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Steps to Import a Vehicle into Canada

Depending on the year make and model of vehicle you wish to purchase, buying a vehicle in the United States and importing it into Canada can save a considerable amount of money, even after transportation and importation taxes and charges. With the relatively strong Canadian dollar, this option can be especially profitable.

There are a number of steps you need to take in order to import a vehicle into Canada.

  1. Make sure that the vehicle is admissible into Canada. To do that you can check Transport Canada's list of admissible vehicles. You should also make yourself aware of the modification requirements for the type of vehicle you've decided to purchase.
  2. Obtain a "Recall Clearance Letter" from the vehicle's OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) which states that there are no outstanding recalls on your purchased vehicle.
  3. Make sure the vehicle has a North American Safety Compliance sticker on it and verify that the VIN on the vehicle is the same as the VIN documented in the title and bill of sale.
  4. Advise US Customs of the export of vehicle from the US at least 72 hours before the vehicle leaves the country.
  5. Make arrangements with a reliable vehicle delivery service such as our Southbound Taxi Service which is made available through Life's a Trip. Request a quote from us.
  6. Present vehicle to US Customs before it crosses the border. You will need the original certificate of ownership plus two copies of this document. It is also suggested that you clean the undercarriage of your vehicle before bringing it to Customs. Once US Customs clears it for export, it will need to go through Canadian Customs.
  7. At Canada Customs you'll have to present the title document(s), the sales receipt, and registration. You will be given Canada Customs Form 1 which you will need to fill out (it simply includes basic information about the purchase of the vehicle as well as your personal information.
  8. You will be required to pay any applicable duties, excise taxes (for vehicles with air conditioning $100, or some low-mileage vehicles, the RIV fee ($195), as well as 5% GST. Payment can be made with any major credit card. You may also pay by check or money order but personal checks will be held for 10 days in order to allow them to clear, which will take up some of the 45 day period that you have to bring the vehicle into conformity with all the Canadian requirements.
  9. Once you have followed the steps listed above, the Registrar of Imported Vehicles will mail your vehicle's inspection form to you, which will tell you exactly what needs to be done to bring your vehicle into compliance.
  10. Canadian Tire will perform the RIV inspection at no-cost. They can perform certain modifications if you choose to have them do so.
  11. Once your vehicle passes this inspection, the inspection center (Canadian Tire for most people) will stamp the Form 1 that you filled out at the border.
  12. You will then have to submit this stamped Form 1 to the local Provincial Vehicle Licensing Authority Office (which is Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices.
 

Steps to Import a Vehicle into the United States from Canada

The paperwork required to import a vehicle into the US depends on who is importing the vehicle and for what purpose it is being imported. The following information is for non-commercial vehicles that are imported for personal use. As we offer a vehicle delivery service and are not a cutoms broker, we make no guarantees that the information found below is complete or up-to-date.

You must make prior arrangements with US Customs to have your vehicle processed at the border. There are a minimum of three forms that need to be filled out for customs, they are:

If this all seems a little too complicated, we recommend hiring a certified customs broker.

Contact Us

To request a quote, please use our Quote Request Form or call us toll free at (866) 519-0128 during regular business hours. If you have questions or would like additional information you can reach us by email.