Importing a car from the USA
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 9
From: Kamurocho
Importing a car from the USA
Hello all,
I thought I would write up this quick guide for anyone else thinking about importing a car. It reflects the steps I did, from buying to plating in Ontario.
- Find your car (most likely on the internet) I used: Autotempest
- Call the seller (in my case a dealer) and ask questions and request photos/videos
- If you think it is the one, put a deposit over the phone by credit card. Make sure it is fully refundable.
- See if at this point, they will fax or email (email is better) a copy of the title to US customs this saves you time because you need to wait 72 hours (some say weekends count, some dont) before you can get your car across. If they wont fax it before you pay in full move to next step.
- Go to see the car in person with payment ready. (I waited 72 hours before going to see it) If its up to your standards buy, if not, get your deposit back. If you decide to buy, call you insurance and get the car on your policy. Ask for a fax or email with your new slip.
- BUY CAR! Show you insurance slip and make sure you have all documents. Bill of sale, Original title, lien release, and MAKE SURE they give you a IN TRANSIT PERMIT so you can drive in the state you are in.
- If you didnt already get them to fax or email your documents to the border (in my case Lewiston Bridge) get them to do that now. Your 72 hours start from the time of receiving confirmation that they got it at the border.
Include:
- Original title
- Bill of sale
- Lien release (optional but worth sending)
- If your 72 hours are up at this point, and you payed for the car and are done at the dealership DRIVE TO THE BORDER! If not, wait your 72 hours then drive.
- *IMPORTANT!!!* Make SURE to visit US CUSTOMS BEFORE you cross to Canada. You NEED to stamp your title and let them inspect your car. You can be in massive trouble if you fail to do this including fines and impounds if they find enough reason. (The Customs office is just left at the start of Lewiston Bridge, US side, in my case)
Make sure you bring:
- Original title
- Bill of sale
- lien release
- recall info (they didnt ask me lol, it can be found on a printout from Honda.com)
- ID
- Cross the border and go to Canadian Customs.
- Inside show them your documents. You will pay duty (if applicable) GST and some small fees like air con tax. You will get form 1.
- Drive home!
- Get on the internet and go to www.riv.ca and pay your RIV fee (credit card). They will email you a form which you print out.
- Print out form and take it to Canadian tire for the RIV inspection. Its free (well not free, you payed it in the RIV fee) Biggest thing is the day running lights.
- Get your car safety certified and emission tested.
- Go to ministry of transport and show them Form 1 (you got at Canadian customs) your RIV inspection from Canadian tire, safety, emissions, original title, bill of sale, insurance and you license AND YOU ARE DONE after you pay the PST! Get your new ownership and plates and congrats!
In my case I saved a ton of cash and got the colour I wanted. Weigh your options and make sure importing is right for you!
If your seller was private is is almost the same, you just need to fax your own documents and get your own in transit permit.
Hope that helped. A few people were asking me questions so I thought I would make this.
USE THIS AS A GUIDE BUT OF COURSE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!
Enjoy! Please vote up (thumb up) this post if you found it helpful.
I thought I would write up this quick guide for anyone else thinking about importing a car. It reflects the steps I did, from buying to plating in Ontario.
- Find your car (most likely on the internet) I used: Autotempest
- Call the seller (in my case a dealer) and ask questions and request photos/videos
- If you think it is the one, put a deposit over the phone by credit card. Make sure it is fully refundable.
- See if at this point, they will fax or email (email is better) a copy of the title to US customs this saves you time because you need to wait 72 hours (some say weekends count, some dont) before you can get your car across. If they wont fax it before you pay in full move to next step.
- Go to see the car in person with payment ready. (I waited 72 hours before going to see it) If its up to your standards buy, if not, get your deposit back. If you decide to buy, call you insurance and get the car on your policy. Ask for a fax or email with your new slip.
- BUY CAR! Show you insurance slip and make sure you have all documents. Bill of sale, Original title, lien release, and MAKE SURE they give you a IN TRANSIT PERMIT so you can drive in the state you are in.
