Importing a new U.S. vehicle into Canada
 

I am considering buying a car new in the U.S. and bringing it into Canada. The reason is, the model I want is not available in Canada.

I have read up on this and it looks like there are quite a few hoops to jump through to get it modified, licensed, inspected etc.

Has anyone done this before? Does anyone know of a car import company that will take care of all the paperwork and hassle for a fee?

There are quite a few hoops - I work for ICBC and have had people call in and try to get it done - so if it's worth it, cost and desire wise, then I say go for it.

What you need to do, I don't know the full details, is get a transfer permit to bring the vehicle into canada. It often allows you to drive the vehicle back here. YOu can then contact an autoplan broker and use the information in the book itself to get an inspection done at any shop registered. Once that shop is done, you can get full BC insurance on the vehicle itself.

Your first step would be to contact an autoplan broker and talk with them about your options, and then the insurance company you're transfering it from in the US might assist as well with providing you details. I'm not at work, so I don't have access to the information on our systems, but here's the links on the ICBC website:

http://www.icbc.com/insurance/insura...2_register.asp

The link to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles:

http://www.riv.ca/

they've got a toll-free number:

888-848-8240

Hope that helps :)

Be careful,

This is something car manufacturers frown on. Which brand is it? I know with General Motors branded vehicles (chevrolet, GM/GMC, pontiac, buick, saturn, saab, cadillac) your issues start when you register up in Canada and are labeled as an exporter and blacklisted. This means no sales from any GM dealer ever again, than your warranty gets all screwed up and you won't have any coverage. The "Acceptable" time to bring a General Motors car up is after it has had 6 months or 12000km put on it.

The reasoning behind this is due to fluctuations in exchange rates/incentive programs. It's a protectionist policy to keep dealerships located close to the borders from losing business just because the dollar changes.

Now if the issue is unavailability in Canada, it may be a different story.

So... fill us in on this vehicle that isn't available here?? :razz:

I have done it, there are some hoops but its not that bad. But you really need to go to http://www.riv.ca/ and look in here for your vehicle. If it is not listed in there you are SOL. Don't even bother looking farther into it.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the useful reference info, Andsoitgoes.

I e-mailed Subaru Canada to see if they will honour the warranty on this:

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/impreza_limited.asp

Basically a WRX STI but low-key exterior.

That's pretty surprising that a Canada dealer would do warranty work on a US model. I am in the market for a new car, but have been frowned against it because any warranty work would have to be done in the states. So if something goes wrong, you gotta drive it down there to get fixed. Not sure if that's true or not but that's my understanding.

Since when cant you get a subaru Wrx STi in canada, or is just the limited edition part of it? Why not buy a WRX STi and order the body kit for it from subaru it would probably be cheaper.

WRX STI $48,995.00 CDN + freight and PDI
Limited edition - not available in Canada, completely different exterior appearance and interior - $33,495.00 U.S. (about $39,500.00 Canadian)

About $10,000.00 savings and a better looking car.

Have you been to this site?

http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

And that price difference is the exact reason it is almost immposible to buy a new car in the USA if you live in Canada.

Here is a step by step on how a guy from one of my other bords imported a quad

http://quads.ca/article_importing_atv_from_usa.htm

I bought a car in the US this past summer. I was looking for a 4WD, and did look into Subaru... I was told at the time that there weren't any warranty issues to worry about, but you need to check, as the situation could change.

I wound up buying a used Audi, but the process of importing couldn't be simpler. You've already got the link to Riv.ca, and that's all you need.

When you buy the vehicle, have the title faxed to the US border post where you intend to have it enter to Canada, 72 hours in advance.

When you get to the border, stop in at the American side, and they'll have a quick look at your paperwork (bill of sale, title), and send you on your way. Then stop at the Canadian side, and they'll assess duty, and GST, and take the RIV fee. Then you have about 3 weeks to have the car provincially and federally inspected, make any modifications necessary (like daytime running lights), and then register it.

If you're not bringing it back yourself, then hire a broker, and they'll take care of most of that for you.

DO make sure the car is on the RIV list of importable vehicles. If it isn't on that list, you will not - no matter how much you whine - be able to import it. You'll have to take it back to the US and leave it there.

It really is simple. Your main 'gotchas' are the RIV list, and the warranty. Once you've got those, go for it. You'll save a small fortune.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Unfortunately the Subaru dealer in Seattle told me this model has been completely sold out for two months and no more will be made.

I think they only released 800 cars in that model. :wink:

What would duty be on a new car, that might be scary?

Depends on where the car was manufactured. Figure 6.1% for most foreign-made. Zero% for American-made.

Both my dad and my brother-in-law are likely going to import Subarus later on this year, once it is done I will post back on their experiences and savings.

insurance
 

We have had a few clients do this. One item that can be overlooked is insurance. Talk to the salesman down there and get a referal to a US broker in that state. If you are only going through one state, you shouldn't have an issue. Issues come up if you are going through multiple states.

Helped my friend import his porsche, nearly purchased my STi down south, am considering buying a new subaru legacy for my wife from the USA as well...

So easy you can't imagine. spend 4 hours to save $10k? Isn't that a no brainer?

I got my STi locally because of colour issues. Otherwise, I'd eat the 6.1% duty (manufactured in Japan not USA) and still save $8k.

The Subaru Legacy is considered US built, thus no duty. Which is great as the engines are built in Japan, then bolted on the frame and the body parts hung on in Indiana. On a Legacy GT Limited, you can save up to $13k compared to buying locally!

OK to resurrect an old thread I got back from Vancouver last week and my dad just got his Outback from the states. It took him ten days for the whole process of licensing inspection etc. before he was finally allowed to drive it in Canada. Plus about one day of hassle for a round trip to Seattle. His savings after all expenses taxes etc. was about $6000.00 but more importantly he got the car with options not available up here.