Importing used USA-Honda to Canada

[unym]

I was planning on importing a used USA-Honda to Canada (probably a CRV or Pilot). I have read all over that warranty is not transferable. I called Honda Motors USA to verify if there is any way one can transfer the warranty, if there are special circumstances, etc...

They confirmed what was mentioned just about everywhere - NO warranty if a Canadian imports a USA-Honda vehicle. If you are a US-citizen, bought it in USA and bring the car to Canada for personal use (eg. you get job transfer) then they will let you keep the warranty. They need various items as proof (eg. USA driver license, your USA registration, your USA insurance papers....). Then they will issue your recall letter and transfer of your warranty.

BUT, what surprised me most is if you don't have all the "proof" items they need, apparently they will not even give you the recall letter (which is mandatory to import car here). Said they do not want to "encourage" exports of USA-Honda cars to Canada.

Q?: to those who have imported Hondas: how do you get (or how did you get) your Honda recall letter ?

Wondering if this is new policy to really clamp-down on exports of USA-Honda cars to Canada....

[DrXenon]

I haven't imported a Honda but I've read in the Giant Thread that RIV no longer requires a recall letter - they have an online means of checking the recall status of Hondas/Acuras.

Maybe give RIV a call and let us know what they tell you.

[unym]

I did go to the RIV page www.riv.ca/english/html/recall_clearance.html, at bottom there is 'recall clearance' contact link which takes you to a 16-page pdf file.... which contains contact info for each vendor.

There is a web site for Honda. It says it is an "Owner Link" where you can register, etc... But if I am not a Honda owner, not sure this will work.

Has anyone used this ? Have any Honda car-importers used this actual page to get recall letter?

I don't want to find out after I buy the car that I cannot get my recall letter from this website and that Honda-USA will not give me one either !

[mikeroyal]

:cheesygri Yes the Honda owner Link will wok make shore you have the correct vin and riv will except this no problem. I have personally imported a Pilot and an MDX getting the re call letters this way.

[DrXenon]

Here's the post I saw in the Giant Thread:

Recall clearance letter not required for Honda and Acura any more?
I phoned Riv tow days ago about the status of my form1 and sending them the recall letter for my Acura and I was told recall clearance letter is not required any more for Honda (including Acura). Apparently they can get this from the Honda Web site.

Indeed I got my form2 yesterday without sending them the recall letter. On form2 it says recall documentation has been verified.


May or may not be correct; call RIV and let us know.

[unym]

OK... Thanks for the replies. I will have to try it with a VIN# that I found for a car for-sale and see if it works on the website. I'll have to try and call RIV also - I would be surprised if they did not want the letter with all the paperwork. Normally these guys are so lazy that if you forget to fill one box on a form (even if so obvious), they'll send it back. Imgaine them having to actually look up a form/letter for you !!

MikeRoyal - how do you get cars at wholesale in USA? Where did you get your Pilot & MDX ?

[mikeroyal]

OK... Thanks for the replies. I will have to try it with a VIN# that I found for a car for-sale and see if it works on the website. I'll have to try and call RIV also - I would be surprised if they did not want the letter with all the paperwork. Normally these guys are so lazy that if you forget to fill one box on a form (even if so obvious), they'll send it back. Imgaine them having to actually look up a form/letter for you !!

MikeRoyal - how do you get cars at wholesale in USA? Where did you get your Pilot & MDX ?


Both my Pilot and MDX which are both sold were obtained at a Phoenix car auction.
I am just about to Start a business as a Canadian car dealer, which do have access to US car Auctions (including Hondas own auction which they sell there lease back vehicles and company demonstrators). Previous to being a registered car dealer I made a few contacts with US dealers that had access to car auctions.
We can import your next used car for you at Auction prices + 20% + Riv transportation costs etc. Still usually cheaper than you could by a vehicle from a US dealer who’s mark up is usually 20/30 % some charge more than this.
All we ask for is a approximate 20% deposit then the remainder when vehicle is collected or delivered the deposit can be paid by credit card.
PM me your e-mail address and I will contact you when our web sites are up and running and we are in business.
We will also stock 30 to 40 vehicles at our showroom for immediate purchase these are priced at US auction prices plus costs plus 30 %.

As far as a recall letter you normally for Hondas do have to print the screen shot of the owners page and e-mail of fax it to Riv. You do not have to be the owner to register on their site so you can check all re calls have been completed before you proceed with purchase.
Regards Mike

[Drew_W]

:cheesygri Yes the Honda owner Link will wok make shore you have the correct vin and riv will except this no problem. I have personally imported a Pilot and an MDX getting the re call letters this way.

If you're going to run a business, like in your signature, you might want to learn a little something we call proper SPELLING and GRAMMAR. Both this post and your signature are ATROCIOUS.

[unym]

Update: I did go to the Honda owner web site. Created user-id. Once you are "in" you can go to the 'Recalls' page and enter a VIN. It then displays a web-page saying "There are no current safety recalls ...". Great.

Problem is on the page where you get the "no current safety recalls" msg, the VIN# is not indicated !!

You can't just print/fax this page since the VIN# does not show... and nowhere on this site can you see both the VIN# and recall information. You can see them in separate pages, but not together. Which is pretty useless. So you cannot validate your specific VIN# and confirm it has no recalls. I'm sure this won't fly with RIV if I try to fax them this info.

Anyone been able to print the VIN & no-recall on same page ?