with a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Sunspot21's was a title.

Title is irrelevant. It does not need safety. Good idea to take a printout from MTO website when you to their office

[DrXenon]

I just confirmed with a dealer in Virginia that if my Amerifriend, a Maryland resident, buys the car for me they'll give him the MCO on the understanding that he'll go to Maryland DMV with it to pay the tax. Instead, Amerifriend will give me the MCO and a new bill of sale, and I'm off to the races.

So the secret seems to be to use an Amerifriend who's out of state from where you intend to buy.

[jnmontario]

You managed to get a Toyota that was Used Certified? Damn, I just bought a Prius and the dealership told me that they couldn't give me that certification if I was purchasing for export because it would raise a flag with TofA and they could get sanctioned.

Two weeks ago I imported a used Toyota Certified RAV4. The car is now registered in Canada and I have already received Canadian Certification Label from RIV as well.

My question is do I need to register it as a certified vehicle with Toyota Canada?According to the US dealer, it is registered with the US Toyota as a certified car and it has coverage for 3000 miles / 3 months bumper to bumper and 7yr / 100,000 limited warranty.


TIA

[petaling108]

I just confirmed with a dealer in Virginia that if my Amerifriend, a Maryland resident, buys the car for me they'll give him the MCO on the understanding that he'll go to Maryland DMV with it to pay the tax. Instead, Amerifriend will give me the MCO and a new bill of sale, and I'm off to the races.

So the secret seems to be to use an Amerifriend who's out of state from where you intend to buy.

what dealer? pm me if he's close to philadelphia.Thanks.I am interested in an Outback too and also to get the rebate available to US residents(thru my son)only since Jan 1,08
I have trouble with a Lexus dealer(Lawrence ,NJ)who insisted on me paying PA taxes in order to sell me a ES350,althought I am Canadian/

[Tender]

I went to the downtown MTO office. The proplem is that mine had a title - not the MCO. Still, I wish they would employ a little common sense...

Title is irrelevant. It does not need safety. Good idea to take a printout from MTO website when you to their office

Sunspot21, if you car was registered in the U.S., then I think you need a safety. It's on MTO website under "Licensing a Vehicle that is Registered in Another Jurisdiction". The only time for a new vehicle to avoid safety is when it's unregistered. But unfortunately you had to register the Sienna in the U.S. to get away with Toyota:

"3. A Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) if the vehicle is registered "fit". This Certificate is not required for new, unregistered vehicles or trailers or motor assisted bicycles (mopeds) or vehicles registered "unfit"."

So buying a new car doesn't mean you can always get away with this. Anyway, it's minimal cost compared to your great savings, especially when you can still buy a Toyota in the states.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/rgoutcan.htm

[michelb]

I just confirmed with a dealer in Virginia that if my Amerifriend, a Maryland resident, buys the car for me they'll give him the MCO on the understanding that he'll go to Maryland DMV with it to pay the tax. Instead, Amerifriend will give me the MCO and a new bill of sale, and I'm off to the races.

So the secret seems to be to use an Amerifriend who's out of state from where you intend to buy.

I'm not sure if this will work. First, I don't think your friend can sign over the MCO to you - you probably need an actual title which your friend won't get until he registers the car in Maryland (and pays taxes). Second, when your friend buys the car in Virginia, he'll probably have to sign some sort of affidavit that he'll pay the taxes in Maryland - I suspect that for something like a car purchase, they'll come after him eventually if he doesn't pay them ... (A few years ago we bought our appliances from Quebec and had them delivered in Ontario because we were told we'd save the provincial tax. A few months later we received a bill from the government of Ontario for taxes due)

[angel_wing0]

so anyone knows if there are any nissan us dealers that are willing to sell to us canucks?

[gregolds]

I'm not sure if this will work. First, I don't think your friend can sign over the MCO to you - you probably need an actual title which your friend won't get until he registers the car in Maryland (and pays taxes). Second, when your friend buys the car in Virginia, he'll probably have to sign some sort of affidavit that he'll pay the taxes in Maryland - I suspect that for something like a car purchase, they'll come after him eventually if he doesn't pay them ... (A few years ago we bought our appliances from Quebec and had them delivered in Ontario because we were told we'd save the provincial tax. A few months later we received a bill from the government of Ontario for taxes due)

Yes it will work. Your friend does not and can not sign over a MCO to you. Date your bill of sale for the day you cross the border and show your friend as the exporter of record. You are the importer of record. Someone buying out of state will pay the tax when they register the vehicle in their home state. If they sell to you without registering the vehicle there is no state tax to pay. If a dealer tells you otherwise it is because they are registering the vehicle themselves to get around the manufacturers ban on selling to Canadians. Tell them you are taking your business elseware.

[bulgurc]

Yes it will work. Your friend does not and can not sign over a MCO to you. Date your bill of sale for the day you cross the border and show your friend as the exporter of record. You are the importer of record. Someone buying out of state will pay the tax when they register the vehicle in their home state. If they sell to you without registering the vehicle there is no state tax to pay. If a dealer tells you otherwise it is because they are registering the vehicle themselves to get around the manufacturers ban on selling to Canadians. Tell them you are taking your business elseware.

I actually called the DMV and sales tax offices of some states about this. You are OK. If he/she does not take the car to his/her home state and export it... I was very upfront about what I was gonna do.

[jmlleung]

Here is from carburner.com:
"Toyota: - Yes, and extended warranty also transfers. www.toyotawarrantyinfo.com has some significant savings over buying it at the dealer."

Do you know if we can still purchase the extended warranty from US after the vehicle is imported into Canada?

[jnmontario]

Here is from carburner.com:
"Toyota: - Yes, and extended warranty also transfers. www.toyotawarrantyinfo.com has some significant savings over buying it at the dealer."

Do you know if we can still purchase the extended warranty from US after the vehicle is imported into Canada?

I just emailed about whether they'll sell to Canadians. I'll let you know.

[jnmontario]

Has anybody driven the Highlander Hybrid?

I'm looking at importing one since the MSRP in Canada is $63,000 and in the US it's $39, but don't really want to commit unless it's worth it. I drive down a goat-path to 'our' (parents) cottage every weekend in the spring/summer/fall (which might be all of 3 weeks this year!!!) and have 2 young kids and like the idea of having a relatively fuel efficient minivan/SUV is enticing. I would do light towing a few times a year also. Would anybody else be able to msg me with alternatives they would recommend as well pls?

[disk2050]

You managed to get a Toyota that was Used Certified? Damn, I just bought a Prius and the dealership told me that they couldn't give me that certification if I was purchasing for export because it would raise a flag with TofA and they could get sanctioned.

The car you bought was advertized as Toyota Certified?

[disk2050]

You managed to get a Toyota that was Used Certified? Damn, I just bought a Prius and the dealership told me that they couldn't give me that certification if I was purchasing for export because it would raise a flag with TofA and they could get sanctioned.
Here is the cut-n-paste of the Certified Warranty :
CERTIFIED WARRANTY

Each Toyota Certified Used Vehicle comes with a 3-month/3,000-mile comprehensive warranty from date of certified purchase. This warranty covers any repair or replacement of components which fail under normal use due to a defect in materials or workmanship.

Each Toyota Certified Used Vehicle is also backed by a 7-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty (from original date of first use when purchased as new). We also add a 7-year/100,000 mile 24-hour Roadside Assistance Plan (from original date of first use when purchased as new). For the enhanced peace of mind of an available Extended Vehicle Service Agreement, please visit Toyota Financial Services. Here are a few of the features and benefits of the Toyota Certified Limited Powertrain Warranty:

*Valid at over 1,400 Toyota dealerships in the U.S. and Canada <=;)
*Transferable at no cost for added resale value
*Travel protection
*Substitute transportation
*Toll-free line assistance




The following major components are covered by the Toyota Certified Limited Powertrain Warranty:

*Engine Components
*Manual Transmission
*Automatic Transmission
*Axle Assembly Components
*Hybrid Components



See your Toyota dealer for additional details.

[jnmontario]

The car you bought was advertized as Toyota Certified?

Yup - it wasn't until I told them I was purchasing for export that they then said they couldn't give me the Certified Used.

Here is the cut-n-paste of the Certified Warranty :
CERTIFIED WARRANTY

Each Toyota Certified Used Vehicle comes with a 3-month/3,000-mile comprehensive warranty from date of certified purchase. This warranty covers any repair or replacement of components which fail under normal use due to a defect in materials or workmanship.

Each Toyota Certified Used Vehicle is also backed by a 7-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty (from original date of first use when purchased as new). We also add a 7-year/100,000 mile 24-hour Roadside Assistance Plan (from original date of first use when purchased as new). For the enhanced peace of mind of an available Extended Vehicle Service Agreement, please visit Toyota Financial Services. ....


I know that I have the remainder of whatever factory warranties are left (being a 6 mo. old car I think that's likely pretty substantial), but the extra piece of mind (7 yr.) would have been nice. Since I couldn't get the Certified Used I negotiated off $1k.

[disk2050]

Yup - it wasn't until I told them I was purchasing for export that they then said they couldn't give me the Certified Used.




I know that I have the remainder of whatever factory warranties are left (being a 6 mo. old car I think that's likely pretty substantial), but the extra piece of mind (7 yr.) would have been nice. Since I couldn't get the Certified Used I negotiated off $1k.

Its funny when I was trying to get to them to lower the price my dealer offered the same as what you got as a discount but instead I took $250 off long with certified warranty. The Dealer did not mention any concern from Toyota company.

Anyways, now, I am trying to find out from anyone who may know, do I need to register my car here in Canada or it is not needed.

[torontostar1966]

Title is irrelevant. It does not need safety. Good idea to take a printout from MTO website when you to their office

You are absolutely correct! Back to Jan., when I bought my pilot from my us friend in Texas( they bought brand new with 26 mile on it, drove back to their house, added 120 mile, then I drove it back to Toronto for another 1800 mile), I went to two MTO office, first one in whitby near my office need safety. Second one in Scaborough (McCowan/Sheppard) agreed that I don't need a safety for a brand new car with a us title, when I gave them the documents that showed my friend bought it from the dealer at end of Nov. 2007. Then I got my plate without doing the safety and emission.

[aqus]

This can be useful if buying used. And it is free
https://www.nicb.org/cps/rde/xchg/nicb/hs.xsl/index.htm

[michelb]

Yes it will work. Your friend does not and can not sign over a MCO to you. Date your bill of sale for the day you cross the border and show your friend as the exporter of record. You are the importer of record. Someone buying out of state will pay the tax when they register the vehicle in their home state. If they sell to you without registering the vehicle there is no state tax to pay. If a dealer tells you otherwise it is because they are registering the vehicle themselves to get around the manufacturers ban on selling to Canadians. Tell them you are taking your business elseware.

I actually called the DMV and sales tax offices of some states about this. You are OK. If he/she does not take the car to his/her home state and export it... I was very upfront about what I was gonna do.

Hi, did you guys do this (use an out-of-state address but never actually register at that address)? If so how long ago? I would have thought that they would have followed up to make sure you actually registered it?

If you have your friend's name no the MCO and he's the exporter of record, did he have to be present when you exported/imported into Canada? How does it work for him to be the exporter and you be the importer? Anything else we need to know?

[bulgurc]

Hi, did you guys do this (use an out-of-state address but never actually register at that address)? If so how long ago? I would have thought that they would have followed up to make sure you actually registered it?

If you have your friend's name no the MCO and he's the exporter of record, did he have to be present when you exported/imported into Canada? How does it work for him to be the exporter and you be the importer? Anything else we need to know?
I have not done it actually like that, but I think a lot of people in the board has done it. I was planning to do it like that, but my US contact chickened out. She was from MA. So actually called MA DMV explained the situation and asked whether she would get into trouble. They said that it was OK, but send me to their sales tax office to double check. Sales tax people told me, as long as she does not bring the car back to MA she is OK, she does not have to pay sales taxes.

The way I were planning to do was: Get the sales to her, MSO on her name. She draws me a private Bill of Sale, and an authorization letter from her to authorize me to transport the car, to be presented to the dealership (maybe a second one to export the car although I doubt I would need that). MSO faxed to border. I pick the car with a temporary permit and drive to border. If asked, I present the export authorization letter to US custom (although they never check, they are bored bunch), along with MSO. MSO stamped. Go to Canada custom and import the car with Bill of Sale. Rest of the process the same.

[michelb]

I have not done it actually like that, but I think a lot of people in the board has done it. I was planning to do it like that, but my US contact chickened out. She was from MA. So actually called MA DMV explained the situation and asked whether she would get into trouble. They said that it was OK, but send me to their sales tax office to double check. Sales tax people told me, as long as she does not bring the car back to MA she is OK, she does not have to pay sales taxes.

The way I were planning to do was: Get the sales to her, MSO on her name. She draws me a private Bill of Sale, and an authorization letter from her to authorize me to transport the car, to be presented to the dealership (maybe a second one to export the car although I doubt I would need that). MSO faxed to border. I pick the car with a temporary permit and drive to border. If asked, I present the export authorization letter to US custom (although they never check, they are bored bunch), along with MSO. MSO stamped. Go to Canada custom and import the car with Bill of Sale. Rest of the process the same.

Thanks for the update - sounds like worrying about them coming after you for taxes is not an issue.

The problem I see here is that, unless I'm mistaken (please correct me if I am), she can't transfer ownership to you with just the MSO (I believe only dealers can re-assign an MSO) - to sell to you privately, she needs to get a title, which means she needs to register the vehicle either in the US (and pay state taxes) or in Canada (and pay provincial taxes) before she can sell you the vehicle and then you have to pay taxes again.

Actually does her name show up on the MSO (I've never actually seen one so I'm not sure what's on there ...) - if it doesn't then it's a non-issue (you can just register it in Canada with the MSO (although the Ministry of Transport might give you a hard time if you have a private bill of sale but are using the MSO which says it's from a dealership)

----

Update: After doing a bit of research, the buyer's name and address do show up on the back of the MSO but it looks like others have not had problems re-assigning the MSO to a new buyer (i.e. selling without titling) so it sounds like this technique would work.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Paladium]

I am planning on buying a Tribeca from Van Bortel and requested what I wanted in an e-mail. That was like a week and a half ago. I called on the weekend and they said it was in and he was bringing the docs to the finance department and they will call me early this week.

Karl seems well acquainted with the process and from what I have read he does a lot of stuff already for you before you get there. Having said that then, for those that bought from Van Bortel what is exactly expected by me, to have completed prior to me getting there. Thanks

Dean

[Tender]

I am planning on buying a Tribeca from Van Bortel and requested what I wanted in an e-mail. That was like a week and a half ago. I called on the weekend and they said it was in and he was bringing the docs to the finance department and they will call me early this week.

Karl seems well acquainted with the process and from what I have read he does a lot of stuff already for you before you get there. Having said that then, for those that bought from Van Bortel what is exactly expected by me, to have completed prior to me getting there. Thanks

Dean

They'll call you to confirm. Basically insurance and bank draft are all you need. They'll put documents together for customs.
I went to MTO and asked about temporary permit in Ontario, and the guy asked me for the original title. So I ignored that and there was no problem driving home with NY temporary permit (VB provided), although it stated to Queenston/Lewiston bridge only (the Canadian customs officer did ask about the license plate for his record and I showed him the NY one, no questions on that). Make sure you have the form 1 in your car at all time.

[Rossland]

They'll call you to confirm. Basically insurance and bank draft are all you need. They'll put documents together for customs.
I went to MTO and asked about temporary permit in Ontario, and the guy asked me for the original title. So I ignored that and there was no problem driving home with NY temporary permit (VB provided), although it stated to Queenston/Lewiston bridge only (the Canadian customs officer did ask about the license plate for his record and I showed him the NY one, no questions on that). Make sure you have the form 1 in your car at all time.

That is my experience too. I imported last Oct and drove the car around Ont with the NY temp permit until I got the RIV paperwork completed. The NYtemp permit is good for 30 days, but my Ont insurance company would only insure the car for 15 days before it was registered here.

[diigii]

Me too! I drove with my Maryland temp plate for 4 days and had 4 occasions where a police cruiser was either looking in my front car's direction or behind me in the street and they never bothered to stop me and check the validity of my temp plate. I had the sales invoice, Customs receipt and Form 1 in my car till it was licensed in ON after 4 days.

That is my experience too. I imported last Oct and drove the car around Ont with the NY temp permit until I got the RIV paperwork completed. The NYtemp permit is good for 30 days, but my Ont insurance company would only insure the car for 15 days before it was registered here.

[gregolds]

Hi, did you guys do this (use an out-of-state address but never actually register at that address)? If so how long ago? I would have thought that they would have followed up to make sure you actually registered it?

If you have your friend's name no the MCO and he's the exporter of record, did he have to be present when you exported/imported into Canada? How does it work for him to be the exporter and you be the importer? Anything else we need to know?

Imported my new Honda Ridgeline in Nov 07. Yes we did exactly that. Why would a dealer in Illinois care if you registered in your home state or not. He got all his money when the car was purchased. If you do not register the car you do not pay any tax. My friend was the exporter of record because his name was on the MCO. I did not give this info to US customs and was not asked, but that was the actual situation if they did ask me. The bill of sale was dated for the day I imported. All perfectly legal. No my friend was not present.

[x51v]

Imported my new Honda Ridgeline in Nov 07. Yes we did exactly that. Why would a dealer in Illinois care if you registered in your home state or not. He got all his money when the car was purchased. If you do not register the car you do not pay any tax. My friend was the exporter of record because his name was on the MCO. I did not give this info to US customs and was not asked, but that was the actual situation if they did ask me. The bill of sale was dated for the day I imported. All perfectly legal. No my friend was not present.

Hi, I am wondering if I need to fax the back side of the MCO to the US Customs?
do you mean you have to present the "Bill of sale"(between you and your friend) to the US Customs if they did ask you? I am on the way to the US Customs, please help, Thank you.

[Marzipan]

This was mentioned once before where a Canadian found the ideal used vehicle only to learn that CarMax, the nations biggest auto reseller, won't sell to you if you don't have a permanent USA address.

This is probably a policy in need of review. But it's true. Don't bother checking out any Carmax sites. They are not allowed to sell to non-residents of USA.

[bulgurc]

Hi, I am wondering if I need to fax the back side of the MCO to the US Customs?
do you mean you have to present the "Bill of sale"(between you and your friend) to the US Customs if they did ask you? I am on the way to the US Customs, please help, Thank you.
Probable depends on crossing. Lewiston does not need it

[michelb]

Imported my new Honda Ridgeline in Nov 07. Yes we did exactly that. Why would a dealer in Illinois care if you registered in your home state or not. He got all his money when the car was purchased. If you do not register the car you do not pay any tax. My friend was the exporter of record because his name was on the MCO. I did not give this info to US customs and was not asked, but that was the actual situation if they did ask me. The bill of sale was dated for the day I imported. All perfectly legal. No my friend was not present.

Thanks for the information.

I take it that the MSO was in your friend's name then (since he was the exporter of record). Did you ever assign it to your name? Did you have any problems with the MSO being re-assigned by someone who's not a dealer?

[giorgio]

Why hasn't this thread been moved to Discussion>Motor Vehicles & Accessories where it belongs? It's obviously never going to die, and there are no "hot deals" in it.

[oasis221]

Hi,

Got this message from a dealership that I tried to buy a new Toyota from and now it seems they are allowed to sell new again, til April 30th. I would jump at the chance but I have had my new Sienna since September :cheesygri

Hi,

I hope all is well.

I wanted to let you know that Toyota granted us permission to sell new car's to customer's who live in Canada.

We are able to sell you a new car until April 30th. I know I spoke with you a while back and we where only aloud to sell you a used car at that time.

So if you still are interested in purchasing a new Toyota Sienna please let me know and I will provide you with pricing.

Here is a link to our website if you would like to browse our inventory.
www.toyotaofscranton.com

[jnmontario]

!?!?! Smoke in mirrors? I wonder if they're speaking truth or just want a few sales. Why would Toyota give them permission to sell new for a couple of weeks unless sales were down.
[edit] they're also bloody expensive! They're MSRP prices are MUCH higher than other locations (e.g. driversvillage.com)
Hi,

Got this message from a dealership that I tried to buy a new Toyota from and now it seems they are allowed to sell new again, til April 30th. I would jump at the chance but I have had my new Sienna since September :cheesygri

Hi,

I hope all is well.

I wanted to let you know that Toyota granted us permission to sell new car's to customer's who live in Canada.

We are able to sell you a new car until April 30th. I know I spoke with you a while back and we where only aloud to sell you a used car at that time.

So if you still are interested in purchasing a new Toyota Sienna please let me know and I will provide you with pricing.

Here is a link to our website if you would like to browse our inventory.
www.toyotaofscranton.com

[michelb]

!?!?! Smoke in mirrors? I wonder if they're speaking truth or just want a few sales. Why would Toyota give them permission to sell new for a couple of weeks unless sales were down.
[edit] they're also bloody expensive! They're MSRP prices are MUCH higher than other locations (e.g. driversvillage.com)

Either that or maybe (hopefully), Toyota USA just decided 'screw you Toyota Canada', if Canadians want to buy, we'll sell to them ...

[petaling108]

"We are able to sell you a new car until April 30th. I know I spoke with you a while back and we where only aloud to sell you a used car at that time.

"ALOUD"

FOR crying out loud,are they serious?

[Symcrapico]

Why hasn't this thread been moved to Discussion>Motor Vehicles & Accessories where it belongs? It's obviously never going to die, and there are no "hot deals" in it.

No hot deals? What about a 15000$ rebate on a 45000$ car!

[giorgio]

No hot deals? What about a 15000$ rebate on a 45000$ car!

Saying every car is cheaper in US dollars than it is in Canadian dollars is just stating the obvious. This isn't a deal, it's always been that way. It's travelling up to 3000Km to a foreign country and paying their regular price because of an economic disparity.

Or are you saying you found a dealer that sells his cars for $15000 less than the other dealers in his neighbourhood?

[Trexim]

Saying every car is cheaper in US dollars than it is in Canadian dollars is just stating the obvious. This isn't a deal, it's always been that way. It's travelling up to 3000Km to a foreign country and paying their regular price because of an economic disparity.

Or are you saying you found a dealer that sells his cars for $15000 less than the other dealers in his neighbourhood?

Wow, you joined a week ago and already want to be a rule-lawyer? Great attitude. There are many competent mods in this forums and many (MANY) knowledgable members. Let's them decide.

[Coolers]

Does anyone have experience with importing a car under someone else's name? More specifically, I'd like the car I'm importing to be registered under my parents' name for insurance reasons, but would do the actual driving across the border myself.

[bulgurc]

Hi,

Got this message from a dealership that I tried to buy a new Toyota from and now it seems they are allowed to sell new again, til April 30th. I would jump at the chance but I have had my new Sienna since September :cheesygri

Hi,

I hope all is well.

I wanted to let you know that Toyota granted us permission to sell new car's to customer's who live in Canada.

We are able to sell you a new car until April 30th. I know I spoke with you a while back and we where only aloud to sell you a used car at that time.

So if you still are interested in purchasing a new Toyota Sienna please let me know and I will provide you with pricing.

Here is a link to our website if you would like to browse our inventory.
www.toyotaofscranton.com

Anybody can confirm that from a different dealer...

[michelb]

Anybody can confirm that from a different dealer...

I emailed one this morning and he still said no Canadians but it's possible he wasn't aware of it yet.

[sienna owner]

Does anyone have experience with importing a car under someone else's name? More specifically, I'd like the car I'm importing to be registered under my parents' name for insurance reasons, but would do the actual driving across the border myself.

shouldn't have an issue as you also have the same address and last name on bill of sale anyways...and i'm sure customs will be okay with it all..just have to be up front and say you're just the transporter..

[Col127]

has anyone purchased a MINI cooper from the US? i'm interested in picking up a new MINI. :)

is the warranty honorued and valid here in canada?

[fl4wless]

has anyone purchased a MINI cooper from the US? i'm interested in picking up a new MINI. :)

is the warranty honorued and valid here in canada?

http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253 check out BMW... id call to verify though.

[fl4wless]

I purchased from a dealer in Ohio recently. Im still looking at options of shipping and/or driving the vehicle back.

If driving, do the 30day temporary tags work in all states? Or do i need temp tags from each state i drive through?


Ive will be obtaining my temp plate from my local insurance company for insurance within canada, but just curious do the US temp tags = insurance? Or do i need additional insurance on top of this?

[jnmontario]

Anybody can confirm that from a different dealer...

I tried 'my source' in syracuse but they are still unwilling.


I purchased from a dealer in Ohio recently. Im still looking at options of shipping and/or driving the vehicle back.

If driving, do the 30day temporary tags work in all states? Or do i need temp tags from each state i drive through?


Ive will be obtaining my temp plate from my local insurance company for insurance within canada, but just curious do the US temp tags = insurance? Or do i need additional insurance on top of this?

AFAIK a state temp license from anywhere means you've gone through the process of proving the car belongs to you which means that as long as it's valid, I think you're good anywhere in the US and Canada (at least I have yet to be pulled over in Canada with my temp. tags. on any US vehicle I've brought over).

[Rossland]

has anyone purchased a MINI cooper from the US? i'm interested in picking up a new MINI. :)

is the warranty honorued and valid here in canada?

Do your homework before you import a Mini. BMW Canada will force you to jump through a lot of hoops, and it will be expensive. Search this thread. There are many previous posts about importing a BMW or a Mini>:(

[jnmontario]

From the Toyota dealership I've used before in the US:

Ok James,
Checked it out...It seems that it is false information. My Sales Manager says that if that dealership is posting anything and is doing that, they will lose their franchise over that. We will definitely advertise it if this were to become an incentive or available.

Melissa



Hi,

I hope all is well.

I wanted to let you know that Toyota granted us permission to sell new car's to customer's who live in Canada.

We are able to sell you a new car until April 30th. I know I spoke with you a while back and we where only aloud to sell you a used car at that time.

So if you still are interested in purchasing a new Toyota Sienna please let me know and I will provide you with pricing.

Here is a link to our website if you would like to browse our inventory.
www.toyotaofscranton.com

[luxurytravel]

I am looking for a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. The price just based on sticker is approx. $14000.00 less in the USA than Canada. Is a new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid ok to import?

[Col127]

Do your homework before you import a Mini. BMW Canada will force you to jump through a lot of hoops, and it will be expensive. Search this thread. There are many previous posts about importing a BMW or a Mini>:(

great, thanks for the heads up! seems like it's not too bad, just some extra admin fee for a document... ;(

[jnmontario]

I am looking for a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. The price just based on sticker is approx. $14000.00 less in the USA than Canada. Is a new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid ok to import?

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/impusae.htm

page 21 - domestic MPV's

[michelb]

great, thanks for the heads up! seems like it's not too bad, just some extra admin fee for a document... ;(

From another forum (just google 'importing mini into Canada') I found:


1. Contact BMW Canada to obtain a Letter of Admissibility - $350.

2. Order the recall clearance letter from BMW Canada (who in turn order it from MINI USA) - $500 and takes 5 to 7 weeks.

3. Once you have the letter, make an appointment at the dealership for an inspection and to activate the DRLs - inspection is $190 and activation costs $375. They are currently booking in February for this 'service'. They say the activation may only be performed at an authorized dealership so you cannot have it done elsewhere. Only once this is done can you register it in my province.
(article was dated November so I'd be careful of the 'booking for February part', you might only have 45 days to bring car to spec)

So factor $1000-$1500 (unfortunately they can make you change anything they want and there's nothing you can do about it) and don't forget to add duty (6.1% in your cost)

---

update, read in another thread that someone who recently imported one, also had to replace 'both clusters' (not exactly sure what that is (says only need to do 1 if you have Nav)) for another $1600. He commented that when all was said and done, it wasn't really any cheaper than buying in Canada.

[Paladium]

Can anyone who bought one give me an idea of how much you are paying for insurance?

I think my company is trying to rip me off a bit but who knows ....2400 and i've never had an accident,

I was originally going to buy a subaru legacy same price range and they quoted me about 1500

Thanks in advance

Dean

[DollarsToDonuts]

I finally took the big step and purchased a vehicle in Cleveland. I have options of crossing in Buffalo (3 choices), Thousand Islands or Ogdensburg. If anyone can recommend one over another or better still one to stay away from I would much appreciate it. Definitely buying a car over the net/phone is a little different. Thanks.

[michelb]

I finally took the big step and purchased a vehicle in Cleveland. I have options of crossing in Buffalo (3 choices), Thousand Islands or Ogdensburg. If anyone can recommend one over another or better still one to stay away from I would much appreciate it. Definitely buying a car over the net/phone is a little different. Thanks.

I would recommend Buffalo since the other two require to courrier the actual title or MSO (and two copies) to the border crossing and appear to be much stricter about only allowing Mon-Fri 9-5 exports. I think Buffalo will accept faxes (don't know if they are more lenient about the days/hours of export).

Hope this helps and please don't hesitate to correct me if anything I said is incorrect.

[HP_John]

This was mentioned once before where a Canadian found the ideal used vehicle only to learn that CarMax, the nations biggest auto reseller, won't sell to you if you don't have a permanent USA address.

This is probably a policy in need of review. But it's true. Don't bother checking out any Carmax sites. They are not allowed to sell to non-residents of USA.

How sure are you about this? Back in December, I was going to buy from CarMax. I told them I was Canadian & asked if it would be a issue, they assured me it would not be a problem.

[bulgurc]

Buffalo will accept faxes, but close at 4pm. Was piece of cake for me. US customs do not check anything. But it is busy, watch out for Cdn custom mistakes.

[gregolds]

Hi, I am wondering if I need to fax the back side of the MCO to the US Customs?
do you mean you have to present the "Bill of sale"(between you and your friend) to the US Customs if they did ask you? I am on the way to the US Customs, please help, Thank you.

All they need is the front side showing the serial number. They don't require a bill of sale.

[Col127]

thanks for all the info... hmmm sounds pretty troublesome to get a MINI into canada. :(

From another forum (just google 'importing mini into Canada') I found:


1. Contact BMW Canada to obtain a Letter of Admissibility - $350.

2. Order the recall clearance letter from BMW Canada (who in turn order it from MINI USA) - $500 and takes 5 to 7 weeks.

3. Once you have the letter, make an appointment at the dealership for an inspection and to activate the DRLs - inspection is $190 and activation costs $375. They are currently booking in February for this 'service'. They say the activation may only be performed at an authorized dealership so you cannot have it done elsewhere. Only once this is done can you register it in my province.
(article was dated November so I'd be careful of the 'booking for February part', you might only have 45 days to bring car to spec)

So factor $1000-$1500 (unfortunately they can make you change anything they want and there's nothing you can do about it) and don't forget to add duty (6.1% in your cost)

---

update, read in another thread that someone who recently imported one, also had to replace 'both clusters' (not exactly sure what that is (says only need to do 1 if you have Nav)) for another $1600. He commented that when all was said and done, it wasn't really any cheaper than buying in Canada.

[Marzipan]

How sure are you about this? Back in December, I was going to buy from CarMax. I told them I was Canadian & asked if it would be a issue, they assured me it would not be a problem.

I got the message from a California Carmax seller just yesterday when he learned of my place of residence. He asked if I had a USA address.

I asked him to double check and he replied with certainty. Here are his words - Carmax has a policy of not selling a vehicle to a customer that has an out of country address. Sorry. Carmax cannot help you.

When I searched this board I found another poster had been rejected after he located his dream vehicle on a CarMax lot.

[Edit] Just wrote a letter to the Chairman of the board of CarMax - a listed company - suggesting it is time to revise the policy. If they do, this will help our cause as the new vehicles are already very difficult to get. Who knows? Perhaps CarMax will put some effort into going after the growing number of Canadian buyers in this deteriorating consumer environment.

Consider writing to: chairman AT carmax.com

[stephenstay]

I purchased from a dealer in Ohio recently. Im still looking at options of shipping and/or driving the vehicle back.
If driving, do the 30day temporary tags work in all states? Or do i need temp tags from each state i drive through?
Ive will be obtaining my temp plate from my local insurance company for insurance within canada, but just curious do the US temp tags = insurance? Or do i need additional insurance on top of this?

I also purchased a car in Ohio and had it shipped to Washington. I had a 30 day Ohio tag which I used to drive from Washington to BC. I was told it was valid in all states. The US tag does not equal insurance. Ask your local agent for binder insurance which will cover you for the trip home (whether in the US or Canada). Mine was approximately $100 from the Autoplan agent to fully insure the car.

[bargainhuntr]

I have options of crossing in Buffalo (3 choices), Thousand Islands or Ogdensburg.

Only choice in the Niagara Region is the Lewiston/Queenston crossing. U.S. Customs hours M-F 8-4. Call for info 1-716-282-1500. See the www.carburner.com site

[shoprbccom]

I think this is new news...

A few Victoria car dealers have filed a class action suit against some of the biggest automakers in the business, saying they are gouging importers unfairly.

http://www.ctvbc.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080325/BC_Car_Class_Action_080325/20080325/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

[DollarsToDonuts]

Ouch. I WAS buying a Honda Accord coupe, but just phoned Honda and they will only issue a recall clearance letter if you fax them your US drivers licence, US insurance and US passport. I thought they only didn't honour the warranty. Any suggestions? I'm not sure if the dealer is willing to jump through hoops for this deal. Oh well, if the dealer can't get it, then I guess it is back to the drawing board.

[HacheyImports]

Ouch. I WAS buying a Honda Accord coupe, but just phoned Honda and they will only issue a recall clearance letter if you fax them your US drivers licence, US insurance and US passport. I thought they only didn't honour the warranty. Any suggestions? I'm not sure if the dealer is willing to jump through hoops for this deal. Oh well, if the dealer can't get it, then I guess it is back to the drawing board.

I kind of hesitate to even answer this as I think manufacturer employees monitor this forum. This is possible still, and yes that is the response that they give when you call asking for one.

Safe to say you can get a letter...and if nothing works contact me. I would make it a point of sale for the salesman...get me one or the deal is off.

Take care

[michelb]

Ouch. I WAS buying a Honda Accord coupe, but just phoned Honda and they will only issue a recall clearance letter if you fax them your US drivers licence, US insurance and US passport. I thought they only didn't honour the warranty. Any suggestions? I'm not sure if the dealer is willing to jump through hoops for this deal. Oh well, if the dealer can't get it, then I guess it is back to the drawing board.

I think this has been mentioned in the past that Honda would only issue recall letter to US residents ... search the forum maybe you'll find something but offhand I'm not sure if there is a solution (although others seem to still be importing them (even recently))

[bulgurc]

Also sometimes RIV will accept a printout of outstanding recalls on the vehicle, from the dealer. Check will RIV, I think it depends on the make, I know it works for Toyota

[donjuancarlos]

I think this has been mentioned in the past that Honda would only issue recall letter to US residents ... search the forum maybe you'll find something but offhand I'm not sure if there is a solution (although others seem to still be importing them (even recently))

This is totally doable and has been mentioned before on this forum. You go to the Honda US website, register as a US person and then put in your VIN # and get a printout that states that there are no recalls on your vehicle. RIV accepts those. I will be doing it this weekend. I'm going to the states to pick up a Honda and a Toyota. I'll let you know how it goes.

[d-kim]

Ouch. I WAS buying a Honda Accord coupe, but just phoned Honda and they will only issue a recall clearance letter if you fax them your US drivers licence, US insurance and US passport. I thought they only didn't honour the warranty. Any suggestions? I'm not sure if the dealer is willing to jump through hoops for this deal. Oh well, if the dealer can't get it, then I guess it is back to the drawing board.

RIV accepts a printout of no recalls from Ownerslink on Honda's website... You don't need a recall letter!

Also another alternative is getting the dealer to printout a service sheet on their letterhead saying no outstanding recalls.

I and some others here have imported Acura's successfully! Call RIV if you want confirmation yourself.

[DollarsToDonuts]

The info provided by donjuancarlos and d-kim is absolutely correct. I just fax the info from the owner link and they said it was fine (hurray). I was quite surprised since all the intiial fuss about getting a letter from the manufacturer on official letterhead etc. Also there is no vin number on the page that actually says there is no safety recalls for the vehicle. I have to say I'm impressed with riv for helping to get around Honda's asinine policy. BTW, I bought from North Coast Auto. I'll let you know what I think of them and their vehicles (of course only a sample size of 1) later. I can tell you now though, that they are very busy.

[Rossland]

thanks for all the info... hmmm sounds pretty troublesome to get a MINI into canada. :(

That is correct. Don't buy a mini or a BMW. There are lots of other good cars out there that are easier to import. Whatever you buy, do your homework so you can avoid surprises.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Why hasn't this thread been moved to Discussion>Motor Vehicles & Accessories where it belongs? It's obviously never going to die, and there are no "hot deals" in it.

Cause it's all about saving money. We're not talking juice for .99 cents here. Everyone who's importing is saving up to TENS of THOUSANDS of dollars.


No hot deals? What about a 15000$ rebate on a 45000$ car!

He might work for Dennis Desrosiers or the Canadian auto manufacturers..

Wow, you joined a week ago and already want to be a rule-lawyer? Great attitude. There are many competent mods in this forums and many (MANY) knowledgable members. Let's them decide.

There's a reason why this thread is close to surpassing 1.6 million reads.... It isn't because people are blogging here. Folks want to know how we do it.


Saying every car is cheaper in US dollars than it is in Canadian dollars is just stating the obvious. This isn't a deal, it's always been that way. It's travelling up to 3000Km to a foreign country and paying their regular price because of an economic disparity.

Travelling 3000kms isn't necessary. Two or three miles across the border should do it.


Or are you saying you found a dealer that sells his cars for $15000 less than the other dealers in his neighbourhood?


I did find a dealer who sold new SUBARUs for $18,000 less than the other local guy. The only difference is that I had to drive about 1 kilometer across a bridge to a wonderous place called "oz" (err, sorry I meant the US). That's local enough for me.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Can anyone who bought one give me an idea of how much you are paying for insurance?

I think my company is trying to rip me off a bit but who knows ....2400 and i've never had an accident,

I was originally going to buy a subaru legacy same price range and they quoted me about 1500

Thanks in advance

Dean

I briefly looked at a Tribeca. I was quoted about $1500 for the year.

I've been insured with the same company accident-free since 1976.

I have a new Subaru and pay $1080 per year in the 'Trono GTA region which is pretty good.

As my agent says: Pricing isn't everything.

I have:
$1.3 million liability ($1,000,000 on a transferable umbrella)
$100 comprehensive
$500 collision
Loss of use
Underinsured motorist
Roadside assistance
Similar rental replacement (max. $900 if I'm at fault - unlimited if someone else hits me)
This is an "All Perils" policy. Not a "named perils" like those provided by the "Direct" or "no frills" insurers.
I'm sure there's some other stuff that I forgot to mention.

For an additional $75 per year I also had the option for a complete replacement guarantee (for one year) should the vehicle be stolen or written off.

My renewal just came in and is for $538. That does not include a $37.50 total replacement binder ($75/2 for the year) which comes off now that my car approaches the one year mark.

[WildPegasus]

I finally took the big step and purchased a vehicle in Cleveland. I have options of crossing in Buffalo (3 choices), Thousand Islands or Ogdensburg. If anyone can recommend one over another or better still one to stay away from I would much appreciate it. Definitely buying a car over the net/phone is a little different. Thanks.

I'd go with Ogdensburg because it isn't busy and I've never had a bad experience with Canadian Customs at that location. The one drawback is that there's a 45 minute drive off the four lane highway to get there.

Crossing in Buffalo means driving back through Toronto and it would be a longer drive.

Thousand Islands can be busy but the roads are good all the way there.

[d-kim]

Exactly, this is a discussion on how to import cars from the US.
Actually, no I don't.
It is people blogging here. Almost 900 pages and no new information since page 3.
I didn't know they moved Toronto to within 1KM of the US border, or that the entire population of Canada had followed. Thanks for the heads up.

If you don't like it, don't read it. I personally feel that it is a hot deal. And if it was buried under the motor vehicle subdirectory, I doubt many people would have found it. I myself imported a brand new Acura MDX and was able to save thousands of dollars because I chanced upon this thread.

It's a hot deal, leave it in the hot deal section. (just my $0.02).

You're negativity is unwarranted

[Lost Horizon]

If you don't like it, don't read it. I personally feel that it is a hot deal. And if it was buried under the motor vehicle subdirectory, I doubt many people would have found it. I myself imported a brand new Acura MDX and was able to save thousands of dollars because I chanced upon this thread.

It's a hot deal, leave it in the hot deal section. (just my $0.02).

You're negativity is unwarranted



^^ +1. It must work where it is, and it has garnered a huge following right where it is. Hard to argue the facts. I found it here, and I saved the 15,000. Would never have looked under Motoring 101. To me, it's about the deal.

I'm assuming giorgio is here to add to the strength of the thread, wants to import a car, or has already done so... right, gi joe? Otherwise, they would think he's a troll...

[Tender]

This is HOT DEAL to me! Had it not been here, I'd never find this thread, and would not be able to save over $8,000 on my new car, even after manufacturer's $9,500 cash rebates.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5681/dsc01269lh4.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01269lh4.jpg)

[jnmontario]

How about we can the negativity. This is a valuable thread (despite what any individuals may think....they can choose not to read and post to the thread) to those, like myself, that found all sorts of good information PAST page 3 (or 103 for that matter). Yes, there are a lot of posts that might be better sent off to PM's, but such is the danger of having a popular topic. I myself saved nearly $5k by driving a couple hundred clicks - well worth my time!

By getting negative and pandering to the lowest common denominator we risk having the thread locked and that's in nobody's best interests.

[Matty]

Just wrote a letter to the Chairman of the board of CarMax - a listed company - suggesting it is time to revise the policy [of not selling to Canadians]...
Consider writing to: chairman AT carmax.com

I just wrote to the chairman telling him they must sell to Canadians. CC'd Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National Post.

[st7860]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=e96656d6-38c4-4058-8ad0-5333a719b56e&k=40624

Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008
A Vancouver car importer has filed a lawsuit against several major automakers, claiming they artificially inflate prices for Canadians wanting to buy vehicles in the U.S.

Westport Motor Cars Ltd. says manufacturers clearly want to discourage cross-border car shopping by charging "unreasonable fees" for modifications required to make the vehicles comply with Canadian standards.

Westport owner Todd MacDonald said BMW, for example, has added new measures required before its U.S.-sourced cars can be driven in Canada -- including changing speedometers to highlight kilometres per hour instead of miles per hour and changing modules to read Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.

He said the time-delaying modifications can cost up to $5,000.

"These measures are a crock," MacDonald said in an interview. "I've finally had enough and that's why this [lawsuit] is happening."

He said Mercedes-Benz has told him that certain models of its 2008 cars sold in the U.S. cannot be brought across the border because they don't comply with Canadian standards.

"They say they're not sure what work is required to make them comply with Canadian standards or if it's even possible to convert the vehicles," MacDonald said.

Defendants in the suit include the Canadian divisions of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru and Mitsubishi. Other car manufacturers are expected to be added as defendants in the future.

The case is similar to a class-action lawsuit launched in Ontario. But MacDonald's lawyer, Rory Lambert, said the Ontario case alleges Transport Canada conspired with manufacturers to boost prices while the B.C. case does not. The B.C. lawsuit was filed in Victoria last month.

Lambert is seeking court approval to have the lawsuit become a class-action suit and he expects to receive that approval by June.

In a statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Westport said vehicle manufacturers have engaged in several unfair practices to discourage cross-border shopping, including:

- Requiring modifications that were previously unnecessary.

- Charging unreasonable fees for modifications.

- Refusing to honour warranties in Canada on U.S.-sourced vehicles.

- Prohibiting the sale of new U.S. cars to Canadian citizens.

- Forcing importers to undergo unnecessary or unreasonable vehicle inspections.

- Blacklising importers with a history of importing vehicles to Canada.

B.C. car dealer representatives would not comment on the lawsuit. But in an interview last year, New Car Dealers Association of B.C. president Glen Ringdal said vehicle price differences between the U.S. and Canada appear to be the greatest in the luxury car market.

"On the traditional cars that most of us buy, the price difference has been narrowing significantly, certainly during the past year," he said.

Lambert said Canadian car prices have declined by an average of about seven per cent this year, but feels that still isn't enough.

"Where does seven per cent get you when you're looking at price differences of 33 per cent [between vehicles sold in Canada and the U.S]?" he said

Lambert said a 2008 Honda Element that sells for $18,980 in the U.S. has a suggested retail price of $25,290 in Canada -- 33 per cent more than the U.S. price.

He said one Vancouver-area buyer in the process of buying a Volvo vehicle in the U.S. and bringing it to Canada has been told he has to pay about $1,900 for a Canadian Volvo dealer to inspect and certify the car for use in Canada.

Lambert said Canadians who feel they paid too much to import a U.S. vehicle to Canada can find out more information about joining a possible class-action suit by going to www.Ucanimport.com.
bconstantineau@png.canwest.com

[petaling108]

what dealer? pm me if he's close to philadelphia.Thanks.I am interested in an Outback too and also to get the rebate available to US residents(thru my son)only since Jan 1,08
I have trouble with a Lexus dealer(Lawrence ,NJ)who insisted on me paying PA taxes in order to sell me a ES350,althought I am Canadian/


Just received email and follow-up phone call from a dealer in New Jersey across the Delaware River from Philly:
no need to pay tax of PA
temp tag of 23 days
full rebate if I give her my relative's name in PA.
She told me to hurry in as the rebate ends March 31
Recession must be setting in in the USA

[ziploc]

don't worry about rebates ending 31st march....
it's just normal as 1st quarter of the year is ending.....
there will be more rebates in 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters...

and if recession will hit....dealers will be willing to sell even cheaper......
and year model will end and they will have to get rid of their 08 stock....

the only thing that might change is the Dollar value, but i doubt that it will go much lower....

[MrTickle]

From another forum (just google 'importing mini into Canada') I found:


1. Contact BMW Canada to obtain a Letter of Admissibility - $350.

2. Order the recall clearance letter from BMW Canada (who in turn order it from MINI USA) - $500 and takes 5 to 7 weeks.

3. Once you have the letter, make an appointment at the dealership for an inspection and to activate the DRLs - inspection is $190 and activation costs $375. They are currently booking in February for this 'service'. They say the activation may only be performed at an authorized dealership so you cannot have it done elsewhere. Only once this is done can you register it in my province.
(article was dated November so I'd be careful of the 'booking for February part', you might only have 45 days to bring car to spec)

So factor $1000-$1500 (unfortunately they can make you change anything they want and there's nothing you can do about it) and don't forget to add duty (6.1% in your cost)

---

update, read in another thread that someone who recently imported one, also had to replace 'both clusters' (not exactly sure what that is (says only need to do 1 if you have Nav)) for another $1600. He commented that when all was said and done, it wasn't really any cheaper than buying in Canada.

would this apply to used BMWs as well?

[Deemo]

When did BMW start charging all those fees???

[iluvtofish]

This is HOT DEAL to me! Had it not been here, I'd never find this thread, and would not be able to save over $8,000 on my new car, even after manufacturer's $9,500 cash rebates.



Agreed.

If it wasn't for this thread, I would not have taken the plunge and bought my Tribeca back in November, saving me thousands of dollars. Because others were posting about their successes in importing their vehicles and how easy the process was, I had confidence that I could do it as well. Saving thousands of dollars by buying in the US is like one long hot deal. Every day new people find this thread and the knowledge that they get will help them as well.

[superwell]

Ok guys..I need some help. It's getting close to my pulling the trigger on a Acura RDX w/ tech package. Here is where I need some help...for those of you that imported a acura, which dealerships did you use..please pm me if you like. Also in reading a few pages back someone mentioned that they used a US address (florida) but didn't need to pay florida taxes..and only paid the gst and pst at the border...no correct me if I am wrong but after 800 pages of this thread I was under the impression that in order to NOT pay US tax that it has to be purchased using your CDN address..so for all you guys that did it....please pass some information over to me as I am 1) trying to find a us acura dealer and 2) trying to find out about the us address/taxes issue.

thanks!!

[d-kim]

Ok guys..I need some help. It's getting close to my pulling the trigger on a Acura RDX w/ tech package. Here is where I need some help...for those of you that imported a acura, which dealerships did you use..please pm me if you like. Also in reading a few pages back someone mentioned that they used a US address (florida) but didn't need to pay florida taxes..and only paid the gst and pst at the border...no correct me if I am wrong but after 800 pages of this thread I was under the impression that in order to NOT pay US tax that it has to be purchased using your CDN address..so for all you guys that did it....please pass some information over to me as I am 1) trying to find a us acura dealer and 2) trying to find out about the us address/taxes issue.

thanks!!

i pm'd you

[Marzipan]

I just wrote to the chairman telling him they must sell to Canadians. CC'd Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National Post.

24 hours after I wrote to chairman at carmax dot com I got a rejected mail message. I did note that mail to the chairman is first screened by two people. I think the rejected mail was from one of them so my mail may have actually got through.

The message I gave was to suggest Carmax was missing out on the growing Canadian market at a time of economic weakness. I suggested it was time for CarMax to revisit its policy of selling only to US addresses.

So feel free to tell chairman at carmax dot com that you have money to spend on one of their good used cars - but their policy does not allow it.

[donjuancarlos]

to get a Honda.

One more question, I notice several people who used their friends to buy cars had their friends date the Bill of sale the same day as the export/import. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks

[michelb]

to get a Honda.

One more question, I notice several people who used their friends to buy cars had their friends date the Bill of sale the same day as the export/import. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks

I believe it's because the sale from their friend to them is between the time the vehicle is exported from the US (their friend is the exporter) and the time they import it into Canada (they are the importer). I believe this is to get around the limitation of not being able to re-assign MSOs unless you are a dealer (basically I suspect US might give you a hard time exporting if the MSO has been re-assigned by a non-dealer but CND customs don't care so allow it on import).

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[HP_John]

would this apply to used BMWs as well?

The typical extra cost of importing a BMW 3-Series is about $2100 plus taxes, on top of the regular costs of importing compared to other brands. This includes used cars.

I was going to get a 3-Series until they changed their policy overnight, I went w/ another brand that didn't have a BS import policy (Infiniti).

[WildPegasus]

If someone imports a vehicle from New York State, what would happen if they drive on the 407 when bringing it home?

Does NYS provide a temporary plate or is it just a sticker on the windshield?

If the 407 cameras catch a vehicle with no license plate will they send the cops out to pull the vehicle over?

And is there a fine for driving on the 407 with a temporary permit?

[jnmontario]

If someone imports a vehicle from New York State, what would happen if they drive on the 407 when bringing it home?

Does NYS provide a temporary plate or is it just a sticker on the windshield?

If the 407 cameras catch a vehicle with no license plate will they send the cops out to pull the vehicle over?

And is there a fine for driving on the 407 with a temporary permit?

You're fine, there is no fine. :)

FOR THOSE IN OTTAWA. I went to the RIV inspection site down near Manotick and for those driving Prius', (tkddad - I'm thinking of you), all you need to do is to turn on your lights and when the guy turns on the car he thinks that your DRL are auto-on (since they shut off when the car's turned off). I'll still install them just because I don't want my rear bulbs to burn out, but my form's already stamped. :)

[killbillvol1]

I kind of hesitate to even answer this as I think manufacturer employees monitor this forum. This is possible still, and yes that is the response that they give when you call asking for one.

Safe to say you can get a letter...and if nothing works contact me. I would make it a point of sale for the salesman...get me one or the deal is off.

Take care

The answer is simple - don't buy Honda.

[Tender]

If someone imports a vehicle from New York State, what would happen if they drive on the 407 when bringing it home?

Does NYS provide a temporary plate or is it just a sticker on the windshield?

If the 407 cameras catch a vehicle with no license plate will they send the cops out to pull the vehicle over?

And is there a fine for driving on the 407 with a temporary permit?

The temporary permit from NY is just a piece of paper stuck to the rear window of my car (they put license plate at the back?). I don't think that'll work for 407. I don't know what 407 will do if they see you like that though.

[michelb]

You're fine, there is no fine. :)

FOR THOSE IN OTTAWA. I went to the RIV inspection site down near Manotick and for those driving Prius', (tkddad - I'm thinking of you), all you need to do is to turn on your lights and when the guy turns on the car he thinks that your DRL are auto-on (since they shut off when the car's turned off). I'll still install them just because I don't want my rear bulbs to burn out, but my form's already stamped. :)

Or you can go to the CT on Ogilvie Road and, if it's the same guy I got, he'll just ask you if you have DRLs (the correct answer is 'Yes') but won't even bother checking ...

P.S. I'm actually a strong believer in DRLs so wouldn't suggest that you don't enable them (I actually drive with all my lights on all the time) (our Volvo has the same auto-on feature and I think it's been in the 'ON' position for about 8 years now).

[michelb]

The temporary permit from NY is just a piece of paper stuck to the rear window of my car (they put license plate at the back?). I don't think that'll work for 407. I don't know what 407 will do if they see you like that though.

How is that different than the temp permits Ontario gives out (which I believe you are actually suppose to place on the front windshield)? Are you saying you aren't allowed to drive on the 407 with an Ontario temp permit?

For what it's worth, I drove in Ontario for about 60 days with my 90 day AZ temp permit last summer (wasn't sure if I was going to keep the vehicle) and it was never a problem (I was stopped for speeding on one occasion and I'm sure I drive by or was passed by cops on several others).

[sb_tor]

How is that different than the temp permits Ontario gives out (which I believe you are actually suppose to place on the front windshield)? Are you saying you aren't allowed to drive on the 407 with an Ontario temp permit?

For what it's worth, I drove in Ontario for about 60 days with my 90 day AZ temp permit last summer (wasn't sure if I was going to keep the vehicle) and it was never a problem (I was stopped for speeding on one occasion and I'm sure I drive by or was passed by cops on several others).

the 407 automated toll system relies on taking a picture of the vehicle's rear plate. Then you get the bill at your home address. Alternatively, you need to have a transponder. If you have neither, you are travelling free. They could stop you, but I doubt it happens a lot.

