Step-By-Step Guide to Importing a Car into Canada from the U.S.

If you’ve found the car you want to purchase that is located in U.S.A. you’re in luck! The current situation of the Canadian vs. U.S. dollars means you may be saving big bucks on your vehicle purchase.
Importing a car, truck, van, motorcycle and most other vehicles into Canada from the U.S.A. is a fairly straightforward process. There are no hidden catches as long as you do your homework first.
In this guide I will explain, step by step, the process of importing a vehicle into Canada from the USA, including some tips to make sure you don’t end up with a lemon, even if you are not able to see the vehicle in person before purchasing. The process is basically the same for all vehicles including cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, busses, RV’s etc. however some types of vehicles will require different modifications, and other types may not even be admissible at all. Always check with RIV to make sure the vehicle is admissible at the VERY start of this to save your self a lot of grief and potentially a lot of money.

1. The first thing to do, if you haven’t already, is check the car against the Registrar of Imported Vehicles’ vehicle amissability list. This can be done by going to RIV.ca or by going directly to the PDF document. Find out if the vehicle will need any modifications in order to pass federal inspection requirements, and how much it will cost. Some manufacturers such as Merecedes Benz will require that any necessary modifications be done at the dealership - which may be costly. Call the vehicle’s dealership if you are concerned about this.
2. Check to see if your vehicle will be charged a high emissions excise tax. These could typically run from $1000 to $4000 on high emissions vehicles. Your vehicle can be searched at the Natural Resources Canada Website. Click here for a list of 2007 model high emissions vehicles and their corresponding excise tax.
3. Check the list of vehicles with safety recalls. You may also want to verify this with by going to a local dealership and providing them with the VIN number of the vehicle you wish to purchase and ask them to make sure it has no outstanding vehicle recalls.
4. Get an AutoCheck vehicle history report online and/or order an inspection from Carchex.com to be done on the vehicle to make sure there is nothing wrong with the vehicle that you aren’t expecting.
5. If all is good, arrange payment, vehicle pickup and/or shipping.
6. If you are having the vehicle shipped, you will need a customs broker to have all the paperwork taken care of for you. Some companies, like A&A Customs Brokers, will take care of everything, including shipping.
7. Get the seller to FedEx you the vehicle title, the bill of sale, sales receipts and recall clearance letter (if they are the vehicle’s manufacturer’ dealership, if not contact your nearest dealership and have them get you one for your vehicle.)
8. Fax in a copy of the vehicle title to the U.S. border crossing where you intend to cross. This needs to be done at least 72 hours in advance of when you plan to cross. Note that this does not include weekends. Give them a call to make sure everything is in order and they will be open at your time of crossing.
9. If you are picking up the vehicle yourself (as opposed to having it shipped), arrange for insurance on the vehicle, or get a vehicle trailer to tow the vehicle home.
10. Drive down to your destination and meet with the dealer or person selling the vehicle. Check to make sure the VIN on the bill of sale matches the one on the vehicle. Also make sure there is a North American coompliant sticker on the vehicle. This is usually located on the beam in the driver’s side door. If it a dealer ask them to show you.
11. If you are purchasing the car privately and will be driving it home, you will need to go get a temporary permit from the local motor vehicle office.
12. Drive to the US border crossing where you faxed your title to, and identify yourself with your passport and driver’s licence. They will check out your vehicle title, bill of sale, and the VIN number on the vehicle. All should be good and they will stamp your vehicle’s title to release it to Canada Customs.
13. Stop at Canadian customs, again identifying yourself with driver’s licence and passport. Tell them you are importing the vehicle and they will have you pull in and park to go fill out Vehicle Import Form 1 (they will provide this).
14. You will have to pay your RIV fee ($195+GST in all provinces, plus QST if you are importing into Quebec) GST (5%), possible Air Conditioning excise tax ($100CAD), possible high emissions excise tax, and possible duty (6.1%) if the vehicle was not build in North America (ie. Mexico for some American brand cars, and sometimes Germany for some VW’s). Make you you have your credit card with you for this as most Canadian Customs offices do not accept cash or cheque.
15. If all is good and once everything is paid up, they will verify your insurance coverage, stamp your Vehicle Import Form 1 and send you on your way. Keep this form in your vehicle along with your temporary American permit in case you get pulled over on the way home - these will be used to verify that you are legally compliant.
16. Within 10 days of submitting Vehicle Import Form 1 at the border, Canadian customs will send you Form 2 - federal inspection.
17. You have 45 days from the day you submitted to get any required modifications done to your vehicle (such as daytime running lights, child tether anchorages and metric speedometer conversions) and have your vehicle inspected at Canadian Tire.
18. When you take the car in to get inspected, bring all supporting documents with you such as the title, bill of sale, Import Forms 1 & 2, and the outstanding recall letter.
19. Canadian Tire will do all necessary inspections free of charge as per the RIV program.
20. If the vehicle passes they will put a sticker on the drivers side door frame stating that the vehicle is Canadian Safety compliant. They will fill out your Form 2 and provide you with the necessary paperwork you will need to register the vehicle in your province.
21. You can now take it right over to your provincial vehicle licencing office along with all the paperwork you’ve accumulated to get it registered, where you will pay whatever your provincial sales tax is on the sale price of the vehicle!

You’re done, you can now go enjoy your American / Canadian vehicle that hopefully will have saved you a nice chunk of money. If there is anything unclear about this guide, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions, or ask a question in the forum. I would love to hear from anyone who this guide has helped, or if you have imported a vehicle yourself I’d like to hear your version of the process!
Good Luck, and enjoy your new vehicle!