Stolen from another board...
There seemed to be a little interest in my recent experience so I thought a new thread migh be appropriate.
1. Transport Canada website has a list of cars (and other stuff) that can be imported to Canada. This list will tell you which ones can't be imported also. It will also tell you what will have to be altered to meet Canadian standards. With that you can contact your local mechanic to get an idea of what the alterations will cost.
2. US Customs & Border Protection will have to be notified of your crossing at least 72 hours in advance. You will have to fax the crossing point of your choice. I faxed them the certificate of title, the bill of sale, my insurance information, and my ETA. They also want a contact name and phone number, if they have any questions (I used the sales rep I bought the car from).
You would be well advised to phone them a few minutes after you fax ( they lost my paperwork). Get the officers name and confirm that the fax went through clearly. CBP has a website that lays out their requirements. They don't mention the phone call
3. I sent my visa info to the dealer. With that as an act of faith, he sent me back a conditional bill of sale. I took the bill of sale to my insurance company and got insurance for the car. I faxed the insurance slip to the dealer along with my drivers licence information.
4. (Fly down, pick up car) Since the car was going out of state, the dealer gave me the original certificate of title, bill of sale and 21 day tags for the car. I don't know if I was supposed to get new ones for each state, but I was never stopped.
5. At the border, stop on the American side with your paperwork (and two photocopies of everything-including the fax). In theory they will find your paperwork immediately, inspect the vehicle, stamp the hell out of everything, pat you on the ass, and send you on your way with your original papers.
6. This puts you at the Canadian side. They will fill out the form for the MOT (your copy becomes a temporary registration form and allows you to use the US tags until it is provincially registered.) You will pay $182.00 for the form. You will also pay $100.00 excise (air-conditioning). Then you will pay GST (and PST if applicable). They a picky about how they are paid, but they like Visa.
7. They will send you a package in a few days that lays out where you can take the car for inspection. The inspection costs about $120.00 I am told. This is where I am at now (waiting for package) so I will fill in the rest after it happens.
No state tax because the car was being registered out of state. No US or Canadian export or import tax (God bless NAFTA). Just GST, PST, about $400.00 for paperwork and inspections, and the cost of any required alterations.
Hope this helps guys