[michelb]

the 407 automated toll system relies on taking a picture of the vehicle's rear plate. Then you get the bill at your home address. Alternatively, you need to have a transponder. If you have neither, you are travelling free. They could stop you, but I doubt it happens a lot.

Thanks for the info (not from Toronto so no idea they had such a thing).

I suspect you are right then and you could be stopped for travelling on the 407 with a temporary permit (actually in Ontario, they aren't even placed on the back of the car so they wouldn't be able to get it)

[03terminator]

Found something interesting in the the Mini JCW GP. The RIV list states that the 2005 is inadmissible, but they are 2006's. So, I find a few for sale, get my pennies ready and call BMW Canada for a letter. Nope, the RIV list is wrong 2006's are not allowed in. Damn.:mad:

[Monsieurmaggot]

Actually I believe it's illegal to drive on the 407 with a temporary permit. I recall reading somewhere that it's a $110 or so fine.

It's only intended for properly licensed vehicles.

Remember the road is privately owned by an overseas company who choose to impose any rule they like.

Recently they increased the toll rates (again).

If you don't have a transponder, you pay a video service fee as well as a service charge.

Try reading the 'net about the horror stories relating to 407ETRs billing. Some people received bills for vehicles that they didn't even own. The best part about this is that the Ontario government blindly wrote the law to protect the highway from the unpaying consumer but neglected to write any protection in for the consumer. Thanks to the goofy law and the private highway owner threatening a lawsuit if they tried, the consumers are faced with collection agencies, changes to their credit rating and the inability to renew their licence plates (without first paying the outstanding amount and penalties)

Interesting link:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/colle407/

http://www.407etr.com/Documents/Collections%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20-%20Final.pdf

It's one of the most expensive toll roads in the world and the most expensive in North America.

Not bad for a road that was paid by taxpayer money.

[tleblanc]

Well I just successfully imported a new volvo early this morning.

The process was pretty painless... and one of the best things is that volvo (as of yet) does not charge anything for the recall letter or the letter of admissibility (and they are very polite to deal with :>)

Had some issue on the US side with my MSO (Figured they would have know what that was considering the number of exports).. It all worked out.

If anyone is looking for a volvo from a very reputable dealer just pm me and I will give you the details.

Thanks for all who contributed to this thread for the in-valuable information to save lots of $$$
Cheers

[Full Rated]

Hello Everyone,

I first like to thank Monsieurmaggot for starting this forum!!! I have been following it for quite sometime, learning lots along the way:) . I have decided to "buck up" and pursue my goal of buying a new 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 in the US. I think that I have done my research and have my "ducks" in a row (thanks to everyone here), but I am having a hard time finding a dealer willing to sell to me. I realise that this is my first time posting and I understand it might be to bold of me to ask for specifics about a dealer willing to work with a Canadian (in a state that is "tax friendly"), but if anyone has some insight that they would like to share it would be much appreciated:) .

Thanks in advance!!

[angel_wing0]

there is actually a dealer in montreal that are selling us cars, yes they do earn some money off on u likely, but u can skip almost everything and get a very good price still compare to buying canadian. PM me if if you want to know what the dealer is.

[Marzipan]

Hello Everyone,

I first like to thank Monsieurmaggot for starting this forum!!! I have been following it for quite sometime, learning lots along the way:) . I have decided to "buck up" and pursue my goal of buying a new 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 in the US. I think that I have done my research and have my "ducks" in a row (thanks to everyone here), but I am having a hard time finding a dealer willing to sell to me. I realise that this is my first time posting and I understand it might be to bold of me to ask for specifics about a dealer willing to work with a Canadian (in a state that is "tax friendly"), but if anyone has some insight that they would like to share it would be much appreciated:) .

Thanks in advance!!

Well I just searched www.cars.com for USED GMC Sierra and found 38 within 500 miles of Boise, ID with fewer than 5,000 miles. Now these are 1500, 2500 and 3500s and 2006, 2007 and 2008s. But why not give it a check out. Most are GM certified and sell for way less ... way, way less than the posted cars.com price. More ducks to line up before pulling the trigger.

[stephenstay]

Hello Everyone,

I first like to thank Monsieurmaggot for starting this forum!!! I have been following it for quite sometime, learning lots along the way:) . I have decided to "buck up" and pursue my goal of buying a new 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 in the US. I think that I have done my research and have my "ducks" in a row (thanks to everyone here), but I am having a hard time finding a dealer willing to sell to me. I realise that this is my first time posting and I understand it might be to bold of me to ask for specifics about a dealer willing to work with a Canadian (in a state that is "tax friendly"), but if anyone has some insight that they would like to share it would be much appreciated:) .

Thanks in advance!!

I agree with Marzipan in that you might want to consider lightly used. That's what I did. You'll save a lot. Another consideration is the warranty. If the car is brand new (or the warranty has been registered less than six months ie: a used car that is only a couple of months old) your warranty will not kick in for six months. Sounds a bit confusing but it isn't that bad :)

[dreadknot69]

I hate to jump in like this, and I realize this discussion is about cars, but.....could someone kindly point me to some information regarding importing recreational trailers and RVs? Boats? Now that summer is rolling around and with the strength of the dollar, I suspect there are some good deals to be had somewhere.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[CheapScotsman]

I hate to jump in like this, and I realize this discussion is about cars, but.....could someone kindly point me to some information regarding importing recreational trailers and RVs? Boats? Now that summer is rolling around and with the strength of the dollar, I suspect there are some good deals to be had somewhere.

Thanks in advance for any help.The admissibility list on www.riv.ca covers Motorhomes (sec 5.1, 5.2) and trailers (Section 11).

There is nothing in the docs on boats so I would gather they don't fall under the same category (vehicle import) as cars, etc. You could PM Kamloops as I am pretty sure he brought one it and/or phone riv for more info.

[michelb]

I hate to jump in like this, and I realize this discussion is about cars, but.....could someone kindly point me to some information regarding importing recreational trailers and RVs? Boats? Now that summer is rolling around and with the strength of the dollar, I suspect there are some good deals to be had somewhere.

Thanks in advance for any help.

The admissibility list on www.riv.ca covers Motorhomes (sec 5.1, 5.2) and trailers (Section 11).

There is nothing in the docs on boats so I would gather they don't fall under the same category (vehicle import) as cars, etc. You could PM Kamloops as I am pretty sure he brought one it and/or phone riv for more info.

Boats don't need to go through the import process but the trailer does so one thing you want to do is get a detailed receipt that clearly shows the value of the trailer. The boat itself is just like any other good you'd buy in the US so you'll have to pay taxes on it but that's all you do.

[MasterXan]

Well I just successfully imported a new volvo early this morning.

The process was pretty painless... and one of the best things is that volvo (as of yet) does not charge anything for the recall letter or the letter of admissibility (and they are very polite to deal with :>)

Had some issue on the US side with my MSO (Figured they would have know what that was considering the number of exports).. It all worked out.

If anyone is looking for a volvo from a very reputable dealer just pm me and I will give you the details.

Thanks for all who contributed to this thread for the in-valuable information to save lots of $$$
Cheers

did Volvo charge you for any modifications?

[tleblanc]

did Volvo charge you for any modifications?

I have to bring it on Monday, as far as I know there are no modifications required (S60) so I should only have to pay for the volvo inspection (~$90)

Will update on Monday !

[ottawa_hull]

I have to bring it on Monday, as far as I know there are no modifications required (S60) so I should only have to pay for the volvo inspection (~$90)

Will update on Monday !

I thought that someone had reported that the inspection fee was $1900. Hope it is not for your own sake.

[Shaun091382]

Hello all I've imported my pickup truck last nov from NY so I'm familiar with the process , however I just have no free time right now to do some running around. I am looking for someone in the Sarnia area that for a fee would be willing to import a motorcycle from Michigan for me? If anyone can possibly help please send me a message

Thank you!

[Marzipan]

I agree with Marzipan in that you might want to consider lightly used. That's what I did. You'll save a lot. Another consideration is the warranty. If the car is brand new (or the warranty has been registered less than six months ie: a used car that is only a couple of months old) your warranty will not kick in for six months. Sounds a bit confusing but it isn't that bad :)

I have never worked out the GM warranty after importing. It is either no coverage until six months AND 12,000 km has been added under your ownership or it is six months OR 12,000 km.

Get from the US stealer the start date of the used vehicle warranty. Make the remaining life part of your evaluation. The GM Certified tacks on three months at the end of the standard warranty.

To the point about overstated prices on www.cars.com - these are perhaps prices submitted when the vehicle was listed months earlier. The stealers bring their asking prices down as the months tick by.

One car I am interested in is posted at $19,999 on cars.com but at the stealer's web site they are asking $16,999.

Anther car I am interested in is posted at $17,999 on cars.com but at the stealer's web site they are asking $14,999.

On the first car I offered $16,000 plus their excessive "document fees" of $220. (Make sure you know what they charge for their document fee and trip permit before dealing.) The salesman said "not likely" but he will ask his manager who was in a meeting. A few minutes later he called back saying the manager had unexpectedly left the meeting early and they could not go any lower so I thanked him and suggested something else might turn up.

Next morning, the phone rang - they would go half way at $16,500. I should have said "no" but I agreed. So my point is, check other car searches and the stealer's web site then offer lower and have other options to turn to.

If you are still reading .... my deal fell through because four days later the finance department finally gave me their bank account particulars but the CAD had dropped 3 cents. I asked for more time by giving them a non-refundable credit card deposit to secure the deal.

A day later the salesman's manager said they had turned down two offers to buy that vehicle in the meantime and that if not paid in full by next business day they would not hold it. That was his bad mistake because I said I would release him from the deal to free him to pursue the other prospects.

Guess what? Two weeks later, the car is still for sale. I intend to go back with a lower offer if the dollar recovers.

So, be forewarned. This is about making money and saving money. Be polite but firm. Never say "yes" on the phone. Tell them you will check with your manager - your spouse.

[tleblanc]

I thought that someone had reported that the inspection fee was $1900. Hope it is not for your own sake.

Could be for some models...

But for me I was told twice it's about 1.5 hours of labor - ~$90, to me it's more of a formality so Volvo honors my warranty, this has no impact on the import process as far as RIV and transport Canada are concerned it meets all their safety/emission requirements.

The only way you would get charged more is if you needed to do modifications as stipulated on the volvo website, the S60 and XC90 or the only model (07/08) that have dual speedometer readings, so if volvo is making people replace these cluster on the other model (S80/S30/S40/Vseries) .. like BMW is doing on the 3 series then it may cost $1900 but I have the letter from Volvo North America which states that this volvo meets all Canadian Safety and emissions, it has DRL as a standard feature on all North American cars (at least the S60). Even the service manager at the Volvo dealer here said there was no modification required. Personally. I think some of the mods are just another way for them (Mercedes/BMW etc) to discourage people from importing their vehicles.

We will see Monday.

[stephenstay]

I have never worked out the GM warranty after importing. It is either no coverage until six months AND 12,000 km has been added under your ownership or it is six months OR 12,000 km.

Get from the US stealer the start date of the used vehicle warranty. Make the remaining life part of your evaluation. The GM Certified tacks on three months at the end of the standard warranty.

<snip>


I called GM Canada on this subject when I imported my car. The six months has to do with the warranty start date.
"The owner of a new GM car imported from the U.S. must wait until the car is 6 months old before registering the warranty."
My local dealer told me I had to wait six months before claiming any warranty service but after I told them that I had called about the policy and I gave them a contact name and number there was no problem.

[Shaun091382]

Can anyone confirm the actual hours of the vehicle export at the Port Huron/Sarnia port of entry? I have read both 8-4 weekdays only and also now 24/7? The CBP website isnt helpful with this information. I've put down the information directly from the CBP Customs website, so if someone could give me more information on this it would be appreciated!

Port Of Entry-Port Huron
Port Information
Port Code: 3802
Location Address: 526 Water Street - Room 301
Port Huron, MI 48060-5471
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (810) 985-7125
General Fax: (810) 985-3516
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Port of Entry is any designated place at which a CBP officer is authorized to accept entries of merchandise to collect duties, and to enforce the various provisions of the customs and navigation laws (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List

Facilities And Crossings

Name: Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron
Phone: (810) 985-9541
Fax: (810) 985-6070
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Service Port-Detroit
Port Information
Port Code: 3801
Location Address: 477 Michigan Ave
Room 210
Detroit, MI 48226
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (313) 442-0368
General Fax: (313) 226-3179
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Service Port is a CBP location that has a full range of cargo processing functions, including inspections, entry, collections, and verification (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List


Facilities And Crossings
Name: Ambassador Bridge Passenger Facility
Phone: (313) 226-3141
Fax: (313) 226-3140
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Name: Detroit-Windsor Tunnel
Phone: (313) 393-3793
Fax: (313) 226-2193
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

[atorontoguy]

My friend was trying to purchase a Toyota Sienna from a Toyota dealer in Massachusetts, but the dealer insists that he has to pay MA tax, even though it is an out of state purchase. Is there any way to prove to the dealer that he was wrong? Thanks.

[JugaJatt]

hey all,

As the prices are low in us for buying used cars and im interested in buying a EVO 2004-2005 model from there. My question is is it allowed in Canada? If they are why not? and if i can make some changes to car what would they be so i can bring to Canada. Thanks for your input in advance.

[michelb]

My friend was trying to purchase a Toyota Sienna from a Toyota dealer in Massachusetts, but the dealer insists that he has to pay MA tax, even though it is an out of state purchase. Is there any way to prove to the dealer that he was wrong? Thanks.

I believe MA is one of the states that ALWAYS charge tax (FL and CA appear to charge tax to non-residents if you are picking up (no taxes if it's shipped out of state)).

[tleblanc]

Can anyone confirm the actual hours of the vehicle export at the Port Huron/Sarnia port of entry? I have read both 8-4 weekdays only and also now 24/7? The CBP website isnt helpful with this information. I've put down the information directly from the CBP Customs website, so if someone could give me more information on this it would be appreciated!

Port Of Entry-Port Huron
Port Information
Port Code: 3802
Location Address: 526 Water Street - Room 301
Port Huron, MI 48060-5471
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (810) 985-7125
General Fax: (810) 985-3516
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Port of Entry is any designated place at which a CBP officer is authorized to accept entries of merchandise to collect duties, and to enforce the various provisions of the customs and navigation laws (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List

Facilities And Crossings

Name: Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron
Phone: (810) 985-9541
Fax: (810) 985-6070
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Service Port-Detroit
Port Information
Port Code: 3801
Location Address: 477 Michigan Ave
Room 210
Detroit, MI 48226
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (313) 442-0368
General Fax: (313) 226-3179
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Service Port is a CBP location that has a full range of cargo processing functions, including inspections, entry, collections, and verification (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List


Facilities And Crossings
Name: Ambassador Bridge Passenger Facility
Phone: (313) 226-3141
Fax: (313) 226-3140
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Name: Detroit-Windsor Tunnel
Phone: (313) 393-3793
Fax: (313) 226-2193
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)


Port Huron is a 24 hour 7 day crossing.

I crossed Friday morning around 3am, make sure you bring a printout of the fact that the MSO (Manufacture Statement of Origin - If it's a new car) is all that is needed for US customs to stamp. It took me an extra 30 minutes to explain that I did not have a "title certificate" as it was never titled in the USA. They had no idea what an MSO was ... and were not going to let me export it... until I had them check their own website where it states that an MSO is all that is required for a new car export to Canada.

You also need to go to the bridge crossing and park on the side just before the toll booths ... US customs office is on the left side. Park the car on the left side shoulder and go into the office.

Good luck

[sienna owner]

Just helped a co-worker import a new 8-seat Sienna!!! woot woot
painless yet again, and obviously well worth it.

And because I ended up going with them, they paid me...I felt like a personal broker...lol

[sienna owner]

Can anyone confirm the actual hours of the vehicle export at the Port Huron/Sarnia port of entry? I have read both 8-4 weekdays only and also now 24/7? The CBP website isnt helpful with this information. I've put down the information directly from the CBP Customs website, so if someone could give me more information on this it would be appreciated!

Port Of Entry-Port Huron
Port Information
Port Code: 3802
Location Address: 526 Water Street - Room 301
Port Huron, MI 48060-5471
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (810) 985-7125
General Fax: (810) 985-3516
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Port of Entry is any designated place at which a CBP officer is authorized to accept entries of merchandise to collect duties, and to enforce the various provisions of the customs and navigation laws (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List

Facilities And Crossings

Name: Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron
Phone: (810) 985-9541
Fax: (810) 985-6070
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Service Port-Detroit
Port Information
Port Code: 3801
Location Address: 477 Michigan Ave
Room 210
Detroit, MI 48226
Mailing Address: Same As Above
General Phone: (313) 442-0368
General Fax: (313) 226-3179
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Service Port is a CBP location that has a full range of cargo processing functions, including inspections, entry, collections, and verification (19 CFR 101.1).
Brokers : View List


Facilities And Crossings
Name: Ambassador Bridge Passenger Facility
Phone: (313) 226-3141
Fax: (313) 226-3140
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)

Name: Detroit-Windsor Tunnel
Phone: (313) 393-3793
Fax: (313) 226-2193
Operational Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day
Seven Days A Week (7)


you have the numbers...so why dn't you call??
you may also want to get their address...for example for the Ambassador Bridge..you have to go to the Cargo facility which is on Fort St......did another Sienna yesterday...only ONE person in front...no livestock or other big rig transport truck people going thru...saturday was faster then when i imported my sienna in jan and in-laws buick in feb...both on wednesday...

[ziploc]

hey all,

As the prices are low in us for buying used cars and im interested in buying a EVO 2004-2005 model from there. My question is is it allowed in Canada? If they are why not? and if i can make some changes to car what would they be so i can bring to Canada. Thanks for your input in advance.

safety regulations, bumper issue.....
You can't register those cars in Canada..

[JugaJatt]

safety regulations, bumper issue.....
You can't register those cars in Canada..


Not even if i get the bumper replaced?

[michelb]

Not even if i get the bumper replaced?

Nope. 2003 TO 2008 Lancer Evolution are marked as 'INADMISSABLE' on RIV list so cannot be licensed for use on roads in Canada.

[Shaun091382]

It was taking too long to get through via phone...plus I wanted actual accounts of people doing so...I hear alot of Detroit but nothing about Sarnia I am closer to there. I am looking at bringing across a used private sale on a motorcycle. Just need to look into some arrangements.

Shaun



you have the numbers...so why dn't you call??
you may also want to get their address...for example for the Ambassador Bridge..you have to go to the Cargo facility which is on Fort St......did another Sienna yesterday...only ONE person in front...no livestock or other big rig transport truck people going thru...saturday was faster then when i imported my sienna in jan and in-laws buick in feb...both on wednesday...

[giasone]

Does anyone know a Canadian friendly Toyota dealship in Ohio, if you could PM me the dealership, I would appreciate it.

Thanks-you.

[growler]

Searching the thread, Quebec seems to offer a credit on both domestically bought and imported hybrid vehicle.

For those that have imported a new hybrid vehicle from the US into British Columbia, we're you allowed to credit/deduct up to $2000 of the PST (tax reduction for alternative fuel vehicles) when you imported your vehicle?

For a new similar configured (at least what I can see) Toyota Camry Hyrbrid:
BC - After Federal EcoRebate and $2K PST reduction. Total price $38437.

US - Imported, No EcoRebate and no $2K PST reduction. $36300.

for a $2000 difference, I might just purchase it here in Vancouver...for a $4000 difference, I would purchase it in the US.

[beingor]

Does anyone know of a US Lexus dealer who will sell a new IS 250 AWD to Canadians? Preferably close the the Queenston Lewiston Bridge. Thanks for the help!

[HP_John]

Does anyone know of a US Lexus dealer who will sell a new IS 250 AWD to Canadians? Preferably close the the Queenston Lewiston Bridge. Thanks for the help!

Lexus Canada recently lowered prices + they're giving $500 rebates (cash or finance/lease). I checked the sites & the MSRP difference is less than $3500. In Canada you get the $500 rebate + 3.2% financing/lease + not paying 6.1% duty. I'm pretty sure the difference is almost nothing.

[michelb]

Lexus Canada recently lowered prices + they're giving $500 rebates (cash or finance/lease). I checked the sites & the MSRP difference is less than $3500. In Canada you get the $500 rebate + 3.2% financing/lease + not paying 6.1% duty. I'm pretty sure the difference is almost nothing.

Make sure you are comparing the same trim / options. I remember hearing that after the price adjustment, the base IS250 in Canada didn't come in with leather while the base one in the US did ... Also you have to consider what you can get it for 'out-the-door' (I think with Lexus in Canada, you pretty much pay MSRP. I suspect in the US, you have a lot more negotiating power. And don't forget to consider freight and any optional equipment (which are often significantly more in Canada).

[HacheyImports]

My friend was trying to purchase a Toyota Sienna from a Toyota dealer in Massachusetts, but the dealer insists that he has to pay MA tax, even though it is an out of state purchase. Is there any way to prove to the dealer that he was wrong? Thanks.

Do not let the "tires hit the road" and taxes can be avoided, as long as it is registered in a state that does not charge tax on vehicle purchases.

Take care

[HacheyImports]

Does anyone know of a US Lexus dealer who will sell a new IS 250 AWD to Canadians? Preferably close the the Queenston Lewiston Bridge. Thanks for the help!

If anyone does please pm the name, but I haven't been able to find one for my customers anywhere in the north. Or in the south at this point either.

Do NOT trust a salesman who says he can until you have it in writing. Lots of them out there desperate for a sale, and not knowledgeable about head office directives.

Take care

[freewheel]

Make sure you are comparing the same trim / options. I remember hearing that after the price adjustment, the base IS250 in Canada didn't come in with leather while the base one in the US did ... Also you have to consider what you can get it for 'out-the-door' (I think with Lexus in Canada, you pretty much pay MSRP. I suspect in the US, you have a lot more negotiating power. And don't forget to consider freight and any optional equipment (which are often significantly more in Canada).

True. When you compare similar trim levels and consider the added shipping costs I think the difference on this vehicle is still in the $8000 range.

Companies are trying harder and harder to blur the line and fool you into thinking prices are approaching parity. They are NOT.

[HacheyImports]

I had the most interesting talk with a salesman today. No need to get into names or locations, but he was very very concerned that I was looking to import the 2007 R350 I wanted and was worried about selling to me. I was suprised until he said he gets 10 calls a week from brokers looking to send the cars..to the Eastern Bloc!

If you think the prices are drastically different in Canada/USA, they are 100% marked up in some areas of Europe. He warned me that I could expect zero flexibility on MSRP as they had to protect themselves from potential fines from MB head office.

Believe me I won't be involved in a MSRP limit sale and we worked a good number eventually, but still and all it was an eye opener to me.

Every day things change in this business.

Take care

[Danno2005]

If anyone does please pm the name, but I haven't been able to find one for my customers anywhere in the north. Or in the south at this point either.

Do NOT trust a salesman who says he can until you have it in writing. Lots of them out there desperate for a sale, and not knowledgeable about head office directives.

Take care

http://www.lupientinfiniti.com/MiscPage_13?siteMapItemName=1675101188067430154&gclid=CLHv3-7iyo8CFQ1kWAodcnww8w

[angel_wing0]

http://www.lupientinfiniti.com/MiscPage_13?siteMapItemName=1675101188067430154&gclid=CLHv3-7iyo8CFQ1kWAodcnww8w

any nissan dealers pls? :)

[ahsalloum]

This is a huge thread! I can't go through the whole thing, so I have a question that I would appreciate your input on, guys. :o

Approx. how much cheaper is it to import a Honda Civic here than to buy it from a local dealer? Thanks! :)

[CheapScotsman]

This is a huge thread! I can't go through the whole thing, so I have a question that I would appreciate your input on, guys. :o

Approx. how much cheaper is it to import a Honda Civic here than to buy it from a local dealer? Thanks! :)which trim level? which options? Sorry but you really should do some work yourself ...

Do a build and compare at www.honda.ca versus www.honda.com

Note that
a) Honda dealers in the US won't sell new to Canadians so you either have to have a US friend; go through a broker or buy used.
b) Honda won't honor the warranty once a US car is imported into Canada.

www.carburner.com has each "issue" wrt importing pretty well summarized. Check it out if you want more info

[atorontoguy]

Do not let the "tires hit the road" and taxes can be avoided, as long as it is registered in a state that does not charge tax on vehicle purchases.

Take care

The dealer in MA insists that they have to charge sales tax, even though my friend is going to register in a state that does not charge tax. Is there anything in the MA DMV which states that they will not charge sales tax for out of state purchase?

[hotgo]

I crossed Friday morning around 3am, make sure you bring a printout of the fact that the MSO (Manufacture Statement of Origin - If it's a new car) is all that is needed for US customs to stamp. It took me an extra 30 minutes to explain that I did not have a "title certificate" as it was never titled in the USA. They had no idea what an MSO was ... and were not going to let me export it... until I had them check their own website where it states that an MSO is all that is required for a new car export to Canada.

Where on their website is this stated... I looked but had a hard time finding it. Thanks!

Will be crossing there next week, and getting everything prepared.

[tleblanc]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

For Untitled Vehicles

Newly manufactured vehicles, issued a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (SO). For newly manufactured, self-propelled vehicles that are purchased from a U.S. manufacturer, distributor, or dealer that become used (see section 4.1) and are issued an SO, but not issued a certificate of title by any jurisdiction of the United States, the owner must provide to Customs at the time and place specified in this section, an original SO and two complete copies of the original SO.

Cheers

[MasterXan]

just wondering, are there NO dealers, for any make, in NY or Michigan that would sell new to Canadians? it seems people are heading further south now to get cars new.

[wackojacko]

just wondering, are there NO dealers, for any make, in NY or Michigan that would sell new to Canadians? it seems people are heading further south now to get cars new.

Subaru - You should be able to buy from any Subaru dealer for Invoice. They won't give Canadians the rebates but they still make money at Invoice price. For sure Van Bortel will sell at or near Invoice.

[inspire]

^ Infiniti / Nissan should still be selling 'new' to Canadians in Michigan...

[michelb]

That is correct. Don't buy a mini or a BMW. There are lots of other good cars out there that are easier to import. Whatever you buy, do your homework so you can avoid surprises.

FYI, I was at the Prescott, ON border this morning and they were talking about some guy who was trying to import a mini. They said that the quote he got was $4100 of parts/labour required to get BMW compliance letter (I believe they were saying he would be importing the vehicle 'for parts only' (which seems crazy to me ...) because he didn't want to spend that.

[NerV]

Hey guys! I was doing a research on Subaru and I've talked to some mechanics that I know. They told me that these are great cars, but there are problems with the engine. As soon as it hits 200k km, it starts to fail and behave unexpectedly. Has anyone of you encountered anything like that?

Thanks.

[sam_ma]

there is actually a dealer in montreal that are selling us cars, yes they do earn some money off on u likely, but u can skip almost everything and get a very good price still compare to buying canadian. PM me if if you want to know what the dealer is.

New or used? Which makes?
Thanks

[cordarone]

The dealer in MA insists that they have to charge sales tax, even though my friend is going to register in a state that does not charge tax. Is there anything in the MA DMV which states that they will not charge sales tax for out of state purchase?

The catch in avoiding the tax is to have the car delivered out-of-state (p.13 of the Mass. Sales & Use Tax guide (http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dor/Publ/PDFS/sales_use_07.pdf)):
Sales where the purchaser accepts title to and possession of an item outside Massachusetts generally are exempt. Similarly, if a vendor is obligated to deliver to an out-of-state purchaser’s address or to an interstate common carrier for such a delivery, the sale is not taxable in Massachusetts.

Otherwise, purchases by nonresidents will still incur the sales tax (p.10):

The purchaser of a motor vehicle or
trailer that is not required to be registered in Massachusetts, including motor vehicles and trailers that are purchased in Massachusetts by nonresidents who will register or title the motor vehicle or trailer outside
of Massachusetts, must file Form ST-7R, Certificate of Payment of Sales or Use Tax, and pay the sales tax in full...

[Monsieurmaggot]

Hey guys! I was doing a research on Subaru and I've talked to some mechanics that I know. They told me that these are great cars, but there are problems with the engine. As soon as it hits 200k km, it starts to fail and behave unexpectedly. Has anyone of you encountered anything like that?

Thanks.

Some of the older model Subarus has head gasket failures caused when people didn't replace the coolant properly. An air gap was left in the head gasket that essentially cooked the gaskets and caused engine destruction (type "head gasket failure Subaru" in Google).

I have a relative who owns his own repair shop who told me the boxer engines are among the best on the planet.

Other than that, according to sites on the web, since Subarus use boxer engine technology, they run considerably more smoother than inline or "V" engines. A very HIGH percentage of boxer engine units exceed 500,000 Kms.

Depends on who you listen to...

[NerV]

It makes sense. When I was talking to mechanics I didn't specify that I'm considering a newer version of Subaru (which has a boxer engine).

[fl4wless]

Well i drove my cx-7 over the boarder last night, just need to wait for form2 and get it inspected and plated.

Incase anyone is interested in importing a cx-7, here is what i paid and i think the savings make it easily worth it...so far its been very hassle free.

Vehicle: 2008 CX-7 AWD Grand Touring w/ lux package 1MC (moonroof, bose stereo, etc) Mileage: 5500

So far my costs:

Vehicle: 22995 USD = 22900 CAD (i bought my usd at a good time, price includes document/title/temp tags)
Riv: 204.95
GST: 1165.46
Duty: 1421.86
Excise Tax: 100.00
Sask 7day insurance: $11

Gas/Hotel costs for drive back: ~500

Costs still required:
- inspection
- mods (DRL= ~$100 and Child Safety Seat Anchor =~$10)
- PST (5% in sask... ~1165.xx)

I hope to get the last few steps taken car of by the end of the week, but basically, this vehicle will have cost me 28000 after all taxes, fees. Cost brand new in canada was just under 40k + taxes. I know mine isnt brand new, so my savings cant be compared against that, but i coudlnt find a slightly used vehicle here to compare to, regardless i think i did pretty well.

[MasterXan]

Could be for some models...

But for me I was told twice it's about 1.5 hours of labor - ~$90, to me it's more of a formality so Volvo honors my warranty, this has no impact on the import process as far as RIV and transport Canada are concerned it meets all their safety/emission requirements.

The only way you would get charged more is if you needed to do modifications as stipulated on the volvo website, the S60 and XC90 or the only model (07/08) that have dual speedometer readings, so if volvo is making people replace these cluster on the other model (S80/S30/S40/Vseries) .. like BMW is doing on the 3 series then it may cost $1900 but I have the letter from Volvo North America which states that this volvo meets all Canadian Safety and emissions, it has DRL as a standard feature on all North American cars (at least the S60). Even the service manager at the Volvo dealer here said there was no modification required. Personally. I think some of the mods are just another way for them (Mercedes/BMW etc) to discourage people from importing their vehicles.

We will see Monday.

hey theblanc. have you done your modifications yet? or rather, were there any?

:D

[michelb]

FYI, for anyone planning on getting a trip permit from Ontario, I found out (the hard way) today that you must get it within 6 days of your date of purchase. If you are having a vehicle shipped, try to get the dealer to post-date the bill of sale (or better yet, leave it blank). (In my case, I bought the vehicle about 2 weeks ago and figured I'd get an ON trip permit when it got delivered)

This probably doesn't affect too many but thought I'd mention it.

[tleblanc]

hey theblanc. have you done your modifications yet? or rather, were there any?

:D

Here's the update... brought it to the Volvo dealer this morning, very courteous and polite at service, I was given shuttle service there and back...

It ended up costing a total of ~ $270, I was originally told it would be 1 hour of work at $94, but it turns out that is for just a regular Volvo inspection the import inspection is a 2.5 hour job ? They check everything.. go through a list a mile long of items and give you a safety, a letter and the list of items checked over.. which I don't really need to get my plates ... There were NO modifications required at all (DRL is standard on all Volvo's). I am very happy with the whole process and would do it all over again (and just might ;>) ! It may have cost a bit extra with the Volvo inspection but at least they actually do some work for it (compared with BMW etc that are charging a lot for two pieces of paper) LOL

Cheers

[ahsalloum]

which trim level? which options? Sorry but you really should do some work yourself ...

Do a build and compare at www.honda.ca versus www.honda.com

Note that
a) Honda dealers in the US won't sell new to Canadians so you either have to have a US friend; go through a broker or buy used.
b) Honda won't honor the warranty once a US car is imported into Canada.

www.carburner.com has each "issue" wrt importing pretty well summarized. Check it out if you want more info

Thanks a lot for the help, buddy. Much appreciated. I will do my research and maybe get back.

[djs5916]

Thanks to all who helped me to successfully import my Honda from the US. It was great to get support from many who contribute here on the RFD forums.

Just a little help for those who are considering importing Honda vehicles:

It is correct to say that Honda will not honour the warranties of US imported vehicles, although there is at least one class-action lawsuit pending which might make a difference, but don't count on it yet - anyway, Hondas are generally regarded as very reliable vehicles, and the across border savings should be adequate enough for even larger issues. We saved c. $10,000- on our SUV even if the current Canadian dealer rebate is factored in. The only other issues with our vehicle are that the larger numbers on the speedo are in Miles per Hour and the odometer also registers in miles. If you can live with that then the only extra work required was a daytime running light (DRL) relay, which can get done at Canadian Tire when you are getting the Federal (and possibly Provincial) inspections done.

Dealing with RIV is now much easier, due to the availability of email, which allows for quicker communications, especially in obtaining your Form2. You can either email or fax your completed Form1 to info@riv.ca or 1-888-346-8235. Recall letter should go to recall@riv.ca or 1-888-642-9899. Make sure to include your VIN# and Case# (top right on Form1 - it's the large form identifier starting with a "J"). Remember to pay RIV first though! If you really want to ensure fast turnaround then email AND fax your documents to their respective locations and make sure to ask in your email or fax cover sheet that your Form2 be emailed to your email address. Once you have your Form2 you can get your vehicle inspected. If you are scanning your original documents then RIV has recommended that you keep the JPG scans small enough - certainly below 1 Megabyte in size - you should also scan the legal sized Form1 document into 2 approximate halves. You can convert and send in PDF format too.

As far as RIV requirements for Honda Recall Letters, I found a RIV document that appeared to confirm that a Honda Ownerlink printout would suffice: http://www.riv.ca/english/Recall_Contacts_on_RIV.pdf
Logon to the Honda Ownerlink and obtain a printout from the "Recalls" link:
https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?page=%2Fprod%5Fhome%2Easp

You should then write down legibly on the printed ownerlink page your VIN# and your RIV Case number (from Form1 - as defined above). This should make it easy for RIV to match and validate recall information. You shouldn't need anything else, unless of course Honda attempts to thwart this process too!

Hopefully this will make others jobs easier and expedite more US imports. I hope manufacturers will wake up someday and start treating all NAFTA consumers as fairly as they have been receiving benefits under NAFTA.

Regards
Dirk

[hotgo]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

For Untitled Vehicles

Newly manufactured vehicles, issued a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (SO). For newly manufactured, self-propelled vehicles that are purchased from a U.S. manufacturer, distributor, or dealer that become used (see section 4.1) and are issued an SO, but not issued a certificate of title by any jurisdiction of the United States, the owner must provide to Customs at the time and place specified in this section, an original SO and two complete copies of the original SO.

Cheers

Mucho thanks!

[cinqhoda]

hey all,

As the prices are low in us for buying used cars and im interested in buying a EVO 2004-2005 model from there. My question is is it allowed in Canada? If they are why not? and if i can make some changes to car what would they be so i can bring to Canada. Thanks for your input in advance.

As was said before it is bumper regulations. Specifically, I heard this second hand, it is the turbo intercooler which is located right behind the bumper that causes the problem. I believe part of the Canadian bumper regulation stipulates a "cost to repair" from the 8 km/hr impact. The intercooler damage contributes to an increased cost to repair.

This is what I have heard, if anyone can confirm/correct this, please respond.

[Coolers]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

[michelb]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

IMO, they are both bogus. Did you have your FORM1 and MSO or title with you? I believe that's your temporary registration. As far as the out-of-state temp plates, I believe they are valid (I was stopped an had no problems with an AZ one).

I would call OPP and/or MTO and ask them - just tell them that you are purchasing a vehicle in the US so will be getting a temporary plate from XX and ask them if you are allowed to drive the vehicle back to Ontario with it. Unfortunately, you are out-of-luck as far as the towing charge (I guess you could sue the OPP but that's probably your only option).

Neither carry demerit points (not driving-related offences).

[bpp]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

I confirmed with the MTO that as long as you have a valid temporary plate from the US along with Form 1, you are able to drive the car in Ontario.

[Monsieurmaggot]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

I think those are all bogus charges. It does explain a lot if it happened yesterday. The guy got two tickets to help him with the monthly "quota" (I have it on good authority there IS in fact a quota). You should keep FORM1 with you at all times until the car is registered.

I would call the OPP and have the charges withdrawn. Alternately, you can go to court and fight it.


Another possibility is that he is related to someone at BMW/Audi. They're taking a beating from all the cross-border shopping!

[jnmontario]

IMO, they are both bogus. Did you have your FORM1 and MSO or title with you? I believe that's your temporary registration. As far as the out-of-state temp plates, I believe they are valid (I was stopped an had no problems with an AZ one).

Neither carry demerit points (not driving-related offences).

I asked a friend who is a cop about the temp-plate thing before I brought my car over he told me that it was fine as far as he knew. For what that's worth.

[ziploc]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

I've should be ok...
imagine U bought a car in Quebec and have QC transit....no good in ontario I doubt it..

Go to the OPP office see a supervisor and ask and explain POLITELY......
if check with registration authority and contest

[Coolers]

I think those are all bogus charges. It does explain a lot if it happened yesterday. The guy got two tickets to help him with the monthly "quota" (I have it on good authority there IS in fact a quota). You should keep FORM1 with you at all times until the car is registered.

I would call the OPP and have the charges withdrawn. Alternately, you can go to court and fight it.


Another possibility is that he is related to someone at BMW/Audi. They're taking a beating from all the cross-border shopping!

I've cross-posted this in the Motor Vehicles sub-forum. I didn't realize I never mentioned it here, but I had valid insurance for the car, and provided all paperwork for the vehicle upon demand (including title, bill of sale, Form 1, etc.) The officers' problem was not that it was missing, but that they weren't valid, which to my knowledge, is incorrect.

[ziploc]

I've cross-posted this in the Motor Vehicles sub-forum. I didn't realize I never mentioned it here, but I had valid insurance for the car, and provided all paperwork for the vehicle upon demand (including title, bill of sale, Form 1, etc.) The officers' problem was not that it was missing, but that they weren't valid, which to my knowledge, is incorrect.

Canadian plates are valid in US....it's the same in opposite...
should be the same for temp plates......
You had a valid other jurisdiction temp plate

don't let it go.....unless You're 100% prooved wrong


I was driving my car for 1 week on a michigan temp transit.....i went trough ontario..but i live in QC

[coolcoolfi]

I think those are all bogus charges. It does explain a lot if it happened yesterday. The guy got two tickets to help him with the monthly "quota" (I have it on good authority there IS in fact a quota). You should keep FORM1 with you at all times until the car is registered.

I would call the OPP and have the charges withdrawn. Alternately, you can go to court and fight it.


Another possibility is that he is related to someone at BMW/Audi. They're taking a beating from all the cross-border shopping!

Very good information, Monsieurmaggot.

[tleblanc]

Here's the update... brought it to the Volvo dealer this morning, very courteous and polite at service, I was given shuttle service there and back...

It ended up costing a total of ~ $270, I was originally told it would be 1 hour of work at $94, but it turns out that is for just a regular Volvo inspection the import inspection is a 2.5 hour job ? They check everything.. go through a list a mile long of items and give you a safety, a letter and the list of items checked over.. which I don't really need to get my plates ... There were NO modifications required at all (DRL is standard on all Volvo's). I am very happy with the whole process and would do it all over again (and just might ;>) ! It may have cost a bit extra with the Volvo inspection but at least they actually do some work for it (compared with BMW etc that are charging a lot for two pieces of paper) LOL

Cheers


Last update for me - Car has been successfully plated. Received the RIV form 2 via email, went to Canadian Tire for inspection - no issues - went to MTO and registered it and put the new plates on... oh ya .. and paid my PS too :<

Thanks again to all who helped with their experiences and information

Cheers

[Jin]

My understanding on the temp plate thing is that you are supposed to get a new temp permit "as soon as possible" after you enter BC this is also true in some states (such as Oregon).

If you happen to be driving through a state when the DMVs aren't open (say on weekends in most states) then you do not need new temp plates until it is possible to get one.

Most people don't know the rule, so you are okay to use an temp plate from different jurisdictions, but technically they are correct to give you a ticket if you have been driving around in BC without getting a BC permit.

[niceguy1234]

I've cross-posted this in the Motor Vehicles sub-forum. I didn't realize I never mentioned it here, but I had valid insurance for the car, and provided all paperwork for the vehicle upon demand (including title, bill of sale, Form 1, etc.) The officers' problem was not that it was missing, but that they weren't valid, which to my knowledge, is incorrect.

Dispute the tickets.

[bulgurc]

What does it say on the ticket as the reason?

[Coolers]

What does it say on the ticket as the reason?

As stated earlier, one was for driving without a license (vehicle, not me), and the other was for driving without proper registration.

[pulsar]

Most people don't know the rule, so you are okay to use an temp plate from different jurisdictions, but technically they are correct to give you a ticket if you have been driving around in BC without getting a BC permit.

Not sure how true this is as when I talked to ICBC on their general info line, they said a WA state temp permit was good to use in BC. I also confirmed with the autoplan agents ahead of time. No police officers stopped me when I drove 1200km throughout BC with my temp WA permit.

[michelb]

Last update for me - Car has been successfully plated. Received the RIV form 2 via email, went to Canadian Tire for inspection - no issues - went to MTO and registered it and put the new plates on... oh ya .. and paid my PS too :<

Thanks again to all who helped with their experiences and information

Cheers

Thanks for the info. I was curious about the Volvo process (we have a V70 and we were thinking of replacing it with an XC90 but I was a bit concerned about the import (and I ran out of patience trying to reach their customer service to inquire about it. Also decided to go with a Sienna since we wanted a 'true' 7 seater). I've always wanted to get a used C70 though so it's good to hear that they don't make you jump through hoops and fork over a fortune like BMW and Benz.

[Rossland]

I finally brought my new Audi TT back across the border today. I was pulled over on the highway by the OPP, and was given two tickets: one for driving without plates, and the other for driving without registration.

My vehicle has valid out-of-state temporary plates on it, but apparently they're no good here according to the OPP officer, and I require a 10-day permit from the MTO. Obviously my car cannot be registered until I bring it back, which explains ticket #2.

In addition to the two tickets, I required a flatbed tow truck to bring my car home since it cannot be driven (according to them). Bottom line, I'm out ~$300 for towing charges and have two tickets to my name.

Can someone tell me whether the officer was correct, and also whether these two tickets carry any sort of demerit points or are just a cash grab?

The cop is wrong! Canada has reciprocal agreements with other countries re licenses etc. If the car was legal in the state that issued the temp plate, it is legal here. Go to court and fight it. I'll bet the cop doesn't show up. He won't want to get chewed out by the judge.

[bulgurc]

I think you should give OPP a call before taking them to court. I doubt you will get the towing charges, though

[cookiemunster]

Does anyone know the procedures for importing a vehicle that has been titled recently in the US by it's Canadian snowbird owner?

My parents ran into car trouble while wintering in the US and bought a vehicle. They had to title and insure it in the US for the remainder of their visit.

Any and all info greatly appreciated!!

[michelb]

Does anyone know the procedures for importing a vehicle that has been titled recently in the US by it's Canadian snowbird owner?

My parents ran into car trouble while wintering in the US and bought a vehicle. They had to title and insure it in the US for the remainder of their visit.

Any and all info greatly appreciated!!

Makes no difference. Process is the same (except that they might get charged tax on the wholesale value in Canada).

The only difference would be if they had owned it long enough, they could qualify for a rebate on the PST/GST. I believe if they have owned the car for over 1 year and meet the requirements for 'returning resident', they can get a $10,000 exemption on the taxes when they import it (e.g. if 18 months ago they bought a new car that is now worth $25k and had it registered in the US until now, if they qualified as 'returning residents' (or something like that), they'd only have to pay taxes on $25k-10k = $15k).

[Raven_007]

Does anyone know the answer for the following question?

I currently do not have insurance as I sold my car ~6month ago and looking at importing the car from the States as one of the options.
None of the insurance companies I contacted here in Ontario (TD Meloche, Belair Direct, State Farm, broker who deals with many insurance companies) offer temporary insurance nor will they insure the car in US before I bring it to Ontario (since I do not currently have a policy with them).

If I buy 6 month insurance in US, will it be valid in Ontario for 6 month? (I will have to change the title from US to Canada, so that's probably not gonna work). I contacted State Farm USA, and they do not have temporary policies anymore, but waiting to hear back about 6 month policy.

Anyone knows any US insurance company that will provide temporary insurance for my case or if that is even possible to buy an insurance for a personal vehicle for non-alien?

Thanks.

P.S. I know that I have an option to ship the car (which might negate most of the savings since I am not looking for an expensive car) or to call a Canadian insurance company and just give them VIN# and hope there will be no problems (don't really do that).

[Chip_Douglas]

I am looking for a new 2008 GMC Sierra Durmax Diesel and am wondering if anyone had a good experience with a US Dealership that is willing to sell to Canadians?

[HP_John]

P.S. I know that I have an option to ship the car (which might negate most of the savings since I am not looking for an expensive car) or to call a Canadian insurance company and just give them VIN# and hope there will be no problems (don't really do that).

I don't know about the insurance part but the shipping to Canada can be costly. I shipped from Cali to Buffalo, $1100, but that same company, if I shipped from Cali to Toronto, would've been over $2000 (even though Buffalo & Toronto are nearby). The reason is, it's no longer "domestic" shipping, plus they're charging for having to do some paperwork to get it through the border.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Does anyone know the answer for the following question?

I currently do not have insurance as I sold my car ~6month ago and looking at importing the car from the States as one of the options.
None of the insurance companies I contacted here in Ontario (TD Meloche, Belair Direct, State Farm, broker who deals with many insurance companies) offer temporary insurance nor will they insure the car in US before I bring it to Ontario (since I do not currently have a policy with them).

If I buy 6 month insurance in US, will it be valid in Ontario for 6 month? (I will have to change the title from US to Canada, so that's probably not gonna work). I contacted State Farm USA, and they do not have temporary policies anymore, but waiting to hear back about 6 month policy.

Anyone knows any US insurance company that will provide temporary insurance for my case or if that is even possible to buy an insurance for a personal vehicle for non-alien?

Thanks.

P.S. I know that I have an option to ship the car (which might negate most of the savings since I am not looking for an expensive car) or to call a Canadian insurance company and just give them VIN# and hope there will be no problems (don't really do that).

As been said here time and time again, DO NOT ASK FOR TEMPORARY INSURANCE.. That's not what you're after. Tell your insurer you are buying a car for personal use. Temporary insurance is a completely different matter. It doesn't make any difference where the car comes from providing it's approved for use in Canada by Transport Canada (or RIV).

[DollarsToDonuts]

Just got the title faxed to me and it has 'REPOSSESSED' under the title. Is this still considered a clear title (no liens are showing) or more importantly, can this still be imported to Ontario. Getting closer...

[Coolers]

Just got the title faxed to me and it has 'REPOSSESSED' under the title. Is this still considered a clear title (no liens are showing) or more importantly, can this still be imported to Ontario. Getting closer...

You'll need to confirm with whoever has the title now, but it means several things:
1) Buyer purchased a vehicle and failed to keep up with payments
2) Creditor repossessed the vehicle and is probably the one selling it to regain some $
3) You're probably getting a good price on it :cheesygri

[michelb]

Just got the title faxed to me and it has 'REPOSSESSED' under the title. Is this still considered a clear title (no liens are showing) or more importantly, can this still be imported to Ontario. Getting closer...

I'm 99% sure that 'repossessed' is fine. I believe that some states issue a title with this when whoever is repo-ing the car (e.g. bank) needs to get a new title issued because they don't have the original one (e.g. the person they repo-ed the car from didn't want to give them the title back (and they likely took the car away with a tow-truck)).

It's not a "branding" like salvage/flood/etc (those you have to be more careful with).

[canadianguy_001]

Just got the title faxed to me and it has 'REPOSSESSED' under the title. Is this still considered a clear title (no liens are showing) or more importantly, can this still be imported to Ontario. Getting closer...
Nothing wrong with repo'd as long as it was never salvage, junk, flood or salvage-unrepairable your golden

[DollarsToDonuts]

Thanks for the helpful replies, and yes I think the price is excellent. 2007 Honda Accord coupe, EX-L, v6, even has factory tint and rear spoiler for $17,200. Hopefully heading down on Wed to drive it back. I'm already getting excited. Thanks all.

[l69norm]

...I would call the OPP and have the charges withdrawn. Alternately, you can go to court and fight it. ...!

I did some digging and it does look like some jurisdictions will not accept temporary trip permits issued by another jurisdiction.

Specifically, the State of Massachusetts will not accept temporary permits issued from some other jurisdictions. You can get ticketed in Massachusetts just as the OP did here.

I sent an email to the MTO for clarification.

[yenjay]

We are planning to import a used Toyota Sienna XLE (2005 model) from Rochester. Anyone has any prior experience with this? Asking is around 20K and it has run 20K miles

[freewheel]

Well, it looks like people are finally getting the message.

Will BMW Canada begin to set realistic prices or will they make it even more difficult to import?

I believe it will be the latter.




BMW Group Canada announces March sales
WHITBY, ON, April 1 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada reported today March sales
of 1,880 BMW and MINI vehicles, a decrease of 23.3% over March 2007 sales.
Year-to-date BMW and MINI sales are 4,532 units, a decrease of 13.1% over the
same period last year.
The BMW brand retailed 1,584 units in March 2008, a decrease of 25.6%
over March 2007. BMW year-to-date sales are 3,835 units, down 15.1% compared
to last year.
Year-to-date BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales are up 6.4% to 1,449 compared
to the same period last year. Total year-to-date Pre-Owned sales are 1,726
units, down 3.6%. BMW Certified Series Pre-Owned sales in March were 552
units, a decrease of 5.32% compared to March 2007. Total Pre-Owned BMW sales
were 644 units in March, down 14.2%.
BMW Motorrad Canada March sales were 75 units, a decrease of 50.0%.
Year-to-date, Motorrad has retailed 99 units, down 53.3% from last year.
MINI Canada sales were 296 units in March, down 8.4% from the March the
previous year. MINI has retailed 697 units in Canada year-to-date, a minimal
decrease of 0.1% compared to the same period last year.
MINI Canada Pre-Owned division celebrated best ever March sales. MINI
Next Certified Pre-Owned sales were 44 units in March, up 22.2% from March
2007. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales were 59 units for March, an increase of 5.4%.
Year-to-date, MINI Next Certified Pre-Owned saw a 22.6% increase in sales to
103 units. Year-to-date total MINI Pre-Owned sales are 154 MINIs, up 22.2%
compared to the same period last year.

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group
Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail
financing and leasing programs on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles,
as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 18 BMW motorcycle retailers, and
24 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.




For further information: Stacy Morris, Corporate Communications
Specialist, BMW Group Canada, (905) 428-5076, stacy.morris@bmwgroup.ca

[Raven_007]

As been said here time and time again, DO NOT ASK FOR TEMPORARY INSURANCE.. That's not what you're after. Tell your insurer you are buying a car for personal use. Temporary insurance is a completely different matter. It doesn't make any difference where the car comes from providing it's approved for use in Canada by Transport Canada (or RIV).

Do you know of any company that would sell insurance to non-resident (with no cancellation fee) and will this insurance be valid in Canada (if there is no cancellation fees it does not really matter if it is valid in Canada after I register it here)?
I called Geico and State Farm without mentioning temporary insurance just asking about the regular auto insurance and they do not write auto policies for non-residence in US (you have to be a resident of the state).

[Cars4Canadians]

Well, it looks like people are finally getting the message.

Will BMW Canada begin to set realistic prices or will they make it even more difficult to import?

I believe it will be the latter.




BMW Group Canada announces March sales
WHITBY, ON, April 1 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada reported today March sales
of 1,880 BMW and MINI vehicles, a decrease of 23.3% over March 2007 sales.
Year-to-date BMW and MINI sales are 4,532 units, a decrease of 13.1% over the
same period last year.
The BMW brand retailed 1,584 units in March 2008, a decrease of 25.6%
over March 2007. BMW year-to-date sales are 3,835 units, down 15.1% compared
to last year.
Year-to-date BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales are up 6.4% to 1,449 compared
to the same period last year. Total year-to-date Pre-Owned sales are 1,726
units, down 3.6%. BMW Certified Series Pre-Owned sales in March were 552
units, a decrease of 5.32% compared to March 2007. Total Pre-Owned BMW sales
were 644 units in March, down 14.2%.
BMW Motorrad Canada March sales were 75 units, a decrease of 50.0%.
Year-to-date, Motorrad has retailed 99 units, down 53.3% from last year.
MINI Canada sales were 296 units in March, down 8.4% from the March the
previous year. MINI has retailed 697 units in Canada year-to-date, a minimal
decrease of 0.1% compared to the same period last year.
MINI Canada Pre-Owned division celebrated best ever March sales. MINI
Next Certified Pre-Owned sales were 44 units in March, up 22.2% from March
2007. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales were 59 units for March, an increase of 5.4%.
Year-to-date, MINI Next Certified Pre-Owned saw a 22.6% increase in sales to
103 units. Year-to-date total MINI Pre-Owned sales are 154 MINIs, up 22.2%
compared to the same period last year.