- If you didnt already get them to fax or email your documents to the border (in my case Lewiston Bridge) get them to do that now. Your 72 hours start from the time of receiving confirmation that they got it at the border.
Include:
- Original title
- Bill of sale
- Lien release (optional but worth sending)
- If your 72 hours are up at this point, and you payed for the car and are done at the dealership DRIVE TO THE BORDER! If not, wait your 72 hours then drive.
- *IMPORTANT!!!* Make SURE to visit US CUSTOMS BEFORE you cross to Canada. You NEED to stamp your title and let them inspect your car. You can be in massive trouble if you fail to do this including fines and impounds if they find enough reason. (The Customs office is just left at the start of Lewiston Bridge, US side, in my case)
Make sure you bring:
- Original title
- Bill of sale
- lien release
- recall info (they didnt ask me lol, it can be found on a printout from Honda.com)
- ID
- Cross the border and go to Canadian Customs.
- Inside show them your documents. You will pay duty (if applicable) GST and some small fees like air con tax. You will get form 1.
- Drive home!
- Get on the internet and go to www.riv.ca and pay your RIV fee (credit card). They will email you a form which you print out.
- Print out form and take it to Canadian tire for the RIV inspection. Its free (well not free, you payed it in the RIV fee) Biggest thing is the day running lights.
- Get your car safety certified and emission tested.
- Go to ministry of transport and show them Form 1 (you got at Canadian customs) your RIV inspection from Canadian tire, safety, emissions, original title, bill of sale, insurance and you license AND YOU ARE DONE after you pay the PST! Get your new ownership and plates and congrats!
In my case I saved a ton of cash and got the colour I wanted. Weigh your options and make sure importing is right for you!
If your seller was private is is almost the same, you just need to fax your own documents and get your own in transit permit.
Hope that helped. A few people were asking me questions so I thought I would make this.
USE THIS AS A GUIDE BUT OF COURSE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!
Enjoy! Please vote up (thumb up) this post if you found it helpful.
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 29,900
Likes: 5,437
From: Ontario Canada
My car came into Canada from the US. It was sold 3 times and it never had functioning daytime running lights until I decided to get them on after I purchased it. If you bring in an older S2K from the US keep this in mind as you are required to have DRL's, though it seems many people have gotten around that.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Originally Posted by JFUSION,Jan 19 2011, 11:59 AM
If anyone needs daytime running lights I've got a relay that works to use the HID's as DRL's 24/7, simple 30 minute install, made for me by a Honda tech at my dealership. It's about the size of a cigarette lighter.
My car came into Canada from the US. It was sold 3 times and it never had functioning daytime running lights until I decided to get them on after I purchased it. If you bring in an older S2K from the US keep this in mind as you are required to have DRL's, though it seems many people have gotten around that.
My car came into Canada from the US. It was sold 3 times and it never had functioning daytime running lights until I decided to get them on after I purchased it. If you bring in an older S2K from the US keep this in mind as you are required to have DRL's, though it seems many people have gotten around that.
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- recall info (they didnt ask me lol, it can be found on a printout from Honda.com)
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Joined: Jul 2007
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I like that autoTempest website didnt know about that one thanks!
Be prepared to face some men with small balls and large Egos when dealing with the American border patrol exporting your car. I've done this more times than I can count and every time they treat you like a criminal! Every time they seem to make you get out of your car and have to flex their muscles before stamping and clearing your title...
Be prepared to face some men with small balls and large Egos when dealing with the American border patrol exporting your car. I've done this more times than I can count and every time they treat you like a criminal! Every time they seem to make you get out of your car and have to flex their muscles before stamping and clearing your title...
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 9
From: Kamurocho
Originally Posted by o'malley_808,Jan 24 2011, 08:17 PM
every time they treat you like a criminal!
Not only at customs, but going into the US the border guard didn't like when I answered "yep" he wanted a clear "yes"... lol.
I kept saying yep though =P
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Toronto
Originally Posted by racer484,Jan 24 2011, 04:04 PM
I recently imported a s2000 as well. My experience was that the recall clearance letter was extremely hard to get and a very important RIV requirement. It wasn't as easy as a website printout. I think you got lucky by not needing it.
