Importing a new U.S. vehicle into Canada

[trilinearmipmap]

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?

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

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

[Slick Fork]

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.

[muck]

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

[Chad]

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.

[trilinearmipmap]

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.