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group
Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail
financing and leasing programs on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles,
as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 18 BMW motorcycle retailers, and
24 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.




For further information: Stacy Morris, Corporate Communications
Specialist, BMW Group Canada, (905) 428-5076, stacy.morris@bmwgroup.ca


FINALLY !!!!!

those gouging bastards BMW dealers make me sick. They will sell a Bmw 135 for 43K lol instead of 36K these people should be exposed on national tv for this type of gouging,their 5, 6 and 7 series are a laughing stock in my opinion when it comes to the amount they gouge you.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Well, it looks like people are finally getting the message.

Will BMW Canada begin to set realistic prices or will they make it even more difficult to import?

I believe it will be the latter.




BMW Group Canada announces March sales
WHITBY, ON, April 1 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada reported today March sales
of 1,880 BMW and MINI vehicles, a decrease of 23.3% over March 2007 sales.
Year-to-date BMW and MINI sales are 4,532 units, a decrease of 13.1% over the
same period last year.
The BMW brand retailed 1,584 units in March 2008, a decrease of 25.6%
over March 2007. BMW year-to-date sales are 3,835 units, down 15.1% compared
to last year.
Year-to-date BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales are up 6.4% to 1,449 compared
to the same period last year. Total year-to-date Pre-Owned sales are 1,726
units, down 3.6%. BMW Certified Series Pre-Owned sales in March were 552
units, a decrease of 5.32% compared to March 2007. Total Pre-Owned BMW sales
were 644 units in March, down 14.2%.
BMW Motorrad Canada March sales were 75 units, a decrease of 50.0%.
Year-to-date, Motorrad has retailed 99 units, down 53.3% from last year.
MINI Canada sales were 296 units in March, down 8.4% from the March the
previous year. MINI has retailed 697 units in Canada year-to-date, a minimal
decrease of 0.1% compared to the same period last year.
MINI Canada Pre-Owned division celebrated best ever March sales. MINI
Next Certified Pre-Owned sales were 44 units in March, up 22.2% from March
2007. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales were 59 units for March, an increase of 5.4%.
Year-to-date, MINI Next Certified Pre-Owned saw a 22.6% increase in sales to
103 units. Year-to-date total MINI Pre-Owned sales are 154 MINIs, up 22.2%
compared to the same period last year.

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group
Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail
financing and leasing programs on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles,
as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 18 BMW motorcycle retailers, and
24 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.




For further information: Stacy Morris, Corporate Communications
Specialist, BMW Group Canada, (905) 428-5076, stacy.morris@bmwgroup.ca

<in my best Mike Myers' Dr. Evil voice> "Boo freakin' hoo".

I wish companies like that hardship and bankruptcy. They're pompousness hasn't gone unnoticed. I tell everyone that listens about all the lawsuits they've been named in (three at last count) and the tactics they use to gouge the unsuspecting Canadian consumer.

[ziploc]

Great news !!!
25% decrease for BMW...
who U got what U deserved bas*****rds...

I hope U and Your overrated cars will die in our market...unless You change Your stupid policy.....and start to respect the costumer

[michelb]

We are planning to import a used Toyota Sienna XLE (2005 model) from Rochester. Anyone has any prior experience with this? Asking is around 20K and it has run 20K miles

For what it's worth, we bought a 2006 Sienna LTD FWD (with Nav, rear DVD, HIDs, power 3rd seat) with 20k miles for $23k so although your mileage is quite low, you might be able to do a bit better (depends how it's equipped though and the AWD is worth about $2k more (although I did not want it)). You also have to factor in where you are getting it from and your cost to pickup/deliver (we bought from Florida).

Just wanted to add that I did search a lot to find it at this price - I think similar to mine are typically more like $25-27k so I guess $20k really isn't that bad depending on how it's equipped (take $4-5 off for a 06 vs 05 and then another $1-2k off for LTD vs XLE).

[Indijones]

How much can I save on buying a Toyota Corolla 2008/09 Model in the US compared to Canada?

[spdztr]

How much can I save on buying a Toyota Corolla 2008/09 Model in the US compared to Canada?

Why don't you try toyota.ca and toyota.com ??
There's way too many factors to play into the price. You need to do your homework first.

[CheapScotsman]

How much can I save on buying a Toyota Corolla 2008/09 Model in the US compared to Canada?which trim level? which options? Sorry but you really should do some work yourself ...

Do a build and compare at www.toyota.ca versus www.toyota.com

Note that Toyota dealers in the US generally won't sell new to Canadians so you either have to have a US friend; go through a broker or buy used (craigslist, www.autotrader.com, www.edmunds.com, etc)... or find the one or two that will sell new

www.carburner.com has each "issue" wrt importing pretty well summarized. Check it out if you want more info.

[michelb]

How much can I save on buying a Toyota Corolla 2008/09 Model in the US compared to Canada?

As others have mentioned, you'll have to look that up yourself.

The one thing with the Corolla is that it's Toyota Canada's top selling model and I think they price it quite aggressively in Canada to keep that (Toyota USA's top seller is the Camry) so I think there are less (maybe no) savings than other models.

[Raven_007]

I have a few more questions:
1. I would get "statement of compliance label" once the vehicle passes Canadian Tire inspection. Correct?
2. The speedometer of the car I am loking for ('05 Ford Escape) has km/h underneath mph. Is that sufficient or will any changes be needed? Where can I verify this information.
3. Do all vehicles have "Child restraint tether anchorage hardware kit" or that's something that needs to be purchased?
4. Would any other modifications be needed to '05 Ford Escape to get "statement of compliance label"? According to the dealer it already has DRL installed. And I've emailed the dealer about recall clearance letter, which I would expect him to get for me.

Thanks again.

[Cars4Canadians]

Well, it looks like people are finally getting the message.

Will BMW Canada begin to set realistic prices or will they make it even more difficult to import?

I believe it will be the latter.




BMW Group Canada announces March sales
WHITBY, ON, April 1 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada reported today March sales
of 1,880 BMW and MINI vehicles, a decrease of 23.3% over March 2007 sales.
Year-to-date BMW and MINI sales are 4,532 units, a decrease of 13.1% over the
same period last year.
The BMW brand retailed 1,584 units in March 2008, a decrease of 25.6%
over March 2007. BMW year-to-date sales are 3,835 units, down 15.1% compared
to last year.
Year-to-date BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales are up 6.4% to 1,449 compared
to the same period last year. Total year-to-date Pre-Owned sales are 1,726
units, down 3.6%. BMW Certified Series Pre-Owned sales in March were 552
units, a decrease of 5.32% compared to March 2007. Total Pre-Owned BMW sales
were 644 units in March, down 14.2%.
BMW Motorrad Canada March sales were 75 units, a decrease of 50.0%.
Year-to-date, Motorrad has retailed 99 units, down 53.3% from last year.
MINI Canada sales were 296 units in March, down 8.4% from the March the
previous year. MINI has retailed 697 units in Canada year-to-date, a minimal
decrease of 0.1% compared to the same period last year.
MINI Canada Pre-Owned division celebrated best ever March sales. MINI
Next Certified Pre-Owned sales were 44 units in March, up 22.2% from March
2007. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales were 59 units for March, an increase of 5.4%.
Year-to-date, MINI Next Certified Pre-Owned saw a 22.6% increase in sales to
103 units. Year-to-date total MINI Pre-Owned sales are 154 MINIs, up 22.2%
compared to the same period last year.

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group
Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail
financing and leasing programs on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles,
as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 18 BMW motorcycle retailers, and
24 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.




For further information: Stacy Morris, Corporate Communications
Specialist, BMW Group Canada, (905) 428-5076, stacy.morris@bmwgroup.ca


Perhaps some of us should email stacy.morris@bmwgroup.ca with some encouraging words (note my sarcasm...)

[69Stang]

I have a few more questions:
1. I would get "statement of compliance label" once the vehicle passes Canadian Tire inspection. Correct?
2. The speedometer of the car I am loking for ('05 Ford Escape) has km/h underneath mph. Is that sufficient or will any changes be needed? Where can I verify this information.
3. Do all vehicles have "Child restraint tether anchorage hardware kit" or that's something that needs to be purchased?
4. Would any other modifications be needed to '05 Ford Escape to get "statement of compliance label"? According to the dealer it already has DRL installed. And I've emailed the dealer about recall clearance letter, which I would expect him to get for me.

Thanks again.

1. Correct
2. No changes needed.
3. Depends on the mfg
4. Check riv.ca website it will tell you what needs to be done. Dealer can provide recall clearance letter on original oem letterhead or go to their head office.

[perfchris]

Hello everyone, as you probably all have noticed the dollar went from 97 cents to 99.55 today i.e. 1,03 ro 1.0045 to buy one US dollar. Does anyone know how long that takes to trickle down to the cashier's offices at the border crossings ? I have a friend who would like to know when he should cross to benefit from this slight increase in exchange rate.

Thanks in advance !

[DollarsToDonuts]

Hi. Do you see any problems with exporting through the US side at Lewiston (since they accept faxes) and then NOT crossing the border but driving through the US to Ogdensburg to complete the importation on the Canadian side the next day. This would be to avoid TO during rush hour, avoid ticket happy OPP on the 401 and maybe meet up with a friend in Syracuse. Any thoughts...

[DollarsToDonuts]

Hello everyone, as you probably all have noticed the dollar went from 97 cents to 99.55 today i.e. 1,03 ro 1.0045 to buy one US dollar. Does anyone know how long that takes to trickle down to the cashier's offices at the border crossings ? I have a friend who would like to know when he should cross to benefit from this slight increase in exchange rate.

I have noticed the exchange rate get better the last few days since I haven't converted for my purchase yet. I may be wrong, but I don't see how this helps at the border since you pay GST, excise and RIV fee in Canadian dollars.

[perfchris]

You pay GST at the border and PST at the MTO based on the converted value of your vehicle purchase from US to Canadian funds. So, it makes total sense to wait when the dollar is higher.

Any responses to my initial question about exchange rates ?



I have noticed the exchange rate get better the last few days since I haven't converted for my purchase yet. I may be wrong, but I don't see how this helps at the border since you pay GST, excise and RIV fee in Canadian dollars.

[Duxar]

I have noticed the exchange rate get better the last few days since I haven't converted for my purchase yet. I may be wrong, but I don't see how this helps at the border since you pay GST, excise and RIV fee in Canadian dollars.

I was told when I crossed the border a couple of months ago, that Canada Customs uses the previous days conversion rate when converting the US dollar price that you paid for your car. So obviously, there can be advantages to when you cross the border.

[Coolers]

Hi. Do you see any problems with exporting through the US side at Lewiston (since they accept faxes) and then NOT crossing the border but driving through the US to Ogdensburg to complete the importation on the Canadian side the next day. This would be to avoid TO during rush hour, avoid ticket happy OPP on the 401 and maybe meet up with a friend in Syracuse. Any thoughts...

You should be fine doing so. After getting USCBP to stamp my title, I realized I forgot to gas up, so I turned back around and got gas before going through Canadian Customs.

[WildPegasus]

Hi. Do you see any problems with exporting through the US side at Lewiston (since they accept faxes) and then NOT crossing the border but driving through the US to Ogdensburg to complete the importation on the Canadian side the next day. This would be to avoid TO during rush hour, avoid ticket happy OPP on the 401 and maybe meet up with a friend in Syracuse. Any thoughts...

Ogdensburg is the best Canadian crossing. It's never busy and the staff are never unpleasant.

But if you're asking this to avoid speed traps, 81 is WAY worse then the 401.

[scotchgolf]

Someone a little earlier in the thread was asking if there were any other brands still selling new cars to Canadians. I was at Drivers Village in Syracuse 2 weeks ago and they mentioned that they could sell new Mitsibushis to Canadians.

[CheapScotsman]

Another kid on the way so we needed a new van. SWMBO decided on a 8 seater Sienna … an LE (for the immobilizer) and either dark blue or dark gray.

Three options:

CDN 2008 for MSRP $36,830. After tax would be $41,249. Maybe I could get a couple of thousand off during negotiations … maybe ???

US 2008 for MSRP $27, 825 (with Option c to pretty well match the CDN options). After tax (plus RIV fee, aircon and provincial inspection) would be $31,574 … $9600+ cheaper than new. Unless you have a contact/amerifriend, your are not likely to get much off MSRP even if you can get a dealer to sell you one.

Instead … We bought a used 2007 Sienna LE with 8 seats (but not the dual sliding power doors which will eventually go bust and cost me hundreds to fix … nor 17” wheels) for $20,800 with only 10,000 miles. CarFax and inspection were perfect and cosmetically it had no major issues.

Total cost was $24,154 (including taxes, currency exchange, aircon, RIV, provincial inspection). $17k and 40+% cheaper than buying new … that’s a tough 1year depreciation

Hmmm ... maybe a new set of rims and tires. Tirerack has a set of $900 so here I come.

[jnmontario]

Dunno if this affects your decision but the sister of a good friend of mine works quality control at the end of a line in the Toyota factory in Cambridge (?I think it's that one). Anyhow, when I mentioned I was looking at buying a highlander she said to seriously reconsider units coming from her sister's plant since they're churning out so many vehicles at the moment too keep up with demand that the quality has seriously depreciated (she mentioned things like bolts missing from the chassy on a regular basis and her sister wasn't positive she was catching all of the mistakes). Take it for what it's worth. This is no Toyota hateman here, I own a Prius and love the make - just relaying what I've been told. I don't know if the Sienna's made there or not, but it's worth a second think if it is and if it's true.

Another kid on the way so we needed a new van. SWMBO decided on a 8 seater Sienna … an LE (for the immobilizer) and either dark blue or dark gray.

Three options:

CDN 2008 for MSRP $36,830. After tax would be $41,249. Maybe I could get a couple of thousand off during negotiations … maybe ???

US 2008 for MSRP $27, 825 (with Option c to pretty well match the CDN options). After tax (plus RIV fee, aircon and provincial inspection) would be $31,574 … $9600+ cheaper than new. Unless you have a contact/amerifriend, your are not likely to get much off MSRP even if you can get a dealer to sell you one.

Instead … We bought a used 2007 Sienna LE with 8 seats (but not the dual sliding power doors which will eventually go bust and cost me hundreds to fix … nor 17” wheels) for $20,800 with only 10,000 miles. CarFax and inspection were perfect and cosmetically it had no major issues.

Total cost was $24,154 (including taxes, currency exchange, aircon, RIV, provincial inspection). $17k and 40+% cheaper than buying new … that’s a tough 1year depreciation

Hmmm ... maybe a new set of rims and tires. Tirerack has a set of $900 so here I come.

[donjuancarlos]

Just signing in to say woot, I have a 2008 Honda Accord LXP. I think once I am done with everything, I will be out of pocket just over $22000. My roommate got a Civic, and will come in at around 19000 when all is done. I used a US friend from a neighbouring state to avoid taxes and to get the MCO. the border was a complete breeze. I just had to show the MCO and the receipt from the dealer at both sides, pay the GST and A/C tax, and I was on my way. Less than 10 minutes, both sides.

[ajpaterson]

Dunno if this affects your decision but the sister of a good friend of mine works quality control at the end of a line in the Toyota factory in Cambridge (?I think it's that one). Anyhow, when I mentioned I was looking at buying a highlander she said to seriously reconsider units coming from her sister's plant since they're churning out so many vehicles at the moment too keep up with demand that the quality has seriously depreciated (she mentioned things like bolts missing from the chassy on a regular basis and her sister wasn't positive she was catching all of the mistakes). Take it for what it's worth. This is no Toyota hateman here, I own a Prius and love the make - just relaying what I've been told. I don't know if the Sienna's made there or not, but it's worth a second think if it is and if it's true.

Unless things have changed since February when I bought mine, all Highlanders are manufactured in Japan. AFAIK only the Matrix, Corolla, and Lexus RX330 are made in Canada. See: http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/40/wo/Home.TMMC-7NPb2xpcvvuN9FeOMzbdsg/0.9?t130000e%2ehtml

[CheapScotsman]

Dunno if this affects your decision but the sister of a good friend of mine works quality control at the end of a line in the Toyota factory in Cambridge (?I think it's that one). Anyhow, when I mentioned I was looking at buying a highlander she said to seriously reconsider units coming from her sister's plant since they're churning out so many vehicles at the moment too keep up with demand that the quality has seriously depreciated (she mentioned things like bolts missing from the chassy on a regular basis and her sister wasn't positive she was catching all of the mistakes). Take it for what it's worth. This is no Toyota hateman here, I own a Prius and love the make - just relaying what I've been told. I don't know if the Sienna's made there or not, but it's worth a second think if it is and if it's true.I've read that the Sienna is made in either Kentucky or Indiana

and I've already that that Toyota quality is starting to slip most likely due to building them too fast ....

but thanks for the warning. We've already bought and lucky enough still have two years and 25,000 miles left on the warranty. After that, we will take our chances.

[pulsar]

I've read that the Sienna is made in either Kentucky or Indiana

and I've already that that Toyota quality is starting to slip most likely due to building them too fast ....

but thanks for the warning. We've already bought and lucky enough still have two years and 25,000 miles left on the warranty. After that, we will take our chances.

If you didn't know, you can still purchase an extended warranty on your Sienna from a US dealer (up to 7yrs 100,000 mile factory extended warranty). It should cost approximately $1000US for the 7yr 100,000mile (at least I think that was the price for my Tundra). Just search the different Toyota forum sites for dealers selling the extended warranty at a discount. You have until 3 years 36,000 miles to purchase the extended warranty.

[sienna owner]

I've read that the Sienna is made in either Kentucky or Indiana

and I've already that that Toyota quality is starting to slip most likely due to building them too fast ....

but thanks for the warning. We've already bought and lucky enough still have two years and 25,000 miles left on the warranty. After that, we will take our chances.

Sienna is made in Princeton, Indiana...
Camry is made in Kentucky or Japan..so you want to order from Kentucky to avoid the extra 6.1% duty

[sienna owner]

If you didn't know, you can still purchase an extended warranty on your Sienna from a US dealer (up to 7yrs 100,000 mile factory extended warranty). It should cost approximately $1000US for the 7yr 100,000mile (at least I think that was the price for my Tundra). Just search the different Toyota forum sites for dealers selling the extended warranty at a discount. You have until 3 years 36,000 miles to purchase the extended warranty.

I paid $1495 USD for 6 yr/100,000miles extended for our Sienna..ripped off you think?

[rgc97]

I paid $960 for the same last May, when I bought our Sienna. Knew I could do a bit better elsewhere, but was very happy that the dealer was selling me the Sienna at US competitive price. When you save $10K, you don't mind spending $100+.

I paid $1495 USD for 6 yr/100,000miles extended for our Sienna..ripped off you think?

[CheapScotsman]

Thanks guys ....

Sienna club and edmunds townhall have people indicating they are getting the 7yr/100k extended for $880 ...

Generally, I am not very interested in extended warranty's but the price is good ... the question is; what do you get. I haven't checked out what this ones covers or who administers its or whether they "cheap out" and try to blame off warranty claims, etc.

but I still have two years to figure it out.

[Rehan]

Another kid on the way so we needed a new van. SWMBO decided on a 8 seater Sienna … an LE (for the immobilizer) and either dark blue or dark gray.

....

Total cost was $24,154 (including taxes, currency exchange, aircon, RIV, provincial inspection). $17k and 40+% cheaper than buying new … that’s a tough 1year depreciation Thanks for using "SWMBO"...first time I've seen it, and I'll have to remember that one. :cheesygri

Looks like you got a great deal. Did you buy privately or at a dealership?

[Raven_007]

If I understand correctly, in Ontario I do not have to do Drive Clean Vehicle Emissions Test if the vehicle is <5 old regardless of where it came from?
But I still need to do Safety Test for the used car even if it was done on the vehicle in the state I am importing from as the standards might be different?
And I can do safety test before or after Canadian Tire inspection, correct?

[CheapScotsman]

Thanks for using "SWMBO"...first time I've seen it, and I'll have to remember that one. :cheesygri

Looks like you got a great deal. Did you buy privately or at a dealership?My wife has great ideas ... I really need to listen to them more.

I could find some almost 2k cheaper but with >30k miles (warranty expires at 36k) and rotten colours so I think I got a pretty good price.

I got it at a independent dealer just north of Seattle who seems to specialize in used, rental return, lease return toyotas.

[michelb]

If I understand correctly, in Ontario I do not have to do Drive Clean Vehicle Emissions Test if the vehicle is <5 old regardless of where it came from?
But I still need to do Safety Test for the used car even if it was done on the vehicle in the state I am importing from as the standards might be different?
And I can do safety test before or after Canadian Tire inspection, correct?

I believe that any used vehicles you register need a DriveClean test (http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/driveclean/brochures/BUY-SELL.pdf). The 5 year thing is only that don't need to do it every 2 years to renew your plates on vehicles less than 5 years old.

In Ontario, you do need a provincial safety test to register a vehicle. You can do the safety test anytime you want (has nothing to do with CT or even importing, this is required to get plates for the vehicle).

[allknowing]

Yep - all vehicles need the drive clean test *unless* its the current model year.
So an '08 doesnt need one in 2008. My new '07 didn't need one until I tried to register it in Jan '08 - oops, had I registered it Dec 31st I wouldnt have needed it.. Dang.

[bargainhuntr]

Hello everyone, as you probably all have noticed the dollar went from 97 cents to 99.55 today i.e. 1,03 ro 1.0045 to buy one US dollar. Does anyone know how long that takes to trickle down to the cashier's offices at the border crossings ? I have a friend who would like to know when he should cross to benefit from this slight increase in exchange rate.

My understanding is that it is that days rate. Bank of Canada sets the rate around noon every day.

www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/converter.html

[stock_junkie]

uh yeah you did get ripped off. I paid $870 for the 7 year / 70,000 miles extended warranty on my 2008 Highlander Sport.

You can cancel the extended warranty for a full refund within 60 days. If I were you I would.

I paid $1495 USD for 6 yr/100,000miles extended for our Sienna..ripped off you think?

[sienna owner]

Thanks guys ....

Sienna club and edmunds townhall have people indicating they are getting the 7yr/100k extended for $880 ...

Generally, I am not very interested in extended warranty's but the price is good ... the question is; what do you get. I haven't checked out what this ones covers or who administers its or whether they "cheap out" and try to blame off warranty claims, etc.

but I still have two years to figure it out.

raises a good point..and reminded me that I got the Platium Version which covers more mechical stuff...not the Gold...that could be the reason why I paid more?

[sienna owner]

uh yeah you did get ripped off. I paid $870 for the 7 year / 70,000 miles extended warranty on my 2008 Highlander Sport.

You can cancel the extended warranty for a full refund within 60 days. If I were you I would.

TOO LATE...it's been more than 60 days. oh well...like previous poster said...still saved $$...almost $20k compared to Cdn MRSP

[sienna owner]

I believe that any used vehicles you register need a DriveClean test (http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/driveclean/brochures/BUY-SELL.pdf). The 5 year thing is only that don't need to do it every 2 years to renew your plates on vehicles less than 5 years old.

In Ontario, you do need a provincial safety test to register a vehicle. You can do the safety test anytime you want (has nothing to do with CT or even importing, this is required to get plates for the vehicle).

just to correct..you need a safety only if it has been registered elsewhere out of province..otherwise the MSO is fine.

[DSTU]

I have a few more questions:
1. I would get "statement of compliance label" once the vehicle passes Canadian Tire inspection. Correct?
2. The speedometer of the car I am loking for ('05 Ford Escape) has km/h underneath mph. Is that sufficient or will any changes be needed? Where can I verify this information.
3. Do all vehicles have "Child restraint tether anchorage hardware kit" or that's something that needs to be purchased?
4. Would any other modifications be needed to '05 Ford Escape to get "statement of compliance label"? According to the dealer it already has DRL installed. And I've emailed the dealer about recall clearance letter, which I would expect him to get for me.

Thanks again.

These have been asked and answered hundreds of times.

Go to RIV - all you answers belongs to questions....LOL

[DSTU]

Hello everyone, as you probably all have noticed the dollar went from 97 cents to 99.55 today i.e. 1,03 ro 1.0045 to buy one US dollar. Does anyone know how long that takes to trickle down to the cashier's offices at the border crossings ? I have a friend who would like to know when he should cross to benefit from this slight increase in exchange rate.

Thanks in advance !

From my experiece they use the day's current rate.

[stock_junkie]

You can still cancel and get a pro-rated refund minus a $50 penalty. It would still be worth it for you IMO because you REALLY overpaid.

just to correct..you need a safety only if it has been registered elsewhere out of province..otherwise the MSO is fine.

[Trexim]

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY REGULATIONS (BUMPERS)
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080322/html/regle5-e.html#1

215. A passenger car shall be equipped with bumpers that conform to either

(a) the requirements set out in paragraph 6, and the low-speed-impact test procedure set out in Annex 3, except for paragraph 4 of that Annex, of ECE Regulation No. 42, Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with regard to Their Front and Rear Protective Devices (Bumpers, etc.), in the version dated June 12, 2007, as amended after that date by any amendment in the 00 series of amendments; or

(b) the requirements, conditions and test procedures that are set out in title 49, part 581 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States (revised as of October 1, 2006).

That should add more US cars to the admissible list if it passes.

[chene]

greetings,

I have followed this thread since the beginning but stopped reading around page 700 since I decided not to buy a new car. But my situation has just changed and now I'm in the market again.

I live in eastern Ontario (Kingston). My choice of car was Nissan Altima hybrid but the local dealer won't service it (they don't sell hybrid and have no trained technician). I'm looking at Toyota 2008 Prius at the moment.

If someone knows a Toyota dealer near eastern Ontario border who still sells to Canadian, please kindly let me know. I only have 1 friend in the US and he is in Texas so buying through a US friend may not work for me. I would like to avoid US-state tax if possible.

ps. I have a friend who bought 2007 Prius last year from Vermont; the dealer got a warning from Toyota headquarter 3-days after the sale. Needless to say, that dealer isn't selling to Canadian anymore.

any help is very much appreciated,

[atorontoguy]

I live in eastern Ontario (Kingston). My choice of car was Nissan Altima hybrid but the local dealer won't service it (they don't sell hybrid and have no trained technician).

Even if they sell hybrid and have trained technician, will they provide warranty to US imported vehicle? The APA site said that there is no warranty.

[coconut_head]

Just wondering if the 2009 Toyota Camry is admissable? I know it is not on the RIV admissable list, as for most 2009 models...

[stock_junkie]

You asked and answered your question at the same time! :)

Just wondering if the 2009 Toyota Camry is admissable? I know it is not on the RIV admissable list, as for most 2009 models...

[coconut_head]

You asked and answered your question at the same time! :)

haha I understand...

I am just curious because the broker I am dealing with is quoting a price for 2009, but it is the exact same model as 2008.

Also, on the Canadian Toyota website, 2008 is listed with a higher price than 2009, that's why I am curious if it applies to the US price as well.

[mangoman]

Model might be the same however if the manufcaturer hasn't submitted the required info to Transport Canada then the car is inadmissible. That's why they put the following warning (in smaller letters of course) at the beginning of the Transport Canada document list:

WARNING: Some manufacturers have already started to offer for sale their 2009 vehicle models. Transport Canada has not yet received
information regarding the admissibility into Canada of the 2009 vehicle models. If you plan to purchase and import a 2009 model, please
contact the manufacturer directly to verify the vehicle's admissibility.

haha I understand...

I am just curious because the broker I am dealing with is quoting a price for 2009, but it is the exact same model as 2008.

Also, on the Canadian Toyota website, 2008 is listed with a higher price than 2009, that's why I am curious if it applies to the US price as well.

[dumbass]

WARNING: Some manufacturers have already started to offer for sale their 2009 vehicle models. Transport Canada has not yet received
information regarding the admissibility into Canada of the 2009 vehicle models. If you plan to purchase and import a 2009 model, please
contact the manufacturer directly to verify the vehicle's admissibility.

2009 Subaru Forester is already on their admissable list, as is the Nissan Murano (partially)

[Honda-sucks]

Its funny how many 06' 07' and 08' Lexus, Acura's, Honda's, and Toyota's are showing up at the strangest dealers like Kia, Ford and Gm. Its obvious they are bringing them in from the U.S for resale in Canada. Anyway we can catch these scoundrels in the act? When I called a Ford dealer to inquire about an 07' Honda Ridgeline (imagine that) they said a lady imported it from the US and when she found out it had no warranty she traded it in on a Ford. What a load of BULL ! Saved 20k on my Ridgeline and its running fine thank you very much !

[donjuancarlos]

Its funny how many 06' 07' and 08' Lexus, Acura's, Honda's, and Toyota's are showing up at the strangest dealers like Kia, Ford and Gm. Its obvious they are bringing them in from the U.S for resale in Canada. Anyway we can catch these scoundrels in the act? When I called a Ford dealer to inquire about an 07' Honda Ridgeline (imagine that) they said a lady imported it from the US and when she found out it had no warranty she traded it in on a Ford. What a load of BULL ! Saved 20k on my Ridgeline and its running fine thank you very much !

Hahaha, when I was checking out my local Honda and Toyota dealerships, they both had American cars on their lots. At least they were straight up about where thy got them from. After I figured out what I wanted I went to the States and got me a new Accord. I am fine with Honda keeping high Canadian prices. It means I can sell my car for what I paid for it in two years, then go pick up another one!

[atorontoguy]

Has anyone imported a 2008 BMW X5 3.0i or 4.8i? My friend is interested in getting one. Besides the BMW Canada charges, will there be green levy tax? Thanks.

[lastchild01]

Hi all ive been reading this thread off and on, now its my families turn to get in on the deal of the year!

We are looking at a honda accord ex-l w/ navi option

a toyota camry le w/ leather and some accesories (to keep the 4 cylinder)

a toyota avalon limited

or a altima 2.5sl w/ navi package

now which are the easiest to deal with in purchasing and getting them across the border? does nissan sell to canadians?

if we were looking at an accord exl navi ... what costs would be associated with this specific model?

also if you would like to chime in on which of these cars would be best, its for my dad ... hes 50 ... drives a lot for work!

[usacars2canada]

Hi all ive been reading this thread off and on, now its my families turn to get in on the deal of the year!

We are looking at a honda accord ex-l w/ navi option

a toyota camry le w/ leather and some accesories (to keep the 4 cylinder)

a toyota avalon limited

or a altima 2.5sl w/ navi package

now which are the easiest to deal with in purchasing and getting them across the border? does nissan sell to canadians?

if we were looking at an accord exl navi ... what costs would be associated with this specific model?

also if you would like to chime in on which of these cars would be best, its for my dad ... hes 50 ... drives a lot for work!

If you don't have a strong preference on one over the other, you should choose Toyota as it has warranty in Canada. Honda and Nissan don't.

[Slacker69]

I am buying a 2009 Toyota Matrix. Still waiting for Toyota to make this an admissible import to Canada.

[shopper-X]

If you don't have a strong preference on one over the other, you should choose Toyota as it has warranty in Canada. Honda and Nissan don't.

Not quite true.
True Nissan's warranty is not valid if exported day one but If you can find a Nissan that has been registered for at least 6 months in the US first, then the warranty is valid.

I'm sure you can be creative with this like Toyota by registering it to a friend or relative preferably in a no tax state and buying the car from them after six months.
Yes it's a bit of work and time to wait or you can find a Demo or Executive driven one with low mileage at a good price and valid warranty.

[dsds]

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY REGULATIONS (BUMPERS)
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080322/html/regle5-e.html#1



That should add more US cars to the admissible list if it passes.

Thanks for bringing that to everyones attention.

I wanted to import a Nissan Altima 4 door but it is inadmissible because of the bumper. What a crock.

[tareks]

I hope this hasn't been answered already as I couldn't find an answer to this question when I searched. When buying a car from Washington for export do you have to pay sales tax on it?
Thanks.

[dsds]

I hope this hasn't been answered already as I couldn't find an answer to this question when I searched. When buying a car from Washington for export do you have to pay sales tax on it?
Thanks.

No tax. I remember reading that many times in the forum over the last few months. I'm sure others will concur.

[tareks]

Awesome thanks! All I could find was info about New York and the eastern states.

No tax. I remember reading that many times in the forum over the last few months. I'm sure others will concur.

[usacars2canada]

Not quite true.
True Nissan's warranty is not valid if exported day one but If you can find a Nissan that has been registered for at least 6 months in the US first, then the warranty is valid.

Your info could be outdated. Here is the latest at APA for Nissan:
http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#NISSAN
Nissan: No warranty coverage in Canada.

I'm sure you can be creative with this like Toyota by registering it to a friend or relative preferably in a no tax state and buying the car from them after six months.
Yes it's a bit of work and time to wait or you can find a Demo or Executive driven one with low mileage at a good price and valid warranty.

For the amount of work and delay, you may also consider going through an import broker instead. Then you don't have to bother your friend or relative, and can drive the car from day 1.

[shopper-X]

Your info could be outdated. Here is the latest at APA for Nissan:
http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#NISSAN
Nissan: No warranty coverage in Canada.



For the amount of work and delay, you may also consider going through an import broker instead. Then you don't have to bother your friend or relative, and can drive the car from day 1.

I stand corrected.
When did Nissan change this?

[usacars2canada]

I stand corrected.
When did Nissan change this?

It was changed last month (March 2008).

[scouzi]

It was changed last month (March 2008).

So this applies to even used cars that still have some warranty left?

If so, no more Nissan for me - ever.

[Cars4Canadians]

REGULATIONS AMENDING THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY REGULATIONS (BUMPERS)
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080322/html/regle5-e.html#1



That should add more US cars to the admissible list if it passes.

So all american cars will meet low speed bumper crash testing in this country now? what exactly is all that stuff?

[fortphil]

Your info could be outdated. Here is the latest at APA for Nissan:
http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#NISSAN
Nissan: No warranty coverage in Canada.


But Infiniti's are still covered. I wonder how long that will last.

[Danno2005]

Cars4canadians-

Same deal as the immobilizer issue last fall where either the Canadian or US standard willl be accepted - as will be the case for bumpers.

As always, check the RIV list to ensure the manufacturer lists the car as meeting standards.

Sounds like the government is getting the message loud and clear - and acting on it.

Nice to see.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/04/02/canada-to-harmonize-bumper-standard-with-us-europe.htm

[shopper-X]

Cars4canadians-

Same deal as the immobilizer issue last fall where either the Canadian or US standard willl be accepted - as will be the case for bumpers.

As always, check the RIV list to ensure the manufacturer lists the car as meeting standards.

Sounds like the government is getting the message loud and clear - and acting on it.

Nice to see.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/04/02/canada-to-harmonize-bumper-standard-with-us-europe.htm

Nice to see Lawrence Cannon is growing a backbone.

“This proposed amendment would offer more choice to Canadians who wish to import vehicles,” said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “At the same time, it would help to maintain the safety of Canadian roads.”

Now we wait and see what excuses the Manufacturers come up with not to allow importing. The only recourse is to void the warranty which is taking the low-road in my books.

[rjmbc]

Can anyone provide me with a US Toyota dealer who will deal with Canadians near Cranbrook BC

If you are still looking you can PM me with your email address. I can also supply a Honda Dealer - both deal with people in BC & Alberta

[ClemixMedia]

Im looking to get a honda FIT, i know the canadian gov gives back $1000 rebate and also at a dealship i went they would offer another $1000 back...so thats a total of $2000 off the LX model no addons with tax $22000.

I am totally new to this so I am wondering would it be cheaper to get it from US, and is there any coverage?

thanks;

[Beradon]

Im looking to get a honda FIT, i know the canadian gov gives back $1000 rebate and also at a dealship i went they would offer another $1000 back...so thats a total of $2000 off the LX model no addons with tax $22000.

I am totally new to this so I am wondering would it be cheaper to get it from US, and is there any coverage?
No coverage but the idea is to purchase the Fit in the US for a low enough price so that you could still afford a third party warranty in Canada and still save money.

[sienna owner]

greetings,

I have followed this thread since the beginning but stopped reading around page 700 since I decided not to buy a new car. But my situation has just changed and now I'm in the market again.

I live in eastern Ontario (Kingston). My choice of car was Nissan Altima hybrid but the local dealer won't service it (they don't sell hybrid and have no trained technician). I'm looking at Toyota 2008 Prius at the moment.

If someone knows a Toyota dealer near eastern Ontario border who still sells to Canadian, please kindly let me know. I only have 1 friend in the US and he is in Texas so buying through a US friend may not work for me. I would like to avoid US-state tax if possible.

ps. I have a friend who bought 2007 Prius last year from Vermont; the dealer got a warning from Toyota headquarter 3-days after the sale. Needless to say, that dealer isn't selling to Canadian anymore.

any help is very much appreciated,


I got our Sienna from Detroit, MI...not sure if that's too far for you. PM if you need info

[ClemixMedia]

do you know about how much cheaper it will be after tax and everything?

[sienna owner]

Hi all ive been reading this thread off and on, now its my families turn to get in on the deal of the year!

We are looking at a honda accord ex-l w/ navi option

a toyota camry le w/ leather and some accesories (to keep the 4 cylinder)

a toyota avalon limited

or a altima 2.5sl w/ navi package

now which are the easiest to deal with in purchasing and getting them across the border? does nissan sell to canadians?

if we were looking at an accord exl navi ... what costs would be associated with this specific model?

also if you would like to chime in on which of these cars would be best, its for my dad ... hes 50 ... drives a lot for work!

yes, Nissan does sell to Cdns, however another post said their warranty is not valid in Canada, and linked to APA. I am wondering however if that is accurate as there are certain conditions where by the Nissan Warranty becomes void. you may want to confirm directly from Nissan Canada or Nissan USA..has someone to do with allowing 6 months between registering and ownership change?? that both can't be done within 6 months???

regardless, if you're interested my Sienna came from Detroit, MI, my in-laws co-worker imported a Rogue from Buffalo.

[CheapScotsman]

do you know about how much cheaper it will be after tax and everything?Do a build and compare at www.honda.ca versus www.honda.com

Note that if you are fortunate enough to even find a dealer who will sell new to you; it would be amazing if you could do better than MSRP.

Your only other expenses over that in Canada are US/CDN exchange, RIV fee, provincial inspection (if required) and any modifications (manufacturer/model specific).

[ClemixMedia]

Do a build and compare at www.honda.ca versus www.honda.com

Note that if you are fortunate enough to even find a dealer who will sell new to you; it would be amazing if you could do better than MSRP.

Your only other expenses over that in Canada are US/CDN exchange, RIV fee, provincial inspection (if required) and any modifications (manufacturer/model specific).

ya i need a US address to request the final total cost...without the tax and other stuff it is cheaper in US $15,000 compare to CAN $19,000

[CheapScotsman]

ya i need a US address to request the final total cost...without the tax and other stuff it is cheaper in US $15,000 compare to CAN $19,000honda.com build and compare doesn't ask for a state? Why do you need a US address?

Check out www.carburner.com for a list of states that that will sell out of state without charging tax.

The biggest issue you will have is to find a honda dealer that will actually sell new to a Canadian.

[pocman]

I recently imported a vehicle from the US. The process went very smoothly and I saved thousands! I would like to bring up another vehicle for my wife but it will be in my name. Are there limits to the number of vehicles that can be imported privately (not a commecial venture) within a year?

[xsivspd]

yes, Nissan does sell to Cdns, however another post said their warranty is not valid in Canada, and linked to APA. I am wondering however if that is accurate as there are certain conditions where by the Nissan Warranty becomes void. you may want to confirm directly from Nissan Canada or Nissan USA..has someone to do with allowing 6 months between registering and ownership change?? that both can't be done within 6 months???

regardless, if you're interested my Sienna came from Detroit, MI, my in-laws co-worker imported a Rogue from Buffalo.

I guess they will not be driving any time soon, since this 2008 Rogue is NOT on the vehicle admissible list from the RIV. Or possibly until the temporary plates expire. It could be a long wait after that.

[MTLean]

hello all, my question is this:

if i purchase a car from Florida and i have my American buddy drive it down to Montreal, are the steps the same to transfer ownership?

[usacars2canada]

I guess they will not be driving any time soon, since this 2008 Rogue is NOT on the vehicle admissible list from the RIV. Or possibly until the temporary plates expire. It could be a long wait after that.

I am not sure what you mean. Rogue is in the admissible column:

2007 AND 2008 Nissan Rogue, if built AFTER September 1st, 2007. [EIS] (see notes)

[hothummer]

Has anyone recently leased either an IS 250 AWD or a IS 350 AWD and want to share their lease particulars? I am particularly interested in what residual value they assigned to either a 3 or 4-yr lease.

Thanks

[sienna owner]

hello all, my question is this:

if i purchase a car from Florida and i have my American buddy drive it down to Montreal, are the steps the same to transfer ownership?

If you purchase a car, wouldn't it be in your name?
if you are saying your buddy is buying it on your behalf and it will be in your name...then yes...same process.

[sienna owner]

I recently imported a vehicle from the US. The process went very smoothly and I saved thousands! I would like to bring up another vehicle for my wife but it will be in my name. Are there limits to the number of vehicles that can be imported privately (not a commecial venture) within a year?

no

[dsds]

So this applies to even used cars that still have some warranty left?

If so, no more Nissan for me - ever.

So much for the bumper change regarding an Altima 4 door becoming admissible.
With zero warranty, paying a few thousand more here at home will be necessary. This will keep me away from Nissan and instead push me towards a Camry. But with 2009 Camry prices so much lower, I just don't see that much of a benefit to import anymore - not for a basic Camry CE model with the small engine.

[yummie]

Im looking to get a honda FIT, i know the canadian gov gives back $1000 rebate and also at a dealship i went they would offer another $1000 back...so thats a total of $2000 off the LX model no addons with tax $22000.

I am totally new to this so I am wondering would it be cheaper to get it from US, and is there any coverage?

thanks;


You didn't mention what year you wanted to buy. Just a heads up, a brand new (2nd generation) 2009 Fit comes out this year.

[nornet]

I recently imported a vehicle from the US. The process went very smoothly and I saved thousands! I would like to bring up another vehicle for my wife but it will be in my name. Are there limits to the number of vehicles that can be imported privately (not a commecial venture) within a year?

yes

[ClemixMedia]

You didn't mention what year you wanted to buy. Just a heads up, a brand new (2nd generation) 2009 Fit comes out this year.

ya im not looking to get the 2nd generation.. do you know the exact date when it will come out? i assume the price of the 1st gen will drop because of that right? im just looking to get the 2008 model..

[Tender]

I recently imported a vehicle from the US. The process went very smoothly and I saved thousands! I would like to bring up another vehicle for my wife but it will be in my name. Are there limits to the number of vehicles that can be imported privately (not a commecial venture) within a year?

no

yes

You guys are funny. For one question, one answered "no" and the other "yes". So what to take here?

I remember seeing somewhere that there is a limit of 2 vehicle imports per year. Maybe someone can clarify here?

[Sandy17116]

I am looking to buy a Toyota RAV4 base from US, there is an immobilizer issue for 2008 model. for RAV4 limited, it is installed already. For base model, you can have this option. If I add the immobilizer option with base model, does it meet RIV requirement? does RIV still require a letter from manfacturer for immobilizer installation? any body has experience?

One more question, if is it ok to import RAV4 4x2, since all RAV4 cars selling in Canada are 4 wheel drive. Thanks you guys!

[sienna owner]

I am looking to buy a Toyota RAV4 base from US, there is an immobilizer issue for 2008 model. for RAV4 limited, it is installed already. For base model, you can have this option. If I add the immobilizer option with base model, does it meet RIV requirement? does RIV still require a letter from manfacturer for immobilizer installation? any body has experience?

One more question, if is it ok to import RAV4 4x2, since all RAV4 cars selling in Canada are 4 wheel drive. Thanks you guys!

as long as it has an immobilizer, it will meet the new TC requirement. see EIS notes from RIV website.

yes, it will be okay to import 4x2, since the only restriction is due to the immobilizer. if you weren't then then would allow any 2wd vehicle right?

[moguy]

You guys are funny. For one question, one answered "no" and the other "yes". So what to take here?

I remember seeing somewhere that there is a limit of 2 vehicle imports per year. Maybe someone can clarify here?

There are limits, but bringing 2 in a year definitely falls within those limits (I can't remember exactly how many that is. Less than 5 anyways)

[CheapScotsman]

You guys are funny. For one question, one answered "no" and the other "yes". So what to take here?

I remember seeing somewhere that there is a limit of 2 vehicle imports per year. Maybe someone can clarify here?There is no limit for the number of imports allowed per year .... dealers and brokers do 10s if not 100s of imports a year.

The issue is ... if you are bringing in too many cars and flipping them then "they" may consider you to be a dealer and expect you to have a license (as a motor vehicle dealer) and income tax declared on the profits and the right visa to do work in the states (get the cars) ... etc

so how many is too many ??? when you get their attention

[Raven_007]

Does anyone know dealers which lease work vans to companies in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc. (within 1200km from Toronto)?
I found that to be the best bet when looking for Ford Explorer.

[Tender]

There is no limit for the number of imports allowed per year .... dealers and brokers do 10s if not 100s of imports a year.

The issue is ... if you are bringing in too many cars and flipping them then "they" may consider you to be a dealer and expect you to have a license (as a motor vehicle dealer) and income tax declared on the profits and the right visa to do work in the states (get the cars) ... etc

so how many is too many ??? when you get their attention

There we are! Now it's getting more sense. Just to clarify, when I said "2" I meant the number of private imports you can have before you're considered "dealer" (although not sure if that's the right number).

[CheapScotsman]

There we are! Now it's getting more sense. Just to clarify, when I said "2" I meant the number of private imports you can have before you're considered "dealer" (although not sure if that's the right number).Ahhh but there is the rub. I just checked my Form 1 and there is not place to indicate whether it is a private vs something else type of import

If you bring in 17 vehicles in 1 year then they are going to think you are in business (or are a curber) and they are going to investigate. When you can show them that you bought 1 for you, 1 for the GF, 1 for a friend, 2 for mom+dad, 4 for your siblings, 4 for aunts/uncles and 4 for the grandparents (and you basically didn't make any profit off them) then nothing is going to happen (besides having to spend the time having to show them)

however, if you bring in 17 and can't show any of that ... its not going to be a pleasant experience.

How many is too many ... again, when the knock on your door, could be 4, could be 20.

[Nitrate]

Hi my first post here, but I've been following this thread for a couple of months. Anyway I just wanted to say that I was able to import a brand-new 2008 Sienna for about $2200 USD less than MSRP. Actually the actual total was $3700 USD below MSRP but the dealer was offering a $1500 USD discount off sticker. My US broker then got it down a further $2200 USD for me. My broker dealt with the dealer the whole time. My broker knew I was Canadian and didn't have a problem with it. I'm not sure he relayed that info to the dealer, but it didn't matter. As far as the dealer was concerned, he was signing over the MCO to an American broker, who signed over the MCO to me. No title was issued in the exchange, but the back of the MCO has two entries.

The only other cost unique to me (compared to someone who would pick up the vehicle directly from a dealer) was a $250 shipping done by an auto transport company. They moved the van from the dealer's lot to a holding yard near the border where I picked it up. Otherwise, the same RIV fees and inspection costs apply.

Maybe I'm repeating what others know, but the Washington state trip permit is valid in BC until it expires 3 days after purchase. The ICBC insurance binder (Form APV38) is valid for 10 days, so there's 3 days I could have used the Sienna without regular plates. It was too bad the RIV Form 2 arrived in my email on the 4th day, after the WA permit expired. I then had to purchase a BC TOP (temp operating permit) to drive the van for inspection.

[scouzi]

Does anyone know when these new regulations come into effect? Would it apply to used cars also?

I'm thinking of getting a used Audi TT roadster and right now but the bumper mod is keeping me from doing it.

[sctb1]

Hi my first post here, but I've been following this thread for a couple of months. Anyway I just wanted to say that I was able to import a brand-new 2008 Sienna for about $2200 USD less than MSRP. Actually the actual total was $3700 USD below MSRP but the dealer was offering a $1500 USD discount off sticker. My US broker then got it down a further $2200 USD for me. My broker dealt with the dealer the whole time. My broker knew I was Canadian and didn't have a problem with it. I'm not sure he relayed that info to the broker, but it didn't matter. As far as the dealer was concerned, he was signing over the MCO to an American broker, who signed over the MCO to me. No title was issued in the exchange, but the back of the MCO has two entries.

The only other cost unique to me (compared to someone who would pick up the vehicle directly from a dealer) was a $250 shipping done by an auto transport company. They moved the van from the dealer's lot to a holding yard near the border where I picked it up. Otherwise, the same RIV fees and inspection costs apply.

I am interested in a Sienna. Can you tell me what US broker you used?

[bovolu]

Hey guys,
quick question.

I wanted to purchase the vehicle for my mom to put it in her name, but she will not be able to come to the US to pick it up with me. Is it possible to put her name on the bill of sale, title etc. and still cross the border without a problem? Also will the temp permit in the sate i purchased it from have to be in her name or my name?

Would it be better to simply purchase it all in my name and then transfer title when I get to Canada? I just want to avoid paying tax twice :)

[nornet]

There is no limit for the number of imports allowed per year .... dealers and brokers do 10s if not 100s of imports a year.

The issue is ... if you are bringing in too many cars and flipping them then "they" may consider you to be a dealer and expect you to have a license (as a motor vehicle dealer) and income tax declared on the profits and the right visa to do work in the states (get the cars) ... etc

so how many is too many ??? when you get their attention

I beg to differ. There is a limit for non dealers (also known as curbsiders). Remember these are the guys the government in Ont were after big time a few years back. Try and bring in 5 in a year and you'll be spending some time with prosecuting attorneys.

[sienna owner]

I beg to differ. There is a limit for non dealers (also known as curbsiders). Remember these are the guys the government in Ont were after big time a few years back. Try and bring in 5 in a year and you'll be spending some time with prosecuting attorneys.

so you have the website link to that?

[69Stang]

You guys are funny. For one question, one answered "no" and the other "yes". So what to take here?

I remember seeing somewhere that there is a limit of 2 vehicle imports per year. Maybe someone can clarify here?

I was asked by customs last year how many cars I have imported, they stated 2 was the limit. Anything over 2 and you have to apply for a import license.

[Raven_007]

Guys, do I understand correctly that you need to pay gas guzzler excise tax only on vehicles put in service on or after March 20, 2007?
So, if I am buying fueld inefficient used car that was put in service prior to that, I do not need to pay excise tax?
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/agency/budget/2007/excise-e.html
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/et/etsl64/etsl64-e.pdf
Also, what would classify as "proof acceptable to the Canada Border Services Agency to demonstrate the date on which the automobile entered into service for purposes of tax determination"?

I left the voicemail for CRA to verify with them.

[ozzy11118]

does anyone have a dealer or broker that I could use to buy a 2008 toyota sienna in the U.S.

[69Stang]

Hey guys,
quick question.

I wanted to purchase the vehicle for my mom to put it in her name, but she will not be able to come to the US to pick it up with me. Is it possible to put her name on the bill of sale, title etc. and still cross the border without a problem? Also will the temp permit in the sate i purchased it from have to be in her name or my name?

Would it be better to simply purchase it all in my name and then transfer title when I get to Canada? I just want to avoid paying tax twice :)

You can bring it back for her however you must have a letter from her stating your name and that your driving the vehicle back with her authorization. She will have to make one trip down to sign the paperwork. I would suggest this option. No tax for gifting a car to a parent.

[bovolu]

You can bring it back for her however you must have a letter from her stating your name and that your driving the vehicle back with her authorization. She will have to make one trip down to sign the paperwork. I would suggest this option. No tax for gifting a car to a parent.

PST only has to be paid when registered correct? Could i purchase the car and put title under my name in the US, bring it into Canada and then transfer title to my mother and have her register it and then pay PST? Then there would be no double tax correct? Is this possible?

[69Stang]

PST only has to be paid when registered correct? Could i purchase the car and put title under my name in the US, bring it into Canada and then transfer title to my mother and have her register it and then pay PST? Then there would be no double tax correct? Is this possible?

Yes, it's possible. There's no double pst either way I listed.

[69Stang]

PST only has to be paid when registered correct? Could i purchase the car and put title under my name in the US, bring it into Canada and then transfer title to my mother and have her register it and then pay PST? Then there would be no double tax correct? Is this possible?

Just to clarify, if your name is on the title you will have to register the car in your name and pay the pst. Then you can gift the car to your mother, you should probably call the MTO as I am now thinking you will have to e/test and recertify it again.

[sienna owner]

Just to clarify, if your name is on the title you will have to register the car in your name and pay the pst. Then you can gift the car to your mother, you should probably call the MTO as I am now thinking you will have to e/test and recertify it again.

There is an easier way....
Pay the state tax and register it in the US, then create a bill of sale from you to your mother. Along with the original bill of sale and the title you should be fine. US will take a look at both, however they will stamp/seal the original title. you can drive over and at the Cdn customs show bill of sale and pay under your mom's name since it's effective that date...show docs to MTO and pay PST and register under mom's name.

as for signing docs, you can have the dealership fed-ex the docs and return the same way...what you may have to do is get the dealer to work with you, and you have to work with them...pay up front, wait the 10-14 days for original title, and have the dealer hold it on the lot for you. Once you get the title, fax it and make plans to pick it up 72 hours later...letter from mom would be good idea, but if last name on title/ new bill of sale is same, shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

[69Stang]

There is an easier way....
Pay the state tax and register it in the US, then create a bill of sale from you to your mother. Along with the original bill of sale and the title you should be fine. US will take a look at both, however they will stamp/seal the original title. you can drive over and at the Cdn customs show bill of sale and pay under your mom's name since it's effective that date...show docs to MTO and pay PST and register under mom's name.

as for signing docs, you can have the dealership fed-ex the docs and return the same way...what you may have to do is get the dealer to work with you, and you have to work with them...pay up front, wait the 10-14 days for original title, and have the dealer hold it on the lot for you. Once you get the title, fax it and make plans to pick it up 72 hours later...letter from mom would be good idea, but if last name on title/ new bill of sale is same, shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Why would you tell someone to pay the state tax ? The objective on importing cars is to reduce your cost not to inflate it. Your process is certainly not easier and is more expensive.

