| Simply put if you wish to import a car into | | | | restriction in regards to your vehicle and |
| Canada without a professional auto import | | | | that any modifications noted and insisted on |
| broker's help then you are going to have to | | | | in the column can be completed as well as |
| follow Riv's ( Canadian Registrar of Foreign | | | | accomplished within a cost factor within your |
| Motor Vehicle's ) as well as your local | | | | choice and budget. |
| provincial or territory rules. Simple as | | | | |
| that. | | | | Assuming that you have accomplished all the |
| | | | above. Before your vehicle can leave the |
| It is a misconception that almost all cars in | | | | United Sates it must be cleared for export by |
| the United States can be imported easily into | | | | U.S. Customs. Fax the bill of sale, title and |
| Canada. You may have seen terrible news | | | | relevant documents to the appropriate U.S. |
| reports of angry and mystified car buyers | | | | Customs office at least 72 hours prior to |
| held back at the Canadian border with a car | | | | your arrival at U.S. / Canadian Border. |
| that they cannot bring in or import into | | | | |
| Canada. The key is to do your homework. Check | | | | Your next process will be to clear Canadian |
| the rules. Recheck. If in doubt it never | | | | authorities. Again if you have prepared the |
| hurts to be on the safe side and check once | | | | proper documentation - Bill of Sale , title , |
| again - perhaps by email so there is written | | | | clearance letter from the U.S. Customs office |
| documentation. Otherwise you may in a | | | | and a recall clearance letter on official |
| position like those poor people on Canadian | | | | letterhead from the dealer or manufacturer of |
| TV news. Intending to save money on a new or | | | | the vehicle stating that all recalls have |
| used car purchase, but with a car stuck on | | | | been performed on the vehicle. You will be |
| the American side of the border. No car | | | | asked to pay approx $ 300 Riv fees at that |
| imported in Canada. No cash. | | | | time, GST (General Sales Tax) on the price of |
| | | | the vehicle. If your vehicle was manufactured |
| Guess they will have to sell the car to a | | | | in the NAFTA (North America Free Trade) areas |
| willing American buyer - perhaps for ease of | | | | of the United States, Canada or Mexico you |
| sale sold on eBay. Again the key is to do | | | | will not pay additional import duties and |
| your homework thoroughly. | | | | taxes on the vehicle, which are generally |
| | | | about 6 %. Depending on your geography and |
| If your vehicle that you plan to import into | | | | jurisdiction you may or may not have to pay |
| Canada is less than 15 years of age you will | | | | provincial sales tax at the time point or |
| have to find out if it qualifies for | | | | later when the car is registered and |
| importation under Transport Canada's | | | | licensed. Lastly if your car has air |
| Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program. | | | | conditioning installed you will be asked to |
| The RIV's program is set up to ensure that | | | | pay an excise fee of $ 100. |
| qualifying models imported into Canada are | | | | |
| modified , inspected and certified to meet | | | | You cross the border and you are almost home |
| Canadian standards, You can most easily | | | | free. Riv has appointed the national |
| visit the Riv site online at , | | | | automotive chain Canadian Tire to conduct the |
| | | | final inspection of your vehicle and perform |
| Phone a toll free number, email or snail | | | | any modifications required. The fee of |
| mail. | | | | inspection is included in the Riv fee at the |
| | | | border. Any modifications or work necessary |
| The key question to have answered on the Riv | | | | is at your expense. In the case of some |
| site or in direct communication with the | | | | luxury brands inspection, modification and |
| Registrar of Imported Vehicles that your car, | | | | certification can only be done at factory |
| truck or S.U.V. is admissible for importation | | | | authorized retailer. You can only be given |
| into Canada according to the gold standard - | | | | the essential recall clearance letter until |
| "Transport Canada's List of Vehicles | | | | this authorized dealership route is |
| Admissible from the United States. Next it is | | | | completed. |
| essential totally that your vehicle is NOT on | | | | |
| the Inadmissible List. This Transport Canada | | | | You are now cleared, almost at the successful |
| list is your bible for importation of your | | | | completion of importing your new car into |
| vehicle into Canada without a broker. Lastly | | | | Canada, without a broker. The final step is |
| ensure in the third column marked "notes" | | | | to register and license your new vehicle in |
| that there are no overriding further | | | | your local provincial or territorial area. |