Most of these steps have been adapted from lowside67's post and RIV.ca with a few additions and updates from my personal experience. This is what I went through when purchasing my 1995 Nissan recent as of
Sept 2008 SUGGESTIONS WHEN LOOKING FOR A USED CAR IN THE STATES:
1.) Do a
CARFAX report or
CARPROOF report for your car
2.) Arrange to do a
CarChex Inspection or
Licensed Mechanic to inspect the car after you have seen the car in person. There’s always hidden things you may miss out when just looking at the car yourself. Always have a mechanic to have a second opinion!
STEP 1 – PURCHASE YOUR CAR
1) Please make sure you obtain a
TITLE for the vehicle, fully signed over to you
2) A
Bill of Sale for your vehicle, must clearly indicate:
§ VIN#
§ purchase price (and currency)
§ kms
§ the seller’s personal information
§ buyer’s (your) personal information
3) Optional: An ad of the vehicle for sale e.g. the ad from craigslist
4) If available and buying car from dealer: Obtain a
Recall Cleareance Letter.
5) Drive the purchased car and park it at a friend’s/relative's place. You will have to leave the car in the states for
72hours minimum.
NOTE: Double check the VIN of the car matches the VIN on the TITLE and Carfax report!
STEP 2 – US EXPORT DOCUMENTATIONS
1) When you get home, EMAIL the US vehicle export office and ask them to email you the proper documents and Vehicle Export Worksheet.
CBP.Blaine-EXPORT@dhs.gov. Fill out the information and email them back.
2) Fax the Vehicle Export Worksheet, Title (both sides) and Bill of Sale to the US border @
360-332-2639
3) After 2-4days, email them the status request form. They will confirm they have received the faxed documents and tell you the earliest date you can export your vehicle.
4) If you haven’t done it in Step 1, call your vehicle manufacture to obtain a
Recall Cleareance Letter.
Here is a list of phone numbers you can contact to get a recall clearance letter for the major vehicle manufacturers:
Audi -Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-822-2834 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
BMW -Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-831-1117 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Chrysler - Recall documentation can be obtained on the internet at www .daimlerchrysler .ca or RIV will accept a VIP printout from a dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Ford -Recall documentation can be obtained from
www.ford.com; head office by calling 1-800-392-3673 or RIV will accept an OASIS or Ford Confidential printout from a dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
General Motors -Recall documentation can be obtained from GM Vintage Vehicle Services by calling 1-888-467-6853.
Honda, Acura -Recall documentation can be obtained from the internet at
www.honda.com. You must register with the ownerlink, and print the recall specification page or printout/letter from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Jaguar -Recall documentation can be obtained from
www.ford.com; head office by calling 1-800-452-4827 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Mazda -Recall documentation can be obtained by filling out a Recall Clearance Letter Request Document and Sending it in to Mazda. Click here for more information on Mazda Recall Clearance Letters, or click here to download the Mazda Recall Clearance letter request document.
Mercedes-Benz -Recall documentation must be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-367-6372.
Mitsubishi -Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-222-0037 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Nissan -Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-647-7261 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Toyota- Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-331-4331 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Volkswagen -Recall documentation can be obtained from head office by calling 1-800-822-8987 or RIV will accept an internal system report from a U.S. dealership on letterhead or with dealer stamp.
Volvo -Recall documentation can be obtained from Volvo Cars of North American head office by calling 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Cars being imported will also require a Letter of Admissibility.
STEP 3 –THE DAY OF CROSSING THE BORDER WITH THE VEHICLE
1) In Canada: Purchase insurance from ICBC called “Binder of insurance” (~$35/10 days [maybe more $])
2) Prepare your documents:
a. ORIGINAL title
b. ORIGINAL bill of sale
c. COPY of title
d. COPY of bill of sale
e. Vehicle export worksheet
f. Insurance papers
3) After crossing the US border, go to the nearest Department of Licensing and purchase a US Temporary Permit. ($35 for 3 consecutive days) This permit allows you to drive your car from the States back to Canada.