[Raven_007]

Guys, do I understand correctly that you need to pay gas guzzler excise tax only on vehicles put in service on or after March 20, 2007?
So, if I am buying fueld inefficient used car that was put in service prior to that, I do not need to pay excise tax?
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/agency/budget/2007/excise-e.html
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/et/etsl64/etsl64-e.pdf
Also, what would classify as "proof acceptable to the Canada Border Services Agency to demonstrate the date on which the automobile entered into service for purposes of tax determination"?

I left the voicemail for CRA to verify with them.

Got a call from CRA.

As long as the car was put in service prior to March 20, 2007 - no excise tax, just need to show the copy of the title.
Gas guzzler, here I come :D

[CheapScotsman]

I beg to differ. There is a limit for non dealers (also known as curbsiders). Remember these are the guys the government in Ont were after big time a few years back. Try and bring in 5 in a year and you'll be spending some time with prosecuting attorneys.

I was asked by customs last year how many cars I have imported, they stated 2 was the limit. Anything over 2 and you have to apply for a import license.

I just got off the phone with CBSA and they indicated that I can bring in as many as I wanted for personal use ... which includes any for family (one for me, wife, mom, dad, kids, grandparents), etc ... its all personal use (no profit) and he indicated there would be no issues. Obviously you need to be able to back it up with paperwork.

There is a subtle difference between a non-dealer and a curber. A non-dealer can be somebody buying selling car with no profit; a curber is somebody buying and selling cars to make a profit and doesn't have a provincial dealer license while a dealer is ... well, he has got the license.

If I was bringing them in for non-personal use and reselling them without a MTO license then, yep, I am going to be in big trouble ... but if you want to do it legit then ...

a) Setup a sole proprietorship. Most provinces are less than $60
b) From the fed side ... get a Revenue Canada business number with an import permit (this is the import permit that the CBSA phone call confirmed). There is no charge for this registration
c) From the provincial side ... get a dealer license. Appears to be about $500 in Ontario (http://www.omvic.on.ca/info/registration/dealer_registration_info.htm)

Now you are in business and can import as many cars as you like for profit (albiet slightly different import paperwork and you have to do it at the commercial crossings and you better declare it on your income tax, file PST, etc)

[Nitrate]

Hey guys,
quick question.

I wanted to purchase the vehicle for my mom to put it in her name, but she will not be able to come to the US to pick it up with me. Is it possible to put her name on the bill of sale, title etc. and still cross the border without a problem? Also will the temp permit in the sate i purchased it from have to be in her name or my name?

Would it be better to simply purchase it all in my name and then transfer title when I get to Canada? I just want to avoid paying tax twice :)Yes it is possible. I don't know all the details, but when I imported my Sienna, one of the options given to me by my broker is that the auto transport company can deliver the van from the dealer's lot direct to my doorstep. They'll handle all the paperwork across the border. Of course, the transport company was going to charge me something like $1400 US, so I declined that offer. (I did have the company ship it for $250 to Blaine just outside the border and I picked it up from there.)

[Monsieurmaggot]

I just got off the phone with CBSA and they indicated that I can bring in as many as I wanted for personal use ... which includes any for family (one for me, wife, mom, dad, kids, grandparents), etc ... its all personal use (no profit) and he indicated there would be no issues. Obviously you need to be able to back it up with paperwork.


What you're saying is partially what they told me with one exception:

I was told you can import as many cars as you like BUT you cannot import more than 2 vehicles (for personal use) per year per person. The owner doesn't need to be licensed and only needs to be 18 years or older. Using that logic, a household with a husband and wife with two 18+ kids can import 8 cars per year without any problems.

This was a verbal conversation and for the life of me, I can't find ANYTHING relating to any limits on personal vehicle imports on any government website.

If anyone finds any written documentation, I'm sure we'd all love to see it.

[Nitrate]

Limits on number of imports is one thing, isn't there also a limit on the number of cars one can sell as well, that is, if one is not a licensed dealer?

[tleblanc]

Last update for me - Car has been successfully plated. Received the RIV form 2 via email, went to Canadian Tire for inspection - no issues - went to MTO and registered it and put the new plates on... oh ya .. and paid my PS too :<

Thanks again to all who helped with their experiences and information

Cheers


Well the RIV sticker arrived today in the mail, it's on the car and that's it ...car is now Canadian. It was an easy process and I saved a bunch of $$. Second one should be much easier :cheesygri

PS If anyone is interested - The dealer emailed me letting me know they are going to be selling another one of their demo S60s (metallic Black with all US packages) if you are interested I can put you in touch with him, just PM me.

Cheers

[regrus]

Hi my first post here, but I've been following this thread for a couple of months. Anyway I just wanted to say that I was able to import a brand-new 2008 Sienna for about $2200 USD less than MSRP. Actually the actual total was $3700 USD below MSRP but the dealer was offering a $1500 USD discount off sticker. My US broker then got it down a further $2200 USD for me. My broker dealt with the dealer the whole time. My broker knew I was Canadian and didn't have a problem with it. I'm not sure he relayed that info to the dealer, but it didn't matter. As far as the dealer was concerned, he was signing over the MCO to an American broker, who signed over the MCO to me. No title was issued in the exchange, but the back of the MCO has two entries.

The only other cost unique to me (compared to someone who would pick up the vehicle directly from a dealer) was a $250 shipping done by an auto transport company. They moved the van from the dealer's lot to a holding yard near the border where I picked it up. Otherwise, the same RIV fees and inspection costs apply.

Maybe I'm repeating what others know, but the Washington state trip permit is valid in BC until it expires 3 days after purchase. The ICBC insurance binder (Form APV38) is valid for 10 days, so there's 3 days I could have used the Sienna without regular plates. It was too bad the RIV Form 2 arrived in my email on the 4th day, after the WA permit expired. I then had to purchase a BC TOP (temp operating permit) to drive the van for inspection.

It was my understanding that USA customs would NOT process a MSO document for export that has been reassigned twice. In other words a person can't go buy a new car and then resell it to me and sign the MSO over to me with no Title being issued first. Anyone confirm???

Edit: To clear up some confusion I should have stated that it is my understanding USA Customs regulations state that for export a MSO can not again be reassigned between private individuals after the purchase from a new car dealership but must instead be titled. So reasignment of the MSO between new car dealers is OK but not allowed between private parties after the delivery of the vehicle by the selling dealership. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Nitrate]

It was my understanding that USA customs would NOT process a MSO document for export that has been reassigned twice. In other words a person can't go buy a new car and then resell it to me and sign the MSO over to me with no Title being issued first. Anyone confirm???I don't know but the US Customs officer who processed mine did not even bother looking in the back of my MCO. He looked at the front of it, asked me whether I've faxed my documents 3 days in advance, searched for my faxed copies from a cabinet in the back wall, found it and transferred them to a bin, came back to me and stamped my MCO. I was out the door within 3 minutes.

I have 2 other references who have imported the same way with no problem.

If you're right, then maybe the issue is with private transfers of ownership. The initial transfer on my MCO happened between two licenced dealers and the last end-user was me.

[zircon]

Well the RIV sticker arrived today in the mail, it's on the car and that's it ...car is now Canadian. It was an easy process and I saved a bunch of $$. Second one should be much easier :cheesygri

PS If anyone is interested - The dealer emailed me letting me know they are going to be selling another one of their demo S60s (metallic Black with all US packages) if you are interested I can put you in touch with him, just PM me.

Cheers

I imported a Lexus (used) last year, and after a snafu caused by the border person writing the incorrect VIN, I got it straightened out and my form 2 (I think it was the form 2) from RIV. I had the vehicle saftied and licensed. No problems since. I never received a 'sticker' from RIV. Am I missing the last step?

[pulsar]

It was my understanding that USA customs would NOT process a MSO document for export that has been reassigned twice. In other words a person can't go buy a new car and then resell it to me and sign the MSO over to me with no Title being issued first. Anyone confirm???

I highly doubt this is true as all USA customs is looking for is whether the vehicle is stolen or has liens on it. Also, when dealers swap cars, the MSO needs to be reassigned to the new dealer. In other words, if I buy a vehicle from Dealer A who went to Dealer B to get it, the MSO needs to be reassigned to dealer A and then assigned to me. This is just a normal process of buying a new vehicle.

[Matty]

How much can I save on buying a Toyota Corolla 2008/09 Model in the US compared to Canada?

.com
.ca

That's all I'm throwin' ya.

[tleblanc]

I imported a Lexus (used) last year, and after a snafu caused by the border person writing the incorrect VIN, I got it straightened out and my form 2 (I think it was the form 2) from RIV. I had the vehicle saftied and licensed. No problems since. I never received a 'sticker' from RIV. Am I missing the last step?

I would call RIV and find out where it is, they are supposed to send you a letter indicating that your vehicle has successfully completed the RIV process. They will give you a Canadian Certification label ... Quote for the letter "The motor vehicle safety act requires that this label be permanently affixed to your vehicle"

[Nitrate]

I would call RIV and find out where it is, they are supposed to send you a letter indicating that your vehicle has successfully completed the RIV process. They will give you a Canadian Certification label ... Quote for the letter "The motor vehicle safety act requires that this label be permanently affixed to your vehicle"Thanks for the reminder on this. I finished my inspection only last Thursday. So I should expect to receive the certification label sometime next week.

One thing I noticed in this process is that it's the inspection centre that faxes the Form 2 back to RIV after inspection. It makes you wonder when things are not under your control. I'd be calling RIV definitely end of next week if I don't receive my label.

[Nitrate]

I highly doubt this is true as all USA customs is looking for is whether the vehicle is stolen or has liens on it. Also, when dealers swap cars, the MSO needs to be reassigned to the new dealer. In other words, if I buy a vehicle from Dealer A who went to Dealer B to get it, the MSO needs to be reassigned to dealer A and then assigned to me. This is just a normal process of buying a new vehicle.I would tend to agree with this. The US Customs office in Blaine WA only require a faxed copy of the front of the MSO/MCO and they probably do all their investigation (stolen,liens,etc.) based on the faxed copies. It's maybe why coming in to present the original document was so quick, the stamp was just a formality.

[Genia11]

Can someone recommend me a Toyota dealer in the East? I am looking to purchase a 08 Toyota Camry and I have relatives in the US whose assistance can be obtained if necessary.

Thank you.

G.

[scouzi]

I just got off the phone with CBSA and they indicated that I can bring in as many as I wanted for personal use ... which includes any for family (one for me, wife, mom, dad, kids, grandparents), etc ... its all personal use (no profit) and he indicated there would be no issues. Obviously you need to be able to back it up with paperwork.

There is a subtle difference between a non-dealer and a curber. A non-dealer can be somebody buying selling car with no profit; a curber is somebody buying and selling cars to make a profit and doesn't have a provincial dealer license while a dealer is ... well, he has got the license.

If I was bringing them in for non-personal use and reselling them without a MTO license then, yep, I am going to be in big trouble ... but if you want to do it legit then ...

a) Setup a sole proprietorship. Most provinces are less than $60
b) From the fed side ... get a Revenue Canada business number with an import permit (this is the import permit that the CBSA phone call confirmed). There is no charge for this registration
c) From the provincial side ... get a dealer license. Appears to be about $500 in Ontario (http://www.omvic.on.ca/info/registration/dealer_registration_info.htm)

Now you are in business and can import as many cars as you like for profit (albiet slightly different import paperwork and you have to do it at the commercial crossings and you better declare it on your income tax, file PST, etc)

Usually, to become a dealer you need a surety bond + liability insurance + you need a physical place of business for displaying cars for sale according to local city bylaws. You cannot be a virtual dealer out of your home.

[Lost Horizon]

A friend followed my US purchase with his own, and made up a flow chart to understand the steps and timeline. I thought it was a great visual, so here it is. (He brought in a 2008 Honda GoldWing loaded and saved over $10,000). A happy camper.

http://rceheli.com/main/Images/import_vehicle.jpg

[shopper-X]

A friend followed my US purchase with his own, and made up a flow chart to understand the steps and timeline. I thought it was a great visual, so here it is. (He brought in a 2008 Honda GoldWing loaded and saved over $10,000). A happy camper.

http://rceheli.com/main/Images/import_vehicle.jpg

Thanks for posting this.
I think this should be added to first post along with posting it on www.carburner.com.

[SeeWhy2]

A friend followed my US purchase with his own, and made up a flow chart to understand the steps and timeline. I thought it was a great visual, so here it is. (He brought in a 2008 Honda GoldWing loaded and saved over $10,000). A happy camper.

Thanks - visual is good!

Thanks for posting this.
I think this should be added to first post along with posting it on www.carburner.com.

Ditto

[sienna owner]

.com
.ca

That's all I'm throwin' ya.

LOL
:lol:

[bulgurc]

It is great, but where is the 72 hours wait time? If I followed this, I would have gone to US customs immediately...

[Lost Horizon]

It is great, but where is the 72 hours wait time? If I followed this, I would have gone to US customs immediately...

LOL.. this is a high level flow chart.. you still have to do the details..

I'll remove the chart if it bothers you.

[Sandy17116]

Can someone recommend me a Toyota dealer in the East? I am looking to purchase a 08 Toyota Camry and I have relatives in the US whose assistance can be obtained if necessary.

Thank you.

G.

I am now in Nashville TN. Originally I want a RAV4. It is really hard to find a dealer who is willing to sell Canadians. :-( I am gonna to turn to HONDA CRV. The Honda dealer said I need to pay TN sales tax to get the bill of sales. Anybody has experience! How can I convince him that I don't need to............

The following is from the dealer:

"
Here is some information in regards to taxes. You will have to pay Tennessee Sales tax on your CRV even though your vehicle will be registered in Canada. This is because, in order to go through Customs with your new vehicle, you will have to have the Bill of Sale. In order to get the Bill of Sale, you have to pay taxes. There will most likely be a difference between Tennessee Sales tax and Canada tax, so you would be liable for the difference. I hope this makes sense. I am looking forward to your next email. "

[CheapScotsman]

I am now in Nashville TN. Originally I want a RAV4. It is really hard to find a dealer who is willing to sell Canadians. :-( I am gonna to turn to HONDA CRV. Just a few suggestions/comments

Contact a broker; they can purchase for you; See the posting by nitrate (who bought a toyota via a borker) in the just the last few pages

Go used on your Toyota, you will save even more money. Any dealer will sell to you; even a certified used (without the certified part).

You do know that honda doesn't honor the warranty across the border, right?

The Honda dealer said I need to pay TN sales tax to get the bill of sales. Anybody has experience! How can I convince him that I don't need to............

The following is from the dealer:

"
Here is some information in regards to taxes. You will have to pay Tennessee Sales tax on your CRV even though your vehicle will be registered in Canada. This is because, in order to go through Customs with your new vehicle, you will have to have the Bill of Sale. In order to get the Bill of Sale, you have to pay taxes. There will most likely be a difference between Tennessee Sales tax and Canada tax, so you would be liable for the difference. I hope this makes sense. I am looking forward to your next email. "Although there is no reference, this link (http://www.carburner.com/index.php?title=Tennessee) indicates that there should be no taxes payable in TN. I can only suggest google to find the applicable references ... or find a new dealer who knows what they are doing.

[Nitrate]

"....In order to get the Bill of Sale, you have to pay taxes...."I smell something fishy in that statement. I would stay away from this dealer if I were you.

[Sandy17116]

Hi my first post here, but I've been following this thread for a couple of months. Anyway I just wanted to say that I was able to import a brand-new 2008 Sienna for about $2200 USD less than MSRP. Actually the actual total was $3700 USD below MSRP but the dealer was offering a $1500 USD discount off sticker. My US broker then got it down a further $2200 USD for me. My broker dealt with the dealer the whole time. My broker knew I was Canadian and didn't have a problem with it. I'm not sure he relayed that info to the dealer, but it didn't matter. As far as the dealer was concerned, he was signing over the MCO to an American broker, who signed over the MCO to me. No title was issued in the exchange, but the back of the MCO has two entries.

The only other cost unique to me (compared to someone who would pick up the vehicle directly from a dealer) was a $250 shipping done by an auto transport company. They moved the van from the dealer's lot to a holding yard near the border where I picked it up. Otherwise, the same RIV fees and inspection costs apply.

Maybe I'm repeating what others know, but the Washington state trip permit is valid in BC until it expires 3 days after purchase. The ICBC insurance binder (Form APV38) is valid for 10 days, so there's 3 days I could have used the Sienna without regular plates. It was too bad the RIV Form 2 arrived in my email on the 4th day, after the WA permit expired. I then had to purchase a BC TOP (temp operating permit) to drive the van for inspection.

Just curious, you got the recall letter through the broker? any problem for getting the recall letter? THanks Nitrate !

[Sandy17116]

Just a few suggestions/comments

Contact a broker; they can purchase for you; See the posting by nitrate (who bought a toyota via a borker) in the just the last few pages

Go used on your Toyota, you will save even more money. Any dealer will sell to you; even a certified used (without the certified part).

You do know that honda doesn't honor the warranty across the border, right?

Although there is no reference, this link (http://www.carburner.com/index.php?title=Tennessee) indicates that there should be no taxes payable in TN. I can only suggest google to find the applicable references ... or find a new dealer who knows what they are doing.

Thanks for your suggestion.

[Nitrate]

Just curious, you got the recall letter through the broker? any problem for getting the recall letter? THanks Nitrate !
No problem with them getting the recall letter. Never having done this before, I was expecting an original letter mailed in, but it was simply a faxed copy, which was in turn faxed to me by the broker.

[CheapScotsman]

Just curious, you got the recall letter through the broker? any problem for getting the recall letter? THanks Nitrate !You can also just phone Toyota USA directly. They faxed the recall letter directly to me (after I gave them the VIN). They said it could take up to 3 days and I got it 45 minutes later. Turn it around and fax it back to RIV (once into Canada) and you are done (with the recall letter).

[zircon]

I would call RIV and find out where it is, they are supposed to send you a letter indicating that your vehicle has successfully completed the RIV process. They will give you a Canadian Certification label ... Quote for the letter "The motor vehicle safety act requires that this label be permanently affixed to your vehicle"

thanks. yeah, I definitely do not have the sticker. I will call RIV. My experience was not good with them. I waited my 10 days and no contact from them. I was going on vacation and my temp tag was going to expire so I contacted them by email. They told me the VIN was transcribed incorrectly, but they never tried t oreach me. I had to get them the proper VIN and them emailed my form 2 at about 9-10pm! I took it to Can Tire and had no problem, but never had followup from riv with a sticker.

The whole process is a mess, conjured up by Can auto retailers. I hope Harper continues to make it easier to import. I was looking at a G35, and a Legacy GT, but the fuel economy of both stopped me. When mass diesels arrive, i will go back to the USA for 1.

[blazerzr2]

Hi all,

Just a question with regards to those who bought a vehicle from Manchester Subaru.

I'm planning to go down and take a look at a couple of vehicles there, 2 of them used and possibly a new Subie.

Just wanted to know what was the best way to get down there. I know some people flew down and some took greyhound.

For those that flew, which airline did you use, what is the airport name there close to Manchester and what were the fares like?

For those that chose Greyhound, how was your experience?

If there's any other suggestions on how to get there pretty inexpensively, I would really appreciate it. Planning on going down for 1 day, maybe two, leaving next Friday or Saturday.

Thanks alot for all your help.

Cheers.:)

[cordarone]

Air Canada has flights from Pearson direct to Manchester Airport. It's probably cheaper though to fly to Boston's Logan Airport. From there, you can get a bus to Manchester (Concord Trailways).
I flew down to Logan and had relatives drive me over to NH ftw :cheesygri

[bulgurc]

Greyhound or drive to Buffalo, fly from there

[blazerzr2]

Greyhound or drive to Buffalo, fly from there

What airline do you suggest? Sorry, I'm a rookie at this.

I checked out Air Canada's flights and they're way too expensive for a 1 or 2 day trip. Ideally, I'd fly out in the morning and return in the late afternoon/evening of same day!

Greyhound is a possibility, just trying to get some prices as the website spat out a few errors when I tried!

Thanks all for any help.

[bulgurc]

What airline do you suggest? Sorry, I'm a rookie at this.

I checked out Air Canada's flights and they're way too expensive for a 1 or 2 day trip. Ideally, I'd fly out in the morning and return in the late afternoon/evening of same day!

Greyhound is a possibility, just trying to get some prices as the website spat out a few errors when I tried!

Thanks all for any help.
Sorry, I misunderstood you a little bit, I thought you were going to pick up a vehicle, although principles should be the same.

Flights from Buffalo is a lot cheaper than from Toronto. Go check expedia.com for prices. The downside is though, flights are usually not direct, so it takes a while to get there, so it is not convenient and it will be a lot harder to get back the same day. I believe Manchester has an airport.

Greyhound.com gave me a price of $234, however it takes more than 14 hours to get there.

Why are you going there to look at the cars, are you buying used? If new, go to your local dealership and see the car, pretty much the same car except some options.

[blazerzr2]

Sorry, I misunderstood you a little bit, I thought you were going to pick up a vehicle, although principles should be the same.

Flights from Buffalo is a lot cheaper than from Toronto. Go check expedia.com for prices. The downside is though, flights are usually not direct, so it takes a while to get there, so it is not convenient and it will be a lot harder to get back the same day. I believe Manchester has an airport.

Greyhound.com gave me a price of $234, however it takes more than 14 hours to get there.

Why are you going there to look at the cars, are you buying used? If new, go to your local dealership and see the car, pretty much the same car except some options.

Yes, I'm primarily going to go look at a vehicle in their used inventory. Definitely want to get a NEW subie, but unless he gives me the deal of a century, probably just the used vehicle that my wife has her eye on. We're pretty much 100% on buying it, but have to go down and take a look ourselves to make sure it is what it is. Regardless, gonna be saving at least $5000 over what the same car would cost here! Heck, who knows, might just bite the bullet earlier than later and pick up my Subie. Wife must decide! No use arguing over finances, I'll wait a year to get my car if need be, just drive my beater for another winter.

Cheers.

[cordarone]

Sorry, glossed over the round-trip, same-day requirements you had.
From Buffalo, flying to Boston and taking the bus to NH will still be somewhat cheaper ($130 flight + $27 bus) than flying with a connection to Manchester ($200+up).
It'll be a wash time-wise though; the bus from Logan to Manchester takes 1:45, so look at 3:30 to 4H either way.

[blazerzr2]

Sorry, glossed over the round-trip, same-day requirements you had.
From Buffalo, flying to Boston and taking the bus to NH will still be somewhat cheaper ($130 flight + $27 bus) than flying with a connection to Manchester ($200+up).
It'll be a wash time-wise though; the bus from Logan to Manchester takes 1:45, so look at 3:30 to 4H either way.

Hi,
Thanks for your input. Which airline and bus company did you look at for these numbers?

thanks.

[atorontoguy]

Does anyone know that if 2008 Toyota Camry (LE/SE/XLE) in US comes with immobilizer? They have Daytime Running Light, but I am not sure if they have immobilizer. Thanks.

[chene]

below is nothing new, but just an official confirmation I got from Toyota Canada:

Dear <my name deleted>:

Thank you for your recent correspondence.

Please be advised that the manufacturer's warranty (regardless of whether it is a US Toyota vehicle or a Canadian Toyota vehicle) is honoured in continental USA and Canada.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

<name deleted>
Customer Interaction Centre
Toyota Canada Inc.

This begin when I used toyota.ca to send an inquire about the warranty for US-imported cars.

The reason I needed a confirmation is: local Toyota dealer indicated that, although US warranty is valid, the local dealer still quires payment upfront, and the customer will get reimbursement later. I wonder if it is my local dealer only, and hence sent my inquiry.

hope this helps,

[diigii]

Better get your Subaru's now before Toyota tampers with Subaru's corporate strategy by restricting sales of brand new cars to non-US residents. Toyota Motor Corporation is upping its ownership stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, parent of Subaru, to 16.5% from 8.7%. Here is the rest of the article.

http://www.autonet.ca/donut/content/news/2008/04/10/5246266-ap.html

Toyota raising stake in Fuji Heavy
Associated Press
Published: 10 04 2008

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. says it will raise its stake in Fuji Heavy Industries to 16.5 per cent, expanding their ties, and the automakers plan to develop cars together.

Toyota said Thursday the step is part of its plans to revamp business tie-ups with Fuji Heavy, the Japanese maker of Subaru cars, and Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota subsidiary that makes small cars.

Toyota, Japan's No. 1 automaker, currently has an 8.7 per cent stake in Fuji Heavy.

[Nitrate]

below is nothing new, but just an official confirmation I got from Toyota Canada:



This begin when I used toyota.ca to send an inquire about the warranty for US-imported cars.

The reason I needed a confirmation is: local Toyota dealer indicated that, although US warranty is valid, the local dealer still quires payment upfront, and the customer will get reimbursement later. I wonder if it is my local dealer only, and hence sent my inquiry.

hope this helps,No upfront payment. I phoned both Toyota USA and Canada. Both said yes, the warranty is valid on both sides. The person on the Canada side elaborated that when Canadian Toyota service centres enter the US vehicle's information, they would see that it is imported because it will not show up on their system. They will then know that they need to bill Toyota USA for any warranty work. The vehicle owner will not have to do anything, i.e. no upfront payments for later reimbursement, etc. It should all be transparent to us. At least, that's what the woman on the phone said.

[Genia11]

Looks like RIV just updated their list and 2009 Camrys are admissible.

[chene]

that may be the policy, but not been upheld in the local dealer here (from what I was told). A friend imported a 2007 Prius and asked the local dealer the exact same question. Service Manager was the one who told him about payment upfront/reimbursement later.


No upfront payment. I phoned both Toyota USA and Canada. Both said yes, the warranty is valid on both sides. The person on the Canada side elaborated that when Canadian Toyota service centres enter the US vehicle's information, they would see that it is imported because it will not show up on their system. They will then know that they need to bill Toyota USA for any warranty work. The vehicle owner will not have to do anything, i.e. no upfront payments for later reimbursement, etc. It should all be transparent to us. At least, that's what the woman on the phone said.

[whampoa]

Yes, I'm primarily going to go look at a vehicle in their used inventory. Definitely want to get a NEW subie, but unless he gives me the deal of a century, probably just the used vehicle that my wife has her eye on. We're pretty much 100% on buying it, but have to go down and take a look ourselves to make sure it is what it is. Regardless, gonna be saving at least $5000 over what the same car would cost here! Heck, who knows, might just bite the bullet earlier than later and pick up my Subie. Wife must decide! No use arguing over finances, I'll wait a year to get my car if need be, just drive my beater for another winter.

Cheers.

Unless you're planning to stay a week in Manchester, enough time to get insurance and fax title to the border, and arrange to buy a new or used Subie on the spot.

It will be totally a waste of time and money to just travel down there just to look at the car lot.

It will be much easier if you can arrange everything over the phone or online first.

If it makes you feel at ease, ask the salesperson if he can take pictures of the models you like and the VIN.

So that you can do a Carfax check before the purchase.

[sienna owner]

that may be the policy, but not been upheld in the local dealer here (from what I was told). A friend imported a 2007 Prius and asked the local dealer the exact same question. Service Manager was the one who told him about payment upfront/reimbursement later.

definitely should be contacting Toyota Canada...seems fishy

[ryyeung]

Hi all,

This may be useful info for all those weird bumper laws!

http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2008/08-h090e.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------




News Release
No. H 090/08
For release - April 2, 2008

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO HARMONIZE BUMPER STANDARD
OTTAWA — The Government of Canada has proposed an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) to harmonize the Canadian bumper standard for passenger cars with similar safety standards from the United States and Europe.

The proposed amendment would result in one set of globally regulated test speed requirements for the design of bumpers. This would simplify the bumper design for vehicles destined for the North American and European markets.

"This proposed amendment would offer more choice to Canadians who wish to import vehicles," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "At the same time, it would help to maintain the safety of Canadian roads."

This proposed change is consistent with the spirit of the Canada-U.S. Security and Prosperity Partnership to reduce regulatory differences and facilitate international trade while maintaining high levels of safety.

While the provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction for road use and after-market additions to motor vehicles, Transport Canada develops safety standards and regulations for new vehicles and vehicles imported for use in Canada. However, before buying a vehicle in the U.S., Canadians should check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) about the rules and process for importing vehicles (www.riv.ca).

The proposed amendment was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on March 22, 2008. Canadians have 30 days in which to review the proposed amendment and respond to it. The Government of Canada would then review the comments in order to develop a final amendment for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

- 30 -

Contacts:

Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

[Coolers]

In case anyone's picking a car up this weekend, I have roughly $4000 USD that I'd like to exchange for CAD at the real-time XE.com exchange rate to save us both the foreign exchange commission (roughly $40-50 each). I work in the downtown core :cheesygri.

[brew99]

Anybody have any updated information on importing a Volvo from the US? I just phone my local Volvo dealer (BC), to get a price quote for Safety Inspection, and they wanted $1900. The service guy told me that their head office has instructed this pricing to try and deter individuals from importing.

Any work arounds?

[smd101]

I am looking at getting into a new Acura MDX from the US.

Does anyone know if I can lease it (and I know I can't lease it from the US dealer etc) or any financial instituation here in Canada that will offer a "lease" type financing?

I talk to a rep at RBC regarding their "Car Buy Back" program, which is like a lease but they said that its for vehicles that are registered in Canada, so I would have to get it here first.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[tleblanc]

Anybody have any updated information on importing a Volvo from the US? I just phone my local Volvo dealer (BC), to get a price quote for Safety Inspection, and they wanted $1900. The service guy told me that their head office has instructed this pricing to try and deter individuals from importing.

Any work arounds?

Hey Brew,

I think you should ask what you are getting in a "Safety Inspection" for $1900, almost seems fraudulent, considering they typically charge based on pre-determined time -ie replace light - 1.5 hours at $90/hour rate. Brake job x number of hours ...The Volvo dealer I brought mine to, charged me 2.5 hours to perform an import inspection and safety inspection ($270 total). They fill out a sheet of items .. probably can be done in 30 minutes... I cannot imagine they are doing 20+ hours of work to perform an inspection. If they are doing this to "deter" people from importing then that last time I checked this would be considered illegal (barring changes in a free market and NAFTA). If it's to replace the speedometer cluster and add safety anchors for the children seats and change the bumper and replace the airbags with bilingual airbags (;>) then $1900 sounds fair.. otherwise this is criminal.

[brew99]

Hey Brew,

I think you should ask what you are getting in a "Safety Inspection" for $1900, almost seems fraudulent, considering they typically charge based on pre-determined time -ie replace light - 1.5 hours at $90/hour rate. Brake job x number of hours ...The Volvo dealer I brought mine to, charged me 2.5 hours to perform an import inspection and safety inspection ($270 total). They fill out a sheet of items .. probably can be done in 30 minutes... I cannot imagine they are doing 20+ hours of work to perform an inspection. If they are doing this to "deter" people from importing then that last time I checked this would be considered illegal (barring changes in a free market and NAFTA). If it's to replace the speedometer cluster and add safety anchors for the children seats and change the bumper and replace the airbags with bilingual airbags (;>) then $1900 sounds fair.. otherwise this is criminal.

I would agree, it is totally bogus. I would love to hear from someone who has actually gone through the process recently with a Volvo dealer in BC, to see if they were actually charged this high fee, or if it is just a scare tatic.

Where did you get your safety inspection tleBlanc?

[disk2050]

Just a few suggestions/comments
.....
Go used on your Toyota, you will save even more money. Any dealer will sell to you; even a certified used (without the certified part).
.....

Not true, I bought a used Toyota Certified 2007 RAV4 last March. The dealer had no issues selling me certified one. While I was nego'ing the price, the saleman said, he will give me more discount if I get the car without the Toyota Certification, which I choice not to do.

Then later I bought 7yr/10000 extra car warranty from a different dealer in the US for my RAV4 for an a great price. Once it was approved and entered in Toyota USA computer, I went to local Toyota dealer in GTA and showed them my pruchased agreement and the local dealer comfirmed my extended wrannaty by calling Toyota USA. She entered some info from my paper work into her computer and told me I am all set. :D

I hope above info will help someone who needs it.

Good luck to all shopping across the border for cars and I hope sooner local dealers will learn that it NOT OK to sell cars for so expensive!

[jamie886]

I will be importing a tacoma very soon, from the US. There is a company in town that makes its business by importing US vehicles for canadian consumers. I am looking at buying a Tacoma dbl cab 4x4 Sport + Towing with a manual transmission. 2008 CAD MSRP is ~$37,500. 2008 US MSRP is ~$30,500, so ~$7000 cheaper in the US with the MSRPs.

Anyways, this company is quoting me a final purchase price of $31,000 CAD for a used 2007 model bought as a low mileage lease return from Toyota Financial US (they say this is $4000 - $5000 less than the same used truck in canada). I am wondering if this is a good price, or whether I will save more by purchasing a used 2007 in the US and importing myself.

And is buying a brand new 2008 directly from a US dealer for import into canada even possible anymore?

I've been reading through some of the posts in this section, but there are so many so I haven't found my answers yet. Thanks for your time!

[giasone]

Unless someone can prove me wrong, I hardly think buying a 2009 Camry is worth it.

Price in Canada fully loaded hybrid - $34770

US Price - $31,600 + state tax

The XLE is similar. Why bother?

[diigii]

What are you comparing with? US vs CAD pricing for the hybrid car or are you comparing between the Hybrid CAD and the US XLE pricing? US Hybrid is invoice-priced @ US$22,680 (from edmunds.com) and CAD$30,660 for the base model. I assume they have identical equipments or a slight difference. Maybe Toyota Canada will say that the Canadian-spec Hybrid's battery lasts longer than the US-spec. D'OH!


Unless someone can prove me wrong, I hardly think buying a 2009 Camry is worth it.

Price in Canada fully loaded hybrid - $34770

US Price - $31,600 + state tax

The XLE is similar. Why bother?

[Nitrate]

Unless someone can prove me wrong, I hardly think buying a 2009 Camry is worth it.

Price in Canada fully loaded hybrid - $34770

US Price - $31,600 + state tax

The XLE is similar. Why bother?Gotta compare apples vs. apples.

Using Toyota Canada's website, a 2009 Camry Hybrid with NAV, leather and JBL audio package comes to $36,150 MSRP.

Using the broker I used to purchase my Sienna, their advertised MSRP for a 2009 Camry Hybrid with the exactly the same upgrades is $30,800. But this broker offers the invoice price of $27,500. No state tax to pay whatsoever.

I would totally consider it, if I were in the market for a Camry.

[DrXenon]

Unless someone can prove me wrong, I hardly think buying a 2009 Camry is worth it.

Price in Canada fully loaded hybrid - $34770

US Price - $31,600 + state tax

The XLE is similar. Why bother?

On Edmund's, I get $30416 after destination fee.
On toyota.ca, I get $36120 for what seems to be the same car, after destination.

If you're rich enough that $5500 doesn't matter, more power to you.

[atorontoguy]

Then later I bought 7yr/10000 extra car warranty from a different dealer in the US for my RAV4 for an a great price. Once it was approved and entered in Toyota USA computer, I went to local Toyota dealer in GTA and showed them my pruchased agreement and the local dealer comfirmed my extended wrannaty by calling Toyota USA. She entered some info from my paper work into her computer and told me I am all set. :D

Did you purchase the extended car warranty after your RAV4 is imported and registered in Canada?

[scouzi]

Anybody have any updated information on importing a Volvo from the US? I just phone my local Volvo dealer (BC), to get a price quote for Safety Inspection, and they wanted $1900. The service guy told me that their head office has instructed this pricing to try and deter individuals from importing.

Any work arounds?

try this:

http://www.carswithoutborders.com/2008/01/30/shopping-day-2-volvo-canada-surprises-me/

Here's a cached page from John Scotti, a big Montreal Volvo dealer.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:0LaQdAa2j94J:www.johnscottivolvo.co m/NewsAndEvents/VehicleAdmissibility.aspx%3Flng%3D2+import+volvo+c anada&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11

[scouzi]

Hey Brew,

I think you should ask what you are getting in a "Safety Inspection" for $1900, almost seems fraudulent, considering they typically charge based on pre-determined time -ie replace light - 1.5 hours at $90/hour rate. Brake job x number of hours ...The Volvo dealer I brought mine to, charged me 2.5 hours to perform an import inspection and safety inspection ($270 total). They fill out a sheet of items .. probably can be done in 30 minutes... I cannot imagine they are doing 20+ hours of work to perform an inspection. If they are doing this to "deter" people from importing then that last time I checked this would be considered illegal (barring changes in a free market and NAFTA). If it's to replace the speedometer cluster and add safety anchors for the children seats and change the bumper and replace the airbags with bilingual airbags (;>) then $1900 sounds fair.. otherwise this is criminal.

Bilingual airbag stickers are only reuiqred if the airbags require periodic maintenance. Most of them don't.

[DSTU]

Anybody have any updated information on importing a Volvo from the US? I just phone my local Volvo dealer (BC), to get a price quote for Safety Inspection, and they wanted $1900. The service guy told me that their head office has instructed this pricing to try and deter individuals from importing.

Any work arounds?

What is the Year and Model?

Most, well every Volvo is totally compliant with Canadian Standards.
Look at the previous RIV lists - if it was admissible then it still is.

[scouzi]

I read the proposed change in the Gazette but it doesn't mention if it would apply to used cars as well.


Does anyone know?

[tleblanc]

I would agree, it is totally bogus. I would love to hear from someone who has actually gone through the process recently with a Volvo dealer in BC, to see if they were actually charged this high fee, or if it is just a scare tatic.

Where did you get your safety inspection tleBlanc?

I had mine inspected in Ottawa at one of the local Volvo dealers, they were very pleasant to deal with, in the end it will be them that gets my service business, so they still benefit with a new service client.

[brew99]

What is the Year and Model?

Most, well every Volvo is totally compliant with Canadian Standards.
Look at the previous RIV lists - if it was admissible then it still is.

I was looking at a 2005 XC70, which as far as I can tell is admissable. It looks like though, that atleast here in BC, they are trying a scare tactic with the $1900 price. I really wonder if they would charge this amount if you brought it in for the inspection? Maybe they are just quoting on the phone this amount?

[x51v]

Thank you! guys, I got my RAV4 save around $7000 :cheesygri

[DSTU]

I was looking at a 2005 XC70, which as far as I can tell is admissable. It looks like though, that atleast here in BC, they are trying a scare tactic with the $1900 price. I really wonder if they would charge this amount if you brought it in for the inspection? Maybe they are just quoting on the phone this amount?

Call Volvo Canada and ask them what needs to be done, get them to justify it.

[yyyttt]

I am almost at the final step of importing a vehicle from US into Canada. I have passed the CT inspection today and will go to MTO office for the registration/licensing. I live in Toronto, ON.

This afternoon, I just read from MTO website that in the "To do checklist" for Licensing Vehicles Registered Out-of-Province, there is item 9 requiring:

"Proof of identity (name, date of birth and signature) for applicant who has never registered a plate or vehicle with this ministry."

Can anyone tell me what that means? There is one car currently under my name. All the documents for this US-purchased car are also shown as my name.

Does anyone here have the same experience for multi-vehicles registered under one name in Ontario?

Thanks for sharing...

[michelb]

No upfront payment. I phoned both Toyota USA and Canada. Both said yes, the warranty is valid on both sides. The person on the Canada side elaborated that when Canadian Toyota service centres enter the US vehicle's information, they would see that it is imported because it will not show up on their system. They will then know that they need to bill Toyota USA for any warranty work. The vehicle owner will not have to do anything, i.e. no upfront payments for later reimbursement, etc. It should all be transparent to us. At least, that's what the woman on the phone said.

FYI, I recently had repairs done on our imported Sienna on warranty. Nothing to pay upfront and I was actually very happy with the service.

[michelb]

thanks. yeah, I definitely do not have the sticker. I will call RIV. My experience was not good with them. I waited my 10 days and no contact from them. I was going on vacation and my temp tag was going to expire so I contacted them by email. They told me the VIN was transcribed incorrectly, but they never tried t oreach me. I had to get them the proper VIN and them emailed my form 2 at about 9-10pm! I took it to Can Tire and had no problem, but never had followup from riv with a sticker.

The whole process is a mess, conjured up by Can auto retailers. I hope Harper continues to make it easier to import. I was looking at a G35, and a Legacy GT, but the fuel economy of both stopped me. When mass diesels arrive, i will go back to the USA for 1.

Maybe I missed something in the discussion but why do you care how long it takes to get the sticker?

When we imported our first vehicle last spring, I think it took about 3-4 weeks to get the sticker. You mention that your temp tag is going to expire but you don't need the sticker to register and get your plates. I recently picked up our Sienna on a Monday morning, faxed the recall letter to RIV that afternoon (and a copy of form1 - which they probably already had), they faxed me the form2 at 7AM on the Tuesday and I got my safety check, emissions and CT inspection done - by noon I had the vehicle registered and plated. Still don't have the sticker ... I guess the sticker confirms that the vehicle has been imported into Canada but unless you plan on flipping the vehicle, want difference does it make if it takes 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months.

[buyingtoyota]

FYI, I recently had repairs done on our imported Sienna on warranty. Nothing to pay upfront and I was actually very happy with the service.

Hi there, I am curious about what type of warranty service you did on your NEW Sienna. I also imported a Sienna last summer. Do you mind sharing your experience? Thanks!

[michelb]

Hi there, I am curious about what type of warranty service you did on your NEW Sienna. I also imported a Sienna last summer. Do you mind sharing your experience? Thanks!

We imported a used one not new. It wasn't anything too significant; the battery wasn't holding charge very well so they tested and replaced it on warranty.

The service advisor was kind of annoying initially - going on about how if everyone imports cars, there won't be any dealership left in Canada to service the vehicles. I simply told him that I understand that it's not his fault or even the dealership's fault that there was such a difference in price but the bottom line is that if the same vehicle is $10k-15k cheaper in the US (not to mention offers more choices/options in trim), there's no way I'd buy in Canada. I also mentioned that from what I've heard/read, dealerships make much of their profit from the service side anyway so importing was actually a good thing (he said it was about 50/50 sales/service). But he never said anything about having to pay up front or call to have work authorized or anything else and other than his intial 'speech', I was very pleased with the service and will likely continue going there (this was at Orleans Toyota in case you care (since you're in Ottawa as well)).

[jeeps17]

Hello everyone,

Like most of you I've done considerable research into the impressive price / options differences between vehicles accross the border, and am now wrestling between two options.

I want to import a Sienna AWD Limited (with an option package unavailable in Canada).

I found an online broker based in NS that claims to find the car, have it shipped to your door and take care of all the paperwork for a certain amount of $$$ (option 1).

However, I also have relatives and friends in different US states that could buy the car for me (option 2).

My work schedule unfortunately does not give me time to do it myself, which would obviously be the best option.

Can anyone direct me to a good thread or web site that details how one can proceed if using a US contact as a middleman?

Thanks for your time,

JP

[disk2050]

Thank you! guys, I got my RAV4 save around $7000 :cheesygri

Congrats on your purchase. Bought it new or used or new, what year is it?

[Nitrate]

Hello everyone,

Like most of you I've done considerable research into the impressive price / options differences between vehicles accross the border, and am now wrestling between two options.

I want to import a Sienna AWD Limited (with an option package unavailable in Canada).

I found an online broker based in NS that claims to find the car, have it shipped to your door and take care of all the paperwork for a certain amount of $$$ (option 1).

However, I also have relatives and friends in different US states that could buy the car for me (option 2).

My work schedule unfortunately does not give me time to do it myself, which would obviously be the best option.

Can anyone direct me to a good thread or web site that details how one can proceed if using a US contact as a middleman?

Thanks for your time,

JPThe broker I used for my Sienna referred me to an auto transport company (totally separate company independent from the broker). The transport dispatcher quoted me a price of $1500 to ship a vehicle from Portland OR to Vancouver BC right to my doorstep, which includes all US and Canadian Customs paperwork. I thought it was a lot of money.

The eventual Sienna I purchased came from Seattle and I had it shipped to a holding yard in Blaine WA, a town right on the border, for $250 shipping plus $30 holding yard fees. I took care of driving it across the border which was a breeze. All you'll need is take half a day (at most) off from your schedule, assuming the vehicle is there and you have all your paperwork with you. I could have taken the bus, but my wife drove me to the border. We left our house at around 9 am, and was back before noon with the Sienna. At 1 PM, both my wife and I were back at work.

We probably spent about 45 minutes inside the USA, getting the trip permit and picking up the vehicle from the holding yard. The border proceedings was 3 minutes at the US Customs and 5 minutes at the Canadian Customs. It helped that we picked a regular day with no border lineup.

I have a sister in California, and considered asking her to do it. But she'll have to locate a van for me and buy it herself and either drive it across the border (possible but then she'll have to fly back) or I'll meet her somewhere (which does not give me any advantage over having it shipped to the border). Also, if my sister bought it, she'll have to pay state taxes. The way I did it, I didn't have to. So for $280 (Seattle to Blaine), I thought the transport company was well worth it.

[zircon]

Maybe I missed something in the discussion but why do you care how long it takes to get the sticker?

When we imported our first vehicle last spring, I think it took about 3-4 weeks to get the sticker. You mention that your temp tag is going to expire but you don't need the sticker to register and get your plates. I recently picked up our Sienna on a Monday morning, faxed the recall letter to RIV that afternoon (and a copy of form1 - which they probably already had), they faxed me the form2 at 7AM on the Tuesday and I got my safety check, emissions and CT inspection done - by noon I had the vehicle registered and plated. Still don't have the sticker ... I guess the sticker confirms that the vehicle has been imported into Canada but unless you plan on flipping the vehicle, want difference does it make if it takes 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months.

Well, I bought the car in June 2007 and I still do not have a sticker. I don't care about the sticker, but if I ever do want to sell the car it will be something that may (or may not) cause a problem. I had no issues licensing the car, but I don't want a needless hassle some time in the future either.

[ziploc]

Does some know some ''HUGE'' multibrand used cars lots in US...
lets say between Rochester and Boston..

I need a second car and want to check out slightly used car market also...

I didn't choose the car Yet....

something small to intermediate....
I want something which will give me the most for my money.....

[michelb]

Well, I bought the car in June 2007 and I still do not have a sticker. I don't care about the sticker, but if I ever do want to sell the car it will be something that may (or may not) cause a problem. I had no issues licensing the car, but I don't want a needless hassle some time in the future either.


That's crazy - I hadn't realized it was anything close to that long. I'm surprised that they didn't just send you one when you contacted them. I can see why you'd be annoyed about that ... Hope you get it soon.

[bovolu]

I plan on purchasing a vehicle from a private party in New Hampshire. Do I have to pay sales tax at the purchase or when I transfer the title/get temporary plates to drive the vehicle home? Or do I only pay state tax if the vehicle is permanently registered in the state? Thanks,

[DrXenon]

You don't pay sales tax at all. Just get the temporary permit and explain if they ask that you are exporting the vehicle.

[Marzipan]

Does some know some ''HUGE'' multibrand used cars lots in US...
lets say between Rochester and Boston..

I need a second car and want to check out slightly used car market also...

I didn't choose the car Yet....

something small to intermediate....
I want something which will give me the most for my money.....

Why not use AutoTrader or cars.com to search for the vehicle you prefer in the area you can get to? There are plenty of low mileage vehicles out there and lots of phographs taken by the dealers. You should be able to buy it without seeing it especially from a certified dealer for that manufacturer.

Then when it is paid for, buy your 14 day advanced ticket cheap and complete the documentation - including those export documents that need to be at the US border point at least 3 days before you import.

[ziploc]

Why not use AutoTrader or cars.com to search for the vehicle you prefer in the area you can get to? There are plenty of low mileage vehicles out there and lots of phographs taken by the dealers. You should be able to buy it without seeing it especially from a certified dealer for that manufacturer.

Then when it is paid for, buy your 14 day advanced ticket cheap and complete the documentation - including those export documents that need to be at the US border point at least 3 days before you import.

I'm doing that also...but usually the dealers have only few units on their lot....
and as that's used vehicle i prefer see it before buy it...and if there's something that i don't like with the car.....i'm stuck or traveled for nothing....


But if they have multiple choice.....(i want something above 2007)....
I can see and try multiple vehicles and just choose the one that suits my needs....

[jeeps17]

Hello everyone,

Still fine-tuning my research to buy a new Sienna Limited from the US.

My work schedule is my main limiting factor, as it is next to impossible for me to go get the vehicle myself (and my very pregnant wife - don't even go there!).

In that context, I would be curious to hear from anyone who used a full-service broker (locates the vehicle, buys, transports, does paperwork, delivers at your door), and who was completely satisfied with the service.

Although not a requirement, a Montreal-based outfit would be a plus.

A rough estimate of how much you were charged would also be appreciated (by PM, of course).

Thanks for your time,

JP

[PMREdmonton]

Hello everyone,

Still fine-tuning my research to buy a new Sienna Limited from the US.

My work schedule is my main limiting factor, as it is next to impossible for me to go get the vehicle myself (and my very pregnant wife - don't even go there!).

In that context, I would be curious to hear from anyone who used a full-service broker (locates the vehicle, buys, transports, does paperwork, delivers at your door), and who was completely satisfied with the service.

Although not a requirement, a Montreal-based outfit would be a plus.

A rough estimate of how much you were charged would also be appreciated (by PM, of course).

Thanks for your time,

JP

There is a fellow who runs a business out of Nova Scotia named HacheyImports (www.hacheyimports.com) that will charge $475 for all paperwork and arrange transport with a reputable company to your front door. He has buyers who can get you Toyota's without having to pay state sales taxes.

I've started the process with him. Not sure if others here have completed a transaction with him. He posts regularly on Edmunds on a message board for importing US cars to Canada.

[kplange]

I'm wondering what experiences people have had with RIV emailing out the necessary form to take to Canadian Tire. I brought my vehicle through Canadian Customs on Saturday afternoon and emailed my payment to RIV that evening. I faxed the necessary documents on Sunday morning. The RIV website indicates that they are open on weekends from 8-5. When I called them this morning, they had no record of my payment or fax, but told me if I sent it, I should receive the form via email by Tuesday or Wednesday. It struck me as odd that they would not even be able to tell me if they received my payment or forms. As I've been following this forum for six months now, I seem to recall people getting their form from RIV within hours of emailing them the info. I could be wrong. Time is of the essence in my case, as I have to return to Manitoba by next Monday, but wanted to get my vehicle inspected and registered in BC before I leave.

[rockwell66]

Has anyone bought the microphone kit for voice command of the Subaru nav system?

[Nitrate]

I'm wondering what experiences people have had with RIV emailing out the necessary form to take to Canadian Tire. I brought my vehicle through Canadian Customs on Saturday afternoon and emailed my payment to RIV that evening. I faxed the necessary documents on Sunday morning. The RIV website indicates that they are open on weekends from 8-5. When I called them this morning, they had no record of my payment or fax, but told me if I sent it, I should receive the form via email by Tuesday or Wednesday. It struck me as odd that they would not even be able to tell me if they received my payment or forms. As I've been following this forum for six months now, I seem to recall people getting their form from RIV within hours of emailing them the info. I could be wrong. Time is of the essence in my case, as I have to return to Manitoba by next Monday, but wanted to get my vehicle inspected and registered in BC before I leave.When I phoned RIV after about 2 hours of sending payment and faxes, they acknowledged the payment but not the faxes. This was, I thought, understandable since payments can be checked on the computer while faxes are not tracked by the system. It's weird they cannot find your payment, unless something went wrong with your transaction. If you used a credit card, I suggest checking with the credit card company to see if your transaction was posted.

RIV told me that the turnaround for the processing of RIV Form 1 was 48 hours and they will not be able to tell me its progress, i.e where it's at during that time. The guy said that if I didn't receive Form 2 within 3 days, I should phone them back.

I sent the payment and faxes at noon of Monday March 31st, and I received an email at 5 AM (PST) on Thursday April 3rd, less than 3 days after. The email contained a letter of instructions, the Form 2 and a list of inspection centres. By Thursday afternoon, I had my van inspected, registered, insured and plated.

[perfchris]

I can tell you from a friend's very recent experience, the offices are open on the weekend to answer calls. They do not send out forms on the weekend. So, if you fax Form 1 (filled out at Canada Customs) AND your recall letter Sunday, you should be receiving an e-mail with the inspection form to go to Canadian Tire a couple of business days later. So, by Wednesday you should be receiving the form for inspection. People that have gotten things done faster have gone to the RIV offices in GTA and have processed the paperwork on the spot. For people in the rest of Canada, you need to wait for the paperwork to get processed. For my friend, who brought a vehicle last weekend, the car was plated 5 days after bringing in the vehicle. So, you are probably looking at Friday at the latest, you will have everything done. I still think that this is very reasonable. Thank goodness that they send the inspection forms by e-mail and not by snail mail. As soon as you have the form filled out by Canadian Tire, you are good to go to have the vehicle plated in your PRovince !



I'm wondering what experiences people have had with RIV emailing out the necessary form to take to Canadian Tire. I brought my vehicle through Canadian Customs on Saturday afternoon and emailed my payment to RIV that evening. I faxed the necessary documents on Sunday morning. The RIV website indicates that they are open on weekends from 8-5. When I called them this morning, they had no record of my payment or fax, but told me if I sent it, I should receive the form via email by Tuesday or Wednesday. It struck me as odd that they would not even be able to tell me if they received my payment or forms. As I've been following this forum for six months now, I seem to recall people getting their form from RIV within hours of emailing them the info. I could be wrong. Time is of the essence in my case, as I have to return to Manitoba by next Monday, but wanted to get my vehicle inspected and registered in BC before I leave.

