Hi Guys... If I buy a car in Canada, go up there and pay, get the title and then try to get back into the good 'ole USA, what should I expect? Any problems? Any "Heads Up". Thanks, Dennis
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Re: Canada Purchase
Dennis: Depending on the Province I would try to get a DMV background printout. Here in Ontario it is mandatory to sell/buy a used vehicle. -
Re: Canada Purchase
Dennis -- we don't have "titles" in Canada, only "vehicle registration certificates" (or somesuch name that may vary by province). This may freak out the state that you are trying to register it in. Depending on the US Customs "greeter" at the border on your return trip, you may also want to bring some NCRS literature with you , to convince them that the car [if it's a Corvette you're considering] was originally produced in "good-ole" (in spite of the free trade agreement in autos and auto parts).
Oh yeah, leave your gun at homeComment
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Re: Canada Purchase
Dennis, assuming you are using cash greenbacks, there is paperwork to fill out at the border on the US side to take the $ out of the US, also some forms to have filled out on the way back that certify the vehicle is emmisions compliant (just a formality on pre-emissions era vehicles)as the forms are required by federal law before a US title can be granted. The Customs office has a website that is helpful. This info is all about 5 years old now, but it worked for me. If bringing back an emissions compliant vehicle, I'd ask Howard Baker about the '78 he brought in a few year ago, as there is a little additional paperwork required.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Canada Purchase
I bought my '69 Z/28 three years ago from a Canadian owner, and met him at U.S. Customs at the border (Port Huron, Michigan); he had the Ontario Registration Certificate, I presented a Bill of Sale and $5.00, we filled out some paperwork, and Customs gave me an "Informal Entry" certificate to give the Michigan DMV with the Ontario registration. Went to the DMV, they had no problem, had a Michigan title and registration a week later. Best to check ahead of time with U.S. Customs at the entry point you plan to use so you have whatever they require.Comment
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Thanks a lot guys.The candidate is in British Columbia and is pre emission. No guns, huh??? OKComment
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when you gio to canada to purchase the 6 cyl fordomatic 71 marerick, you dream car , take along a tootsie roll as a bribe. you'll look real good in the bad ass fomoco.I'm back, the fool.Comment
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I should'a known. Ya think ya got a couple days off, an old sneaky snake comes home early.Comment
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# 14 is still making payments on the cheapest brewskie you can buy north of the border. And this, mind you, is from the 1990 era... I am so sorry the membership has to endure your habitual attempts at attempting to justify your existance on this planet. I am so sorry you're back, but I can deal w/it...Comment
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Re: Canada Purchase
Dennis,
I purchased my 1971 LT-1 (3)years ago in St. Albert, Alberta and brought it back to Wisconsin.
A couple of things you will need to have and that I learned through my experience:
- First you must know "exactly" what border station you will bring the car thru at as the border station, and even know pretty close on what day/time, because that border station must have the approved customs paperwork in their computer when you either trailer it or drive the car thru their station.
- Second, you will need to hire a border agent to prepare/handle the customs paper work you will need to get your car through customs, they wil also ensure it is ready and gets into the right hands at the border station you tell them. This will cost you about $150.00 dollars, U.S. and is worth it. Whichever border station you are planning to come through at, on the canadian side, can give the names of the good local agents to use.
- You will need to have "in hand" a formal, original bill of sale, signed by you and the previous owner, with the sale amount and VIN number, you will need this to get the customs paperwork filled out and approved. I also needed to have this to register and title my car in WI, not sure about your state. Our state would not even consider registering or titling my car without it. I would call your states DMV to confirm what they must have.
- If the car you are purchasing is >25 years old and was orginally built in the USA, you will not have to pay any import or export tax, if its less than 25 years old and was not built in the USA, it is subject to it.
Overall the process for me was pretty painless once I figured out what I needed to have, I also had someone trailer ny car back for me, since it was 35 hrs away, so I had to get them original copies of all of this, plus a signed power of attorny for them to clear through customs when they brought the car thru for me.
Registering it here in my state was ok, I had to also pay sales tax on it because they required a signed original bill of sale to register and title it, cars from canada do not have titles like we know of here in the states, its more like just a registration you should get from the previous owner, make sure you get it too.
My car was then titled here in Wisconsin and also registered and then issued a historical plate as well. Also, one nice thing here in our state as well since we still have an annual emmissions test required on all cars back to 68, is my car was expempt from this here "forever" since it was imported from canada. This was a nice surprise for me and allowed me to put on the type of exhaust I wanted right away.
hope your experience works out well for you...
ChuckComment
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Re: Canada Purchase
Dennis,
You might find this link useful. As others have noted the process is generally free of pain if you do the paperwork beforehand and use a broker. Also choose a busy port of entry where customs agents do not have too much time on their hands. They are not inclined to micro-manage in those circumstances.
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