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

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

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



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

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