[kplange]

Thank you both for your replies. That's reassuring that everything is moving along at a normal pace. I'll probably check with them on Tuesday to confirm that they received my payment. So far it isn't showing up on my online Visa statement.

[jeeps17]

There is a fellow who runs a business out of Nova Scotia named HacheyImports (www.hacheyimports.com) that will charge $475 for all paperwork and arrange transport with a reputable company to your front door. He has buyers who can get you Toyota's without having to pay state sales taxes.

I've started the process with him. Not sure if others here have completed a transaction with him. He posts regularly on Edmunds on a message board for importing US cars to Canada.

Thanks PMREdmonton,

I hadn't heard of him, and that rate seems very competitive, at first glance.

I'll do some more in-depth research, and will be sure to let you know if I find something very bad (or very good!).

I would appreciate it if you could give me follow-up on your transaction, if you don't mind (by PM, if you prefer).

JP

[Lost Horizon]

Here is an updated Import Flow chart which now includes the 72 hours advance for US Customs.

It's also HERE as a pdf (http://www.rceheli.com/main/Images/import_process.pdf)

Here's the jpg pic for reference:

http://www.rceheli.com/main/Images/import_vehicle.jpg

Hope this helps ..

[Raven_007]

This was probably asked before, but at what point can the title (ownership) be transferred in Canada (between the relatives)?
And is 72 hours really 72 hours? For example, the dealer faxes the title to the boarder at 10:00am on Tuesday. Can the car be exported at 10:01am on Friday? I will call and verify, of course, but just looking if anyone had such experience.

[Nitrate]

And is 72 hours really 72 hours? For example, the dealer faxes the title to the boarder at 10:00am on Tuesday. Can the car be exported at 10:01am on Friday?The US Customs in Blaine WA provided me with an information packet (which I'm looking at right now). Nowhere does it say 72 hours. It says "These documents must be on file with our office for 3 business-days prior to export!!!" The exclamation point is theirs.

When I emailed my documents to them, I received a reply confirming their receipt with a note that says I can export my vehicle on such-and-such date or thereafter. No mention of time.

By the way, my RIV Certification Label arrived in the mail today. I did my inspection on April 3rd, and the date on the letter is April 4th. So they're pretty quick.

So yeah, my import process is complete and my Sienna is now fully certified, a naturalized Canadian "citizen"!!! :cheesygri

[Lost Horizon]

And is 72 hours really 72 hours? For example, the dealer faxes the title to the boarder at 10:00am on Tuesday. Can the car be exported at 10:01am on Friday? I will call and verify, of course, but just looking if anyone had such experience.

You actually need to check... some crossings are lenient, others want 3 business days, still others don't care much as long as they have the docs.... do your homework for your situation..

For example, if you are on Vancouver Island, Port Angeles is way better than Blaine.. shorter also..

[HacheyImports]

While I wouldn't be as blunt as the above poster, it is true that each port seems to have a slightly different interpretation of the 72 hour rule. BUT...I strongly recommend that you do not try and cross any time before it has elapsed. One overzealous border agent could ruin your day in a hurry.

Build the time into your travel plan and arrive without worry at the border. The law is there, and do you really want to risk a night at a dusty border town waiting for no reason?

Take care

[Raven_007]

You actually need to check... some crossings are lenient, others want 3 business days, still others don't care much as long as they have the docs.... do your friggin homework for your situation..

For example, if you are on Vancouver Island, Port Angeles is way better than Blaine.. shorter also..

Did you miss the part "I will call and verify"? The place is closed right now.

So I see now that 72 hours is an approximate term.

Thanks guys.

[atorontoguy]

Has anyone imported a 2008 Toyota Highlander basic? It doesn't come with DRL and immobilizer. Will Canadian Tire pass it? How much will it cost to add the DRL and immobilizer at Canadian Tire?

[nazawale]

I like to import a US car, but I do get the financing. I mean should I go to the bank here in Toronto or will the dealer have thier financing available to Canadains.

Anyone explain it me plz.

[stephenstay]

Thank you both for your replies. That's reassuring that everything is moving along at a normal pace. I'll probably check with them on Tuesday to confirm that they received my payment. So far it isn't showing up on my online Visa statement.

One thing to remember is that RIV has quite good hours that they answer the phones to those of us out west but unless it is during regular office hours you are talking to an answering service that cannot access anything but the most basic information. I finally clued into that only to find that the reason they didn't have some of my paperwork was because it was misfiled under a different application. Once that was cleared I had my Form 2 in literally hours.

[stephenstay]

I like to import a US car, but I do get the financing. I mean should I go to the bank here in Toronto or will the dealer have thier financing available to Canadains.

Anyone explain it me plz.

Generally, you arrange financing on the Canadian side.

[bulgurc]

Has anyone imported a 2008 Toyota Highlander basic? It doesn't come with DRL and immobilizer. Will Canadian Tire pass it? How much will it cost to add the DRL and immobilizer at Canadian Tire?
I am sure they can install DRL. Immobilizer I doubt it

[bargainhuntr]

Has anyone imported a 2008 Toyota Highlander basic? It doesn't come with DRL and immobilizer. Will Canadian Tire pass it? How much will it cost to add the DRL and immobilizer at Canadian Tire?

You may want to check here in regard to the immobilizer

http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/documents/immobilizers/TDS_systems_approved-aftermarket-e.pdf

[atorontoguy]

You may want to check here in regard to the immobilizer

http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/documents/immobilizers/TDS_systems_approved-aftermarket-e.pdf

Thanks for the info. Has anyone installed any of these before? How much does it cost?

[sienna owner]

Thanks for the info. Has anyone installed any of these before? How much does it cost?

i remember researching this before due to the whole issue before TC said cars with one still don't qualify..seem to remember there is a company that can do it for around $400..??

[michelb]

I like to import a US car, but I do get the financing. I mean should I go to the bank here in Toronto or will the dealer have thier financing available to Canadains.

Anyone explain it me plz.

Generally, you arrange financing on the Canadian side.

Not just generally; you MUST finance in Canada. If you finance in the US, they'll put a lien on it and you can't export the vehicle from the US if there is a lien on it (I can't imagine any lender would agree to remove the lien to allow you to export it since that means they lose all their protection)

[DSTU]

I like to import a US car, but I do get the financing. I mean should I go to the bank here in Toronto or will the dealer have thier financing available to Canadains.

Anyone explain it me plz.

have you not read a single post in this thread?

it's been asked a dozen times with a dozen answers.

Its COLD HARD CASH ONLY!!!

[yyz2hkg]

I like to import a US car, but I do get the financing. I mean should I go to the bank here in Toronto or will the dealer have thier financing available to Canadains.

Anyone explain it me plz.

Option 1: CASH. Option 2: As many have suggested in this thread: http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=307601 your most likely bet would be your LOC (Line of Credit). Or, your banking institution may finance it too as others have noted.

[ziploc]

have you not read a single post in this thread?

it's been asked a dozen times with a dozen answers.

Its COLD HARD CASH ONLY!!!

this is false..

I financed my car at my bank here in canada....

[DSTU]

this is false..

I financed my car at my bank here in canada....

What did you pay the US Dealer?

CASH!!!

[kplange]

One thing to remember is that RIV has quite good hours that they answer the phones to those of us out west but unless it is during regular office hours you are talking to an answering service that cannot access anything but the most basic information. I finally clued into that only to find that the reason they didn't have some of my paperwork was because it was misfiled under a different application. Once that was cleared I had my Form 2 in literally hours.

I checked with RIV again this morning and they confirmed that they had received my payment and had processed it 30 minutes earlier. They also asked what documents I had faxed and when I had sent them. He then told me to expect the form by Wednesday or Thursday (compared to the Tuesday or Wednesday I was told on Monday.) Since I've prebooked my inpection at Canadian Tire for Thursday morning, it looks like I could be cancelling.

[ziploc]

What did you pay the US Dealer?

CASH!!!

wrong again...

i wired the money ;)

[sienna owner]

wrong again...

i wired the money ;)


i'll just say what's going to be said...

"And what did you wire??? CASH!!!"

hahaha

[mindinmotion]

Has anyone recently, successfully imported a BMW from the States? If so, did you have to pay approximately $2000 to BMW to make the necessary modifications (ie. Instrument Cluster) to receive the compliance letter. The reason why I ask, is I've seen many independent car dealers selling used US BMWs without that modification. How are they able to avoid it if it's a requirement? Is it specifically mentioned on the Admissibility letter? Your help would be much appreicated, thanks!

[Nitrate]

wrong again...

i wired the money ;)
Wire Transfer = Cash ;)

[toystoys]

My neighbor was showing his used Subaru Outback to a potential buyer the other day and I approached him later and asked him if he had checked out US prices for his new replacement Subaru. He had not, so I offered to help him research some prices. Sent emails to a couple of dealers on the West Coast, next day both responded with a phone call.

One wanted $32,000 US another wanted $30,000 US for a 3.0 6cyl LL Bean - automatic (Harvest Gold Metalic) with few options. These were ballpark prices but was told they would be very close + or - a few hundred. Neighbor told me his local price with a cash deal came to $32,500 Cdn. Hardly worth the while considering cost to exchange cash, plane ticket to West coast, a couple of motel rooms, meals, gas and all other export fees. Plus the warranty work will be covered locally with no bills to forward.

I realize car was not loaded with options but I was sure I could save him thousands. I was rather surprised, can I assume Subaru has closed the gap? I am aware of their policy change for rebates/incentives to Canadians but I thought there would still be significant savings.

[Beradon]

I realize car was not loaded with options but I was sure I could save him thousands.Options can mean the difference of several thousand dollars. If he wants a FAIR assessment, he should as his Cdn dealer how much an equivalently equipped Subie would cost him compared to the US LL bean edition. If it's not possible, then ask the US dealers for a quote on a bare model. This is the only way to get a true comparison.

I was rather surprised, can I assume Subaru has closed the gap? I am aware of their policy change for rebates/incentives to Canadians but I thought there would still be significant savings.I'm quite leery of shopping at Cdn dealers especially when most still choose to play the game of confusing customers with hidden charges tactics. Crap like adding a few extra dollars to your monthly payments or insisting that your car has to come with a security etching package. Toss in the inflated freight, PDI, etc... and it becomes too mind numbing. In the US with the advent of Internet sales and free dealer cost pricing info, the nickel and diming games are a thing of the past. The problem is Canadians are still suffering from it and the auto manufacturer's ridiculous Cdn pricing are proving we are just suckers this crap.

[krazykanuck]

anyone know if there is a list or site that details which states charge state tax on the purchase of a used car!?

[Nitrate]

One wanted $32,000 US another wanted $30,000 US for a 3.0 6cyl LL Bean - automatic (Harvest Gold Metalic) with few options.In addition to the comment about comparing apples to apples, the US prices you were quoted are on high side. I've seen the LL Bean VDC & NAV Pzev model for as low as $25,800.

[CheapScotsman]

In addition to the comment about comparing apples to apples, the US prices you were quoted are on high side. I've seen the LL Bean VDC & NAV Pzev model for as low as $25,800.Plus you can also run them by edmunds.com to get TMV pricing (maybe already done just not mentioned).

[ziploc]

Wire Transfer = Cash ;)

look guys this guy wanted to discourage others buy saying that U MUST HAVE cash to buy in US.....


But U can finance your purchase with a Canadian bank.....

that's the point....

;)


and those who doesn't have the cash in their accounts, just try to get a loan...it's possible..........

[afeld]

Hi All
I have imported from USA honda/odyssey and my wife made an accident here in Canada. Now, I'm thinking of purchasing/replacing this one by buying another car in USA and wondering if any of you has information of posibilities of trading back to USA car.
I'm assuming, it's a kind of an opposite process of exporting back to USA a car made and sold in/for USA and importing it from Canada.
Thanks

[ac328]

In addition to the comment about comparing apples to apples, the US prices you were quoted are on high side. I've seen the LL Bean VDC & NAV Pzev model for as low as $25,800.

You talking the 2.5i model LL Bean? He's talking about the 3.0 LL Bean. USD30-32k sounds about right for the 3.0.

3.0 adds bigger engine, 5 spd auto, more sophisticated AWD system, and other stuff I don't remember.

[BMNB3tches]

My neighbor was showing his used Subaru Outback to a potential buyer the other day and I approached him later and asked him if he had checked out US prices for his new replacement Subaru. He had not, so I offered to help him research some prices. Sent emails to a couple of dealers on the West Coast, next day both responded with a phone call.

One wanted $32,000 US another wanted $30,000 US for a 3.0 6cyl LL Bean - automatic (Harvest Gold Metalic) with few options. These were ballpark prices but was told they would be very close + or - a few hundred. Neighbor told me his local price with a cash deal came to $32,500 Cdn. Hardly worth the while considering cost to exchange cash, plane ticket to West coast, a couple of motel rooms, meals, gas and all other export fees. Plus the warranty work will be covered locally with no bills to forward.

I realize car was not loaded with options but I was sure I could save him thousands. I was rather surprised, can I assume Subaru has closed the gap? I am aware of their policy change for rebates/incentives to Canadians but I thought there would still be significant savings.

I guess the dealer I visited here in Southern Ontario didn't get the memo about new pricing. Few weeks ago I went to dealership here. I was quoted "competitive deal" by the manager of the place. Outback 08 2.5i $33,741.80 after taxes & freight. This price included 3k discount.

Did some calling around and tomorrow I am crossing the border to get the exact same car (minus moon roof) for savings of 8-9K CAD with all the fees and taxes.

Looks like I could have bought somewhere else in Canada for little less, but what is the point... if you don't want to sell your cars, fine.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Sadly here's a case of misinformation.

I own the 3.0R LL Bean.

The only model remotely close to it in Canada is the Premiere edition.

The MSRP for that in Canada is $47,000 + $1400ish for PDI = $48,400. Maybe you can drop a grand off that price.

Local dealers will drop up to $8,000 off if you pay cash. Assuming they do, you're still paying a minimu of $12,000 more (don't forget to include the considerable savings in taxes alone)

I haven't even included options or accessories....

The 2.5 and 3.0 LL Beans have considerable differences as well not just the engine size.

I got my LL Bean loaded with approximately $3000 (Canadian dealer prices) of options and accessories for $29,150 US. That includes, front and rear bumper guards, winter package, rear cargo tray, security system upgrade, console extension, homelink, rear reading lamps, hood air deflector, cargo net package, tire locks, and others that I can't remember..). The only thing I didn't want was the subwoofer, auto start and navigation. If you buy now, the US rebate would not be applicable. Assuming that, I would add $750 to the total price ($29,900). That price for the 2008 model year is only $20US more than last year so let's make it $29,920US. The Navigation upgrade is about $1800 in the US or over $3000 in Canada. Unfortunately you are forced to pay that in Canada PLUS the non-negotiable security fee and administrative fees which add another $500+ to the cost.

I challenge ANYONE to buy a similar car in Canada even for $5000 more! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO.

I forgot to mention that the US LL Bean features perforated leather seats. You can only get them in Canada on the XT but then would give up the Momo wood and leather steering wheel and other goodies.

[ac328]

My neighbor was showing his used Subaru Outback to a potential buyer the other day and I approached him later and asked him if he had checked out US prices for his new replacement Subaru. He had not, so I offered to help him research some prices. Sent emails to a couple of dealers on the West Coast, next day both responded with a phone call.

One wanted $32,000 US another wanted $30,000 US for a 3.0 6cyl LL Bean - automatic (Harvest Gold Metalic) with few options. These were ballpark prices but was told they would be very close + or - a few hundred. Neighbor told me his local price with a cash deal came to $32,500 Cdn. Hardly worth the while considering cost to exchange cash, plane ticket to West coast, a couple of motel rooms, meals, gas and all other export fees. Plus the warranty work will be covered locally with no bills to forward.

I realize car was not loaded with options but I was sure I could save him thousands. I was rather surprised, can I assume Subaru has closed the gap? I am aware of their policy change for rebates/incentives to Canadians but I thought there would still be significant savings.


32,500? Is that for a Canadian-spec 3.0R, on the road price? You can't directly compare that to a US 3.0 LL Bean anyway...the Canadian 3.0R lacks sunroof and leather. You need to step up to the 3.0R Premier for that, which costs another 7k + tax (but you do get Nav as well).

[toystoys]

Sorry but it is difficult to get a true apples to apples quote at this time as I don't want to pry any more than my neighbor has volunteered. He said he has a quote from our local dealer for 32.5k for a plain Jane, cloth interior with heated seats (only a few manufacturers have models with this feature), Harvest Gold, 6cyl -3.0L, automatic, 2008 Subaru Outback.

Tried to price at Edmunds.com but the lowest True Market Value quote there is 31.5k MSRP. The dealers I received my quotes from were told what he needed for options and they had every chance to compete for the sale. These 2 dealers have been recomended here for those near the West Coast. One should be able to assume the internet managers know how to compete with their cross border competition after all the sales they made earlier. If the LL Bean is a completely different animal they should have said so because I had a sale for them if I could take back a number that was reasonably lower than Cdn. pricing.

Thanks for your input guys but Suburu incentives on the west coast are not competitive enough from what I can see. My neighbor did mention the price dropped substantially when he offered cash. This tells me the local dealers will hose you if you finance through them but compete in the cash market.

[shopper-X]

...

My neighbor did mention the price dropped substantially when he offered cash. This tells me the local dealers will hose you if you finance through them but compete in the cash market.

This is because Subaru Canada has rebates for Cash buyers. It's the Subaru All-Weather Days (http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebPageID=9179&WebSiteID=282) promo.

Legacy = up to $8,000
Outback = up to $8,000
Tribeca = up to $8,000
Forester = $4,000 on all Forester models*
Impreza = special interest rates only *

*The two that are built in Japan and you would pay the 6.1% duty on if imported are the least discounted.

[Nitrate]

You talking the 2.5i model LL Bean? He's talking about the 3.0 LL Bean. USD30-32k sounds about right for the 3.0.

3.0 adds bigger engine, 5 spd auto, more sophisticated AWD system, and other stuff I don't remember.You're right, I missed that part about 2.5 and 3.0. I was indeed talking about the 2.5i. Sorry for adding to the confusion.

[toystoys]

32,500? Is that for a Canadian-spec 3.0R, on the road price? You can't directly compare that to a US 3.0 LL Bean anyway...the Canadian 3.0R lacks sunroof and leather. You need to step up to the 3.0R Premier for that, which costs another 7k + tax (but you do get Nav as well).

My neighbor is an older gent and he doesn't need or want sunroof or leather (kind of funny how so many, including my wife, are going back to cloth). I see your point about the model difference, just wish the US salespeople would have explained this better if that is where the huge differences arise. They were given all the info that my neighbor wanted and quoted a different car completely.
Their loss, if I had taken back some of this info maybe my neighbor would have altered his decision. Thanks.

[toystoys]

This is because Subaru Canada has rebates for Cash buyers. It's the Subaru All-Weather Days (http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebPageID=9179&WebSiteID=282) promo.

Legacy = up to $8,000
Outback = up to $8,000
Tribeca = up to $8,000
Forester = $4,000 on all Forester models*
Impreza = special interest rates only *

*The two that are built in Japan and you would pay the 6.1% duty on if imported are the least discounted.

Thanks shopperx, he did mention $8000 reduction to get his price to the 32.5k range when using cash. I didn't realize this was a sales event only.

If I hadn't just imported a new Solara for the wife last year I may have taken a closer look at his used Subaru. 2000 Outback with only 77k, no accident, non smoker, driven by an older gent with easy miles. Don't know what he got for it but the first guy bought it and is willing to wait till the new one arrives:) . He was asking $12.500.

[Monsieurmaggot]

This is because Subaru Canada has rebates for Cash buyers. It's the Subaru All-Weather Days (http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebPageID=9179&WebSiteID=282) promo.

Legacy = up to $8,000
Outback = up to $8,000
Tribeca = up to $8,000
Forester = $4,000 on all Forester models*
Impreza = special interest rates only *

*The two that are built in Japan and you would pay the 6.1% duty on if imported are the least discounted.

So it's obvious that Subaru Canada is feeling the heat from US purchases. Cars subject to 6.1% duty don't have the aggressive discount.

I got an email from an RFDer who told me that getting a $8000 discount on the Premiere Edition (only) requires you to pay MSRP. If you negotiate a deal then ask for the $8000 discount, you'll get a song and dance routine. As I mentioned, security etching and administrative fees were non-negotiable.

Give me a US invoice price any day. You don't need to dicker to get a fair deal.

[hotgo]

I guess the dealer I visited here in Southern Ontario didn't get the memo about new pricing. Few weeks ago I went to dealership here. I was quoted "competitive deal" by the manager of the place. Outback 08 2.5i $33,741.80 after taxes & freight. This price included 3k discount.

Did some calling around and tomorrow I am crossing the border to get the exact same car (minus moon roof) for savings of 8-9K CAD with all the fees and taxes.

Looks like I could have bought somewhere else in Canada for little less, but what is the point... if you don't want to sell your cars, fine.

While I don't disagree with the prices being significantly cheaper in the US, I know that you cannot get a US Outback 2.5i sitting in your driveway for $25000CDN including all fees and taxes. I should know, I bought one while Subaru USA was still giving the incentives to non-US residents, and it still added up to more. I'd love to see the math on your calculations.

I still encourage people to shop on the other side of the border, but they should not have unrealistic expectations on the savings.

(And I'm talking about current exchange rates and not the $1.10 rate that existed for a short period of time)

[nornet]

Plus you can also run them by edmunds.com to get TMV pricing (maybe already done just not mentioned).

The problem with the TMV pricing is that it includes the rebates etc than Canadians no longer qualify for if I'm not mistaken.

[ac328]

While I don't disagree with the prices being significantly cheaper in the US, I know that you cannot get a US Outback 2.5i sitting in your driveway for $25000CDN including all fees and taxes. I should know, I bought one while Subaru USA was still giving the incentives to non-US residents, and it still added up to more. I'd love to see the math on your calculations.

I still encourage people to shop on the other side of the border, but they should not have unrealistic expectations on the savings.

(And I'm talking about current exchange rates and not the $1.10 rate that existed for a short period of time)

Agreed, one has to put all numbers on a spreadsheet to see if the savings are worth it.

When I got my 2008 Outback XT 5 spd manual in December:

1) there were full incentives for Canadians buying in the US,
2) the dollar was at 1.06, and
3) the Canadian cash backs of 8k did not exist.

At the time therefore my on the road price, including all fees/taxes, flight to Seattle, gas for the 1,200km trip back etc. was about $29k. At the time this car was going for 43k+freight/PDI+GST in Calgary.

Now that gap has narrowed significantly. No incentives for Canadian buyers in US, dollar is at 0.97, and cash backs freely available.

So, do all your homework before importing.

[BMNB3tches]

While I don't disagree with the prices being significantly cheaper in the US, I know that you cannot get a US Outback 2.5i sitting in your driveway for $25000CDN including all fees and taxes. I should know, I bought one while Subaru USA was still giving the incentives to non-US residents, and it still added up to more. I'd love to see the math on your calculations.

I still encourage people to shop on the other side of the border, but they should not have unrealistic expectations on the savings.

(And I'm talking about current exchange rates and not the $1.10 rate that existed for a short period of time)

21.789.00 USD Cash on delivery on Outback 2.5i 08

Once I have finished the process I'll provide bottom line in CAD, should be close to 26k CAD.

[Trudy2]

If you are still looking you can PM me with your email address. I can also supply a Honda Dealer - both deal with people in BC & Alberta

Just so you know, I was successful in getting the 2008 Sienna I wanted. Thanks

[CheapScotsman]

Just so you know, I was successful in getting the 2008 Sienna I wanted. ThanksOut of curiosity, did you get it better than MSRP?

[Trudy2]

Yes, approx $2,000.00 off of US MSRP

[Flex69]

i tried surfing through this thread to see if anyone mentioned any companies that did all this work for you for a small fee.....does anyone recommend any in Vancouver B.C.? i'm wondering if the fee even worth it at this point with the dollar being almost at par...i heard about this company called www.autoway.ca, but it never indicated how much a % they make off a sale, and how long it takes, etc.

would really appreciate some direction on other companies/broker/dealers that could do all this work for me.

Thanks:)

[Nitrate]

Yes, approx $2,000.00 off of US MSRPCongrats! :) Just like you, I purchased my 2008 Sienna LE roughly $2,200 off its US MSRP, just took delivery 2 weeks ago. In fact, my RIV label came in the mail 2 nights ago, still haven't gotten around to sticking it on the door sill.

[atorontoguy]

Has anyone imported a motorcycle before? Is it the same as importing an automobile? I have a friend who would like to import a 2008 Ninja 250, and he would like to know if it is the same as importing a vehicle.

[sienna owner]

Has anyone imported a motorcycle before? Is it the same as importing an automobile? I have a friend who would like to import a 2008 Ninja 250, and he would like to know if it is the same as importing a vehicle.

yes...check out page 33, Sec 8 - Motocycles to see if it's admissible..

[myhilow]

Just to let you all know I also just put new ontario license plates on my newly imported 2008 Sienna Xle. Was able to purchase it in Texas while I was there for the winter. $3000 off the MSRP. Was able to use a friends address in Minnesota to avoid Texas Sales Tax.(my name, his address)
Thanks to all who input to this form as this information was why I was able to make the purchase and smooth flawless import of my vehicle. (It had the daytime running lights option and the imobilizer is standard)

Thanks again to all

[NAFTAGO]

Agreed, one has to put all numbers on a spreadsheet to see if the savings are worth it.

When I got my 2008 Outback XT 5 spd manual in December:

1) there were full incentives for Canadians buying in the US,
2) the dollar was at 1.06, and
3) the Canadian cash backs of 8k did not exist.

At the time therefore my on the road price, including all fees/taxes, flight to Seattle, gas for the 1,200km trip back etc. was about $29k. At the time this car was going for 43k+freight/PDI+GST in Calgary.

Now that gap has narrowed significantly. No incentives for Canadian buyers in US, dollar is at 0.97, and cash backs freely available.

So, do all your homework before importing.

Indeed, DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND COMPARE:

Canada:
8,000 rebate only if you pay MSRP
You negotiate over MSRP (OR not if you want the 8k discount)
But you pay around 1500 for delivery and at least 500 more in security and magic fees.

US:
You NEVER negotiate over MSRP you talk openly about Invoice without getting kicked out for speaking Tabu.
Delivery is around $650
All is included, the number you negotiate is wha you pay. If there are extra fees, they will include them in the price.
You have extrasavings on the taxes by paying a lower price.

So factor Everything` and you realise that the cash back needs to be about $12,000 for the Outback to make it close. Does that number sound familiar to you??
-Yes, that is how much Subaru of Canada is overcharging!

So open your eyes and compare.
If you still think that is too complicated or don't have the time, use a broker and pay another 1500-2000 for a free-worry-purchase and you are still saving MORE than $8,000

Other thing:
In a few years would you consider buying a used Canadian or an imported Outback?
Knowing that the Canadian owner payed more and just "purchased" the car. Whereas the imported car has an owner that is well-informed and probably Passionate and thus more careful with the vehicle?

Finally: because the Cad dealers know that you have to pay in advance for any warranty job, they are more inclined to do warranty jobs without having to beg them. Bottomline:They get their money and you get yours about a month later from SoA.

Compare the Forester 2009 prices in Canada (unconfimed)

2.5X Manual 5 $25,795
Automatic 4 $26,895

2.5X Touring Manual 5 $27,995
Automatic 4 $29,095

2.5X Limited Automatic 4 $32,395

2.5 XT Limited Automatic 4 $34,895


If this prices are right: the cheapest Forester Manual in Canada goes for about the same price of the LLBean in the US.
Final to final price.
including the 6.1% because is made in Japan taking the dollar at .98

Open your eyes people:
Buy in US sell in Canada and change cars every two yrs.



In adition something that doesn't have a price is the fact that they only offer the brown colour in Canada in the $40K+ model in Canada. For the Outback

Or the PZEV (if they don't bring them to canada)

Bottomline: the US car-buying experience is a pleasant one by knowing what you are going to pay exactly. As opposed to the Canadian experience where you negotiate a price and then they just show you the extra fees right at the end.

The Canadian prices are not being lowered. Compare apples to apples ( I know, it can be difficult) and
DON"T make the mistake of Comparing MSRP vs MSRP. Compare final price.

For example if you compare MSRP: and you get a 3K difference you might think of buying in Canada. But when you add about 1500 for delivery and about 500 for security & admin cost that adds up to 2000 extra or $5,000 difference!!
That is without considering the fact that in 80% of the cases you can get the car with delivery included ($500-$800 in the US) and a few options for the listed MSRP, add that up and is more than $5,000 add the savings in taxes and you save more. take time, get a good exchange rate and you are saving another $700 etc etc etc.

For what I see most people fall in the trap: $8,000 dollars less?
"I can't go wrong!" -Yes you can

Compare.

[Philz]

So if I am buying a used outback (2005 2006) from the US, do I have to pay the state taxes?
Does everything else as buying a new car apply to buying a used car?

Seems I can still save 8K or more on a 2005 outback XT

[NAFTAGO]

So if I am buying a used outback (2005 2006) from the US, do I have to pay the state taxes?

-Yes

Seems I can still save 8K or more on a 2005 outback XT

Does everything else as buying a new car apply to buying a used car?
Since is not a new car it will require an emission inspection. I think is called Provincial inspection.
Check if you need a daylight running lights, bumper standard and I think you don't have to worry about the immobilizer issue since it is only required for vehicles made after Sept 2007.

I would advise you to get the 4 cyl limited (leather) since they were over 3000 more than the ones without but the used ones are only $500 more.

Please post your final experience.

[sienna owner]

Does everything else as buying a new car apply to buying a used car?
Since is not a new car it will require an emission inspection. I think is called Provincial inspection.
Check if you need a daylight running lights, bumper standard and I think you don't have to worry about the immobilizer issue since it is only required for vehicles made after Sept 2007.

I would advise you to get the 4 cyl limited (leather) since they were over 3000 more than the ones without but the used ones are only $500 more.

Please post your final experience.

please correct if i'm wrong, however because you are exported and it's used, you do not have to pay state tax as you will not be registering it in the states...also, emissions test is only required if the vehicle is 5 yrs or older.

[ac328]

So if I am buying a used outback (2005 2006) from the US, do I have to pay the state taxes?
Does everything else as buying a new car apply to buying a used car?

Seems I can still save 8K or more on a 2005 outback XT

Depends entirely on the state. Do your homework on the state in which you want to buy your car.

Or look for cars in states that have no sales tax to avoid any hassle (e.g. Oregon in the West, Rhode Island or Delaware in the East).

[hotgo]

So if I am buying a used outback (2005 2006) from the US, do I have to pay the state taxes?
Does everything else as buying a new car apply to buying a used car?

Seems I can still save 8K or more on a 2005 outback XT

You should not have to pay state taxes. Rules vary by state, but you should be able to avoid having to pay this.

And yes, you can definitely save $$$ buying in the US.

[hotgo]

Quick question for the experts in here!

Picking up vehicle #2 tomorrow. But the dealer is giving me a lot of headache on this purchase. Lots of delays, confusions, etc.

What I want to do is just drive down to Michigan to pick up the car and deal with the remaining paperwork myself.

Question:
Can I safely cross the border without doing the EXPORT on US side? I won't have 72h in this case.
If so, do I do the Form 1 on the Canadian side?
I would then do the formal EXPORT next week.

Thanks!

[NAFTAGO]

please correct if i'm wrong, however because you are exported and it's used, you do not have to pay state tax as you will not be registering it in the states...also, emissions test is only required if the vehicle is 5 yrs or older.

I think there is some confusion here:

I do know that in NY state, if you don't register a NEW car there (ie export it to Canada) you don't pay taxes because you are not registering it in NY State.

But if you buy a USED car I think (not sure)you have to pay sales tax, just like buying a shirt or any other good in that state (4.5% I think) regardless of bringing it to Canada.

If you actually have to pay taxes but you do it when you register the car (like in Ontario) you should be fine. Since you are not registering it there at all.

Can anybody confirm this for USED cars??
I have bought a NEW car in NY state and you DONT pay taxes there only in Canada:
GST & PST= 14% In Ontario
6% if is imported
$100 for AC
$207 for RIV fee

[mangoman]

Really not a good idea - you might cause yourself all kinds of problems with the U.S. side. I don't think anyone here has tried going back to try and export their purchased car after having already crossed to the Cdn side. Maybe you'll get a nice US border agent maybe you'll get an a$$ who'll try to fine you or worse for not having gone through the proper export procedures the first time. Really not worth it to try and circumvent giving them the 72hrs to do their VIN check. I'd make sure you get them their paperwork as per that particular border crossing's requirements (fax or courier).



Quick question for the experts in here!

Picking up vehicle #2 tomorrow. But the dealer is giving me a lot of headache on this purchase. Lots of delays, confusions, etc.

What I want to do is just drive down to Michigan to pick up the car and deal with the remaining paperwork myself.

Question:
Can I safely cross the border without doing the EXPORT on US side? I won't have 72h in this case.
If so, do I do the Form 1 on the Canadian side?
I would then do the formal EXPORT next week.

Thanks!

[rjmbc]

Here is a method that I used to buy a Toyota Highlander from the US. It is not dealer dependent and would probably work for other makes as well. I saved over $12,000 after all expenses (including the incorporation), for a Highlander Hybrid.

Here is what I did and how it worked:

I incorporated a company in Alaska - through a lawyer in Montana

I made a deal, on behalf of the Alaska company with the local Toyota Dealer for the Highlander.

I sent the money to the lawyer, who exchanged it for the Vehicle.

The lawyer then registered the vehicle in Alaska

The Alaska company then sold it to me immediately after registration (lawyer prepared documents)

I picked it up in Montana & drove it home, and the vehicle never left the dealers lot until I picked it up.

Total time - less than a week - Total Cost - for the next Vehicle is aprox $750.

No SALES TAX - other than Canadian GST crossing the border.
This will work for Honda and other makes that stop dealers from selling to Canadians.

This will work well for people in Alberta & British Columbia.

If you would like more information on this method, PM me.

[bulgurc]

How much expenses did you incur when you have incorporated and to the lawyer? Seem complicated, I am sure it would work

[PQpine413]

I saw a Scion tC here in waterloo with ontario plates, i wonder how they got it past the customs given that the RIV says no tCs can be imported...anyone know how to get around this? i'd like to get one!!

[irish80ca]

So I like the Mazda CX-7.

Cdn. Starts at: $32,095.00
USA Starts at: $24,385.00

Diff. of $7,710.00 right off the bat.

The company I work for has some sort of corporate promotion plan which would allow me to save an additional $2000+ so I could get a new CX-7 for $22K usd.

Anything I need to know in specific to the CX-7 when importing to Canada?

Anyone had any issues bringing them across?

Downside to Mazda is theres no warranty in Canada for US cars but I'd be saving about $10K.

[mangoman]

2007 model year seems to be the only year for the tC that's admissible. I believe the 2008 xB's are admissible though even though it says that 2008 Scions are not! (either they were ones that squeaked through in 2007 or the list is not accurate for that model).


I saw a Scion tC here in waterloo with ontario plates, i wonder how they got it past the customs given that the RIV says no tCs can be imported...anyone know how to get around this? i'd like to get one!!

[leta01]

I think there is some confusion here:

I do know that in NY state, if you don't register a NEW car there (ie export it to Canada) you don't pay taxes because you are not registering it in NY State.

But if you buy a USED car I think (not sure)you have to pay sales tax, just like buying a shirt or any other good in that state (4.5% I think) regardless of bringing it to Canada.

If you actually have to pay taxes but you do it when you register the car (like in Ontario) you should be fine. Since you are not registering it there at all.

Can anybody confirm this for USED cars??
I have bought a NEW car in NY state and you DONT pay taxes there only in Canada:
GST & PST= 14% In Ontario
6% if is imported
$100 for AC
$207 for RIV fee

I just bought a slightly used 2007 Toyota Highlander (4000 miles) from NY. I did not have NY state taxes (you do not need to title the car in your name). Here are the taxes that I paid so far:

GST = 5%
Duty = 6.1 %
100 for AC
204 for RIV

I am still waiting for Form 2 from RIV before I can proceed to get the car plated.

[leta01]

I think there is some confusion here:

I do know that in NY state, if you don't register a NEW car there (ie export it to Canada) you don't pay taxes because you are not registering it in NY State.

But if you buy a USED car I think (not sure)you have to pay sales tax, just like buying a shirt or any other good in that state (4.5% I think) regardless of bringing it to Canada.

If you actually have to pay taxes but you do it when you register the car (like in Ontario) you should be fine. Since you are not registering it there at all.

Can anybody confirm this for USED cars??
I have bought a NEW car in NY state and you DONT pay taxes there only in Canada:
GST & PST= 14% In Ontario
6% if is imported
$100 for AC
$207 for RIV fee

I just bought a slightly used 2007 Toyota Highlander (4000 miles) from NY. I did not have NY state taxes (you do not need to title the car in your name). Here are the taxes that I paid so far:

GST = 5%
Duty = 6.1 %
100 for AC
204 for RIV

I am still waiting for Form 2 from RIV before I can proceed to get the car plated. Also, just found out, I don't know about other ports but at the Alexandra Bridge, you have to take care of the RIV fee paymebt yourself as well as faxing the recall clearance letter.

[HacheyImports]

Quick question for the experts in here!

Picking up vehicle #2 tomorrow. But the dealer is giving me a lot of headache on this purchase. Lots of delays, confusions, etc.

What I want to do is just drive down to Michigan to pick up the car and deal with the remaining paperwork myself.

Question:
Can I safely cross the border without doing the EXPORT on US side? I won't have 72h in this case.
If so, do I do the Form 1 on the Canadian side?
I would then do the formal EXPORT next week.

Thanks!

I think you knew these answers before posting didn't you, and were looking for hope maybe?

Do not try this. You can not safely drive across at all. And if the US side says no, then the form 1 issue is moot. I have crossed inside of the 72 hours before, but it is far from certain and you are asking for trouble.

I know exactly what you mean about headaches with American dealers. I have a customer trying to buy from a Mass. dealer..they demand that to get the "special" price he show up and take care of all paperwork in person..or no deal. It is a great price he is looking at, but I smell scam/insurance pressure/ext. warranty etc. sales coming. The fellah just wants his car...leave the crap for someone else..but they will not budge.

Are you buying new or used? What is the holdup with the salesman.....why the delays?

Take care

[regrus]

Here is a method that I used to buy a Toyota Highlander from the US. It is not dealer dependent and would probably work for other makes as well. I saved over $12,000 after all expenses (including the incorporation), for a Highlander Hybrid.

Here is what I did and how it worked:

I incorporated a company in Alaska - through a lawyer in Montana

I made a deal, on behalf of the Alaska company with the local Toyota Dealer for the Highlander.

I sent the money to the lawyer, who exchanged it for the Vehicle.

The lawyer then registered the vehicle in Alaska

The Alaska company then sold it to me immediately after registration (lawyer prepared documents)

I picked it up in Montana & drove it home, and the vehicle never left the dealers lot until I picked it up.

Total time - less than a week - Total Cost - for the next Vehicle is aprox $750.

No SALES TAX - other than Canadian GST crossing the border.
This will work for Honda and other makes that stop dealers from selling to Canadians.

This will work well for people in Alberta & British Columbia.

If you would like more information on this method, PM me.

I've often thought about what you did but never pursued it to purchase a vehicle. Many people who live full time in expensive RV's incorporate companies in Montana to hold their RV in and thereby avoid the high tax and registration fee's in their home State. These people travel and rarely if ever take their RV to their home State.
What I don't understand is why did you need to incorporate in Alaska instead of just incorporating in Montana which is a no sales tax State?

[cinqhoda]

So I like the Mazda CX-7.

Cdn. Starts at: $32,095.00
USA Starts at: $24,385.00

Diff. of $7,710.00 right off the bat.

The company I work for has some sort of corporate promotion plan which would allow me to save an additional $2000+ so I could get a new CX-7 for $22K usd.

Anything I need to know in specific to the CX-7 when importing to Canada?

Anyone had any issues bringing them across?

Downside to Mazda is theres no warranty in Canada for US cars but I'd be saving about $10K.

I believe Mazda changed their warranty policy from "No warranty coverage", to "Warranty applies on U.S. market cars as long as they have a valid service history and have not been written off."

This is taken from the APA website: http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#MAZDA

Good Luck!!

[pulsar]

I've often thought about what you did but never pursued it to purchase a vehicle. Many people who live full time in expensive RV's incorporate companies in Montana to hold their RV in and thereby avoid the high tax and registration fee's in their home State. These people travel and rarely if ever take their RV to their home State.
What I don't understand is why did you need to incorporate in Alaska instead of just incorporating in Montana which is a no sales tax State?

When I talked to him earlier in the year, it was because titling in Alaska had the quickest turnaround time (approx 7 days) vs 4-6 weeks in the other states.

[Nitrate]

Can I safely cross the border without doing the EXPORT on US side? I won't have 72h in this case.
If so, do I do the Form 1 on the Canadian side?
I would then do the formal EXPORT next week.
Thanks!
As I understand your post, you are proposing to bypass US Customs completely and go directly to Canada Customs, correct? You then do Form 1 and 2 after you cross the border, then maybe have your car inspected. Then when you have the time, go back to US Customs and officially export it, correct?

There are a couple of issues I see (which MAY turn out to be non-issues):

The Canada Customs officer may be looking for the US Customs stamp (raised seal) on your vehicle's MCO or Title. Since you did not go through US Customs, you won't have it. If Canada Customs is looking for this (and that's an IF, because I don't know), then you may not be able to import, and have to go back.
If you are able to import successfully, then you need to go back across and leave your vehicle in the USA for 3 days (a holding yard or somebody's garage or go on a road trip :) ). The Blaine WA customs requires this (as stated in their info packet), although I have no idea how they are able to verify the 3 days. Also, do not surrender your Title or MCO to anyone yet, because US Customs needs to see the original.

For what it's worth, I imported my US Toyota in 1992 as part of my properties when I immigrated to Canada from the US and I did not go through US Customs to "export" it. There was no question asked at that time, and I went through all the RIV steps successfully. I've since gone back and forth with that Toyota across the border with no problem. That said, that was 16 years ago and things change.

[killbillvol1]

Kudos to you sir, for not bending over like a lot of people and just taking it from the mfrs.

The one thing a lot of people also don't realise is that incorporating a business in the US is typically a lot cheaper than up here as well.
Here is a method that I used to buy a Toyota Highlander from the US. It is not dealer dependent and would probably work for other makes as well. I saved over $12,000 after all expenses (including the incorporation), for a Highlander Hybrid.

Here is what I did and how it worked:

I incorporated a company in Alaska - through a lawyer in Montana

I made a deal, on behalf of the Alaska company with the local Toyota Dealer for the Highlander.

I sent the money to the lawyer, who exchanged it for the Vehicle.

The lawyer then registered the vehicle in Alaska

The Alaska company then sold it to me immediately after registration (lawyer prepared documents)

I picked it up in Montana & drove it home, and the vehicle never left the dealers lot until I picked it up.

Total time - less than a week - Total Cost - for the next Vehicle is aprox $750.

No SALES TAX - other than Canadian GST crossing the border.
This will work for Honda and other makes that stop dealers from selling to Canadians.

This will work well for people in Alberta & British Columbia.

If you would like more information on this method, PM me.

[chene]

21.789.00 USD Cash on delivery on Outback 2.5i 08

Once I have finished the process I'll provide bottom line in CAD, should be close to 26k CAD.

may I ask where are you located and which dealer is this? Your price is $2k below the dealer's invoice as listed in cars101.com.

PM me please if you prefer not to make this public. I'm in the market for a new car. Thanks in advance,

[HP_John]

I just bought a slightly used 2007 Toyota Highlander (4000 miles) from NY. I did not have NY state taxes (you do not need to title the car in your name). Here are the taxes that I paid so far:

GST = 5%
Duty = 6.1 %
100 for AC
204 for RIV

I am still waiting for Form 2 from RIV before I can proceed to get the car plated. Also, just found out, I don't know about other ports but at the Alexandra Bridge, you have to take care of the RIV fee paymebt yourself as well as faxing the recall clearance letter.

You'll have to pay 8% PST at your local MTO. Many states don't require out of state residents to pay their state taxes, as long as you don't register the car there.

[sienna owner]

As I understand your post, you are proposing to bypass US Customs completely and go directly to Canada Customs, correct? You then do Form 1 and 2 after you cross the border, then maybe have your car inspected. Then when you have the time, go back to US Customs and officially export it, correct?

There are a couple of issues I see (which MAY turn out to be non-issues):

The Canada Customs officer may be looking for the US Customs stamp (raised seal) on your vehicle's MCO or Title. Since you did not go through US Customs, you won't have it. If Canada Customs is looking for this (and that's an IF, because I don't know), then you may not be able to import, and have to go back.
If you are able to import successfully, then you need to go back across and leave your vehicle in the USA for 3 days (a holding yard or somebody's garage or go on a road trip :) ). The Blaine WA customs requires this (as stated in their info packet), although I have no idea how they are able to verify the 3 days. Also, do not surrender your Title or MCO to anyone yet, because US Customs needs to see the original.

For what it's worth, I imported my US Toyota in 1992 as part of my properties when I immigrated to Canada from the US and I did not go through US Customs to "export" it. There was no question asked at that time, and I went through all the RIV steps successfully. I've since gone back and forth with that Toyota across the border with no problem. That said, that was 16 years ago and things change.

I believe the Cdn customs will give you the Form 1 completed...when we imported ours, they had a new stamp/seal and the customs agent advised I would have go back later to get it thru...until I showed him the seal, he said he didn't see it.

+1 on keeping the original title/mso...will need to have stamped by US, however don't think you need to leave the vehicle there for 3 days...just need to give copy of title/mso 72 hours...not the whole vehicle...lol

[sienna owner]

I think there is some confusion here:
But if you buy a USED car I think (not sure)you have to pay sales tax, just like buying a shirt or any other good in that state (4.5% I think) regardless of bringing it to Canada.

If you actually have to pay taxes but you do it when you register the car (like in Ontario) you should be fine. Since you are not registering it there at all.

Can anybody confirm this for USED cars??
I have bought a NEW car in NY state and you DONT pay taxes there only in Canada:
GST & PST= 14% In Ontario
6% if is imported
$100 for AC
$207 for RIV fee

you may have to pay tax when buying a shirt, but you're not registering it..hahaha
so in your theory, if i buy used privately, the seller will collect the tax on behalf of the state??? i don't think so...lol

[hotgo]

I believe the Cdn customs will give you the Form 1 completed...when we imported ours, they had a new stamp/seal and the customs agent advised I would have go back later to get it thru...until I showed him the seal, he said he didn't see it.

+1 on keeping the original title/mso...will need to have stamped by US, however don't think you need to leave the vehicle there for 3 days...just need to give copy of title/mso 72 hours...not the whole vehicle...lol

Thanks for the advice. As it looks today, I'm going to wait until next week to do the export properly. I'm just getting frustrated with the numerous delays and problems presented by the dealer. But he claims to be on the ball now... time will tell. I'll be happy when it's plated and sitting in my driveway.

[michelb]

Here is a method that I used to buy a Toyota Highlander from the US. It is not dealer dependent and would probably work for other makes as well. I saved over $12,000 after all expenses (including the incorporation), for a Highlander Hybrid.

Here is what I did and how it worked:

I incorporated a company in Alaska - through a lawyer in Montana

I made a deal, on behalf of the Alaska company with the local Toyota Dealer for the Highlander.

I sent the money to the lawyer, who exchanged it for the Vehicle.

The lawyer then registered the vehicle in Alaska

The Alaska company then sold it to me immediately after registration (lawyer prepared documents)

I picked it up in Montana & drove it home, and the vehicle never left the dealers lot until I picked it up.

Total time - less than a week - Total Cost - for the next Vehicle is aprox $750.

No SALES TAX - other than Canadian GST crossing the border.
This will work for Honda and other makes that stop dealers from selling to Canadians.

This will work well for people in Alberta & British Columbia.

If you would like more information on this method, PM me.

Interesting idea but before others go this route, I would suggest consulting an accountant to make sure you don't have any complications from a tax point of view. Your Alaskan corporation might now be required to submit US income tax returns and other fillings (you might actually want to disolve the corp now that you have the vehicle). There are also some details about exchanging money between you and the corp (in this scenerio, the best way to do it is probably simply a loan from you to the corp to buy the car from the dealer and then the loan is paid off when the corp sells you the car - not a big deal but is has to be documented ...)

Since you had a lawyer assist you with this, you probably could have just done this through him/her rather than the corp - They buy the car in their name, sell it to you ...

[Quant]

I've tried to search, but can't seem to find accurate and current info. How much work is it to import a BMW from the US into Canada. There seems to be some paperwork required from BMW which can cost about $800, and then $1700 needs to be spent on an instrument cluster.

How come BMW convinced Transport Canada for these requirements, but the other manufacturer have not? Is there no one fighting for the consumer with Transport Canada regarding this?

Can anyone guide me to more details? Thanks.

[Genia11]

I was told by a Toyota dealer that while there is no sales tax in Delaware, there is a 3.25% fee to purchase a vehicle in Delaware.

I told him that I was interested in purchasing a 2009 Camry and that I can use a relative's help who resides in NY if necessary.

Is this true, about the fee?



My address is in Delaware, where there is no Sales tax

[bulgurc]

I very much doubt it, but I cannot confirm it.
I purchased in NY, but used a Delaware address. You are purchasing in DE, but using a NY address (That might be the reason). Why don't you call a different dealer to confirm?

[donjuancarlos]

I was told by a Toyota dealer that while there is no sales tax in Delaware, there is a 3.25% fee to purchase a vehicle in Delaware.

I told him that I was interested in purchasing a 2009 Camry and that I can use a relative's help who resides in NY if necessary.

Is this true, about the fee?

Yes, the fee is true. It's Delaware's way of charging state tax without having a state tax. HOWEVER, you only have to pay the fee if and when you register the car in Delaware.

If you can figure out a way to buy the car without registering it, then you don't have to pay.

I avoided state taxes in Utah by getting my Idahoan friend to buy the car. Then she filled out a state form that declared she was not registering the car in Utha, and off we went. I also got the dealership to give me the MCO not filled out, so I simply put my name on the back, and presto, the car was mine.

[Cars4Canadians]

I've tried to search, but can't seem to find accurate and current info. How much work is it to import a BMW from the US into Canada. There seems to be some paperwork required from BMW which can cost about $800, and then $1700 needs to be spent on an instrument cluster.

How come BMW convinced Transport Canada for these requirements, but the other manufacturer have not? Is there no one fighting for the consumer with Transport Canada regarding this?

Can anyone guide me to more details? Thanks.

BMW probably paid of some fat cat politician to look the other way ;)

I don't get it why we should convert the instrument cluster, if it has both Miles/Km on it, it should be fine right? Even if the KM readout is in small text?
What is the law regarding this? This just sucks to high heel.

[rjmbc]

Interesting idea but before others go this route, I would suggest consulting an accountant to make sure you don't have any complications from a tax point of view. Your Alaskan corporation might now be required to submit US income tax returns and other fillings (you might actually want to disolve the corp now that you have the vehicle). There are also some details about exchanging money between you and the corp (in this scenerio, the best way to do it is probably simply a loan from you to the corp to buy the car from the dealer and then the loan is paid off when the corp sells you the car - not a big deal but is has to be documented ...)

Since you had a lawyer assist you with this, you probably could have just done this through him/her rather than the corp - They buy the car in their name, sell it to you ...

You are correct about having to file tax returns, but if you use "my company" it is my problem and being a retired accountant I can tell you that filing a "NIL" tax return is not an expensive proposition. When cost of vehicle = selling price of vehicle = net income "NIL"

I can also provide a some dealers as contacts.

[nornet]

I saw a Scion tC here in waterloo with ontario plates, i wonder how they got it past the customs given that the RIV says no tCs can be imported...anyone know how to get around this? i'd like to get one!!

There are lots of them (2007) in Toronto. Ether find an imported one in Canada for resale (they can't command much of a premium) or buy a used one in the US.

[Ebtek]

even if the warranty didn't transfer into Canada, for the ~$20,000 in savings...that would be a pretty expensive warranty if i bought in Canada.

[Ebtek]

Ok. This is great if you buy NAFTA cars but how about the great german or japanese cars?! You still have to pay the duty tax which will kill the deal completely.
Any ideea how big are the duty taxes or where can I find info in this regard?

i am thinking (hoping) that the agreement is cars MANUFACTURED in NA are importable w/o paying the duty. i.e. some (all?) VWs are manufactured in Mexico, no?

[Genia11]

A quick update: no title fee if the car does not title/register in Delaware.


I was told by a Toyota dealer that while there is no sales tax in Delaware, there is a 3.25% fee to purchase a vehicle in Delaware.

I told him that I was interested in purchasing a 2009 Camry and that I can use a relative's help who resides in NY if necessary.

Is this true, about the fee?

[Nitrate]

+1 on keeping the original title/mso...will need to have stamped by US, however don't think you need to leave the vehicle there for 3 days...just need to give copy of title/mso 72 hours...not the whole vehicle...lolYes, I'm talking about the whole vehicle, it must stay in the US for 3 days before export. Like I said, as stated in their information packet, the Pacific Crossing at Blaine has this to say:

"Remember, the vehicle must be in the United States for the 3-business days. There are no exceptions to this requirement. If it is discovered that the vehicle did not remain in the United States after the export application was submitted, the exporter is subject to penalty and monetary fines as well as seizure of the vehicle. So do NOT take the vehicle outside of the United States once the application is submitted.

If the vehicle is already outside the United States and an export is required, the vehicle must be brought back to the United States prior to the application being submitted and it must remain inside the United States for the 3-business days, plan accordingly. Again, weekends and holidays do NOT count towards the 3-business day requirement."

