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Importing Vehicles
--Into
the US
--Into
Canada
More Border Info
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A Provocative Description of the Pacific Northwest |
Border Crossing
Importing Vehicles
Disclaimer:
This information is provided as a service to our visitors and no
guarantee is made as to its completeness or correctness. All
information should be independently verified with the relevant authorities.
Importing Vehicles into the USA
Vehicles
imported from Canada must meet specific requirements before they can
be brought into the United States. Passenger cars, trucks, trailers,
buses, multipurpose vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles and motorized
bicycles that are less than 25 years old must be intended for
personal use and not for resale. The Vehicle must meet US emission,
bumper and safety standards. Vehicles manufactured after 1978 must
also conform to current bumper standards and vehicles manufactured
after 1986 must meet theft prevention requirements.
If a vehicle
meets these requirements it will usually have a label attached to,
or near, the driver's side door. Vehicles that do not have this
certifying label may have to be imported as a non-conforming
vehicle. Non-conforming vehicles can sometimes be modified to
meet Environmental Protection Agency and
Department of
Transportation requirements, although the process can be complicated
and expensive. A DOT-authorized registered importer can provide more
information.
There may also
be other requirements to meet depending upon your personal
situation, i.e., whether you are a US resident returning with a
foreign-made car, US military, a Canadian citizen moving to the US.
The length of stay (and the length of stay for your vehicle) may
also determine the requirements for importation.
Import duty
depends upon the kind of vehicle being imported. Other tariffs
include the "gas guzzler tax," which is assessed on many vehicles
that get less than 21 miles to the gallon.
Importing
Vehicles into Canada
Importing a
vehicle into British Columbia has become easier in recent years,
although it is still a multi-step process. Imported vehicles must
have been manufactured to Canadian and US standards and must conform
to
Transport Canada's list of accepted vehicles. The list includes a
wide range of passenger cars, vans, jeeps and other vehicles that
are less than 15 years old, and buses manufactured after 1970.
Upon arriving at
the border, the vehicle owner must fill out the Vehicle Import Form
and furnish a copy of the title, registration and sales receipt. The
customs official will then verify that the vehicle is listed on the
inventory of vehicles admissible from the United States and check
the VIN number and manufacture's statement of compliance.
Registered fees
include an import fee and the Goods and Sales Tax (GST). These fees
must either be paid by credit card or mailed to the
Canada Border
Services Agency (customs officials cannot accept cash or checks).
The importer has 45 days to satisfy payment of these fees. CBSA will
hold checks for 10 days for clearance, so vehicle owners are best to
pay with a credit card and avoid the hassle of mailing a check.
Important:
The payment of these fees does not guarantee that the vehicle will
not need some modification in order to conform government standards
- it only acknowledges that your vehicle model is on the list of
accepted vehicles for importation. Changes may still be required
to meet federal and provincial standards. The vehicle owner has 45
days to satisfy this. Once this has been some and the vehicle has
received a final inspection by
Transport
Canada, certification will be issued.
Vehicle owners also
should be aware that import regulations and fees vary from province
to province. Check with
Transport
Canada if the vehicle will be imported through any other
province than British Columbia.
More Information
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
telephone numbers for customer service:
-
Local: 202-354-1000
- Toll-free
(from US): 1-877-227-5511.
The above information is presented to
assist you in your travels. For additional information, please
visit either of the following web sites:
Canada
Border Services Agency (CBSA)
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
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