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Message started by Jeff_Hagan on 03/31/8 at 14:44:28

Title: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by Jeff_Hagan on 03/31/8 at 14:44:28

I'm looking around for a car to buy. I've been thinking about getting one from the US, but I've received conflicting information from different sources. Is there anyone here who has actually imported a car from the US know if my understanding is correct?

Here's the situation as I gather it (keeping in mind that everything I've been looking at is older than the RIV's magic cutoff of 15 years old):

- US Customs needs 72 hours to process the paperwork for export.

- any car over 15 years old is exempt from the RIV program; no fees have to be paid to the RIV at all.

- anything with an A/C system is subject to a $100 air conditioning tax on import.

- the importer has to pay GST on the purchase price or car value when the car is imported.

- vehicles manufactured in the US and Canada can be imported from the US duty-free.

- regular costs (certification, Drive Clean, registration, PST on the sale) would be incurred when the car is registered, just like any Ontario car.

Is all that right? Are there any taxes/duties/fees, etc. that I've missed? I saw someone else mention a $200 "import tax" on another forum, but I can't find mention of it anywhere else; is this actually a real thing?

Also, anyone know what the duty rates are like for vehicles manufactured outside the US and Canada (Japan or Germany, for instance)?

Thanks,

Jeff

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by jgardhouse on 03/31/8 at 15:25:58

Paging Mr. Henderson!

If he doesn't show here, drop Mr. Omni an email.

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by big_Ian on 03/31/8 at 19:02:14

at 1000 islands it also needs to 72 hours during mon to fri ...weekends don't count now and they won't even handle them on sat sun

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by Jeff_Hagan on 03/31/8 at 22:49:40

Thanks, guys.

I heard that Earle's the guy to talk to - I drop him a line.

big_Ian wrote on 03/31/8 at 19:02:14:

at 1000 islands it also needs to 72 hours during mon to fri ...weekends don't count now and they won't even handle them on sat sun

Hmm... is it just Thousand Islands that's like that, or is Fort Erie the same?

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by racerboy000 on 04/01/8 at 12:16:17

big_Ian wrote on 03/31/8 at 19:02:14:

at 1000 islands it also needs to 72 hours during mon to fri ...weekends don't count now and they won't even handle them on sat sun

check riv.ca law has changed it now can be a faxed copy but still buiness days

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by cstorry on 04/02/8 at 11:50:05

Be careful. It is US customs that needs the original title 72 hours in advance - not RIV (or maybe in addition to RIV). You have to export the car from the US so must show it to US customs on the way out. AFAIK Canadian customs needs the US customs export paperwork to process it on incoming.

As recently as last fall my local guys would not accept a fax however I could drop the original off anytime and start the 72 hour clock. In Ogdensburg, the US customs guys only process exports Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30 and they didn't appreciate me arriving Monday at 8:00 so I had to wait.

Chuck

Title: Re: Importing a car from the US - is this right?
Post by mr_niteowl on 04/02/8 at 21:35:52

Ahhhh, so it takes a guy from PMSC to enlighten the MLRC membership
as to importing huh?

I have brought in about 14 cars over the last few years, some newer and
some older than the 15 year rule which requires the RIV fee to be paid.
I actually left my 1987 Dodge Shelby CSX at my father-in-laws in Buffalo
for 2 weeks until it was 15 to save the $179. Call me a cheap Scot eh?

And yes they go by the month/year of manufacture on the door post label.

Yes Jeff, you are right on all counts except one very important loophole.

I won't post it here, I'll send you an email.

Please don't post it on the internet.

Earle