The highlights and underlines above are exactly as they appear in their information packet, I did not add them for my own emphasis.

So I reiterate, you need to bring back the vehicle and it must stay in the US for 3 business days. However, I have no way of knowing how US Customs verifies that.

[CheapScotsman]

However, I have no way of knowing how US Customs verifies that.With all those camaras at the border crossings ... they know EXACTLY when each vehicle enters the US.

[shopper-X]

With all those camaras at the border crossings ... they know EXACTLY when each vehicle enters the US.

US Customs checks plates not VIN's. When you cross back and forth the camera's are checking your plates that are registered to a Canadian, unless US Customs have access to every Canadian MTO and they cross-reference each plate to a VIN?

I maybe completely out-to-lunch here so if Ebola could elaborate it would help.

[CheapScotsman]

US Customs checks plates not VIN's. When you cross back and forth the camera's are checking your plates that are registered to a Canadian, unless US Customs have access to every Canadian MTO and they cross-reference each plate to a VIN?

I maybe completely out-to-lunch here so if Ebola could elaborate it would help.and I maybe completely out to lunch but

at least in BC you had better not be plated when you cross back over the border cause that means that ICBC (out government car insurance company) has taken your MCO / Title and, opps, you are going need the original at US Customs to get your car exported out of the States !!!

So you have crossed the border with a temp permit. Pretty sure that is going to raise a nice red flag with the border guys and just a few minutes later you are showing up in the office to get the car exported ... and you are going to lie and tell them the car has been in the US for 72 hrs ??? ... if the OP for this question thinks he's got a few problems with his dealership wait till he has problems with US customs and immigration

side note: I got pulled over in Washington State in the 1980s and the state police had in car access to my registration and driving records back then. I imagine the US customs guys have much more than that now.

[ac328]

i am thinking (hoping) that the agreement is cars MANUFACTURED in NA are importable w/o paying the duty. i.e. some (all?) VWs are manufactured in Mexico, no?

Quick rule of thumb is if the first digit of the VIN is a number from 1 to 5, the vehicle was manufactured in North America (which includes Mexico for the purposes of NAFTA). If the VIN begins with any other numbers or letters, it was manufactured outside NA and will be subject to 6.1% duty.

Yes, some VWs are made in Mexico, not sure which ones though.

For VIN country codes click below:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/VIN/WMI.html#ccode

[Nitrate]

at least in BC you had better not be plated when you cross back over the border cause that means that ICBC (out government car insurance company) has taken your MCO / Title and, opps, you are going need the original at US Customs to get your car exported out of the States !!!
I agree. Without a plate, the guy may actually need two temp permits, one Canadian and another US, unless the Canadian permit is valid in the US state he's travelling into. (I know from my research that the WA 3-day temp permits are valid in BC up to its expiry, but the other way around, I'm not sure.) Otherwise, he needs some way of purchasing the US permit prior to driving the vehicle to the border. Details, details, details...

[Quant]

Any disadvantages to driving a car registered & insured to my sister in US? Will the border officials let me bring it over?

[rjmbc]

Any disadvantages to driving a car registered & insured to my sister in US? Will the border officials let me bring it over?

I think your problem is not the border, but if I remember correctly, it is illegal for a Canadian to drive a US Registered vehicle within Canada, unless he also holds a US drivers license.

[pocman]

I've tried to search, but can't seem to find accurate and current info. How much work is it to import a BMW from the US into Canada. There seems to be some paperwork required from BMW which can cost about $800, and then $1700 needs to be spent on an instrument cluster.

How come BMW convinced Transport Canada for these requirements, but the other manufacturer have not? Is there no one fighting for the consumer with Transport Canada regarding this?

Can anyone guide me to more details? Thanks.

It depends on the model of BMW. I recently imported a used Z-4. The process was simple. BMW extorted $350 for admissibility letter, $500 for recall/compliance letter and $300 for programming the DRL's. This make is built in the US so no duty. After all of my expenses the car still ended up $8,000 to $10,000 cheaper than Canada. The BMW dealership was very helpful and have no choice in charging the fee's. Check with a BMW dealership first to see what modifications are required. Some require a complete new cluster. Don't know why-they all have dual KM/MPH. When doing the DRL's my digital read-outs were converted to metric. Good luck...do your research....it's worth the effort.

[Genia11]

Quick question for those who had a relative/friend help them purchase a new vehicle in the US:

Did your relative/friend had to pick up the car or were you able to pick it up on their behalf?

Reason why I am asking is that to avoid state sales taxes, buying out-of-state seems to make sense. However, I would hate to make them travelling for hours to do us a favour.

Thanks.

[donjuancarlos]

Quick question for those who had a relative/friend help them purchase a new vehicle in the US:

Did your relative/friend had to pick up the car or were you able to pick it up on their behalf?

Reason why I am asking is that to avoid state sales taxes, buying out-of-state seems to make sense. However, I would hate to make them travelling for hours to do us a favour.

Thanks.

My friend had to come with me to sign the papers. It was two hours one way, but I made it worth her while with an appropriate cash incentive. :)

[pulsar]

Quick question for those who had a relative/friend help them purchase a new vehicle in the US:

Did your relative/friend had to pick up the car or were you able to pick it up on their behalf?

Reason why I am asking is that to avoid state sales taxes, buying out-of-state seems to make sense. However, I would hate to make them travelling for hours to do us a favour.

Thanks.

My friend help me purchase also. They faxed her a copy of the Bill of Sale for her to sign, she couriered it back along with a copy of her driver's licence. I wired the dealer the money and she also told them someone else will pick the vehicle up for her which was me.

So obviously you stay in the States an extra 3 days and fax the MSO to the border, or you try and get your friend to get a copy of the MSO to "prearrange the titling" of the vehicle in the state (s)he is in.

[Cars4Canadians]

BMW has the official prices for the 1-series BMW's out on their website.

The 128 and 135 are at best overpriced by 3K for this gouging Canadian market, even though in reality they are priced 6K above their american counterparts.

I want to puke, these cars are smaller than honda civic's and they want premium for them :P

[97gst]

So I reiterate, you need to bring back the vehicle and it must stay in the US for 3 business days. However, I have no way of knowing how US Customs verifies that.

Just to clarify the reasoning behind the 72hr rule.

US customs requires you leave the original title with them at border to allow them 3 days to run the VIN through the databases of stolen cars, and confirm that the paperwork is legit. The car does not have to be there (or left there) when you drop off the title, but it DOES need to be there when you pick it back up again after the 72hrs has passed.

After the 72hrs is up, and they are satisfied that everything is legit, a US customs officer walk out to the car and double check that your VINs match the VIN on the title, and at that point you are free to drive back to deal with Canada customs.

Trying to drive the car back across the border during those 3 days is a BAD IDEA, and it would get you in big trouble with customs on both sides of the border. Dealing with border officers in this day and age isn't the best place to try to pull a fast one and ignore the very clear exporting rules.

Would you really want to risk being arrested for illegal car smuggling over ignoring a 72hr wait period?

[myhilow]

Quick question for those who had a relative/friend help them purchase a new vehicle in the US:

Did your relative/friend had to pick up the car or were you able to pick it up on their behalf?

Reason why I am asking is that to avoid state sales taxes, buying out-of-state seems to make sense. However, I would hate to make them travelling for hours to do us a favour.

Thanks.

As a winter Texan, I was able to purchase my new vehicle using my own name and an out of state address of a freind to avoid State Sales Tax. Two different dealers were ready to accommodate me with a sale. (Five other dealers were not so accomodating) It really depends on the dealer and how creative they are in handling your sale. And how much they are interested in making another sale to a Canadian. Unfortunately having extra free time and being in the US and able to deal first hand with them is a real benefit.

[Raven_007]

Hotgo...Port Huron is easy. As you drive to the bridge you will see the US customs on the left. There is a cement barrier seperating the two sides. Just park close to the barrier and hop over and go into US customs. They can be busy but have always been good. The last time one of the older fellas wanted to come look at my VIN to be sure it was the same vehicle. Once outside he lit a smoke and said he needed a break. Have never waited at Canada Customs very long. Typical tax police tactics but they see enough that they are the easiest going of the three border points I have crossed at.


Is it before toll both? After I94 and I69 split up (where the road goes to Canada and to Pine Grove Ave.(on the left)), do you park on I94 after it merges with the entrance from Pine Grove Ave.? And do you go into the long building where the trucks are parked (on google maps, satellite view)?
Also, once in Canada - in which building do you go to pay GST, RIV and AC taxes?

[crikey]

Your particular question would qualify as a gift so that she doesn't have to pay taxes. If you have your original bill of sale when you bought the car in Canada, then that would be helpful too in proving the car complies with Canadian vehicle standards. Your sister will just have the safety certificate and emissions test done before she could get it registered. I think it's okay to let her drive it back to Canada with your tags. She could just take them off when she puts on the Ontario tags.

Sorry for the really delayed response.
What would she need to show when she crosses the border, i.e. what documentation, etc.? She will have the title in hand but that would be about it.

[Nitrate]

US customs requires you leave the original title with them at border to allow them 3 days to run the VIN through the databases of stolen cars, and confirm that the paperwork is legit. The car does not have to be there (or left there) when you drop off the title, but it DOES need to be there when you pick it back up again after the 72hrs has passed.

After the 72hrs is up, and they are satisfied that everything is legit, a US customs officer walk out to the car and double check that your VINs match the VIN on the title, and at that point you are free to drive back to deal with Canada customs.
They also check for outstanding liens, etc. But I think everyone knows the reasons for the 72 hour rule (or 3 day rule, as is the case with the Pacific Crossing in Blaine WA).

There's a couple of pieces of potential misinformation in the post above: Not all US Customs require the original title be left with them for 3 days. The Pacific Crossing only requires a copy; they accept mailed, faxed, email and even hand-delivered copies of the original. They do require the original at the time of export. As well, the customs officer will not always walk out to the car to check the VIN. Such was my case, and the person ahead of me in the line.

[sketty55]

Does anyone know what the payment options are for purchasing a vehicle in the states? Is leasing an option? Apologies is this has been covered under this topic but this is a long thread. Thanks!

[DSTU]

Does anyone know what the payment options are for purchasing a vehicle in the states? Is leasing an option? Apologies is this has been covered under this topic but this is a long thread. Thanks!

Just get one of those sub-prime loans.

I always hear those mentioned in the news lately - so they must be good.

[noname]

anyone with any recent experience importing a used Mercedes Benz? I'm looking at a late model (2006+) SLK. I know you have to do the mods through a Canadian MB dealership. any experiences?

[CHIA]

Does anyone know what the payment options are for purchasing a vehicle in the states? Is leasing an option? Apologies is this has been covered under this topic but this is a long thread. Thanks!

Unless you have a US bank account and address, I think there's only 1 option...cash or cheque.

Canadian banks will not offer traditional car financing on a US vehicle, so a low- interest line of credit seems to be the choice for many of us.

[PrimeBane]

Does anyone know what the payment options are for purchasing a vehicle in the states? Is leasing an option? Apologies is this has been covered under this topic but this is a long thread. Thanks!

No... you have no finance options in the US. You must get your financing on this side of the border (bank loan, line of credit, etc)

[Quant]

Regarding financing, I'm sure you can get a car loan from a Canadian Bank, though you might need to wait until the car is in Canada. The Canadian banks will not write you a check made out to a US dealer, but they should issue you a bank loan against a vehicle that you already own.

[kplange]

I just wanted to relate my experiences with importing my car, both good and bad. My case is somewhat unusual and probably applies to very few people here. I began looking at Saturn Sky Red Lines last October. When checking out the "build your own" websites, I noticed a price difference of close to $10,000 from the U.S. to Canada (roughly $33,000 versus $43,000). These vehicles, at the time, were few and far between, and people in the U.S. had been waiting up to six months for the turbo "Red Line" model. At that time, the 2008 models were still on the prohibited list because of the immobilzer issue, so I began searching for a low mileage 2007 model. I winter in Arizona, so that made it a little easier for me. Suprisingly enough, for a city of 3 million people, I think there was one used Red Line available, and it was silver, which isn't my favourite colour to begin with. Unbelievably, I came across a 2007 with only 2900 miles, fully loaded and in Bluestone with a tan top, which is exactly what I would have ordered if I had bought new. It was for sale at a Cadillac dealership in Las Vegas. The previous owner had babied the car and traded it in on a new Cadillac CTS because the Sky was too small. The car was priced fairly and I was able to negotiate a slightly better price.
I flew out on Nov 16 and drove the car back to Phoenix. Going back a bit, I had been adding U.S. money to my account for some time over the year in anticipation of purchasing a vehicle, but still had to take around $18,000 cash along to make up the balance. That resulted in problem # 1. When I attempted to declare the currency at the border, it became a major issue with them. I had assumed that if we kept the figure under $10,000 each, it would make things a bit easier. I had an money order under $10,000, and my wife had a money order made out to her for $5,000 plus some cash to make up the balance. The border agents felt that we were trying to "circumvent the system" and had us in seperate interview rooms for 45 minutes. In the end, they admitted that we had done nothing wrong, but felt it was suspicious. Had we not declared the money intially, they could have confiscated it. Since the money orders had not been signed, they were not considered currency. It turns out that the $10,000 limit is per family and not per person. You can bring amounts in excess of that amount, but have to fill out forms. I had tried to keep it simple. Anyway, a poor start to the experience.
I paid no Nevada sales tax, as I was taking the vehicle to Arizona. The dealer gave me a 10 day temporary permit. I had already got U.S. insurance through Geico. I had found out that Arizona DMV issues temporary permits for up to 90 days. Although this would not cover my 5 month stay, I thought I'd at least get one while I decided what the next step was. Problem #2. When I went down to the DMV, I was met by a couple of confused ladies who had to make a phone call to ask how to handle my situation. They informed me that in order to get a temporary permit, I'd have to pay the AZ sales tax on my purchase, no way around it. So..... there went approximately $1,600. Since the permit still left me short for around 45 days, I opted to register the car in AZ and get plates, a further $400 and change. I justified that by knowing that the car was "legal" and that I could enjoy it for the rest of the winter.
Problem #3. A month later, I got a bill from the City of Mesa for a "road usage tax", another $510. I took this up with them and they claimed that since I'd used my U.S. address with DMV, I was now considered an Arizona resident, albiet a temporary one.
I had initially driven down in my Manitoba registered car, and decided to sell it to avoid having to fly back for the Sky. A fellow snowbird from Alberta bought it. Since I'd purchased this vehicle 3 years ago in Arizona, I had both the AZ title and MB registration. I gave the buyer both and told him to use which ever one he needed. Well, he decided to apply for a temporary 90 day permit and use the AZ title to register it. I had to go along to sign over the title and have it notarized, as this is a big deal in the U.S. This time, another lady seemed to have a handle on this and asked him if he wanted the title in his U.S or Canadian address. He used his Canadian address and saved the sales tax. Too bad nobody had told me this five months earlier. People have suggested that I try and get a refund, but I imagine that getting money back from a government organization would be like pulling hen's teeth. Live and learn I guess.
Anyway, come early April, I faxed my title to the border crossing at Osoyoos, BC, as I wanted to keep it my home in Penticton. Two weeks later, I showed up at the U.S. border, they stamped my title, did not even come out to look at the car. The Canadian side was just as easy. I did make a minor mistake on my form and had to go back to the end of the line once. I paid my GST and $100 air conditioning tax, less my $750 exemption. They did not look at the car either.
I emailed RIV their money and faxed them the necessary documents. They took a full five days to email me the form, which seemed excessive to me. I had prebooked my slot at Canadian Tire and had to cancel once. When I did get in for inspection, they discovered that the daytime running lights could be turned off. They installed a module to correct that. Total cost including provincial inspection, another $240. They also had to call some provincial department and see if it was legal to have a car with no spare tire. Apparently BC law requires a spare, but all Saturn Sky's and Pontiac Solstice's only come with a tire inflator and slime to patch small holes. I found it odd that this could have been an issue, since the Canadian and U.S. models are identical. It had me worried for a while though, as they had to wait for some department to call them back with an OK.
Next step was insurance which was relatively painful, except for another outlay of 4,000 for insurance and PST.
So... in the end, I have my "toy" and it is legal. Not surprisingly, these cars have become a bit more plentiful in the past six months. Used 2007 Red Lines are now showing up in Canada, although rarely, for the mid $30's, compared to $38,000 to $40,000 last summer. I have $31,500 tied up in mine prior to crossing the border. I can't put a price on having a "babied" adult driven car with my choice of options and in my colour choice. It just wouldn't have been available up here at any price.
Interestingly, while sitting in the Canadian Tire waiting room for three hours, I glanced through a few Auto Traders. Believe me, prices are NOT coming down here. They are the same as when I left last November. I saw a lot of ads for so called "Americanized Pricing" These prices are still grossly inflated from what you pay in the States, both new and used.
My apologies for the long winded post and my Thanks to MonsieurMaggot for getting things started. This is a great forum and I've been on here daily for the past six months. The information and stories from all of you have been invaluable and made this whole experience a lot less stressful than I imagined it would be.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Thanks for you kind words.

After all you went through, you still saved some considerable cash AND provided all RFDers some interesting scenarios to ponder.

Welcome to the RFD Super Saver club.

Be sure to add your name to the www.carburner.com site.

[lanny1]

I am looking for a Toyota dealer who will sell me a new 4 Runner. I live in Calgary. Any assistance would be appreciated.

[ac328]

After the 72hrs is up, and they are satisfied that everything is legit, a US customs officer walk out to the car and double check that your VINs match the VIN on the title, and at that point you are free to drive back to deal with Canada customs.

In my case the US customs guy did not bother to go out and look at the car I was importing ('08 Subaru Outback) back when I brought it over in December.

Remember, every border crossing has its own rules. E.g. for mine (Eastport, Idaho) they had a worksheet which had to be filled out and sent with faxes of the paperwork. Worksheet is on the US CBP website, but is only needed for Idaho and Montana crossings.

Other crossings have their own quirky rules, e.g. Blaine, wash. only opens on weekdays (why? who knows) for car exports, whereas Eastport is open 24/7. Blaine accepts PDFs via emails for your car title, others accept only faxes, others require original documents. It's a stupid set up.

So, do your homework for the particular crossing you want to import your car through.

[rjmbc]

I am looking for a Toyota dealer who will sell me a new 4 Runner. I live in Calgary. Any assistance would be appreciated.

I have sent you a PM with one in Montana

[Nitrate]

Remember, every border crossing has its own rules. E.g. for mine (Eastport, Idaho) they had a worksheet which had to be filled out and sent with faxes of the paperwork. Worksheet is on the US CBP website, but is only needed for Idaho and Montana crossings.
The Pacific Crossing in Blaine WA also requires a worksheet, which is similar but a different version than the one on the US CBP website. For people exporting out of this port, it's best to request their information packet.Other crossings have their own quirky rules, e.g. Blaine, wash. only opens on weekdays (why? who knows) for car exports, whereas Eastport is open 24/7. Blaine accepts PDFs via emails for your car title, others accept only faxes, others require original documents. It's a stupid set up.
Yes, Blaine accepts most anything, which definitely means the original is not a requirement at the time of application. In fact, when I faxed my MCO, I didn't have it in my possession, and neither did my broker. The dealer faxed a copy to him, which he faxed to me, which I in turn faxed to US Customs.

Regarding Blaine's hours for the actual export (8-3:30 M-F; weekends closed), I am sure they have their reason for it. But I can't imagine what. All they did with mine (this was less just 3 weeks ago) was look at my original MCO, walk back to the bin in the back, look for my application, put in another bin, and stamp my MCO. All done in like 3 minutes. I guess they can't do that 24 hours a day, or have the manpower for it.

So, do your homework for the particular crossing you want to import your car through.
Best advice.

[dumbass]

Just imported my 09 Subaru Forester yesterday. Things were going great until I got to Canadian customs....their debit machine & credit card system were kaput. There were a tonne of people that were stuck with no way to pay.

Luckily I had someone with me who had cheques on her (I never carry cheques anymore).

[Swiguy]

I've done some digging around this thread and I'm just trying to narrow down my search to a few good Subaru deals in Michigan or NY. I know there is Van Bortel in NY but what about Michigan dealerships around Detroit/Port Huron area? Please PM if you have any info!

Thanks!

[dumbass]

I've done some digging around this thread and I'm just trying to narrow down my search to a few good Subaru deals in Michigan or NY. I know there is Van Bortel in NY but what about Michigan dealerships around Detroit/Port Huron area? Please PM if you have any info!

Thanks!

Try Northtown in Buffalo. It's a little bit closer to the border.

[atorontoguy]

Just imported my 09 Subaru Forester yesterday. Things were going great until I got to Canadian customs....their debit machine & credit card system were kaput. There were a tonne of people that were stuck with no way to pay.

Luckily I had someone with me who had cheques on her (I never carry cheques anymore).

Would you mind telling the price and spec that you get for the 2009 Forester? Is there any modification (e.g. DRL) required? Thanks.

[EL820]

I've done some digging around this thread and I'm just trying to narrow down my search to a few good Subaru deals in Michigan or NY. I know there is Van Bortel in NY but what about Michigan dealerships around Detroit/Port Huron area? Please PM if you have any info!

Thanks!

Hodges Subaru in Detroit MI. That's where I got my Tribeca.

You'll save more compared to VB Subaru & the Buffalo dealers. Border crossing is 24/7 on both sides.

[HP_John]

Maybe it's just Infiniti, but I noticed the dealers near & around Buffalo are relatively "gouging" Cdns compared to dealers farther away. Since Buffalo is kind of a import "hotspot", they have tons of Cdn customers & can charge a premium, as many Cdns don't wanna travel too far to get a better deal (as they're already getting a great deal relative to Cdn prices).

Other Cdns on the Infiniti forum reported about a $2 K difference between California dealers vs Buffalo, so even if you add shipping, it's still cheaper to get it in Cali.

[i3_dawg]

Hi i just called up a sales rep from autoplace infiniti for a g37 6mt with premium package for $40k + $67(handling/admin. fee).

How do I register this vehicle in canada? at one of those minstry of transportation offices? How much and where do I have to pay taxes, 13%? I know that I will have to pay 6.1% at the border, and $195+GST for RIV fee.

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
Douglas

[CheapScotsman]

Hi i just called up a sales rep from autoplace infiniti for a g37 6mt with premium package for $40k + $67(handling/admin. fee).

How do I register this vehicle in canada? at one of those minstry of transportation offices? How much and where do I have to pay taxes, 13%? I know that I will have to pay 6.1% at the border, and $195+GST for RIV fee.

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
DouglasDid you actually read post 1 and any of the links it in?

here are two summary posts on the steps required:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6396021
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477998

[sienna owner]

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
Douglas

guess it depends how much you want to save/import your vehicle!!:lol:

[hotgo]

New question for the experts here... just picked up my new car today (full report will be posted once I have it fully plated).

Having some issues with the Recall Letter, but it's getting worked out. So couldn't do the 1-day import and plate this time around.

Now for the Question: I noticed that the vehicle I imported has a way to turn OFF the DRL function. Is this going to cause me trouble when I take it to Canadian Tire? If so, what is the suggested course of action?

[walleye*guy]

New question for the experts here... just picked up my new car today (full report will be posted once I have it fully plated).

Having some issues with the Recall Letter, but it's getting worked out. So couldn't do the 1-day import and plate this time around.

Now for the Question: I noticed that the vehicle I imported has a way to turn OFF the DRL function. Is this going to cause me trouble when I take it to Canadian Tire? If so, what is the suggested course of action?

My bet is that if the DRL is on - that's all they will check

you aren't dealing with rocket scientists at CT

[hotgo]

Is it before toll both? After I94 and I69 split up (where the road goes to Canada and to Pine Grove Ave.(on the left)), do you park on I94 after it merges with the entrance from Pine Grove Ave.? And do you go into the long building where the trucks are parked (on google maps, satellite view)?
Also, once in Canada - in which building do you go to pay GST, RIV and AC taxes?

1. Park on left side against the concrete barrier. Jump the barrier and go into main Customs building. (Not the one with the trucks parked on Google Maps... the main building). The Vehicle Export office is the same place that you would go for secondary screening if you are entering the US. In my case today, I dealt with the same customs agent when I crossed from Canada-->US and then again when I came back with the car and presented the MSO to her. Totally different than Queenston/Lewiston where the Vehicle Export office is some hidden office in another building.
2. On Canadian side, you also go to main customs building. The customs officer will point you in the right direction after you tell him/her that you are bringing a car back with you.

Easy as pie...

[Swiguy]

Hodges Subaru in Detroit MI. That's where I got my Tribeca.

You'll save more compared to VB Subaru & the Buffalo dealers. Border crossing is 24/7 on both sides.

Thanks for the tip! I actually emailed Hodges and they are pricing me out a quote for tomorrow so hopefully it looks good.

[pulsar]

New question for the experts here... just picked up my new car today (full report will be posted once I have it fully plated).

Having some issues with the Recall Letter, but it's getting worked out. So couldn't do the 1-day import and plate this time around.

Now for the Question: I noticed that the vehicle I imported has a way to turn OFF the DRL function. Is this going to cause me trouble when I take it to Canadian Tire? If so, what is the suggested course of action?

DRLs that can be turned off are not allowed in Canada. They must be always fully on. Some people have reported that they had to pay CT to bypass the switch.

Your best bet is probably try and hide the switch if you can so they don't notice it. Also hope that any info (IE monroney label) doesn't list it as being able to turn on/off.

[CheapScotsman]

DRLs that can be turned off are not allowed in Canada. They must be always fully on. Some people have reported that they had to pay CT to bypass the switch.

Your best bet is probably try and hide the switch if you can so they don't notice it. Also hope that any info (IE monroney label) doesn't list it as being able to turn on/off.or inject the switch with crazy glue

[stephenstay]

<snip>

Now for the Question: I noticed that the vehicle I imported has a way to turn OFF the DRL function. Is this going to cause me trouble when I take it to Canadian Tire? If so, what is the suggested course of action?

My vehicle has the same ability to turn off the DRL. However, it wasn't an obvious procedure and I took the owners manuals out of the car so unless the mechanic at CT knew about it they would be none the wiser.

[hotgo]

DRLs that can be turned off are not allowed in Canada. They must be always fully on. Some people have reported that they had to pay CT to bypass the switch.

Your best bet is probably try and hide the switch if you can so they don't notice it. Also hope that any info (IE monroney label) doesn't list it as being able to turn on/off.

Thanks. Question 2 now: If I take it to Canadian Tire #1 and they give me trouble, can I pack up my stuff and try at CT #2? Or am I now obligated to work with CT #1 to rectify whatever issue(s) they point out?

[d-kim]

Thanks. Question 2 now: If I take it to Canadian Tire #1 and they give me trouble, can I pack up my stuff and try at CT #2? Or am I now obligated to work with CT #1 to rectify whatever issue(s) they point out?

You can go to as many CT's as you want.

[DSTU]

Hi i just called up a sales rep from autoplace infiniti for a g37 6mt with premium package for $40k + $67(handling/admin. fee).

How do I register this vehicle in canada? at one of those minstry of transportation offices? How much and where do I have to pay taxes, 13%? I know that I will have to pay 6.1% at the border, and $195+GST for RIV fee.

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
Douglas

Start at Page 1!!!!

All your answers will be there.

[sienna owner]

Hi i just called up a sales rep from autoplace infiniti for a g37 6mt with premium package for $40k + $67(handling/admin. fee).

How do I register this vehicle in canada? at one of those minstry of transportation offices? How much and where do I have to pay taxes, 13%? I know that I will have to pay 6.1% at the border, and $195+GST for RIV fee.

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
Douglas

maybe you're better off contact a broker if you don't want to do any research

[Nitrate]

maybe you're better off contact a broker if you don't want to do any researchThis may be true if he works with a local Canadian broker or importer. If he purchases the vehicle via an American broker (like I did), he still needs to be familiar with the import steps because he will be doing most of the work on his own. This was fine with me because it saved me a lot of money over going the local route (local broker included).

[Raven_007]

A few things can be added to infrequently asked questions list:)

If anyone is planning to buy "conversion" van - check that the company that did the conversion (if the conversion was done after the vehicle was delivered from original manufacturer) is on the admissability list from RIV. RIV can check over the phone. If it's not - it is inadmissible. You can also check it here (SECTION 5 - TRAVEL VAN CONVERSION):
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf
You may also need clearance letter from conversion company.

Also, I contacted MOT (Ontario) over their question form and the response from Senior Enquiry Analyst was that "the out-of-province temporary (trip) permit is not valid in Ontario. You should go to the nearest Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Officeto apply for a trip permit when you cross into Ontario." and they should be able to do it on the same day as your cross the border (during their business hours). I realize thousands of people never had any problems and some weren't able to get the permit on the first day, but that's the response I got.

[Survivor1]

Finally, got the RIV sticker for my 2008 Sienna... a happy camper now.

Won't bother to post every step of the importation process here as it has been repeated so many times already. But in summary, the importation process was just quick and simple for me.

There were 2 minor surprise:
1. When I was at the border to pick up the vehicle, my cell phone stopped working as there's no coverage. It is fortuate that the truck driver was on time and we could find each other.
2. I was required to apply for exemption for the provincial inspection (Alberta) even though it is brand new. It is no big deal but a couple days of delay + $10.

As mentioned on the forum before, the most difficult and time-consuming part was to find a cooperating dealer to sell you a new car. I contacted about 150 dealers in more than 15 states (from west to east) and most of them said no to Canadians. I managed to find about 10 dealers that said okay. The closer to the border, the more money they want. I ended up paying MSRP - $2500. This might not be the best deal. But considering the services they provided, I think it was the best at the time.

Regarding savings, since I converted into US$ a few months ago at around 1 CAD = 1.06 US in anticipation of this purchase, I believe the saving is at least $13000.

It is interesting that when I stopped by a local Toyota dealer last week, I tried to bargain for a similar vehicle with the same opions loaded but I tried so hard that the sales manager finally only gave me $1000 off the MSRP (it started from no discount at all). He stressed that no more than that. I tried the same thing 3 months ago in another local dealer and got the same amount off. I guess Toyota dealers in Alberta has no problem selling their cars.

Anyway, I would like to say many thanks to those who've helped me on this forum (answering my questions). I'm done with this project and will have to take a break (after checking this forum every day for 6 months). See you guys later.

[michelb]

...

Also, I contacted MOT (Ontario) over their question form and the response from Senior Enquiry Analyst was that "the out-of-province temporary (trip) permit is not valid in Ontario. You should go to the nearest Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Officeto apply for a trip permit when you cross into Ontario." and they should be able to do it on the same day as your cross the border (during their business hours). I realize thousands of people never had any problems and some weren't able to get the permit on the first day, but that's the response I got.

The temp permit issue is kind of annoying - seems that every one you ask gives you a different answer. As far as getting one in Ontario, it's not always possible - from the MTO website (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/temp.htm) ... A trip permit can be used by the owner of a vehicle when he/she is required to complete the transfer of ownership of the vehicle within six days of buying the vehicle. ... Given that you have to wait 3 days just to export, getting an Ontario Trip permit within 6 days might not be possible. (We bought our vehicle in Florida and it took way more than 6 days to get it shipped ...)

[michelb]

Out of curiosty, is there anyway to tell a US vehicle from a CND vehicle if they've replaced the speedo (e.g. BMW)? Do they have different stickers on the door frame or something?

[ac328]

Out of curiosty, is there anyway to tell a US vehicle from a CND vehicle if they've replaced the speedo (e.g. BMW)? Do they have different stickers on the door frame or something?

Actually that probably would be the only visual way all other things being the same, it would have the original US compliance sticker and the RIV compliance sticker. Not that the average buyer would know the difference.

If you're a real nerd you could of course also tell if it's a trim that's not offered in Canada (e.g. LL Bean models for Subaru).

Carfax and/or the other similar servcies would also tell you, I would have thought.

[ssainani]

does anyone know about the 72 hour rule for faxing ownership

does that mean business days?

or can i fax out on a friday and import on a monday?

[ac328]

does anyone know about the 72 hour rule for faxing ownership

does that mean business days?

or can i fax out on a friday and import on a monday?

Every border crossing has its own particular take on the rule requiring documents 72 hours before.

Best bet is to call the particular border crossing yourself and ask. Frankly you should be doing that anyway.

[HP_John]

Hi i just called up a sales rep from autoplace infiniti for a g37 6mt with premium package for $40k + $67(handling/admin. fee).

How do I register this vehicle in canada? at one of those minstry of transportation offices? How much and where do I have to pay taxes, 13%? I know that I will have to pay 6.1% at the border, and $195+GST for RIV fee.

some help would be greatly appreciated, there maybe answers to this on previous pages of the thread, but I don't want to go through that many pages.

Thanks,
Douglas

Please don't tell me you're paying MSRP just because they told you they don't discount to Cdns. These Infiniti dealers in & around Buffalo are trying to ripoff Cdns by claiming they can't discount to Cdns & that they (dealer) risk being penalized by Infiniti USA. On that car, you should easily be able to get invoice (probably about $3.5 K off MSRP) at dealers farther from the border. If you understandably don't want to drive far, even with shipping it's a better deal.

[kplange]

Thanks. Question 2 now: If I take it to Canadian Tire #1 and they give me trouble, can I pack up my stuff and try at CT #2? Or am I now obligated to work with CT #1 to rectify whatever issue(s) they point out?

In my case, there was only one CT in my city and they certainly seemed to be on the ball. When I made the appointment, they asked if my vehicle had tinted windows. (It didn't.) They informed me that any non factory tint would automatically fail the car. When I arrived for my appointment, the first thing they asked is if my DRL could be turned off, as that was an automatic failure as well. I told them I didn't think they could be turned off. I had slid a rubber O-ring over the turn signal stalk and into the groove, to make it very difficult to turn the switch off. It didn't work, as they came out and told me 1 1/2 hours later, that they would have to install a module for $170. At that point, they had already done the Provincial inspection, so I doubt that I could have just driven out of there if I had a chance to go to another CT location. Once they get into the inspection that you pay for (Provincial), I think you're past the point of no return, as you already owe them money.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Please don't tell me you're paying MSRP just because they told you they don't discount to Cdns. These Infiniti dealers in & around Buffalo are trying to ripoff Cdns by claiming they can't discount to Cdns & that they (dealer) risk being penalized by Infiniti USA. On that car, you should easily be able to get invoice (probably about $3.5 K off MSRP) at dealers farther from the border. If you understandably don't want to drive far, even with shipping it's a better deal.

I've received a lot of emails from people telling me the same thing.

It appears that some unscrupulous dealers in Western New York are padding their wallets thanks to the unsuspecting Canadian consumer.

A dealer insider told me that the Canadian consumer is totally blown away by the savings on the US side that they don't mind paying US MSRP (and sometime above). They're doing this to make up for the loss of "service" revenue and by pushing the market (as much as it will bear).

Supply and demand I suppose. Shame on those who are doing it. While most won't offer the rebates (some pocket that too) I would stick to the invoice pricing. If your selected dealer doesn't offer it, move to someone else. An extra couple of hours driving will be worth the additional thousands you can save.

Remember you won't be servicing your car there, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Some folks are reporting buying Subarus (Outbacks like mine) for a couple of thousand dollars below invoice while others are paying invoice. So far no one has told me they're paying MSRP on US Subarus (yet!)

[Nitrate]

It appears that some unscrupulous dealers in Western New York are padding their wallets thanks to the unsuspecting Canadian consumer.

A dealer insider told me that the Canadian consumer is totally blown away by the savings on the US side that they don't mind paying US MSRP (and sometime above). They're doing this to make up for the loss of "service" revenue and by pushing the market (as much as it will bear).
Yes, it happens in Western Washington too. The only dealer closest to Vancouver BC that will sell new Toyotas to Canadians is Wilson Toyota in Bellingham WA (as far as I know). I know someone who bought his 2008 Sienna from this dealer in January for MSRP because the dealer simply won't budge. They probably know they're the only ones near the border that sells new to Canadians.

When I was looking for my own Sienna in February, I approached them first. They gave me the same BS about MSRP-only for Canadians. We talked twice on the phone and exchanged emails after that. I was dubious and looked around a bit. That's when I found a US broker willing to work with Canadians to purchase new vehicles. After I sealed the deal with this broker (who got me a 08 Sienna LE for $2200 off MSRP), I emailed Wilson out of courtesy. Told them that I found my Sienna. The guy was obviously disappointed. A couple of days later, his manager phoned me at work and basically told me that his salesman was totally wrong. He said they CAN give me a Sienna for less than MSRP!! What a change in tune. It was too late by then. I had wired my money and was totally commmitted to the other guy.

My friend who bought his Sienna at MSRP was a little dejected (and angry at himself) when he heard how much I got mine for. So please please please, don't get ripped off by your local Canadian dealer but in the same way, don't get ripped off by these unscrupulous US dealers near the border. You have lots of other choices!

[LoDown]

Hodges Subaru in Detroit MI. That's where I got my Tribeca.

You'll save more compared to VB Subaru & the Buffalo dealers. Border crossing is 24/7 on both sides.

Can you share the specific model, options and US price you paid. VB supposedly gives the best prices in the Toronto area.

[LoDown]

Is there any way to register your US Subaru car at subaru.com using your Canadian address including province and postal code? It only seems to allow entry of US states and Zip codes.

[lanny1]

Yes, it happens in Western Washington too. The only dealer closest to Vancouver BC that will sell new Toyotas to Canadians is Wilson Toyota in Bellingham WA (as far as I know). I know someone who bought his 2008 Sienna from this dealer in January for MSRP because the dealer simply won't budge. They probably know they're the only ones near the border that sells new to Canadians.

When I was looking for my own Sienna in February, I approached them first. They gave me the same BS about MSRP-only for Canadians. We talked twice on the phone and exchanged emails after that. I was dubious and looked around a bit. That's when I found a US broker willing to work with Canadians to purchase new vehicles. After I sealed the deal with this broker (who got me a 08 Sienna LE for $2200 off MSRP), I emailed Wilson out of courtesy. Told them that I found my Sienna. The guy was obviously disappointed. A couple of days later, his manager phoned me at work and basically told me that his salesman was totally wrong. He said they CAN give me a Sienna for less than MSRP!! What a change in tune. It was too late by then. I had wired my money and was totally commmitted to the other guy.

My friend who bought his Sienna at MSRP was a little dejected (and angry at himself) when he heard how much I got mine for. So please please please, don't get ripped off by your local Canadian dealer but in the same way, don't get ripped off by these unscrupulous US dealers near the border. You have lots of other choices!

I have just been able to negotiate a deal on a new Sienna at a significant discount($3,000) on MSRP from a contact that I got from this forum. That dealer is located in Montana and obviously not being unfair to Canadians.

[Nitrate]

I have just been able to negotiate a deal on a new Sienna at a significant discount($3,000) on MSRP from a contact that I got from this forum. That dealer is located in Montana and obviously not being unfair to Canadians.That's a nice discount. If I opted for the XLE model, my broker was going to give me $3500 off MSRP, and if the top-of-the-line Limited, he was willing to give $4000 off. But even with the hefty discounts, they were already out of line from my budget. And she-who-must-be-obeyed had locked away my wallet around that time. :D

[EL820]

Can you share the specific model, options and US price you paid. VB supposedly gives the best prices in the Toronto area.

I opted for the 7 seater Limited with rear assist sensors (for the wife :D), puddle lights, rubber mats, mudguards, and a few other options I can't remember at the moment.

I priced out the same vehicle & options at VBS's site and they were about $500 more than what I paid at Hodges. That was back in Dec '07.

Detroit is only an hour further away from the GTA compared to Victor, NY. I took the bus down to Detroit myself and drove the car back. Conveniently, the US & Canadian Customs is 24/7 at the Detroit crossing.

To me, the $500 extra saving is worth the extra 2 hours on the road.

[irish80ca]

Thanks Cinghoda. I appreciate the reply and will check out that link now. Sounds like things just got better!

I believe Mazda changed their warranty policy from "No warranty coverage", to "Warranty applies on U.S. market cars as long as they have a valid service history and have not been written off."

This is taken from the APA website: http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#MAZDA

Good Luck!!

[winterd]

I opted for the 7 seater Limited with rear assist sensors (for the wife :D), puddle lights, rubber mats, mudguards, and a few other options I can't remember at the moment.

I priced out the same vehicle & options at VBS's site and they were about $500 more than what I paid at Hodges. That was back in Dec '07.

Detroit is only an hour further away from the GTA compared to Victor, NY. I took the bus down to Detroit myself and drove the car back. Conveniently, the US & Canadian Customs is 24/7 at the Detroit crossing.

To me, the $500 extra saving is worth the extra 2 hours on the road.

Was that $500 cheaper even having to pay sales tax?

[BMNB3tches]

Was that $500 cheaper even having to pay sales tax?

Canadians don't pay sales taxes in Michigan for the vehicles that we are importing to Canada!

[Philz]

Thanks for all the info guys,
When I finally import I will post my experience

[webbyx]

I have just been able to negotiate a deal on a new Sienna at a significant discount($3,000) on MSRP from a contact that I got from this forum. That dealer is located in Montana and obviously not being unfair to Canadians.

I sent you a PM. If you could help out that would be great.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Is there any way to register your US Subaru car at subaru.com using your Canadian address including province and postal code? It only seems to allow entry of US states and Zip codes.


I used Toronto, NY 14213 as my city address. The zip corresponds to Buffalo NY and is accepted by subaru.com and mysubaru.com.

Be sure to set up your new Subaru at mysubaru.com to keep track of your maintenance and get informed of any recall issues. You can also book maintenance through the site.

Too bad Subaru Canada doesn't offer as similar set up to the Canadians who paid far too much for their vehicles. Considering most paid $10 - 15k more for their cars, that would be the least they can do.

[kinyo963]

Would you mind telling the price and spec that you get for the 2009 Forester? Is there any modification (e.g. DRL) required? Thanks.
Quote:Originally Posted by dumbass
Just imported my 09 Subaru Forester yesterday. Things were going great until I got to Canadian customs....their debit machine & credit card system were kaput. There were a tonne of people that were stuck with no way to pay.

Luckily I had someone with me who had cheques on her (I never carry cheques anymore).

.

Please care to respond. I'm also interested in the new Forester so I add 2 questions: what was your final price and if you payed the 6% import tax? Thanks

[LoDown]

I used Toronto, NY 14213 as my city address. The zip corresponds to Buffalo NY and is accepted by subaru.com and mysubaru.com.

Be sure to set up your new Subaru at mysubaru.com to keep track of your maintenance and get informed of any recall issues. You can also book maintenance through the site.

Too bad Subaru Canada doesn't offer as similar set up to the Canadians who paid far too much for their vehicles. Considering most paid $10 - 15k more for their cars, that would be the least they can do.

Great. I'll be using a state and zip closest to me. As for Subaru Canada not providing this service - it is the norm for Canadian retailers of all stripes. When it comes to real 'Customer Service' Canadian companies just don't get it - all they care about is the quick buck at high margins with the least amount of effort.

[Genia11]

I found a NH Toyota dealer who is willing to deal with me as long as I use my NY relative's name and address.

However, he mentioned that my cousin would have to register in NY. What I don't understand is, how can he ensure that the car gets registered in NY? Is the NH dealer obligated to give us the MSO or can he just send it to NY for registration?

I have not been able to find any dealer who is willing to sell directly to Canadian and I am trying to find ways to avoid sales taxes.

Your help is appreciated.

G.

[Nitrate]

I found a NH Toyota dealer who is willing to deal with me as long as I use my NY relative's name and address.

However, he mentioned that my cousin would have to register in NY. What I don't understand is, how can he ensure that the car gets registered in NY? Is the NH dealer obligated to give us the MSO or can he just send it to NY for registration?

I have not been able to find any dealer who is willing to sell directly to Canadian and I am trying to find ways to avoid sales taxes.

Your help is appreciated.

G.
Well, the NH dealer is willing to do this because technically he is NOT really dealing with a Canadian (you) but with your NY relative, buying out-of-state.

Be careful about this process just to avoid paying sales tax. I recall there was a post a while back about US Customs not allowing exports with MCO's having multiple transfers of private ownerships. Dealer-to-dealer transfers are fine. If this is the case, your NY relative may be stuck with a vehicle that he has to title and register in NY just so he can transfer ownership to you which means he has to pay NY sales tax in the end anyway.

I may be wrong (I'm only going by memory of what I read) but it's best to research this, i.e. inquire with US Customs, NY DMV, etc.

[winterd]

Canadians don't pay sales taxes in Michigan for the vehicles that we are importing to Canada!

I was told by dealers I would be charged if I were to drive the vehicle back to Canada, however, if transported accross no sales tax levied.

[hotgo]

Well, another successful import completed! My 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T 6MT is sitting in my driveway registered and plated! Mucho thanks to all!!!
Here is how things went for me:

Ordered a Quartz Grey 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T with 6-spd Manual, Convenience Package, Bluetooth, Sport Suspension, Manual Rear Sunshades, and Special Edition package. I also opted for rubber floor mats as an accessory.

The “in-my-driveway” cost was:

Vehicle: $35216.12 (after exchange)
Delivery of car to border: $256.49 (after exchange)
5% GST + 6.1% Duty + $100 A/C Tax: $4108.29
RIV: $204.75
8% PST: $2826.09
Tolls: $5 (approx)
Gas: $120 (approx)
Parking: $1.50
Coffee, Food, etc.: $50 (approx)
Faxes, courier costs, Long distance calls: $30 (approx)
Total: $42818.24

Buy-in-Canada price (all-in): $51000-$52000 (after extensive negotiation)

Savings $8000+

I came across in Port Huron/Sarnia and while the ordering process for the car took much longer than anticipated, most of the remaining items were reasonably smooth. Minor hiccups included having to FedEx documents back and forth between dealer and myself before being able to take delivery, issues with getting a recall letter quickly, DRL on/off switch, Fax Number for Vehicle Export being down. But in the end the $8000 extra in my pocket makes it worthwhile!

[hotgo]

I was told by dealers I would be charged if I were to drive the vehicle back to Canada, however, if transported accross no sales tax levied.

In my case, I avoided the sales tax by just having the dealer deliver it "close" to the border. Still took it across the border myself.

[p110232]

interesting development.

with the current US situation, used bmw pricing may stay low or even go a little lower. good news for import shoppers!

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wbmw0424/BNStory/Business/?cid=al_gam_nletter_maropen

HAMBURG — BMW, the world's largest premium carmaker, will book a €236-million ($372-million U.S.) charge for the first quarter as the turbulence in credit markets forces it to mark down the value of used cars.

[BMNB3tches]

I was told by dealers I would be charged if I were to drive the vehicle back to Canada, however, if transported accross no sales tax levied.

I purchased vehicle last week from Michigan. I did not pay sales tax. I drove the vehicle myself to US customs.

I asked about Michigan sales tax from the sales guy, he told me since I am exporting the vehicle from US, I don't have to pay sales tax. There were no further discussions about this matter. I guess it depends which dealership you're dealing with.

[bulgurc]

I purchased vehicle last week from Michigan. I did not pay sales tax. I drove the vehicle myself to US customs.

I asked about Michigan sales tax from the sales guy, he told me since I am exporting the vehicle from US, I don't have to pay sales tax. There were no further discussions about this matter. I guess it depends which dealership you're dealing with.

I think you just got lucky. I have seen in Michigan websites that Sales tax have to be charged if the vehicle is going to Canada, unless flat bedded

[bulgurc]

Well, another successful import completed! My 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T 6MT is sitting in my driveway registered and plated! Mucho thanks to all!!!
Here is how things went for me:

Ordered a Quartz Grey 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T with 6-spd Manual, Convenience Package, Bluetooth, Sport Suspension, Manual Rear Sunshades, and Special Edition package. I also opted for rubber floor mats as an accessory.

The “in-my-driveway” cost was:

Vehicle: $35216.12 (after exchange)
Delivery of car to border: $256.49 (after exchange)
5% GST + 6.1% Duty + $100 A/C Tax: $4108.29
RIV: $204.75
8% PST: $2826.09
Tolls: $5 (approx)
Gas: $120 (approx)
Parking: $1.50
Coffee, Food, etc.: $50 (approx)
Faxes, courier costs, Long distance calls: $30 (approx)
Total: $42818.24

Buy-in-Canada price (all-in): $51000-$52000 (after extensive negotiation)

Savings $8000+

I came across in Port Huron/Sarnia and while the ordering process for the car took much longer than anticipated, most of the remaining items were reasonably smooth. Minor hiccups included having to FedEx documents back and forth between dealer and myself before being able to take delivery, issues with getting a recall letter quickly, DRL on/off switch, Fax Number for Vehicle Export being down. But in the end the $8000 extra in my pocket makes it worthwhile!

Doesn't Audi charges high fees to certify that the vehicle is fit for Canada? You did not pay that?

[hotgo]

Doesn't Audi charges high fees to certify that the vehicle is fit for Canada? You did not pay that?

Nope, nothing special about Audi. No special inspection, fee, etc. Just what I listed in my cost summary... car hasn't seen a CDN Audi dealership yet.

[Swiguy]

I've done some searching in this thread but I can't find too much info on importing VWs into Canada. I'm interested in seeing if an 07 GTI is worth importing to Canada (from Michigan or NY). Anyone have any experience doing this? If so, any dealers I should get in touch with?

Note: Reason I'm looking at an 07 is because the 08 is inadmissible by the RIV...

[BMNB3tches]

Subaru import from Michigan: Outback 2.5i manual, armrest ext,auto dimming mirror, cargo net

Vehicle selling price $23119 USD
Documentary fee $170 USD
Less Cash rebate $1500 USD
Cash on delivery:21789 USD (about 22500 CAD)

GST + AC tax $1282.2
Riv $204.75
PST $1889.22

(GST & PST were calculated using the selling price, not the price after cash rebate)

Car on my driveway $25876 CAD. Same car quoted $33741 in Canada.

Savings $7865 CAD

Took me about 4 hours to pick up the car, no need to add coffee & food cost, since I could have spend the same $ at Tim Hortons here.


Minor hiccups:

1. Federal Inspection at Canadian Tire. I was busy at work, so my wife took the car there. After waiting about an hour they came out and told her that this vehicle doesn't have DRL, but they had offered to fix this for 1-2k. I called CT and asked WTF? Manager told me that he and two workers had looked at the car and it doesn't have DRL. I said BS, and went to CT myself. Once at the CT, I started the engine, put the gear in and took handbrake off... It's a miracle, DRL were there. CT guys couldn't believe their eyes. Lot's excuses and buts... they also spend few minutes looking for switch that turn DRL on/off, good luck finding it! Had the form2 stamped and I was out of there.

2. At the MTO. Form1 fields 12a(vehicle condition) & 12b(title status) customs never checked those fields. Eldelrly lady at the MTO told me they can't do this unless these fields are filled. Went home called RIV. They told me that my case is closed, sticker is in mail. SHe told me that if MTO needs to see those fields filled I can do it myself, since it is a new car and I have the title of the car. Filled the fields myself, went back to MTO. No questions asked and car now has Ontario Plates.

[hotgo]

Subaru import from Michigan: Outback 2.5i manual, armrest ext,auto dimming mirror, cargo net

Vehicle selling price $23119 USD
Documentary fee $170 USD
Less Cash rebate $1500 USD
Cash on delivery:21789 USD (about 22500 CAD)

GST + AC tax $1282.2
Riv $204.75
PST $1889.22

(GST & PST were calculated using the selling price, not the price after cash rebate)

Car on my driveway $25876 CAD. Same car quoted $33741 in Canada.

Savings $7865 CAD

Took me about 4 hours to pick up the car, no need to add coffee & food cost, since I could have spend the same $ at Tim Hortons here.


Minor hiccups:

1. Federal Inspection at Canadian Tire. I was busy at work, so my wife took the car there. After waiting about an hour they came out and told her that this vehicle doesn't have DRL, but they had offered to fix this for 1-2k. I called CT and asked WTF? Manager told me that he and two workers had looked at the car and it doesn't have DRL. I said BS, and went to CT myself. Once at the CT, I started the engine, put the gear in and took handbrake off... It's a miracle, DRL were there. CT guys couldn't believe their eyes. Lot's excuses and buts... they also spend few minutes looking for switch that turn DRL on/off, good luck finding it! Had the form2 stamped and I was out of there.

2. At the MTO. Form1 fields 12a(vehicle condition) & 12b(title status) customs never checked those fields. Eldelrly lady at the MTO told me they can't do this unless these fields are filled. Went home called RIV. They told me that my case is closed, sticker is in mail. SHe told me that if MTO needs to see those fields filled I can do it myself, since it is a new car and I have the title of the car. Filled the fields myself, went back to MTO. No questions asked and car now has Ontario Plates.

Nicely done... congrats. In my case, my car actually has the ability to turn on/off the DRLs, but I was lucky in that CT either didn't notice or didn't care.

[hotgo]

I've done some searching in this thread but I can't find too much info on importing VWs into Canada. I'm interested in seeing if an 07 GTI is worth importing to Canada (from Michigan or NY). Anyone have any experience doing this? If so, any dealers I should get in touch with?

Note: Reason I'm looking at an 07 is because the 08 is inadmissible by the RIV...

The only way to determine if it's worth it is to look at the price differences. Lots of online sources for used prices in the US and Canada. Check it out and let us know what you find.

[moguy]

I think you just got lucky. I have seen in Michigan websites that Sales tax have to be charged if the vehicle is going to Canada, unless flat bedded

I bought my car in Michigan, drove it back myself, and didn't pay sales tax.

I couldn't get a temp permit though, and had to drive it with a "Sold for export" sales document taped to my rear window.

[scouzi]

Nope, nothing special about Audi. No special inspection, fee, etc. Just what I listed in my cost summary... car hasn't seen a CDN Audi dealership yet.

I thought Audi did not allow US dealers to sell new cars for export to Canada? How did you get around that?