4) Make sure you have enough $ credit on your credit cards (easiest form of payment) to pay for all the duty and taxes at the border. 6.1% Duty (If your car is not made in North America) +7%GST +$100 A/C fee. Here is a tool to calculate how much you will need approx:
http://www.importcartocanada.info/to...ce-calculator/
5)
US Customs to EXPORT: Drive the car to the US TRUCK CROSSING BORDER. [NOT PEACE ARCH] Stay on the right lane and before you see the Canadian Customs Border, between both borders there will be a Kiosk or white booth. Park your car there and walk into the office and go to the window where it says Vehicle Export.
*ARRIVE BY 3:30PM MON-FRI OR THEY WILL NOT EXPORT YOUR VEHICLE!!!!!!* They will confirm they have received the documents and stamp your Original Title. This process takes only 5 minutes if there is no line up.
6)
Canadian Customs to IMPORT: Drive the car to cross the Canadian Border as you would normally when you go back home from the States. They will give you a yellow card at the booth and tell you to park your vehicle and go to the Canadian Customs Office. Once inside the office, grab a ticket and sit down and wait. May take minutes to hours depending on how busy it is.
7) You don’t need to fill out any forms, the Customs agent will do that for you. They will give your FORM 1 and stamp 2 stamps on it. (They will stamp a 3rd stamp on the bottom if your vehicle is older 15yrs). Next, you will have to pay the taxes and duties at the cashier. Make sure you keep the blue card receipt! Before you leave the office, make a final check that you have all your documents:
a. Original Title
b. Original Bill of Sale
c. Form 1 (yellow and white sheets)
d. Receipt of duties and taxes
STEP 4 – AFTER THE BORDER, BACK IN CANADA:
1)
COMPLETE: Finish completing the Vehicle and Importer Information portion of Form 1
2)
PAY: Go online and pay the $204.75 for the Federal Inspection:
https://www.riv.ca/rivpayment/html/enter.cfm
[make sure you submit a email address to them, so they can email you the form 2 so it’s faster]
3)
FAX:
a. Title and Form 1 to RIV: 1-888-346-8235
b. Vehicle Recall Letter to RIV: 1-888-642-9899
4)
WAIT: An inspection form, FORM 2 will be mailed or emailed back to you in 2 weeks after completion of the above. If after 2 weeks they still haven’t emailed or mailed it to you, give them a email at
info@riv.ca with your 6-digit case number at the top left corner of Form 1. [ex. H123456]
5)
VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS: While you wait for your Form 2, I suggest you use this time to do the necessary vehicle modifications. For a complete list go here:
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/mod_i...uirements.html
But mainly what you need are:
a. Daytime Running Lights - $200 at Canadian Tire [can be cheaper else where]
b. Cheld Restraint tether anchorage hardware kit. (Some cars may already have it, if not it can be purchased at Canadian Tire for $5)
6)
FEDERAL INSPECTION: Once your Form 2 has arrived, you can go forward with the Federal Inspection. Go to your nearest Canadian Tire as early as possible, 8am – 6pm Mon-Sat for your Federal Inspection. You cannot book an appointment, it’s First come First Serve. Obtain the passed Federal Inspection Document [Form 2] and they will also put a final stamp on Form 1.
7)
PROVINCIAL INSPECTION: I suggest going to shop other than CanTire for your OPP inspection, as CanTire is unneccsary strict!!! They will fail you for minor things such as license plate bulb being out, etc. Cost will be $80 - $150. Obtain the passed OPP inspection document
8)
REGISTER YOUR CAR/ICBC INSURANCE: Bring all the forms that you have obtained to your nearest ICBC agent, once again they are:
1) Form 1 [with 3 stamps]
2) Original Title
3) Original Bill of Sale
4) Passed Form 2
5) Passed Provincial Inspection Document
6) Receipt of Duty and Taxes
note: At this point, you will pay the 5%PST when you buy your insurance
2nd note: you won't need aircare on the first year of insurance for your OPP car. The next year you will though.
9) After 3 – 4 weeks, RIV will mail you a sticker saying your car has passed the RIV program. Stick this on the driver’s side door panel. CONGRATS YOU ARE DONE! ENJOY YOUR CAR!!
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no hassles no problems...and u arent allowed to bring over a modded car...so i had to use a broker...he did private inspections..no canadian tire BS
