Immigration Forum / Canada / September 2008

On 9/28/08 2:55 PM, in article
2f79c5c5-d009-4bd6-ae13-a96632804469@a3g2000prm.googlegroups.com,

Before you do anything contact a dealer in Canada that helps people import
cars. It is a mine field. American cars and Canadian cars are not exactly
the same and Customs has some very strict rules. You have to make
modifications to an American car when you when you import it. Supposed to
cost about $4,000 to a few hundred dollars worth of work. This is for
Canadian residents buying across the border. Just south of where I live
there all lot of US dealers more than happy to sell a car and they are up on
the regulations.

When we came back the rules were very different. You couldn't buy a car the
way you want to, but you could bring a car you owned back with you provided
you had been out of the country at least one year. I suggest you contact
Customs because you might be able to bring it back as Settler's Effects. I
seem to recall though you had to own the item for one year.

Good luck. With the US dollar dropping again, it may be cheaper again to
purchase your car in Canada.

Hi,

I too was in this situation.  I brought both my vehicles back.  I looked up
Canadian prices and no question about it, a good move and save me lots of
cash!  I estimate I saved over $16,000 if I were to purchase the same ones
here when I did this.  Actually sold one 3 years later for what I could buy
it for when I crossed!

The site you need to visit and read and research everything in detail is:

  http://www.riv.ca/

If you have _ALL_ your paperwork in order and follow the directions in
detail it is easy going.  Many people who live here go down for new or used
boats, cars and trucks.  I even know one person that does it as a hobbie for
the extra cash.  Even takes orders and has a business license!  Gets BMWs,
Hummers and Vettes mostly.

Don't ask me why, but a GM made in Oshawa is cheaper in Portland than in
Oshawa.  Probably because the canadian business environemnt isn't that
competative.  Better leather and wheel rims on the US version too.

I also would not use Canadian Tire, I prefer the dealerships or specialists
for this type of inspection.  Likely they ding you $40-$250 for headlight
issue or some dumb nuance. Numb nuts at CT didn't know it, but I had the
cars fixed up cheaper in the US before I came back, so I went to the dealer.

If you buy a car for the purposes of export from the US, get temporary
plates and insurance to get to the border.  Most states then will not
collect taxs nor require it registered.  Alberta for example, $20 or
something for a temporary to transport license at the border.  I didn't need
temporary plates to do this as I was insured and still had the US state
plates and insurance.

Short answer, nope on the taxes.  The Canadian border people are more
interested in the GST/PST than they are in seeing your passport or ID. Last
time I went through doing Christmas shopping they recorded my VIN (and I was
clean and not importing this time ;) and didn't ask for any ID at all.  To
serve Ottawa and collect!

If the car is new, GST (and PST if your moving to a GST+PSTed province) is
worked on the Canadian dollar value of the purchase.  If it is used, it is
based on a reasonable used price.  If you cook the paperwork they will
adjust to market value or worse...hold you up.

There is also the A/C and RIV fee and the inspection costs.  But it is still
a big savings.

You do save on taxes though.  If you buy a pristine used vehicle in Texas
for say $20,000, then move to Canada to find the locals want $30,000 for a
rusted one.  Well, GST+PST is cheaper on $20K than $30K.  As they say on ING
adds, "Save your money!".

BTW, your household goods are not taxed if you have been there long enough.
They would question 20 new coffee makers from target clearnace or Ski-Doos
from Texas.  But there are minimum absence requrements also.  I exceeded
them,  I think it is 5 years.  I was in the USA for 9+.  Had a real good
time too.  Canadians will seem so backwards on what and how they think of
the USA.

Thanks