[Monsieurmaggot]

Subaru import from Michigan: Outback 2.5i manual, armrest ext,auto dimming mirror, cargo net

Vehicle selling price $23119 USD
Documentary fee $170 USD
Less Cash rebate $1500 USD
Cash on delivery:21789 USD (about 22500 CAD)

GST + AC tax $1282.2
Riv $204.75
PST $1889.22

(GST & PST were calculated using the selling price, not the price after cash rebate)

Car on my driveway $25876 CAD. Same car quoted $33741 in Canada.

Savings $7865 CAD

Took me about 4 hours to pick up the car, no need to add coffee & food cost, since I could have spend the same $ at Tim Hortons here.


Minor hiccups:

1. Federal Inspection at Canadian Tire. I was busy at work, so my wife took the car there. After waiting about an hour they came out and told her that this vehicle doesn't have DRL, but they had offered to fix this for 1-2k. I called CT and asked WTF? Manager told me that he and two workers had looked at the car and it doesn't have DRL. I said BS, and went to CT myself. Once at the CT, I started the engine, put the gear in and took handbrake off... It's a miracle, DRL were there. CT guys couldn't believe their eyes. Lot's excuses and buts... they also spend few minutes looking for switch that turn DRL on/off, good luck finding it! Had the form2 stamped and I was out of there.

2. At the MTO. Form1 fields 12a(vehicle condition) & 12b(title status) customs never checked those fields. Eldelrly lady at the MTO told me they can't do this unless these fields are filled. Went home called RIV. They told me that my case is closed, sticker is in mail. SHe told me that if MTO needs to see those fields filled I can do it myself, since it is a new car and I have the title of the car. Filled the fields myself, went back to MTO. No questions asked and car now has Ontario Plates.

Wow, they actually gave you the rebate? You were lucky since Subaru of America announced that effective January 2008, vehicles destined for export would not qualify for the rebate.

Congratulations and welcome to the exclusive RFD Super Saver Club!

[EL820]

I was told by dealers I would be charged if I were to drive the vehicle back to Canada, however, if transported accross no sales tax levied.

My Tribeca was purchased from a dealer in Michigan. I picked up the vehicle from the dealership and drove it across the border myself. I paid no MI sales tax.

[bulgurc]

1. Federal Inspection at Canadian Tire. I was busy at work, so my wife took the car there. After waiting about an hour they came out and told her that this vehicle doesn't have DRL, but they had offered to fix this for 1-2k. I called CT and asked WTF? Manager told me that he and two workers had looked at the car and it doesn't have DRL. I said BS, and went to CT myself. Once at the CT, I started the engine, put the gear in and took handbrake off... It's a miracle, DRL were there. CT guys couldn't believe their eyes. Lot's excuses and buts... they also spend few minutes looking for switch that turn DRL on/off, good luck finding it! Had the form2 stamped and I was out of there.


I can't believe those CT guys... I am pretty sure that they saw a woman there and try to take advantage on her... How can you miss DRL. Either the lights or on or off. Are they blind?

[CheapScotsman]

I can't believe those CT guys... I am pretty sure that they saw a woman there and try to take advantage on her... How can you miss DRL. Either the lights or on or off. Are they blind?running on a bit of speculation as I haven't fully tested it buy I "think" the problem might be ... in most Canadian cars, the DRLs come on as soon as you start the car ??? while US converts sometimes either need to be put in gear and/or the parking brake disengaged before DRLs come on.

For my Sienna, I just pointed it out to them (what they needed to do) and didn't have any problems.

[ac328]

I can't believe those CT guys... I am pretty sure that they saw a woman there and try to take advantage on her... How can you miss DRL. Either the lights or on or off. Are they blind?

Not to defend CT, but the DRL system in the Subarus is goofy being linked to the handbrake (mine is a manual '08 Outback imported from the US).

I have had other manual cars (BMW 3 series, Mercury Mystique, Saab 9-5) and none of them have had this setup. Not a big deal but it is a bit quirky...

[p110232]

running on a bit of speculation as I haven't fully tested it buy I "think" the problem might be ... in most Canadian cars, the DRLs come on as soon as you start the car ??? while US converts sometimes either need to be put in gear and/or the parking brake disengaged before DRLs come on.

For my Sienna, I just pointed it out to them (what they needed to do) and didn't have any problems.

My old car (2003 Corolla) has this "off" switch too. When parking brake is engaged, DRL is off. CT should have known that already. I seriously doubt they have not encountered that before through their Corolla customers. I agree that the chances of them looking for a quick sale has more to do with it. Those bastards!

[BMNB3tches]

Wow, they actually gave you the rebate? You were lucky since Subaru of America announced that effective January 2008, vehicles destined for export would not qualify for the rebate.

Congratulations and welcome to the exclusive RFD Super Saver Club!

Big thanks goes to you for starting this thread! and hundreds of other posters who have contributed.

Buying the car from US could not been any easier. I am willing to argue that it was less painful than trying negotiate few hundred $ off MSRP here in Canada.

I guess I got lucky with the cash back. At first sales guy wasn't sure about this. He had to verify this and call me back to tell me good news.

Only one thing I would have done differently: I SHOULD HAVE IMPORTED MY CAR LONG TIME AGO!

[brew99]

I bought my car in Michigan, drove it back myself, and didn't pay sales tax.

I couldn't get a temp permit though, and had to drive it with a "Sold for export" sales document taped to my rear window.

From the Michigan Dealer Manual the Sales Tax for export to Canada is stated as;

"8-4.10 When Going to Canada or Another Country. If the purchaser is taking delivery of the vehicle in Michigan and transporting it to Canada or another country (including U.S. territories), 6% Michigan sales tax is due. If the dealer is delivering the vehicle or dealer’s representative outside the state of Michigan, sales tax is not due."

From the above, as long as the dealer is delivering from the lot to outside of the state of Michigan, the tax is not due. Otherwise it is!

Of course, i have no idea how the state proves that the drop point is inside or outside of the state.

[Nitrate]

My old car (2003 Corolla) has this "off" switch too. When parking brake is engaged, DRL is off. CT should have known that already. I seriously doubt they have not encountered that before through their Corolla customers. I agree that the chances of them looking for a quick sale has more to do with it. Those bastards!Absolutely. They're in the business of providing a specific service, i.e. imported cars inspections. They should have known that some cars have this particular quirk of DRL's. My own imported US Sienna is the same way (DRL turns on only when parking brake is disengaged) and the Canadian Tire I took it to had no issue with it.

[tvault23]

My 2002 alero purchased in Canada has the same feature as well. When the E brake is applied in park the DRL's are off, when it is off they are on.

Can someone point me to where CT is getting the info in regards to these mods that are required? I successfully imported a 2007 Chevy equinox 3 weeks ago and there is a switch that can turn the DRL's off. The CT I took it to didn't care and it doesn't say anything on the Form 2 sheet about it. I read a few posts above that if it has after market tint it wont pass as well? My brother is looking at brining in a vehicle shortly and just want to know what the exact requirements are in case CT is not as forgiving next time.

[bulgurc]

I think it depends on the CT and the inspector

[Debonair]

Has anyone imported a Civic from the states? They look to be a lot cheaper than here in Canada (13,644 for the base model!) and if anyone can answer any of my questions I would appreciate it greatly!

Is this vehicle imported or made in US/CA?
Does the warrently qualify?
Will I be able to get below invoice? How much?
When is the best time to buy? Fall/Summer?

Thank you!! :cheesygri

[mangoman]

Actually, it's linked to the handbrake on manual VWs as well (don't know about the automatic ones). I think the CT guys were incompetent or trying to see if they could pull a fast one.

Not to defend CT, but the DRL system in the Subarus is goofy being linked to the handbrake (mine is a manual '08 Outback imported from the US).

I have had other manual cars (BMW 3 series, Mercury Mystique, Saab 9-5) and none of them have had this setup. Not a big deal but it is a bit quirky...

[mangoman]

Ohhhh I ain't touchin' this one but my dear noob, you're about to get a few replies (not ones you're going to like too much). I'd really suggest you at least google a couple of those topics first, and then try the search this thread function for the 1st 2 questions.

Has anyone imported a Civic from the states? They look to be a lot cheaper than here in Canada (13,644 for the base model!) and if anyone can answer any of my questions I would appreciate it greatly!

Is this vehicle imported or made in US/CA?
Does the warrently qualify?
Will I be able to get below invoice? How much?
When is the best time to buy? Fall/Summer?

Thank you!! :cheesygri

[ac328]

Actually, it's linked to the handbrake on manual VWs as well (don't know about the automatic ones). I think the CT guys were incompetent or trying to see if they could pull a fast one.

Huh, a lot more cars than I realize are set up like this. Oh well, maybe the CT guys were just full of it, as has been known to happen with CT's famous auto service :razz:

[shopper-X]

Has anyone imported a Civic from the states? They look to be a lot cheaper than here in Canada (13,644 for the base model!) and if anyone can answer any of my questions I would appreciate it greatly!

Is this vehicle imported or made in US/CA?
Does the warrently qualify?
Will I be able to get below invoice? How much?
When is the best time to buy? Fall/Summer?

Thank you!! :cheesygri


Try the "Search this Thread" under the page numbers in the top right section of this thread. It works wonders.

[mangoman]

Actually, I changed my mind on answering 2 of your questions.
Best time to buy: When they're not making sales, for example during a recession or if you don't care about the model year (especially if there aren't many differences between the new one and the old one), just before the new ones are arriving and they want to clear out the old stock that's taking up room on their lots.

How much will you get below invoice? Beats me - where are you buying, what model are you buying, how many accessories are you planning on throwing in (making more profit for the dealer), lots of factors so best way is for you to actually call a dealer or two or three or email them. Again google is your friend.

;)

Ohhhh I ain't touchin' this one but my dear noob, you're about to get a few replies (not ones you're going to like too much). I'd really suggest you at least google a couple of those topics first, and then try the search this thread function for the 1st 2 questions.

[WantaCar]

Has anyone imported a Civic from the states? They look to be a lot cheaper than here in Canada (13,644 for the base model!) and if anyone can answer any of my questions I would appreciate it greatly!

Is this vehicle imported or made in US/CA?
Does the warrently qualify?
Will I be able to get below invoice? How much?
When is the best time to buy? Fall/Summer?

Thank you!! :cheesygri

If you want to know what people are paying in the states for a particular car, check out

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef17997/

or

www.fitzmall.com

[hotgo]

I thought Audi did not allow US dealers to sell new cars for export to Canada? How did you get around that?

By calling dealer after dealer... eventually one said "no problem". And it wasn't...

[scouzi]

interesting development.

with the current US situation, used bmw pricing may stay low or even go a little lower. good news for import shoppers!

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wbmw0424/BNStory/Business/?cid=al_gam_nletter_maropen

I don't know if it's a good indication but I've been watching dozens of low mileage cars on ebay for the past 2 months and only about 5-10% are actually sold!

Most of the deals expire with the reserve not being met.

The low-ball best-offer deals are declined by sellers.

[Jin]

Onto my second import (first was easy and fun - Boxster driven home from Denver). I am looking to import a Lexus RX350 or the Hybrid version. Anyone know if they will start producing the Hybrid version in Canada (RX400h)? This is a long-term purchase plan and I would be willing to wait until next year if it meant getting a Canadian made Hybrid. (also, any mods required?)

[ziploc]

Does someone know what's the procedure for a car US plated and already in Canada...???

I know few Americans working on contract in Canada and they live in here...


If I want to buy a car from them...

1- Do I have to go trough RIV...I supposed yes...but not sure...
2- Do I have to go trough Canadian Customs...and pay GST ???? I'm not sure..
3- Do I have to go trough provincial inspection....I'm sure yes....


Someone knows for sure ??

thx

[donjuancarlos]

Does someone know what's the procedure for a car US plated and already in Canada...???

I know few Americans working on contract in Canada and they live in here...


If I want to buy a car from them...

1- Do I have to go trough RIV...I supposed yes...but not sure...
2- Do I have to go trough Canadian Customs...and pay GST ???? I'm not sure..
3- Do I have to go trough provincial inspection....I'm sure yes....


Someone knows for sure ??


If it has US plates, you have to go through the entire procedure, including driving it down to the border and properly export/import it. You must pay GST/import/inspection fees. There are no shortcuts.

[donjuancarlos]

Has anyone imported a Civic from the states? They look to be a lot cheaper than here in Canada (13,644 for the base model!) and if anyone can answer any of my questions I would appreciate it greatly!

Is this vehicle imported or made in US/CA?
Does the warrently qualify?
Will I be able to get below invoice? How much?
When is the best time to buy? Fall/Summer?

Thank you!! :cheesygri

I imported 3 weeks ago. For starters, good luck finding the base model, they are just a draw to get people into dealerships. The lowest trim most dealers have is the LX.

I could not find a car below invoice. Civics are very hot right now, so Honda is not offering a lot of incentives on them. The best I could do was 17,700 out the door. You will pay close to 19000 after GST and fees.

Also, you must get a North America-made Civic or face the wrath of 6.1% duty at the border.

Not warranty in Canada, but hey, it's a Honda. Make sure you check the car out before you drop the cash, though. I saw a brand new car on the lot that had damage.

The best time to buy is generally February or March, or at the end of a model year, provided the car is not in demand. But with gas prices the way they are, I confidently doubt you will do more than a couple hundred dollars better than me.

[shopper-X]

I imported 3 weeks ago. For starters, good luck finding the base model, they are just a draw to get people into dealerships. The lowest trim most dealers have is the LX.

I could not find a car below invoice. Civics are very hot right now, so Honda is not offering a lot of incentives on them. The best I could do was 17,700 out the door. You will pay close to 19000 after GST and fees.

Also, you must get a North America-made Civic or face the wrath of 6.1% duty at the border.

Not warranty in Canada, but hey, it's a Honda. Make sure you check the car out before you drop the cash, though. I saw a brand new car on the lot that had damage.

The best time to buy is generally February or March, or at the end of a model year, provided the car is not in demand. But with gas prices the way they are, I confidently doubt you will do more than a couple hundred dollars better than me.

Aren't all Civics sold in North America either built in Ontario or Ohio?

[derslade]

I've done some searching in this thread but I can't find too much info on importing VWs into Canada. I'm interested in seeing if an 07 GTI is worth importing to Canada (from Michigan or NY). Anyone have any experience doing this? If so, any dealers I should get in touch with?

I, too, am interested in importing a VW, in my case the new TDI Sportswagen which is supposed to be available late summer or early fall. Here are the results of my initial research.

Comparing the vw.ca and vw.com sites, the existing base Jetta is $5000 cheaper in the States. The wagons are being produced in NA, so no 6.1% duty. No pricing on vw.com for the wagons, yet. However initial media reports suggest the same or bigger price spread, especially with the more optioned models. So VW Canada still has a way to go before they'll get my business.

There is a thread on importing a 2007 VW GTI at http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28928
According to that thread and confirmed by other websites, the warranty is transferable. However, VW does not want the American dealers to sell to Canadians so a USA address is required. If you don't have one of those, a workaround is find a dealer who will register it first and then sell it to you. That way it's classified as a used vehicle.

[DrXenon]

I, too, am interested in importing a VW, in my case the new TDI Sportswagen which is supposed to be available late summer or early fall.

Note that 2009 MY VWs from the States will not have a warranty here in Canada. So says apa.ca, anyhow.

With a sustantially new engine, it might be a bit of a risk. However, with $5000 savings you could probably install a whole new engine in the worst case.

[Fox2k]

Well, add me to the list of successful vehicle importers. Brought over an '06 wrx limited last week, and got it plated yesterday. I would never have been able to afford this car here!!

[derslade]

Note that 2009 MY VWs from the States will not have a warranty here in Canada. So says apa.ca, anyhow.

With a sustantially new engine, it might be a bit of a risk. However, with $5000 savings you could probably install a whole new engine in the worst case.

Hmm, do you have a link to that info? The TDI drivetrains are the same here and in the States according to what I've read.

You're right about the price difference paying for the worst case scenario. However, like most Canadians, I live a short distance from the US border, so a quick trip across for scheduled maintenance will also let me pick up great deals on other items that are cheaper in the States. A win-win for me and other Canadians willing to do a bit of research. When will the Canadian manufacturers wake-up and realize NAFTA can work for consumers as well?

Found the link at the apa.ca website. It is http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#VOLKSWAGEN

[derslade]

Found the link at the apa.ca website. It is http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=253#VOLKSWAGEN

Found a possible reason for the policy change on the warranty. They've reduced the coverage to three years/36 000 miles, and added no charge scheduled maintenance. Sounds like another area where the Canadian manufacturer can't compete.

Details at http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1992841#post1992841

[DrXenon]

Like most Canadians, I live a short distance from the US border, so a quick trip across will also let me pick up great deals on other items that are cheaper in the States.

Do you mean that you think if you return to an American dealer, you'll be able to get warranty service? I'd verify that with VW before buying. Let us know what you find out if you look into it further.

[Swiguy]

So after doing some research into hatchbacks... I think I've finally made up my mind as to what I'm going to get.... I'm getting an Audi A3 for hopefully around $22-23k (06 or 07). Anyone have any luck buying used Audi's from any of the Michigan or NY dealers?

[derslade]

Do you mean that you think if you return to an American dealer, you'll be able to get warranty service? I'd verify that with VW before buying. Let us know what you find out if you look into it further.

Why wouldn't they provide warranty service?

You bought the vehicle from them with a Canadian address.

They'll also provide you service, if only to keep you coming back the next time -- not to mention the word of mouth sales they'll get from supporting you.

[nornet]

Why wouldn't they provide warranty service?

You bought the vehicle from them with a Canadian address.

They'll also provide you service, if only to keep you coming back the next time -- not to mention the word of mouth sales they'll get from supporting you.

I can't speak for VW but Subaru of America provides warranty coverage for US vehicles sold to Canadians. No idea how the original poster could come to any other conclusion.

[DrXenon]

I can't speak for VW but Subaru of America provides warranty coverage for US vehicles sold to Canadians. No idea how the original poster could come to any other conclusion.

Well. you could come to a different conclusion by, say, researching it on apa.ca. More than a few manufacturers, including VW (which is the manufacturer we were discussing) and Honda, will not pay for warranty service for cars registered in jurisdictions outside the USA. Subaru and Toyota are exceptions.

[HacheyImports]

Well. you could come to a different conclusion by, say, researching it on apa.ca. More than a few manufacturers, including VW (which is the manufacturer we were discussing) and Honda, will not pay for warranty service for cars registered in jurisdictions outside the USA. Subaru and Toyota are exceptions.

Most manufacturers are beginning to look at US made vehicles sold to Canadians as "gray market" cars and as a result will not honour the warranty in either country. Some claim to be able to return to the US dealership and have the work done, but I always recommend to my customers that you assume zero warranty on those vehicles. As the above noted, there are exceptions.

VW seems to be the latest to take this step. No surprise, but some disappointment.

Take care

[derslade]

Most manufacturers are beginning to look at US made vehicles sold to Canadians as "gray market" cars and as a result will not honour the warranty in either country.

Doesn't make much sense given the movement of citizens between our two countries. Look at the number of boomers buying property in the US and spending up to half the year there?

If they won't honour the warranty in either country, then that's grounds for an even bigger discount on the price of the vehicle.

[vipernig]

Gray cars my butt. Half of the cars in the states are made in Ontario. I call bull menure.

[michelb]

Gray cars my butt. Half of the cars in the states are made in Ontario. I call bull menure.

I agree that it's a shame that many manufacturers don't honor the warranty but I don't think your estimate of 1/2 cars in US made in Ontario is correct. I don't know where you could find that type of statistic but I'd be pretty surprised if it was even 5-10%.

Update - according to the sidebar here (http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0507/17/autos-249603.htm), Ontario does make more cars than any other area in NorthAmerica but the estimate for 2008 is that about 18% of cars built in NorthAmerica are built in Ontario (note that this number is only for cars built in NA so after you add imports, Ontario's portion probably goes down to 10-15% or less).

[HacheyImports]

Gray cars my butt. Half of the cars in the states are made in Ontario. I call bull menure.

As colorful as that description may be, that is most definitely how these cars are perceived. Please keep in mind that regardless where they are built, they are destined for a market with significantly different standards. I am not saying it is correct, but I am saying that if folks look at it in any other light they are open to disappointment.

I import daily and want the playing field to be leveled, but beware if you look towards a warranty being honored by Honda/VW etc. going forward.

Does bull XXXX smell worse than any other?

Take care

[ashu01]

Hi All,
I have contacted so many dealers in Buffalo,New York,Virginia & Michigan for Importing Toyota Van to Canada and most of them said NO for exporting. 1 or 2 agreed to sell it.

My question is ...
1. What all the fee or taxes need to paid to dealer for paper work?
2. Do I need to pay "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title" fee, if I wanted to export from US to Canada? (one of the dealer told me that, no sales tax but need to pay the rest of the fees as mentioned above.
3. OR, is it possible my friend in US to buy the car in my name and registered in US (by paying "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title", "Sales Tax") and then exporting from US to Canada ?

I am curious on this.

Ashus

[DealRacer]

Jin:
Please see the PM I sent you.
DealRacer

[Marzipan]

Hi All,
I have contacted so many dealers in Buffalo,New York,Virginia & Michigan for Importing Toyota Van to Canada and most of them said NO for exporting. 1 or 2 agreed to sell it.

My question is ...
1. What all the fee or taxes need to paid to dealer for paper work?
2. Do I need to pay "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title" fee, if I wanted to export from US to Canada? (one of the dealer told me that, no sales tax but need to pay the rest of the fees as mentioned above.
3. OR, is it possible my friend in US to buy the car in my name and registered in US (by paying "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title", "Sales Tax") and then exporting from US to Canada ?

I am curious on this.

Ashus

You should not pay any taxes anywhere in the US if you are exporting it. Some states call sales tax "usage" tax, implying that the tax is for using the goods in their state. Clear this up with a dealer before making a deal.

As far as document fees go, all dealers have to fill out forms for the state - like odometer readings, change of ownership reports. For locals, they register title and register (plate, or licence) the vehicle. For Canadians they don't do these two things - but we do want them to get a recall letter, fax US Customs, sell us a trip permit and fill out a tax exemption declaration.

With some dealers documentation work is a way to increase their marjin. (In Utah, the state charges $2.50 for a trip permit. The dealer I dealt with wanted $22.50 for it.) I don't care what they charge - but I do ask them how much they want before I make an offer - then I knock that amount off the price I offer, so to speak.

Remember that pricing a car is the result of buyer/seller negotiation. It is not like buying a product in Wal-Mart where you take it at their price or you leave it.

[dotcalamitie]

been a while since I've been on here... I got a Tribeca 08 and Prius 07 and interacted with you all. Well...I just got an AMAZING deal. 2007 Jaguar XKR fully loaded. 2008 is $139,200 CDN. $73,000 US!!! plus duty. OMG what a great deal. For a Canadian. The sister car to this is the Aston Martin Vantage. Can't wait to get this thing.

[nornet]

Well. you could come to a different conclusion by, say, researching it on apa.ca. More than a few manufacturers, including VW (which is the manufacturer we were discussing) and Honda, will not pay for warranty service for cars registered in jurisdictions outside the USA. Subaru and Toyota are exceptions.

You are talking apples and oranges about your own posts. One post talks about US warranty work on US cars sold to Canadians

your quote "Do you mean that you think if you return to an American dealer, you'll be able to get warranty service? I'd verify that with VW before buying. Let us know what you find out if you look into it further."

This has nothing to do with APA.

I was confirming the fact that I have had warranty work done in the US.

[nornet]

been a while since I've been on here... I got a Tribeca 08 and Prius 07 and interacted with you all. Well...I just got an AMAZING deal. 2007 Jaguar XKR fully loaded. 2008 is $139,200 CDN. $73,000 US!!! plus duty. OMG what a great deal. For a Canadian. The sister car to this is the Aston Martin Vantage. Can't wait to get this thing.

I've always loved Jags. Good luck. Any mods required or restrictions?

[shopper-X]

I've always loved Jags. Good luck. Any mods required or restrictions?

Tata Motors of India just got approval from the EU to take over Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford.


Tata Motors wins EU approval for Jaguar, Land Rover takeover (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Tata_Motors_wins_EU_approval_for_Jaguar_Land_Rover _takeover/articleshow/2982487.cms)
25 Apr, 2008, 1533 hrs IST, AGENCIES
BRUSSELS: The European Commission gave the greenlight on Friday to Tata Motors' takeover of Jaguar and Land Rover from US carmaker Ford.


Tata has also purchased a stake in Pininfarina.
The Times Online Link (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3818976.ece)

It's going to to neat to see what Tata does with all of this.

[BHA1]

..and how did you get a recall clearance letter?

I'm trying to bring up a Jag XJ8 and I get 3 different stories:

Jag Canada - "Contact your dealer". Contacted Grand Touring Automobiles who said "we won't help Canadians import a car.. only Americans moving to Canada". Contacted Jag Canada again and they said "contact any dealer OTHER than Grand Touring Automobiles". yeah, thanks a lot idiots...

Grand Touring Automobiles - See above. Basically told me to go to hell.

Jag dealer in Woodbridge (forgot the name) - We will do the DOT inspection, Carfax, recall letter and a quick inspection of the car. Package price is $2150.

Can you say markup? I don't even think they're allowed to do the DOT inspection and probably just send the car over to Canadian Tire. That's a pretty expensive carfax isn't it? :)

So I emailed them back and asked about getting JUST the recall clearance letter and they blew me off.

So basically Jaguar Canada and all of the dealers won't provide the recall clearance letter unless I pay the $2150 from what I can tell. Does anyone know where to get one?

I emailed RIV to ask and they never responded.. I was hoping they'd let me use a US recall letter or something instead, but they didn't even answer.

[ac328]

You should not pay any taxes anywhere in the US if you are exporting it. Some states call sales tax "usage" tax, implying that the tax is for using the goods in their state. Clear this up with a dealer before making a deal.

Please don't spread misinformation.

1) Some states do charge sales/use tax regardless of whether the buyer is a state resident or not (Mass., Florida).

2) Some (such as Michigan) have quirky rules that exempt buyers from paying sales tax if the car is bought in-state but delivery is taken out of state.

3) Some provide a complete exemption to buyers who are not state residents (e.g. Washington).

4) Some states don't charge sales tax on anything (Delaware, Rhode Island).

It is the responsibility of the buyer to look up sales tax requirements in the state in which they want to buy. The examples above may not even be accurate since laws change all the time. I.e. do your own homework and make sure you know what your "out the door" price includes (or doesn').

[Genia11]

Does the New York State in-transit permit need to be obtained by the dealership or can I just go to the DMV and apply for one?

[HacheyImports]

Please don't spread misinformation.

1) Some states do charge sales/use tax regardless of whether the buyer is a state resident or not (Mass., Florida).

2) Some (such as Michigan) have quirky rules that exempt buyers from paying sales tax if the car is bought in-state but delivery is taken out of state.

3) Some provide a complete exemption to buyers who are not state residents (e.g. Washington).

4) Some states don't charge sales tax on anything (Delaware, Rhode Island).

It is the responsibility of the buyer to look up sales tax requirements in the state in which they want to buy. The examples above may not even be accurate since laws change all the time. I.e. do your own homework and make sure you know what your "out the door" price includes (or doesn').

While I agree with the spirit of the above poster with respect to misinformation, I do however feel strongly that paying state taxes is never acceptable. It may involve shipping, negotiation or an American agent to buy then resell, but it is always avoidable.

Also keep in mind that most salesman are not tax experts and assuming that they know what they are talking about is not always in your best interest. Do your homework, ask questions and remember that the sale is their concern and not neccessarily your best purchase options.

Take care

[leta01]

Does the New York State in-transit permit need to be obtained by the dealership or can I just go to the DMV and apply for one?

The dealer I bought my Highlander from, provided it for free.:)

[dotcalamitie]

I contacted Jaguar Canada and they said the XKR just needs DRL activation...I can do the same thing I did with my Prius. Just tape the headlight switch on. I don't expect Jaguar to treat me like BMW did...I was a BMW owner of several top end vehicles over the past 10 years...then they try and screw me by charging $30,000 more than the US car and then gouge me for bringing it into Canada. Jaguar isn't in the same position, they have always been decent to their customers as they try and win them over.

If they give me any hassles, I'll just put US plates on it from my Florida home and they can ALL (Feds, province and car company) go F themselves and get nothing. I'm paying 6 percent duty.

[dotcalamitie]

recall clearance letter comes from the US, not Canada. I never dealt with Toyota Canada at all when I brought my Toyota over the border. It was all Toyota USA to get the recall clearance letter and there were no Toyota dealers that knew how to do the DRL mod on my Prius so I did it myself with Duct tape.

[dotcalamitie]

It will be interesting to see how this goes down for me importing this Jaguar. The car is paid for. I have friends who have Land Rovers and Jags from Grand Touring amongst other Jag dealers. I will be pleased to pass on any negative or positive sentiments I get from my experience with Jaguar Canada and it's dealers. If I get screwed over, I will make sure Jaguar Canada pays tens times what they screw me over for in negative publicity directly to their customer base.

I'm importing two SeaDoo's shortly, I have bought a SeaDoo a year for the past several years from my local dealer. I've told him what I'm doing, I gave him a last shot offer to keep my business (I offered him $13,500, he wanted $15,200, I can get it for $11,800 in the US)...being a great long time customer, he treated me with respect because he knows when the prices come back in line eventually I will be his customer again. Hearing what you said about Grand Touring and their behaviour is a statement of the kind of people standing behind that business. They will never get my business if that is how they act. I would have never bought a Jag in the first place at their prices, so how about winning me over with service so when prices get adjusted they have a crack at me being their new car customer one day. Ignorant. I don't even want to think about a BMW in my future because of their treatment of me.

[Marzipan]

Please don't spread misinformation.

1) Some states do charge sales/use tax regardless of whether the buyer is a state resident or not (Mass., Florida).

2) Some (such as Michigan) have quirky rules that exempt buyers from paying sales tax if the car is bought in-state but delivery is taken out of state.

3) Some provide a complete exemption to buyers who are not state residents (e.g. Washington).

4) Some states don't charge sales tax on anything (Delaware, Rhode Island).

It is the responsibility of the buyer to look up sales tax requirements in the state in which they want to buy. The examples above may not even be accurate since laws change all the time. I.e. do your own homework and make sure you know what your "out the door" price includes (or doesn').

Actually my posted words were "You should not pay any taxes anywhere in the US if you are exporting it."

I did not post that you are not required to pay taxes by some states.

So, you should never pay taxes on an export.

You should clear up document fee issues before making an offer.

You should not offer a dealer their asking price .... etc. all by way of advice.

So please, read carefully before accusing a poster of spreading misinformation. I think some readers found my post to be helpful.

[ericwangge]

Well, another successful import completed! My 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T 6MT is sitting in my driveway registered and plated! Mucho thanks to all!!!
Here is how things went for me:

Ordered a Quartz Grey 2008 Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0T with 6-spd Manual, Convenience Package, Bluetooth, Sport Suspension, Manual Rear Sunshades, and Special Edition package. I also opted for rubber floor mats as an accessory.

The “in-my-driveway” cost was:

Vehicle: $35216.12 (after exchange)
Delivery of car to border: $256.49 (after exchange)
5% GST + 6.1% Duty + $100 A/C Tax: $4108.29
RIV: $204.75
8% PST: $2826.09
Tolls: $5 (approx)
Gas: $120 (approx)
Parking: $1.50
Coffee, Food, etc.: $50 (approx)
Faxes, courier costs, Long distance calls: $30 (approx)
Total: $42818.24

Buy-in-Canada price (all-in): $51000-$52000 (after extensive negotiation)

Savings $8000+

I came across in Port Huron/Sarnia and while the ordering process for the car took much longer than anticipated, most of the remaining items were reasonably smooth. Minor hiccups included having to FedEx documents back and forth between dealer and myself before being able to take delivery, issues with getting a recall letter quickly, DRL on/off switch, Fax Number for Vehicle Export being down. But in the end the $8000 extra in my pocket makes it worthwhile!

is that difficult to find a dealer in US which can sell to Canadians? I am living in Alberta and thinking to buy a brand new Audi.

[braket]

Please post your buying experience with Toyota in the US. I'm looking into a RAV4 Limited low mileage. What prices did you pay? I can confirm with a Toyota dealership in Maine that Canadians do not pay Maine state sales tax. Anybody know of Toyota dealers that sell to Canadians new? I'm particularily interested in New England states. Thanks.

[WHOAMI]

ME TOO! i 'M INTEREST TO BUY 08/09 CAMRY or Accord!
anyone have latest experience!

[trenton1776]

I'm looking to import a minivan in the next 2-3 months. Honda would be my first choice but lack of warranty scared me off. That leaves Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest or Chrysler (Caravan, Town & Country etc). Anyone have any experiences they can share with these three?

A few questions:

I hold both US/Canadian citizenship and have a legal address in the US. I don't have a US driver's license but that's easy enough to obtain,

1 - Does this mean US dealers who otherwise would not sell to Canadians would sell to me? Or is the issue that it's being exported regardless of the status of the residential/citizen status purchaser?

2 - If I were to buy it outright as a US purchaser and make no mention of wanting to export, is there any way I can avoid having to fully register locally and pay state sales tax?

3 - Can I finance the car in the US and export? (I think I know the answer to this one).

Thank you for all your help.

BTW, I see very little discussion about importing US cars.

[DrXenon]

I hold both US/Canadian citizenship and have a legal address in the US. I don't have a US driver's license but that's easy enough to obtain,

1 - Does this mean US dealers who otherwise would not sell to Canadians would sell to me? Or is the issue that it's being exported regardless of the status of the residential/citizen status purchaser?

2 - If I were to buy it outright as a US purchaser and make no mention of wanting to export, is there any way I can avoid having to fully register locally and pay state sales tax?

3 - Can I finance the car in the US and export? (I think I know the answer to this one).

Thank you for all your help.

BTW, I see very little discussion about importing US cars.

1. No, none of the manufacturers will object to their dealers selling you a car with a US address. What you do with the car after the sale is up to you. Warranty is another question that depends on the particular manufacturer, however.

2. Just buy in a state where you don't have residence and ask for the MSO (tell the dealer you'll take care of the tags in your home state yourself).

3. No traditional finance company is going to allow you to export the car. They wouldn't have a car they can easily repossess. One thing you can do is finance through a Canadian bank with a line of credit which you can subsequently convert to a (hopefully lower-interest) loan once the car is patriated.

[Nitrate]

As far as document fees go, all dealers have to fill out forms for the state - like odometer readings, change of ownership reports. For locals, they register title and register (plate, or licence) the vehicle. For Canadians they don't do these two things - but we do want them to get a recall letter, fax US Customs, sell us a trip permit and fill out a tax exemption declaration.Except for the tax exemption declaration (which I didn't have to do anyway). you actually don't need the dealer for any of these things, thus avoiding any "documentation fees". You can get the recall letter yourself, all you need is the VIN. You can fax US Customs yourself, you don't need originals to fax so you'll have to request the dealer to send you copies. You can get the trip permit from DMV yourself, it will be in your name. At least all this from my own experience exporting out of Washington state.

[michelb]

1. No, none of the manufacturers will object to their dealers selling you a car with a US address. What you do with the car after the sale is up to you. Warranty is another question that depends on the particular manufacturer, however.

2. Just buy in a state where you don't have residence and ask for the MSO (tell the dealer you'll take care of the tags in your home state yourself).

3. No traditional finance company is going to allow you to export the car. They wouldn't have a car they can easily repossess. One thing you can do is finance through a Canadian bank with a line of credit which you can subsequently convert to a (hopefully lower-interest) loan once the car is patriated.

Just to clarify a few points:

1 - do not mention that you will be exporting the vehicle. Some manufacturers (e.g. Toyota) will not sell to you if they know you are going to export even if you have a US address. Also, this may depend on the dealership but some will require that you have a driver's license at the US address so you might have to get that as well - the complication here is that I'm not sure if you are allowed to keep your Canadian one if you get a US one (I know that Florida has a 'non-resident' license specifically for this (snowbirds, etc)).

2 - this is not quite as simple. Many states have reciprocal tax agreements between them and are required to collect taxes for residents of other states as well. You'll have to do some research there.

3 - Simply put, if you finance in the US, the financing company will put a lien on the vehicle and you can't export a car with a lien on it so you can't finance in the US vehicles you want to export.


Since you are a US citizen and have an address there, you may actually have more options. One thing you could possibly do is register and plate your vehicle at your US address for 1 year or so. This may allow you to keep the warranty on vehicles such as Honda and co who don't normally offer warranty on exported vehicles (I believe that all manufacturers do offer warranty to owners who move from the US to Canada and vice-versa and having the vehicle registered in the US for a sufficient amount of time could make you qualify for that). There are some tax implications of doing this; first you'll have to pay taxes in your state of residence also you'll have to pay taxes in Canada when you do eventually import the vehicle (there's a $10k tax free allowance for 'returning residents' which you may or may not qualify for). There are also insurance issues (obviously you'll need insurance from a US company) and also possible DMV issues (I suspect that you might get some hassle about driving a vehicle in Canada with US plates but legally if you have a residence in the US, I don't think there's much they can say).

[trenton1776]

Just to clarify a few points:

1 - do not mention that you will be exporting the vehicle. Some manufacturers (e.g. Toyota) will not sell to you if they know you are going to export even if you have a US address. Also, this may depend on the dealership but some will require that you have a driver's license at the US address so you might have to get that as well - the complication here is that I'm not sure if you are allowed to keep your Canadian one if you get a US one (I know that Florida has a 'non-resident' license specifically for this (snowbirds, etc)).

For my particular state (New Jersey) they only require you give up your existing driver's license if it's from another state, not another country.


2 - this is not quite as simple. Many states have reciprocal tax agreements between them and are required to collect taxes for residents of other states as well. You'll have to do some research there.

Any idea how I can go about researching this? NJ Sales tax is 5%. If it were so simple to avoid the sales tax, why would any local US buyer ever pay tax?

[michelb]

For my particular state (New Jersey) they only require you give up your existing driver's license if it's from another state, not another country.



Any idea how I can go about researching this? NJ Sales tax is 5%. If it were so simple to avoid the sales tax, why would any local US buyer ever pay tax?

For the license you might be right, I had heard/read that you couldn't have more than one but it's possible it's only within one country.

As far as the tax goes, I'm not sure what you are asking or suggesting. This only applies for a Canadian resident; even if a US resident didn't pay taxes when he bought the car (because he bought out of state), he'll still have to pay them when he registers it. For a Canadian buyer, it works because he/she is never going to register in the US so if he doesn't pay it on purchase, he doesn't pay it ...

[CheapScotsman]

Except for the tax exemption declaration (which I didn't have to do anyway). you actually don't need the dealer for any of these things, thus avoiding any "documentation fees". You can get the recall letter yourself, all you need is the VIN. You can fax US Customs yourself, you don't need originals to fax so you'll have to request the dealer to send you copies. You can get the trip permit from DMV yourself, it will be in your name. At least all this from my own experience exporting out of Washington state.The private dealer did all the paperwork for me ... purchase agreements, title sheets, border docuemntation, temp permites, tax exemption and temp permit. Took him all of about 10 minutes while I was in the office ... and charged me nothing for it

(yes, the "cost" was burried in the price of the car but, I think I got a pretty good deal for my used car ... best price/miles/condition than anything else I could find (craigslist, autotrader and certified dealers) in WA, OR, UT, ID)

[DrXenon]

Any idea how I can go about researching this? NJ Sales tax is 5%. If it were so simple to avoid the sales tax, why would any local US buyer ever pay tax?

They charge you the tax when you go to get the plates.

At least with the Subaru dealer in Alexandria, Virginia I corresponded with, they were willing to give me the MSO (without charging tax) when I gave them my friend's address in Maryland. I expect the reciprocal tax collecting agreements will generally be between neighbouring states, so pick a state that's far from NJ. The easiest thing is to contact the internet sales manager at a prospective dealer and ask him/her.

[l69norm]

The temp permit issue is kind of annoying - seems that every one you ask gives you a different answer. As far as getting one in Ontario, it's not always possible - from the MTO website (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/temp.htm) ... A trip permit can be used by the owner of a vehicle when he/she is required to complete the transfer of ownership of the vehicle within six days of buying the vehicle. ... Given that you have to wait 3 days just to export, getting an Ontario Trip permit within 6 days might not be possible. (We bought our vehicle in Florida and it took way more than 6 days to get it shipped ...)

Just for the record, here is the official response I got from MTO:
.................................................. ........................

From: TXXX, Joanne (MTO) <Joanne.xxxxx@ontario.ca>
To : xxxx
Subject : RE: Out of Province Tempoary Trip Permits

Dear XXXX

Thank you for your e-mail. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.

While section 15(3) of the Highway Traffic Act makes an exemption to residents of foreign countries, there is no vehicle registration exemption for Ontario residents who import a vehicle that is plated in another country. Therefore, when the vehicle enters Ontario, you should apply for a temporary trip permit.

The following items are required to obtain a trip permit as long as the vehicle has a brand of normal or none. The Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office will also have this information verified.

a) Original title (not a copy)
b) A bill of sale
c) Insurance
d) Form 1

If you require further assistance, please contact the ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licensing Contact Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free at 1-800-387-3445 (Canada wide).

Sincerely,
Joanne Txxxx
Senior Enquiry Analyst
Licensing Administration Office

[Genia11]

I understand that dealers are able to provide the temp permit. However, the dealer I am dealing with seems to be clueless... even though he claimed that he deals with a lot of Canadian purchases. Anyway, I sent him the link to the NYS DMV describing the interstate permit and how to obtain it. Hopefully, he can get it for me.

Thanks for your reply.

BTW, did you have to provide insurance proof for the permit? I read on DMV's website that a letter or portfolio needs to be provided in order to obtain the in-transit permit.

The dealer I bought my Highlander from, provided it for free.:)

[Nitrate]

BTW, did you have to provide insurance proof for the permit? I read on DMV's website that a letter or portfolio needs to be provided in order to obtain the in-transit permit.Just FYI since you're dealing with a different region. In Washington state over on the "Wet" Coast, all they ask of you is your driver license and your $29 US cash. They then give you a blank form to fill out with vehicle information and the 3 dates you need the permit for.

I did carry a 10-day insurance binder from BC, in case the cops stopped me while driving with a temp permit. (I know it's illegal to drive in BC without insurance, not sure about WA). Anyways, DMV WA could not care less about insurance when they issue temp permits.

[premium plus]

I just realized that the Nissan Altima coupe is a North American manufactured car. I think I'll be picking either one of those up, or a new Accord coupe.

I've been looking into this for a while. The only hitch is getting the car to where I am. Some of the cars I've looked at are on the other side of the States (ie: Seattle). It would probably cost quite a bit to get a car sent all the way to Michigan would it not?

[ashu01]

Hi All,
I have contacted so many dealers in Buffalo,New York,Virginia & Michigan for Importing Toyota Van to Canada and most of them said NO for exporting. 1 or 2 agreed to sell it.

My question is ...
1. What all the fee or taxes need to paid to dealer for paper work?
2. Do I need to pay "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title" fee, if I wanted to export from US to Canada? (one of the dealer told me that, no sales tax but need to pay the rest of the fees as mentioned above.
3. OR, is it possible my friend in US to buy the car in my name and registered in US (by paying "Processing fee", "Destination fee", "Title", "Sales Tax") and then exporting from US to Canada ?

I am curious on this.

Ashus


Thanks Marzipan for you reply and it really helpful.

[sienna owner]

I just realized that the Nissan Altima coupe is a North American manufactured car. I think I'll be picking either one of those up, or a new Accord coupe.

I've been looking into this for a while. The only hitch is getting the car to where I am. Some of the cars I've looked at are on the other side of the States (ie: Seattle). It would probably cost quite a bit to get a car sent all the way to Michigan would it not?

why not contact a nissan dealer in michigan or buffalo...worst case they would order from the factory and you would have to wait 4-6 weeks depending when they can order it for you according to their inventory

[leta01]

I understand that dealers are able to provide the temp permit. However, the dealer I am dealing with seems to be clueless... even though he claimed that he deals with a lot of Canadian purchases. Anyway, I sent him the link to the NYS DMV describing the interstate permit and how to obtain it. Hopefully, he can get it for me.

Thanks for your reply.

BTW, did you have to provide insurance proof for the permit? I read on DMV's website that a letter or portfolio needs to be provided in order to obtain the in-transit permit.

The dealer asked for proof of insurance of which I had obtained before. No problem there. The temp. plate was good for a whole month.:lol: Plenty of time to get everything straighten out to get Ontarion plate.

[ashu01]

Hi ..
I have question how does it work, when you buy a vehicle from a private owner.

eg: suppose my friend buy a car for me in US and complete paper work in his name with all taxation paid. Once it all done, if he want to sell to me, what are the procedures / steps involved when exporting to Canada?

Your detailed input will really be appreciated.

Thanks
Ashus

[michelb]

Hi ..
I have question how does it work, when you buy a vehicle from a private owner.

eg: suppose my friend buy a car for me in US and complete paper work in his name with all taxation paid. Once it all done, if he want to sell to me, what are the procedures / steps involved when exporting to Canada?

Your detailed input will really be appreciated.

Thanks
Ashus

Doesn't matter if the car is new or used, the steps are the same. Your friend signs over the title, gives you a bill of sale and then you export/import with that.

If your friend is paying taxes on the vehicle and registering in his name, you are probably better off buying through a broker since the double tax is probably more than a broker would charge you anyway (and then you also get the benefit of working with someone who knows what they are doing). Feel free to pm for more info.

[tuzzi]

I have been through this thread but can't find the info I need.

Does anybody have an estimate of cost to have a Mercedes 2008 C class approved by MB? How much would the additional work MB requires to import the vehicle be???

Thanks

[james-007]

Just FYI since you're dealing with a different region. In Washington state over on the "Wet" Coast, all they ask of you is your driver license and your $29 US cash. They then give you a blank form to fill out with vehicle information and the 3 dates you need the permit for.

I did carry a 10-day insurance binder from BC, in case the cops stopped me while driving with a temp permit. (I know it's illegal to drive in BC without insurance, not sure about WA). Anyways, DMV WA could not care less about insurance when they issue temp permits.

You might want to be careful when I purchased my vehicle from Seattle WA, my dealer told me that WA permit was just so you drive on the road. Normally what they do is attach the temp permit to your existing insurance. For Canadians temp permit does not cover liability or collision. Get the binder is a wise thing to do.

[derslade]

I have been through this thread but can't find the info I need.

Does anybody have an estimate of cost to have a Mercedes 2008 C class approved by MB? How much would the additional work MB requires to import the vehicle be???

Thanks
A review of this thread tells you your first stop should have been http://riv.ca. From there you would be directed to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf where the Notes send you to http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?ID=6871&Language=English and finally http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6872

The quick answer to your question can be found at the last link.

Mercedes is as bad to deal with as BMW as the price spread between the US and here is one of the largest of all the manufacturers and they are well-motivated to prevent you buying down south.

[HacheyImports]

A review of this thread tells you your first stop should have been http://riv.ca. From there you would be directed to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf where the Notes send you to http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?ID=6871&Language=English and finally http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6872

The quick answer to your question can be found at the last link.

Mercedes is as bad to deal with as BMW as the price spread between the US and here is one of the largest of all the manufacturers and they are well-motivated to prevent you buying down south.

There is no answer given when you request modification costs. I have a couple of sources that can prepare my customers, but they are very careful to not provide this prior to you paying for the letter.

That said, a recent CLK I did was ~$5,000.00 for mods, letters/gouges. This was for the Cluster, SRS module, front bumper and headlight brackets. Time frame to have it all done is usually a month or so from begin to end. Expect the parts to have to be ordered in, and exercise patience. It is worth it..keep saying that over and over in your head!

Take care

[michelb]

I just noticed on the Canadian Customs site that is says that overweight vehicles have to pay an additional excise tax (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html) 'additional excise taxes if vehicle weighs more than 2007kg' but there's no other information. Does anybody know what this is about and how much it is (I imported a motorhome (about 8000kg) last year and didn't have to pay it.

-- update

Finally got through with someone at CBSA. Was told that they don't know why this is on their website but this is no longer in effect.

[derslade]

Discussion at this thread, http://www.importcartocanada.info/forum/topic.php?id=171

Summary -- Hard (and expensive) to get a straight answer out of Mercedes. More hassle than it's worth.

[mangoman]

Hahaha - dunno if that was a Freudian slip or intentional pun on gauges- either way incredibly accurate! :lol:

There is no answer given when you request modification costs. I have a couple of sources that can prepare my customers, but they are very careful to not provide this prior to you paying for the letter.

That said, a recent CLK I did was ~$5,000.00 for mods, letters/gouges. This was for the Cluster, SRS module, front bumper and headlight brackets. Time frame to have it all done is usually a month or so from begin to end. Expect the parts to have to be ordered in, and exercise patience. It is worth it..keep saying that over and over in your head!

Take care

[HacheyImports]

Hahaha - dunno if that was a Freudian slip or intentional pun on gauges- either way incredibly accurate! :lol:

It was spelled correctly...pun fully intended.

I am continually shocked by the attitude, but the price is so much better that I continue to work with them. Like I mentioned I have a couple resources to ease the pain for my clients, but still and all it must be hard for some, just some of the service advisors to look a customer in the eye and have to defend this policy.

[brew99]

I just realized that the Nissan Altima coupe is a North American manufactured car. I think I'll be picking either one of those up, or a new Accord coupe.

I've been looking into this for a while. The only hitch is getting the car to where I am. Some of the cars I've looked at are on the other side of the States (ie: Seattle). It would probably cost quite a bit to get a car sent all the way to Michigan would it not?

I inquired about costs from Michigan to Washington State, and they are about $1200 for open trailer. I would assume it would be about the same from Seattle to Michigan.

[rsunico]

Importing my used Saab 9-5 was very easy. I checked the list of importable cars and Saabs are listed as not needing modifications. I was living in North Carolina so it was easier for me. I registered the car in NC.

I called Saab for my recall letter. They connected me to the right person who sent me an email with a form to sign and fax which I did before hand.

I called the vehicle import office by mistake (I should have called export) but the guy was very friendly and told me exactly what I had to do and what to fax. I stayed at a hotel in Niagara Falls until the day/time I was told I could cross the border. Showed US customs the title and they stamped it as exported. Went to Canadian customs and did not pay any duty (Saab was considered NAFTA.. huh?). The cashier gave me the RIV number to call.

when I got to Toronto I had the Saab recall letter in my mail, they faxed a clearance letter to RIV. I paid RIV online (Customs guy told me this was quickest way). 2 days letter I get an email from RIV with a form to take to Canadian Tire.

Just drove to CT and did not have to wait. Car passed Federal and Provincial inspection.

Insured vehicle in ON, went to Ontario Motor Vehicle. Got my plates.

Total cost for import was 212 for RIV and 250 to Saab for clearance letter. Saved thousands!

Saab is not very popular in many parts of the US so they do not hold their resale value as used vehicle...

[ashu01]

You should not pay any taxes anywhere in the US if you are exporting it. Some states call sales tax "usage" tax, implying that the tax is for using the goods in their state. Clear this up with a dealer before making a deal.

As far as document fees go, all dealers have to fill out forms for the state - like odometer readings, change of ownership reports. For locals, they register title and register (plate, or licence) the vehicle. For Canadians they don't do these two things - but we do want them to get a recall letter, fax US Customs, sell us a trip permit and fill out a tax exemption declaration.

With some dealers documentation work is a way to increase their marjin. (In Utah, the state charges $2.50 for a trip permit. The dealer I dealt with wanted $22.50 for it.) I don't care what they charge - but I do ask them how much they want before I make an offer - then I knock that amount off the price I offer, so to speak.

Remember that pricing a car is the result of buyer/seller negotiation. It is not like buying a product in Wal-Mart where you take it at their price or you leave it.

Thanks for the detailed reply as mentioned last reply as well.

I have asking my friend in Virginia to buy the Car in his name and register in his name in VA with sales tax. Once its done I will ask him sell to me, could you pls tell me detailed steps or procedure to purchase from him?

1. When he sell to me, is it just print my name (buyers name) on the title?
2. How do I show the bill of sale, since my friend sell to me?
3. Can he show less sale price, when he sell to me, rather than showing full actual purchase price (1st buy from Dealer)?
4. Is there any complication in Buying as soon as he bought the car, without making much mileage?

Regards
Ashus

[angel_wing0]

[QUOTE=rsunico;6768099]Went to Canadian customs and did not pay any duty (Saab was considered NAFTA.. huh?). QUOTE]

the car might be made in the usa and hence u dont need to pay the 6%. Just check your VIN. If it starts with an A or B that means its made in the usa. (i think i got it right...)

[shopper-X]

[QUOTE=rsunico;6768099]Went to Canadian customs and did not pay any duty (Saab was considered NAFTA.. huh?). QUOTE]

the car might be made in the usa and hence u dont need to pay the 6%. Just check your VIN. If it starts with an A or B that means its made in the usa. (i think i got it right...)

Look at the first Digit of the VIN, if it's a:
-Letter = non-NAFTA
-Number = NAFTA

All numbers:
1,4,5 = Built in USA
2 = Built in Canada
3 = Built in Mexico

Letter examples:
J = Built in Japan
K = Built in Korea
W = Built in Germany
etc.

Learn more about it on Wikipedia's VIN page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_identification_number)

[yyzmyyz]

Hello, I've been reading up on this very informative thread and am now ready to purchase a new 2008 Honda Odyssey.
1) Can anyone share (pm me) contacts at Honda dealers on the east coast willing to sell to Canadians.
2) Option 2: I have a friend who lives in Buffalo. I can get him to buy the van in his name and then I would buy it from him. How would he/I the New York state taxes? Would it make sense to have him buy the Van in neighbouring state and not register it in that state , pick it up with an in transit plate and sell it to me immediately. I would then drive it with the transit plate to the order for export.
3) Anybody knows/used a broker in Buffalo who would be the intermediary to make the transaction happen.

Any help much appreciated. Thanks

[premium plus]

why not contact a nissan dealer in michigan or buffalo...worst case they would order from the factory and you would have to wait 4-6 weeks depending when they can order it for you according to their inventory

Because you can save an extra couple thousand finding a demo on Autotrader or Ebay motors.

[DrXenon]

Thanks for the detailed reply as mentioned last reply as well.

I have asking my friend in Virginia to buy the Car in his name and register in his name in VA with sales tax. Once its done I will ask him sell to me, could you pls tell me detailed steps or procedure to purchase from him?

1. When he sell to me, is it just print my name (buyers name) on the title?
2. How do I show the bill of sale, since my friend sell to me?
3. Can he show less sale price, when he sell to me, rather than showing full actual purchase price (1st buy from Dealer)?
4. Is there any complication in Buying as soon as he bought the car, without making much mileage?

Regards
Ashus

1. I think so.
2. Just make up a bill of sale on your computer. Be sure to include the date of the sale, the seller's name, the buyer's name, the place of the sale, the precise vehicle description including VIN and the amount.
3. In general, no, unless your friend is explicitly making a gift of the difference to you (and it will be diffifcult to convince a tax adjudicator of this). If you want to commit tax fraud, make sure you're saving more than a little bit of money, because otherwise it's not worth the potential penalties and being searched at the border everytime you come home from now on.
4. No, although you should double check the warranty conditions in the printed booklet that comes with the car.

I assume you've looked into it, but make sure you really have to pay the VA tax. In some cases, your friend can get the MSO without registering the car (but in other cases it's unavoidable).

[ashu01]

1. I think so.
2. Just make up a bill of sale on your computer. Be sure to include the date of the sale, the seller's name, the buyer's name, the place of the sale, the precise vehicle description including VIN and the amount.
3. In general, no, unless your friend is explicitly making a gift of the difference to you (and it will be diffifcult to convince a tax adjudicator of this). If you want to commit tax fraud, make sure you're saving more than a little bit of money, because otherwise it's not worth the potential penalties and being searched at the border everytime you come home from now on.
4. No, although you should double check the warranty conditions in the printed booklet that comes with the car.

I assume you've looked into it, but make sure you really have to pay the VA tax. In some cases, your friend can get the MSO without registering the car (but in other cases it's unavoidable).

Thank you so much DrXenon for your prompt reply to my question and appreciated.

Dealer in VA said, its illegal without paying sales tax in VA and have to pay sales tax. How do I avoid this? Dealer mentioned already that, they cannot deal with exporting to Canada and if wanted to buy from them, i have to do all the paper work like paying sales tax/processing fees,freight/delivery charge, title/registration and altogether it cost ~$1800.

I will be paying full car cost by wire transfer to my friends name, then he will do all paper work, then he will sell to me, thats all plan is. How does border know, i made the full payment to the buyer, since its private deal?

Thanks
Ashus

[DrXenon]

One Virginia Subaru dealer I contacted was willing to sell a car to my friend, a Maryland resident, without collecting tax. If your friend is a VA resident, he may not be able to pull this off - a quick call to the VA DMV might be in order. Explain that your friend is exporting the car and ask if he has to pay the sales tax. Of course, if the dealer refuses to deal on this basis because of manufacturer rules, it's a moot point.

Canada Revenue Agency has very broad investigative powers; they can get a fax of your bank records with not much more than a phone call and they will see the transfer to your friend. All it would take to trigger an investigation is the suspicion of the border guard or a phone call by a jealous "friend" who heard you bought a car in the states and may not have paid full tax on it.

Note that it's only the GST you would save; the Ontario gov't will use its own number to apply PST if its valuation is greater than yours.

Tax evasion is a criminal charge if the crown chooses to pursue it that way. If convicted, in the absence of a pardon you will have a criminal record for life with all the attendant consequences, including that you will be inadmissable to the United States (even with a pardon). It would be one thing if your friend drove the car for a few months, decided he didn't like it, and sold it to you for the depreciated amount. But the secondary bill of sale in your case will have a date within days of the original purchase, and the crown will be able to show mens rea because they will see the true amount of the bank transfer to your friend.

[michelb]

...

Note that it's only the GST you would save; the Ontario gov't will use its own number to apply PST if its valuation is greater than yours.
...

This is incorrect - for imports, you pay PST and GST on the price on the bill of sale in Ontario (unlike private sales within Ontario where you'll pay the higher of the book value or the purchase price). If you look at the import steps, this is actually why you need to keep the 'blue/white form' from CBSA - this is what you'll be charged tax on when you register the vehicle.

[ashu01]

This is incorrect - for imports, you pay PST and GST on the price on the bill of sale in Ontario (unlike private sales within Ontario where you'll pay the higher of the book value or the purchase price). If you look at the import steps, this is actually why you need to keep the 'blue/white form' from CBSA - this is what you'll be charged tax on when you register the vehicle.

Hi michelb,
Could you pls provide little more in detail (blue/white) form from CBSA? Is it you mean Form 1?

Regards
Ashus

[sienna owner]

Hi michelb,
Could you pls provide little more in detail (blue/white) form from CBSA? Is it you mean Form 1?

Regards
Ashus

No..the blue/white form is the Customs Receipt...MTO will use whatever conversion it was at the time you crossed over and apply the PST % to that value. Form 1 is Yellow that the custom agent fills out, while the blue form is your printed receipt of how much the price you paid converted to CDN $$, along with the other taxes you pay at the border..A/C, green levy & excess weight taxes if applicable, etc

[DrXenon]

This is incorrect - for imports, you pay PST and GST on the price on the bill of sale in Ontario (unlike private sales within Ontario where you'll pay the higher of the book value or the purchase price). If you look at the import steps, this is actually why you need to keep the 'blue/white form' from CBSA - this is what you'll be charged tax on when you register the vehicle.

Even after fighting with the clerk for 15 minutes and showing the original receipt from the car dealer, my friend was charged tax on the red book value (which was quite a lot higher than what she actually paid) at the local MTO office in Kingston. Did you get your information about this policy from a reliable source? (I'm not questioning you, I'm just wondering if my friend can get some money back - the difference was significant.)

[michelb]

Even after fighting with the clerk for 15 minutes and showing the original receipt from the car dealer, my friend was charged tax on the red book value (which was quite a lot higher than what she actually paid) at the local MTO office in Kingston. Did you get your information about this policy from a reliable source? (I'm not questioning you, I'm just wondering if my friend can get some money back - the difference was significant.)

This is the first I hear of anyone being charged taxes on book value for an import on this thread. Personally, I imported 2 used vehicles this year and paid the PST on the purchase price both times (and in both cases, I'm sure the purchase price was much less than the book value).

[Snocow]

Thank you so much DrXenon for your prompt reply to my question and appreciated.

Dealer in VA said, its illegal without paying sales tax in VA and have to pay sales tax. How do I avoid this? Dealer mentioned already that, they cannot deal with exporting to Canada and if wanted to buy from them, i have to do all the paper work like paying sales tax/processing fees,freight/delivery charge, title/registration and altogether it cost ~$1800.

I will be paying full car cost by wire transfer to my friends name, then he will do all paper work, then he will sell to me, thats all plan is. How does border know, i made the full payment to the buyer, since its private deal?

Thanks
Ashus

I purchased a new Toyota Camry in VA back in December. I did not pay any state sales taxes because I was exporting...

[Snocow]

How many of you are getting nagged by the Ministry of Finance - Retail Sales Tax Branch requesting copy of Bill of Sale and Customs and Excise Declartion Form?

I ignored the first request then rec'd a follow up.

I left them a nasty VM advising that I don't work for them, I met all import requirements / paid all taxes and don't do things twice and that they should get the information from their Federal brothers and stop harrassing me unnecessarily.

Haven't heard anything else since late January...

[bulgurc]

Even after fighting with the clerk for 15 minutes and showing the original receipt from the car dealer, my friend was charged tax on the red book value (which was quite a lot higher than what she actually paid) at the local MTO office in Kingston. Did you get your information about this policy from a reliable source? (I'm not questioning you, I'm just wondering if my friend can get some money back - the difference was significant.)
I think you got ripped off. This is from Ontario website:

RST applies to the total fair value of taxable goods and services brought into Ontario for own use. The total fair value includes:

* the purchase price (in Canadian funds) of goods or services bought outside Canada
* delivery, shipping, or mailing charges billed by the vendor (in Canadian funds)
* customs duties and federal excise taxes paid to bring goods and services into Canada (brokerage charges and federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) are not part of the total fair value)
* any applicable tax for fuel conservation.

[ashu01]

No..the blue/white form is the Customs Receipt...MTO will use whatever conversion it was at the time you crossed over and apply the PST % to that value. Form 1 is Yellow that the custom agent fills out, while the blue form is your printed receipt of how much the price you paid converted to CDN $$, along with the other taxes you pay at the border..A/C, green levy & excess weight taxes if applicable, etc

Thanks to sienna owner..

I am looking to buy a Toyota Sienna from Virginia, where my where my friend lives. I have already check with so many dealers in US from few different states (MI,VA,NY) and i wouldn't find a very competitive price, however dealer not willing to sell to Canadian (as export). What the dealer suggested was, buy & register in my friends name and pay all taxes, then you can do do whatever i want.

I will be paying full money (total purchase price) by wire transfer to his bank account, then he buy it in his name and sell to me. Then he will charge the full amount (dealer price + all taxes + Registration fee) as "SELLING PRICE" to me. Paid date (earlier date) and selling date (after date), is it going to be a problem ??, Paid date < selling date !!

Your input will be very valuable.

Thanks
Ashus

[Snocow]

As an FYI.....I also had trouble finding a dealership willing to sell me a new 2008 Camry. I found one in Virginia willing to see to a Canadian while other dealerships in the same are would not. I took delivery on 01 Dec.

I purchased a 7 year Platinum Toyota extended warranty in February from a different Toyota Dealership for $899.00 USD but I have not yet rec'd my warranty docs.

I found recently that my dealerships address in VA was registered with Toyota USA under my name in Toyota USA database...so my warrant docs were sent to my dealerships address.

I went for an oil change this morning at a local Toyota dealership here in Canada...they checked and verified that I do have the extended warranty and are having the warranty documents re-issued and sent directly to me...

Looks like the dealership got around the rules by selling to me but using their address as a USA address

[overboost]

I was nagged. I ignored it the first time around as well, because I no longer had my copy of the blue and white form from Customs and Excise. I received a follow up letter about back in January, but this time decided to submit a copy of my bill of sale. I haven't heard back from them since.


How many of you are getting nagged by the Ministry of Finance - Retail Sales Tax Branch requesting copy of Bill of Sale and Customs and Excise Declartion Form?

I ignored the first request then rec'd a follow up.

I left them a nasty VM advising that I don't work for them, I met all import requirements / paid all taxes and don't do things twice and that they should get the information from their Federal brothers and stop harrassing me unnecessarily.

Haven't heard anything else since late January...

[sienna owner]

I was nagged. I ignored it the first time around as well, because I no longer had my copy of the blue and white form from Customs and Excise. I received a follow up letter about back in January, but this time decided to submit a copy of my bill of sale. I haven't heard back from them since.

received a letter, but only was requested to give them amount shown on Declaration Form..didn't have to fax anything...of course my coworker i helped afterwards had to fax everything to them.

[sienna owner]

Thanks to sienna owner..

I am looking to buy a Toyota Sienna from Virginia, where my where my friend lives. I have already check with so many dealers in US from few different states (MI,VA,NY) and i wouldn't find a very competitive price, however dealer not willing to sell to Canadian (as export). What the dealer suggested was, buy & register in my friends name and pay all taxes, then you can do do whatever i want.

I will be paying full money (total purchase price) by wire transfer to his bank account, then he buy it in his name and sell to me. Then he will charge the full amount (dealer price + all taxes + Registration fee) as "SELLING PRICE" to me. Paid date (earlier date) and selling date (after date), is it going to be a problem ??, Paid date < selling date !!

Your input will be very valuable.

Thanks
Ashus

if you want to get info for my dealer...relative's Mich US address appears on MSO/bill of sale, but my name is on both...no issues at either border as they have seen tons of ppl do it this way..did pay state taxes though, but still saved...

[Nitrate]

This is the first I hear of anyone being charged taxes on book value for an import on this thread. Personally, I imported 2 used vehicles this year and paid the PST on the purchase price both times (and in both cases, I'm sure the purchase price was much less than the book value).
This is true for BC as well. ICBC did not charge me PST on book value, but on actual bill-of-sale price (based on converted price on GST receipt - i.e. the same price as what GST was calculated on), . But I believe they do in fact know there's a discrepancy between purchase and book value price.

In fact, when I was getting my insurance and registration done, the agent said (with a knowing smile on her face) that the computer system is prompting her to ask me why my purchase price is lower than book value. I told her it was a US import. The computer system just needed a reason, it wasn't forcing her to charge me PST on book value.

[premium plus]

Does anyone know what rules/restrictions there are for paying the GST/PST when you bring your car across the boarder/register it?

Can you pay with a credit card, or does it all have to be cash? Any kind of restrictions like that apply?

Thanks.

[sienna owner]

Does anyone know what rules/restrictions there are for paying the GST/PST when you bring your car across the boarder/register it?

Can you pay with a credit card, or does it all have to be cash? Any kind of restrictions like that apply?

Thanks.

do a search...or cheque customs website.
can't understand why ppl that want to save, but are too lazy to do any work

credit/debit is fine, don't know about cash.

[premium plus]

do a search...or cheque customs website.
can't understand why ppl that want to save, but are too lazy to do any work

credit/debit is fine, don't know about cash.

Who's lazy? You assume too much. I did a search, but didn't turn back results that were relevant. I looked through a ton of posts. The search turned back THIS thread. This 900+ page thread. Gee, how helpful. Sorry if I don't have all day to read every post in this thread, but after all, this IS a message board isn't it? Isn't it here to ask questions? I can't understand why people get their backs up when people come to an internet message board to ask a question. Inevitably you're going to see the same question more than once...get over it.

[tuzzi]

A review of this thread tells you your first stop should have been http://riv.ca. From there you would be directed to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf where the Notes send you to http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?ID=6871&Language=English and finally http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6872

The quick answer to your question can be found at the last link.

Mercedes is as bad to deal with as BMW as the price spread between the US and here is one of the largest of all the manufacturers and they are well-motivated to prevent you buying down south.

I'm aware of all the websites and info. My question was very specific pertaining to the modifications required, and if anybody had could tell me the specific costs.

Read my post

[mangoman]

Premium plus - you'll find more success if you try the "Search this Thread" tool which shows up at the top of the thread if you're actually in it.

While it is a "message board", see 1.b of the RFD Forum rules:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/announcement.php?f=79&a=12
(I think the mods should actually clarify the difference between using the general search tool and the thread specific search tool).

You're right that we do eventually see the same question more than once, however if more users searched first, then they'd find their answer and having less repeat posts come up on a "search" by others down the line would also help members find their answers quicker!

While I think it's great that this thread is 900+ pages long (proving that this topic is incredibly popular), I humbly submit that this thread could probably be about 300 pages shorter if there weren't so many repeat questions with the same answer. (Now of course if rules have changed regarding a topic, or if it's a specific case that has some twist to it or something - that's different).

(thought I'd add the result of using the "search this thread" tool to show the difference in results as opposed to using the giant forum site search tool - link only works if you're logged in):

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/search.php?searchid=11140453

Who's lazy? You assume too much. I did a search, but didn't turn back results that were relevant. I looked through a ton of posts. The search turned back THIS thread. This 900+ page thread. Gee, how helpful. Sorry if I don't have all day to read every post in this thread, but after all, this IS a message board isn't it? Isn't it here to ask questions? I can't understand why people get their backs up when people come to an internet message board to ask a question. Inevitably you're going to see the same question more than once...get over it.

[premium plus]

Fair enough. I didn't know about the 'search this thread' option, but the fact of the matter is, I'm not lazy, and have done quite a bit of research, and fact finding on my own about this topic.

Don't know if it's been posted yet or not, but add PA to the list of states that require you to register the vehicle in the state. A dealer just told me that on the phone.

[DSTU]

Does anyone know what rules/restrictions there are for paying the GST/PST when you bring your car across the boarder/register it?

Can you pay with a credit card, or does it all have to be cash? Any kind of restrictions like that apply?

Thanks.

Why don't you call CBSA?

[Nitrate]

Who's lazy? You assume too much. I did a search, but didn't turn back results that were relevant. I looked through a ton of posts. The search turned back THIS thread. This 900+ page thread. Gee, how helpful. Sorry if I don't have all day to read every post in this thread, but after all, this IS a message board isn't it? Isn't it here to ask questions? I can't understand why people get their backs up when people come to an internet message board to ask a question. Inevitably you're going to see the same question more than once...get over it.
I think the regulars here are getting a little jaded by seeing the same questions over and over again. Can't blame them.

As to your specific question, why not go directly to the source? That's what I did anyway and basically just used the information on this thread as a rough guideline. When I was researching my own import, I may have called Canada Customs and RIV at least 3 times each on various concerns I had. You could not get ahold of a real person at US Customs, but at least they reply to emails within 24 hours.

Anyways, someone already answered your question. :)

[tvault23]

Don't know if it's been posted yet or not, but add PA to the list of states that require you to register the vehicle in the state. A dealer just told me that on the phone.[/QUOTE]


I bought my vehicle last month in PA and did not have to register it. You might want to get a second opinion.

[michelb]

I'm aware of all the websites and info. My question was very specific pertaining to the modifications required, and if anybody had could tell me the specific costs.

Read my post

I don't think you'll get an answer on the specific costs since I don't think there is one. General consensus is that any Mercedes will cost about $5k or more in mods but even Mercedes won't confirm this until they have the car in front of them. The other problem about getting a specific cost is that you are COMPLETELY at their mercy, if they decide that you can't import a 'midnight black' car or something and tell you that you need to repaint the car to import it, there's nothing you can do other than have them repaint the car (they have to perform all modifications) or return the car to the US ... (or go to another Mercedes dealership)

The other thing to keep it mind is that according to others who have done it, it takes approx. 1 month to get the parts to do the modification.

[sienna owner]

Why don't you call CBSA?

I think the regulars here are getting a little jaded by seeing the same questions over and over again. Can't blame them.

As to your specific question, why not go directly to the source? That's what I did anyway and basically just used the information on this thread as a rough guideline. When I was researching my own import, I may have called Canada Customs and RIV at least 3 times each on various concerns I had. You could not get ahold of a real person at US Customs, but at least they reply to emails within 24 hours.

Anyways, someone already answered your question. :)

+1

can't claim you've "done quite a bit of research, and fact finding on my own about this topic." when in fact you haven't even called the "source"...
for example..you need to contact the individual US Customs Office where you'll be crossing when you import since they run independently..and some require the original while others require simply a fax, and some open 24/7 and others only 8-4 Mon-Fri

anyways...good luck in your import...

[sienna owner]

Don't know if it's been posted yet or not, but add PA to the list of states that require you to register the vehicle in the state. A dealer just told me that on the phone.


I bought my vehicle last month in PA and did not have to register it. You might want to get a second opinion.[/QUOTE]

+1

depends on the dealership and if they know how to avoid the taxes, etc

[premium plus]

+1

if can't claim you've "done quite a bit of research, and fact finding on my own about this topic." when in fact you haven't even called the "source"...
for example..you need to contact the individual US Customs Office where you'll be crossing when you import since they run independently..and some require the original while others require simply a fax, and some open 24/7 and others only 8-4 Mon-Fri

anyways...good luck in your import...

I actually have called both RIV and customs before. This particular question I decided to ask about on here, rather than call. Big mistake I guess. Lesson learned. Now I know what NOT to do.

[agiga]

Does anyone know if Canadians are exempt from the NY state sales tax?

[manitou]

I have been through this thread but can't find the info I need.

Does anybody have an estimate of cost to have a Mercedes 2008 C class approved by MB? How much would the additional work MB requires to import the vehicle be???

Thanks

Hi TUZZI,
I look for the same vehicle you! 300 4matic 2008, if you get help or information you are looking for is please let me know! I import a nine MDX last fall without any problem, but since then the rules are changed. And I believe that even with $ 5000 to change there is still $ $ $ $ a save. MB can not answer for the cost of both that have not self. I will ask dealer MTL!

[Swiguy]

So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

[leebee]

Hello everyone, I haven't read the entire thread, but a search for dirt bikes didn't return any posts.

I just bought a 2001 Yamaha YZ 250 dirt bike in Arizona and we will importing it when we return to Canada next week. Does anyone have any experience with what needs to be done to import a dirt bike?

Thanks.

[hotgo]

Does anyone know if Canadians are exempt from the NY state sales tax?

Are you kidding? There are dozens of people on this thread that have bought in NY. Did you look at any of the postings here? This information is repeated over and over in this thread. Please use the "Search this thread" feature.

[hotgo]

So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

That's too bad Swiguy. All I can say is that I had problems getting a dealer to agree to a new Audi sale as well back when I ordered mine, but I did get one to agree in Michigan (I know you already tried that one as well). Maybe Audi USA is enforcing this policy even harsher now. Sorry :(

[michelb]

Hello everyone, I haven't read the entire thread, but a search for dirt bikes didn't return any posts.

I just bought a 2001 Yamaha YZ 250 dirt bike in Arizona and we will importing it when we return to Canada next week. Does anyone have any experience with what needs to be done to import a dirt bike?

Thanks.

This will fall under section 9 - 'other restricted use motorcycle' and is admissible. I don't think it's even under RIV so you probably don't pay $200 but I imagine you'll pay PST & GST & duty (if applicable). Basically, I think this is treated like any other good that you buy in the US. I'd check the duty rate though - I've heard that it's higher than the 6.1% but can't find the information right now (might be as high as 20% from what I remember).

[freewheel]

This will fall under section 9 - 'other restricted use motorcycle' and is admissible. I don't think it's even under RIV so you probably don't pay $200 but I imagine you'll pay PST & GST & duty (if applicable). Basically, I think this is treated like any other good that you buy in the US. I'd check the duty rate though - I've heard that it's higher than the 6.1% but can't find the information right now (might be as high as 20% from what I remember).

From what ican gather on the CBSA site:http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/ch87-eng.pdf

Motorcycles of all displacements are duty free.

[michelb]

From what ican gather on the CBSA site:http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/ch87-eng.pdf

Motorcycles of all displacements are duty free.

Wow, according to your link (section 87.11xxx), it looks like you are right! Can anyone who imported a motorcycle confirm?

[nornet]

So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

I talked with a chap who was importing an 2007 A6 last Jan. We met at the border and both of us were waiting for US Customs to clear us. He told me back then that you couldn't import new Audis so he bought a very low mileage one from a dealer on the East Coast..

[DrXenon]

This is incorrect - for imports, you pay PST and GST on the price on the bill of sale in Ontario (unlike private sales within Ontario where you'll pay the higher of the book value or the purchase price). If you look at the import steps, this is actually why you need to keep the 'blue/white form' from CBSA - this is what you'll be charged tax on when you register the vehicle.

The above information is in fact correct according to the MTO lady I spoke to just now. My friend was incorrectly charged the red book value, which should only be used for privately sold cars within Ontario.

Anyone who was charged the red book value should call the Ministry of Revenue to get a refund of the difference. Their phone number is 1 800 263-7965.

[Cars4Canadians]

That's too bad Swiguy. All I can say is that I had problems getting a dealer to agree to a new Audi sale as well back when I ordered mine, but I did get one to agree in Michigan (I know you already tried that one as well). Maybe Audi USA is enforcing this policy even harsher now. Sorry :(

They have been doing that for a long while now, i even called New Jersey and still no luck

[michelb]

The above information is in fact correct according to the MTO lady I spoke to just now. My friend was incorrectly charged the red book value, which should only be used for privately sold cars within Ontario.

Anyone who was charged the red book value should call the Ministry of Revenue to get a refund of the difference. Their phone number is 1 800 263-7965.

Thanks for the update - hope your friend doesn't have too much trouble getting the balance refunded.

[ashu01]

Hi ...

I am trying find a shipper to ship a new Van from Virginia to Toronto or US Border. Anybody have engage with any shipper in the past and good reputation and service? If you have already dealt with any of the shipper and you think they are good, pls update me and it would be very helpful.

I have contacted few of them and got the quote as well and not sure which to choose.

Here is the list of companies, I have contacted....

All American Transport, Auto Shippers America, Total Car Shipping LLC, AA Automovers etc..

Anybody have dealt any of the above shippers in the past ?

Thanks
Ashus

[nornet]

Hi ...

I am trying find a shipper to ship a new Van from Virginia to Toronto or US Border. Anybody have engage with any shipper in the past and good reputation and service? If you have already dealt with any of the shipper and you think they are good, pls update me and it would be very helpful.

I have contacted few of them and got the quote as well and not sure which to choose.

Here is the list of companies, I have contacted....

All American Transport, Auto Shippers America, Total Car Shipping LLC, AA Automovers etc..

Anybody have dealt any of the above shippers in the past ?

Thanks
Ashus

You might have better luck searching this thread for shippers. I know half a dozen posts that recommended specific ones in the last while.

[aphextwin2050]

I had the same issue back in December, they wouldn't even sell used to me.

Though it was a sweet deal at the time, 2007 A4 Quattro with 8000 Miles for 25,000. The workaround is if you have a friend that would buy it for you, then write a bill of sale to you. I almost did that but they require a credit check even if you are paying straight cash. It wasn't worth it the few thousand to do that to my friend so I ended up buying a used one from a non-audi dealer.

Where there is a will, there is a way!


So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

[leebee]

Well from what I can tell, since the dirt bike is designated for closed-course competition only, it is exempt from the RIV and should be allowed into canada with no duty.

Now the problem we have is that the DMV won't give us a title because the bike has never been titled, and the original buyer needs to title the bike and then transfer it to us, but since we are the 4th owner of the bike, we have no idea how to get ahold of the original buyer.

Does anyone happen to know whether a title is needed for import, or is a bill of sale enough?

[ghostL]

Thanks for the audi tip! http://0ms.info/forumlogo.jpg

[WantaCar]

So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

This was mentioned before. If you want to find US Audi dealers that will sell to Canadians, you can search www.ebay.ca for new 2008 Audi's and see which US dealers are selling into Canada.

[RandyOhhh]

I am in the market for a pre-owned Camry hybrid in the U.S... Does anyone know if I am elibigle for the Quebec hybrid rebate since it stipulates "brought into Quebec" - Does a used vehicle from the U.S. qualify?

[braket]

I live in New Brunswick. Who would you recommend for an auto broker to import vehicle based on your previous experience? I'm interested in 08 Rav4 or 07/08 low mileage. Thanks

[sienna owner]

I live in New Brunswick. Who would you recommend for an auto broker to import vehicle based on your previous experience? I'm interested in 08 Rav4 or 07/08 low mileage. Thanks

I think HackeyImports works out that way...he's on this forum a lot.

[michelb]

I am in the market for a pre-owned Camry hybrid in the U.S... Does anyone know if I am elibigle for the Quebec hybrid rebate since it stipulates "brought into Quebec" - Does a used vehicle from the U.S. qualify?

Never dealt with it but it looks like the rebate might be on NEW vehicles only (http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/particulier/taxes/remboursement/remb_part_tvq_vehicule_hybride.asp)

[mangoman]

Jumped the gun - it's another updated list but not the one with the bumper exemptions. (The 2008 Scions being sort of admissible threw me off) :o

:!: :!: :!: :!:

New RIV list is out!!

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf

[crasher]

I am in the market for a pre-owned Camry hybrid in the U.S... Does anyone know if I am elibigle for the Quebec hybrid rebate since it stipulates "brought into Quebec" - Does a used vehicle from the U.S. qualify?

Rebate is only for new vehicle.:( Vehicle bought from US qualifies only for provincial rebate. Feds cannot figure out if it is used or new.

[drwzer]

So, I've been in touch with a few Audi dealers in Michigan and it looks like Audi USA is no longer allowing them to sell vehicles to Canadians... anyone else experienced this recently?

If it is used, there should be no problem.
I just bought a 2007 VW GTI. I will be bringing it back next week. Had originally bought a 2008 vw rabbit in NH but had to back out of deal because of build delays in Germany. I used our NY address to purchase that car. The GTI is essentially the same car as the audi a3 except comes with a lower price. There are lots of them for sale but mostly used. Although, there a still many low mileage ones available. Indeed this is the route I chose. I got a package 2 gti with navigation and only 4000 miles for $22000. It is a VW exec's car that is 6 months old and comes with two year certified used warranty that comes into effect when the original warranty runs out in 3 years. Same vehicle here would cost $39000 new.

[dotcalamitie]

On my Prius I got the provincial rebate, but not the federal rebate.

[Marzipan]

Hi ...

I am trying find a shipper to ship a new Van from Virginia to Toronto or US Border. Anybody have engage with any shipper in the past and good reputation and service? If you have already dealt with any of the shipper and you think they are good, pls update me and it would be very helpful.

I have contacted few of them and got the quote as well and not sure which to choose.

Here is the list of companies, I have contacted....

All American Transport, Auto Shippers America, Total Car Shipping LLC, AA Automovers etc..

Anybody have dealt any of the above shippers in the past ?

Thanks
Ashus

Be sure to run through the ratings of a few auto carriers at Transport Reviews. (http://www.transportreviews.com/)

Most complaints seem to arise from customers expecting on-time delivery. Auto transporters don't run a scheduled service like Greyhound. They go your way when they get a load. That makes it difficult to meet a carrier with your car at the border to collect the keys and check for damage.

[HacheyImports]

I live in New Brunswick. Who would you recommend for an auto broker to import vehicle based on your previous experience? I'm interested in 08 Rav4 or 07/08 low mileage. Thanks

I am bringing a Prius Hybrid into Fredericton and a Audi A3 to Halifax over the next couple weeks. If you need a hand let me know.

Take care.

[atorontoguy]

Has anyone imported a Toyota Hino 258LP? My dad's friend is interested in importing it. Is it admissible into Canada? How different is it from importing an automobile?

[Alexo]

New RIV list is out!!

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf
Pre-2008 Siennas are inadmissible???

[DrXenon]

Has anyone imported a Toyota Hino 258LP? My dad's friend is interested in importing it. Is it admissible into Canada? How different is it from importing an automobile?
I can find some Canadian classified ads for this truck, so I'd assume it's admissable. Go to the riv.ca site to find out for sure.

[pulsar]

Pre-2008 Siennas are inadmissible???

You're reading it wrong. Look under the tables for vehicles manufactured BEFORE Sept 1, 2007. You'll notice all Sienna's are admissible even though they don't list it in particularly.

[michelb]

Has anyone imported a Toyota Hino 258LP? My dad's friend is interested in importing it. Is it admissible into Canada? How different is it from importing an automobile?


Appears to be admissible. Should not be any different than a car (in fact, I don't think you have any mods to do on large trucks for admissibility except maybe DRLs). Only issue could be getting dealer to sell you new for export since they are owned by Toyota.

[ivica5683]

I've done several searches in an attempt to find Lexus Dealers selling to Canadians, most of the posts are quite old.

What is the situation now? Has anyone recently purchased a lexus in the US.

I am in the Toronto area and would gladly travel to pick one up.

Thank you for your assistance.

John

[HacheyImports]

I've done several searches in an attempt to find Lexus Dealers selling to Canadians, most of the posts are quite old.

What is the situation now? Has anyone recently purchased a lexus in the US.

I am in the Toronto area and would gladly travel to pick one up.

Thank you for your assistance.

John

Lexus will not sell new to Canadians. If anyone has a dealer that will then I would like to know about it as well. The dealerships are under a lot of pressure and penalties are imposed if they sell for export new cars.

This isn't to say that we are not able to buy them, it is that the use of an intermediary is required. Same price, different methods employed.

Take care

[allknowing]

Consider looking for a dealer demo - I had no problems getting a dealer demo from Saturn. (3K miles)

[Toyota_Star]

Hi All,
My friend have bought a Car for me from Virginia and registered and titled in his name. Now he is going to sell to me and planning to bring it to Toronto.

I know, I need to have a Bill of sale, Title changed to my name, then it need to be send it over to the US border 72 Hrs prior to border crossing date.

1. Once he is sell to me, how do I bring to Toronto, since I dont have Temp Title permit and licence in my name. Virginia to Toronto drive, it has to cross 3 US states VA,PA,NY, so I need to have temp permit to travel all these states? how do I get these permits? Can I get these online?

2. Is it ok, if my friend drive the Car border with new Title in his name, just before crossing and once he reach there, I will go to the border, the he change the name to my name and I will show the Bill of sale and Title in my name. In this case, do I need to have NY permit to just to cross the border?

3. Does it required to have another Ontario temp permit to travel from border to Toronto, apart from the binder insurance?

Is this going to be complicated? Your input is really appreciated.


Thanks
Toyota_Star

[hiremichaelreid]

Looking to get a Toyota Prius. $21k in US and $30k here !

I live in Quebec near Ottawa, Ontario.

I guess 2008 model can't be imported though ? Perhaps I can find a used 2007 ? I want to keep this simple and safe so perhaps I could buy a "Toyota certified" car from a Toyota dealer ?

I think I've read that Toyota Canada honors warranty on US bought cars ?

I'm an American (born) citizen if there's any loopholes for me. Lived in Canada most of my life and also have Canadian citizenship too (but can keep quiet about that if it helps. ;)

I guess I can't get the Federal $2k rebate if I buy in US. And Quebec $2k rebate only covers new cars I think.

If anyone can clarify these issues, please post. If you run an importing service or can refer me to one, please do. I can pay cash...

Thanks!
Mike.

[michelb]

Looking to get a Toyota Prius. $21k in US and $30k here !

I live in Quebec near Ottawa, Ontario.

I guess 2008 model can't be imported though ? Perhaps I can find a used 2007 ? I want to keep this simple and safe so perhaps I could buy a "Toyota certified" car from a Toyota dealer ?

I think I've read that Toyota Canada honors warranty on US bought cars ?

I'm an American (born) citizen if there's any loopholes for me. Lived in Canada most of my life and also have Canadian citizenship too (but can keep quiet about that if it helps. ;)

I guess I can't get the Federal $2k rebate if I buy in US. And Quebec $2k rebate only covers new cars I think.

If anyone can clarify these issues, please post. If you run an importing service or can refer me to one, please do. I can pay cash...

Thanks!
Mike.

You can import new or used Prius (2008 or older). Your biggest difficulty if you want to buy new will likely be finding a US dealership that will sell to you. Your US citizenship could be useful if you still have an address in the US.

You can't get the Federal rebate and it looks like the Quebec one is only on new which may or may not help you (you'll have to call the Quebec government to find out if they consider an imported car a new car).

[fastcat7]

Wow, according to your link (section 87.11xxx), it looks like you are right! Can anyone who imported a motorcycle confirm?

Brought in two dirt bikes in the last year. Only need a receipt from the seller for the border. Pay GST PST on the amount on the receipt. NO Duty. No RIV. No Ownership necessary.

There you go.

PS If you have been away as you say and you have your personal exemptions equal your bike cost or more, you won't pay any tax at all.

[krazykanuck]

Just successfully imported my 2007 Trailblazer SS. I had been looking into doing it for a while but with the lease coming up on one of our cars it was time to make the buy.

Picked it up in Maryland, paid 27,600CDN. Roughly a 14K saving over getting one here..

[dunone]

Way to go. I just pickup my new Ridgeline out of Oregon today. Had a great drive home. No warranty but the savings sure makes up for it.

Thanks to all those on this site that shared their experiences & information.

[Sloan55]

Be sure to run through the ratings of a few auto carriers at Transport Reviews. (http://www.transportreviews.com/)

Most complaints seem to arise from customers expecting on-time delivery. Auto transporters don't run a scheduled service like Greyhound. They go your way when they get a load. That makes it difficult to meet a carrier with your car at the border to collect the keys and check for damage.

Try Oakwood Transport, I know they make regular runs down there, they are based out of Ingersoll, ON. 800-265-4008 ext 235 for Brad or 234 for Brian. They can drop it off at the border or bring it right into Toronto for you.

[agiga]

Just put down a deposit for a 2008 RAV4 limited V6 w/leather, sunroof, and dvd entertainment system. Less than 100 miles on it for $26,195!!! This car goes for $42,000 up here. After import and taxes I'm looking at just over $30,000.

[inspire]

Just imported a 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe (6-speed manual) from a greater Detroit area dealership. Very good to work with ... easy process. PM me if you want to know the dealership I spoke to.

Here are pics of the car when I picked it up on Saturday (it was rainy here in Detroit / southwestern Ontario).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_4.jpg

Now ... have to finish up the RIV process. I can't believe it now takes 48-72hours! It used to be so much faster back in Dec 2007 when I bought my wife's TSX.

Thanks RDF (and the OP)!

[jnmontario]

I picked up a 2007 Prius in the late winter. The 2008 fleets will likely be coming up soon but you'll have to look carefully every day to see when they appear in order to nab them. I got mine for $21.5 (pkg. 3) at driversvillage.com They'll likely get you to talk to John Zavitz (he's the one that mainly deals with Canadian exports). It's remarkably easy. They won't sell new, but a fleet vehicle (like mine was 2000 mi.) is no problem and they're all to happy to sell that to you (Toyota Certified if you argue enough). I too have dual citizenship, thus my American passport etc... but it wasn't any use unless I had a US address that had bills going to it etc... You will miss the gov't eco-rebate but your provincial gov't will hand you back your QST upon plating a hybrid vehicle. Linky (http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/particulier/taxes/remboursement/remb_part_tvq_vehicule_hybride.asp)

I wouldn't bother with the import service. It's honestly pretty easy.

Looking to get a Toyota Prius. $21k in US and $30k here !

I live in Quebec near Ottawa, Ontario.

I guess 2008 model can't be imported though ? Perhaps I can find a used 2007 ? I want to keep this simple and safe so perhaps I could buy a "Toyota certified" car from a Toyota dealer ?

I think I've read that Toyota Canada honors warranty on US bought cars ?

I'm an American (born) citizen if there's any loopholes for me. Lived in Canada most of my life and also have Canadian citizenship too (but can keep quiet about that if it helps. ;)

I guess I can't get the Federal $2k rebate if I buy in US. And Quebec $2k rebate only covers new cars I think.

If anyone can clarify these issues, please post. If you run an importing service or can refer me to one, please do. I can pay cash...

Thanks!
Mike.

[michelb]

Just put down a deposit for a 2008 RAV4 limited V6 w/leather, sunroof, and dvd entertainment system. Less than 100 miles on it for $26,195!!! This car goes for $42,000 up here. After import and taxes I'm looking at just over $30,000.

That looks like an excellent deal but I think you might have forgotten about the duty so you're probably looking more at $32k not $30k ($26200*1.061= $27,8k * 1.13 = $31,5k + $300 RIV/AC = $32k + whatever possible shipping/expenses)

[hiremichaelreid]

I too have dual citizenship, thus my American passport etc... but it wasn't any use unless I had a US address that had bills going to it etc... You will miss the gov't eco-rebate but your provincial gov't will hand you back your QST upon plating a hybrid vehicle. Linky (http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/particulier/taxes/remboursement/remb_part_tvq_vehicule_hybride.asp)

I wouldn't bother with the import service. It's honestly pretty easy.

OK, thanks much!

Yes, everyone says "Americans", but they really mean "American residents". I guess since I'm American I can go there anytime, perhaps rent a place for 1 day and say I'm an American resident now. (Or perhaps longer?)

Yes, I had a response from an importer, and between paying US MSRP for a "package 2" and losing the "new car" status for the Quebec rebate and paying 6.1% Japan duty and 2+2% or so exchange and all the other fees, I figure I might save $800 for all the hassle. Not worth it, IMO.

If I can find a cheaper model and get $1k off MSRP, perhaps I could save $3k or so and it might be worth it. Anyway, I'll see what the APA can do for me.

[Toyota_Star]

Hi All,
My friend have bought a Car for me from Virginia and registered and titled in his name. Now he is going to sell to me and planning to bring it to Toronto.

I know, I need to have a Bill of sale, Title changed to my name, then it need to be send it over to the US border 72 Hrs prior to border crossing date.

1. Once he is sell to me, how do I bring to Toronto, since I dont have Temp Title permit and licence in my name. Virginia to Toronto drive, it has to cross 3 US states VA,PA,NY, so I need to have temp permit to travel all these states? how do I get these permits? Can I get these online?

2. Is it ok, if my friend drive the Car border with new Title in his name, just before crossing and once he reach there, I will go to the border, the he change the name to my name and I will show the Bill of sale and Title in my name. In this case, do I need to have NY permit to just to cross the border?

3. Does it required to have another Ontario temp permit to travel from border to Toronto, apart from the binder insurance?

Is this going to be complicated? Your input is really appreciated.


Thanks
Toyota_Star

Anybody have any thought on this .. Pls provide your input and it would be very helpful.

[jnmontario]

I posted this earlier but if you only think that it'll only be a few hundred... Since then I found out that I'd get my PST back which means I'll save that (~$1200)

2007 Prius package #3 in Canada - as near as I can tell from autotrader the average is about $29000+tax

For me - 2007 Prius #3 in USA - $21500 + $1311.50 [import fee of 6.1% (unavoidable) but after exchange was more like 6%] =~ $22811.50. The dashboard switch from mph->km/h involves a button-push and the DRL involves a dab of hot-glue to keep the lights 'auto-on' - I won't include the price of the hot glue in the calculation. That said, I had to take a special trip to Syracuse in my car which prolly adds up to $20 in gas. Add to that the RIV fee of $195

Total price of vehicle incl. all fees etc... = $23026

Total savings for me. $5974

OK, thanks much!

Yes, everyone says "Americans", but they really mean "American residents". I guess since I'm American I can go there anytime, perhaps rent a place for 1 day and say I'm an American resident now. (Or perhaps longer?)

Yes, I had a response from an importer, and between paying US MSRP for a "package 2" and losing the "new car" status for the Quebec rebate and paying 6.1% Japan duty and 2+2% or so exchange and all the other fees, I figure I might save $800 for all the hassle. Not worth it, IMO.

If I can find a cheaper model and get $1k off MSRP, perhaps I could save $3k or so and it might be worth it. Anyway, I'll see what the APA can do for me.

[bulgurc]

I posted this earlier but if you only think that it'll only be a few hundred... Since then I found out that I'd get my PST back which means I'll save that (~$1200)
How would you get PST back?

[michelb]

How would you get PST back?

In Ontario, the rebate on the provincial tax for hybrids applies to new or used.

[chene]

In Ontario, the rebate on the provincial tax for hybrids applies to new or used.

yes, but that's not PST. Rebate is $2000 anyways, and he got $1200 back.

[michelb]

yes, but that's not PST. Rebate is $2000 anyways, and he got $1200 back.

Good point - missed that ...

[hiremichaelreid]

yes, but that's not PST. Rebate is $2000 anyways, and he got $1200 back.

What does "$1200 back" mean ? I keep noticing mention that the Federal rebate is taxable; True ? Just like regular income ? So perhaps I should register the car in my wife's name if her income is lower than mine...

I've noted that the Federal rebate requires the car be new and bought from a Canadian dealer. I wonder if a Canadian broker can be regarded as a "Canadian dealer".

In Quebec it must be a new vehicle "brought into Quebec". I didn't see any definition of new, but wonder if they follow the Federal policy of allowing dealer demos to be classified as new.

[Rossland]

Hi All,
My friend have bought a Car for me from Virginia and registered and titled in his name. Now he is going to sell to me and planning to bring it to Toronto.

I know, I need to have a Bill of sale, Title changed to my name, then it need to be send it over to the US border 72 Hrs prior to border crossing date.

1. Once he is sell to me, how do I bring to Toronto, since I dont have Temp Title permit and licence in my name. Virginia to Toronto drive, it has to cross 3 US states VA,PA,NY, so I need to have temp permit to travel all these states? how do I get these permits? Can I get these online?

2. Is it ok, if my friend drive the Car border with new Title in his name, just before crossing and once he reach there, I will go to the border, the he change the name to my name and I will show the Bill of sale and Title in my name. In this case, do I need to have NY permit to just to cross the border?

3. Does it required to have another Ontario temp permit to travel from border to Toronto, apart from the binder insurance?

Is this going to be complicated? Your input is really appreciated.


Thanks
Toyota_Star

You only need a temp permit from one state (probably the one where you bought the car). There is a reciprocal agreement among states and provinces to honour each others licenses. Last Oct. I bought a car in NY, put a NY trip permit on it, and drove it home and around Ontario for 10 days until I got it registered here.

[Toyota_Star]

You only need a temp permit from one state (probably the one where you bought the car). There is a reciprocal agreement among states and provinces to honour each others licenses. Last Oct. I bought a car in NY, put a NY trip permit on it, and drove it home and around Ontario for 10 days until I got it registered here.

Thanks Rossland.

I am planning to drive from Virgiania and on the way to Ontario there is 3 states to cover, like PA and NY. Is it okay to travel just with VA temp permit from VA to Canada border?

Thanks
Toyota_Star

[davehender]

We're lazy? It wouldn't have anything to do with corruption between the automakers & government officials would it? Average Canadians are intimidated by automakers' threats & government agencies that continue making it harder to import big-ticket items, such as reasonably priced vehicles, than it needs to be. Prices have changed since December of last year but, surprise surprise, it's still almost as expensive to buy the vehicles I've been looking at as it was last year!

This article, especially considering its source, is a case in point that big-ticket manufacturers such as automakers, and the government agencies that are supposed to regulate them, are so effectively 'ripping off' Canadians that inflation looms as a result. Higher inflation means we all pay more for our necessities, including our mortgages, even if we never purchase a vehicle of our own. I don't know about you but when an arguably major contributor to this is nothing more than government-sanctioned corporate greed it makes my blood boil :mad:.


http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080505.wboc0505/BNStory/Business/home



Shop around, BoC deputy advises consumers

KEVIN CARMICHAEL

Globe and Mail Update

May 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM EDT

OTTAWA — Canadians haven't fully realized the potential benefits of a higher dollar, and might be able to lower prices for more goods if they shopped a little harder, Bank of Canada deputy governor John Murray said Monday.

Theoretically, the dollar's surge to parity against its U.S. counterpart should have lowered the price of goods in Canada against the same products south of the border.

That has happened for commodities, which tend to be sold in a global market priced in U.S. dollars. Prices for manufactured goods, however, have remained sticky – aside from a couple of notable exceptions.

“What we are seeing is specific to autos and books,” Mr. Murray said while taking questions after a lecture at an economics conference hosted by Statistics Canada.

Pricing is a crucial issue for the central bank because policy makers raise and lower interest rates to keep inflation advancing at a pace of about 2 per cent a year. The dollar's 60 per cent surge since 2002 has sparked economists at the Bank of Canada – including Mr. Murray – to study the “pass-through” effects of changes in exchange rates to consumer prices.

The reason the prices of so few manufactured goods have fallen relative to U.S. goods might relate to “laziness” on the part of consumers, Mr. Murray said.

When the loonie reached parity with the U.S. dollar, Canadians rushed south of the border to buy cheaper cars and trucks, forcing General Motors Co. and the other automakers to lower their Canadian prices.

Similarly, publishers made it easy for consumers to see they weren't benefiting from a higher currency because the gap between Canadian and U.S. prices was printed on each book, Mr. Murray said.

Mr. Murray called it a “recognition effect.”

With the Canadian and U.S. currencies at par, it's easy to recognize that the same Ford Motor Co. pickup can be had for less in Michigan than Ontario or that something is askew when a book's U.S. price is 50 per cent cheaper than the Canadian price.

But when the difference is less obvious, the consumer outcry is muted, allowing producers and retailers to leave prices unchanged, Mr. Murray said.

To this point, most Canadian consumers appear to need a “high-ticket item to spend time cross-border shopping,” Mr. Murray said.

[dealcatcher]

Just imported a 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe (6-speed manual) from a greater Detroit area dealership. Very good to work with ... easy process. PM me if you want to know the dealership I spoke to.

Here are pics of the car when I picked it up on Saturday (it was rainy here in Detroit / southwestern Ontario).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/ut0t1/g37/g37_4.jpg

Now ... have to finish up the RIV process. I can't believe it now takes 48-72hours! It used to be so much faster back in Dec 2007 when I bought my wife's TSX.

Thanks RDF (and the OP)!

real nice car! How much did you paid for it?

[Rossland]

Thanks Rossland.

I am planning to drive from Virgiania and on the way to Ontario there is 3 states to cover, like PA and NY. Is it okay to travel just with VA temp permit from VA to Canada border?

Thanks
Toyota_Star

Yes, and you can drive around Ontario too while you get the checks and process the paperwork. But make sure that your insurance company knows what you are doing. My Ontario insurance would only cover me for 1 week with the NY trip permit. If I had gone over that I would have had to get an On. temp permit just to make the insurance company happy.

[salsa77]

real nice car! How much did you paid for it?

I am also curious how much you saved. I have been thinking about trying a G35 out of Buffalo, and wondering if the savings are worth it?

[dunone]

While looking for my Ridgeline, I came across a Toyota dealer in Montana that may sell to Canadians. If you wish the name PM me.

[HP_John]

I am also curious how much you saved. I have been thinking about trying a G35 out of Buffalo, and wondering if the savings are worth it?

If you get a G35, don't get it in Buffalo. You won't save real $ in Buffalo, where Infiniti dealers are gouging Cdns because they know that's where most GTA Cdns go to shop for a Infiniti. Dealers farther away from the border offer much better savings.

The savings aren't that much now. I know the Cdn $ is less than par now, but let's assume par for a easy comparison.

Cdn G37 base (inc premium & cargo net)
$49 K inc Freight/PDE
- $3 K discount & $4.5 K rebate
= $41.5 K + tax

US G37 Journey w/ premium & cargo net
$39,225 inc destination & handling
- $3.8 K discount
= $35,425 K + duty & tax
= $37,585 + miscellaneous fees & tax
= $38,025 ($50 wire, $205 riv, $185 drl) + tax

If you assume getting $.98 US for $1 Cdn (which is what you'd get now once you exchange your $), then the savings are less.

$3 K discount is what you can get from a Cdn dealer on a G37 base currently, before rebate.

I assumed a bigger US discount, you won't get that much off in Buffalo for those options. To get $500 below invoice in the US (which is the price I used for the US cost), you buy from a dealer far from the border. Either you have to do a lot of driving or ship it (shipping can be as little as $1100, or more typically, $15-1600 in an enclosed trailer).

You'll save more paying for shipping than buying it in Buffalo without shipping.

[trenton1776]

The skeptic in me says something is wrong, but compare these prices:

Canadian Dodge site:
http://www.dodge.ca/en/grand_caravan/

US Dodge site:
http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/ModelSelector.jsp

This article http://www.financialpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=483797 does say they're lowering prices in Canada, but lower than the US, who knew?

[casperr]

Wow thats a great price. I just wish Dodge has good SUVs, they dont have good looking sedans either.

Hope the rest will drop their prices down too

[michelb]

The skeptic in me says something is wrong, but compare these prices:

Canadian Dodge site:
http://www.dodge.ca/en/grand_caravan/

US Dodge site:
http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/ModelSelector.jsp

This article http://www.financialpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=483797 does say they're lowering prices in Canada, but lower than the US, who knew?

Interestingly enough, the Dodge/Chrysler minivans are one of the few vehicles that are usually cheaper in Canada than in the US (usually because they often have better discounts on them in Canada than in the US). Add the fact that Dodge/Chrysler won't warranty US vehicles in Canada (I think) and it really doesn't make sense to get one in the US.

[sk1nnywallet]

Time to start a new thread?
Can't possibly read the whole thing

[sienna owner]

Time to start a new thread?
Can't possibly read the whole thing

then every post would just refer back to this one...lol

[inspire]

If you get a G35, don't get it in Buffalo. You won't save real $ in Buffalo, where Infiniti dealers are gouging Cdns because they know that's where most GTA Cdns go to shop for a Infiniti. Dealers farther away from the border offer much better savings.

The savings aren't that much now. I know the Cdn $ is less than par now, but let's assume par for a easy comparison.

Cdn G37 base (inc premium & cargo net)
$49 K inc Freight/PDE
- $3 K discount & $4.5 K rebate
= $41.5 K + tax

US G37 Journey w/ premium & cargo net
$39,225 inc destination & handling
- $3.8 K discount
= $35,425 K + duty & tax
= $37,585 + miscellaneous fees & tax
= $38,025 ($50 wire, $205 riv, $185 drl) + tax
I'd like to challenge some of the numbers here ...

What Canadian dealership will sell a G37 for a $3k discount??? They know you're gonna get $4.5k from corporate ... why are they gonna eat their margin? I agree, they will not sell it for MSRP but $3k is far too generous a discount at the dealership level.

What you will save on a G37 is a little more than the calculation provided above. I can attest to this based upon my experience.

[jmlleung]

My friend has imported a Sienna but somehow he wrote the wrong VIN # on Form 1. Has anyone experience that before? What is the best, easiest, and proper way to correct it? Thanks.

[Sloan55]

Have to take it back to CDN Customs and have them do up a new form 1 or do an ammendment on the current one.

[nefsu]

I'm going to NY to pick up a Mercedes-Benz ML350. Thanks to all of you here, I did all my homework and everything is a go. My only question is Can I pay GST using Credit card? My firend said they only take Interac. I'm using Queenston/Lewiston crossing.
Thanks again!!

[sienna owner]

I'm going to NY to pick up a Mercedes-Benz ML350. Thanks to all of you here, I did all my homework and everything is a go. My only question is Can I pay GST using Credit card? My firend said they only take Interac. I'm using Queenston/Lewiston crossing.
Thanks again!!

I used my Visa at the Detroit/Windsor crossing..i believe you can..but if you don't get a response...best to call them before you leave