Bringing a Canadian Car over to the USA

[Reba]

Not unless you still owe money on it. The lien holder may not let you export it.

[Steven]

There are no export procedures per se on either end, but to import a car into Canada you have to have proof that it complies with Canadian safety specs, which is why you need the letter as explained on http://www.riv.ca

The US is essentially the same but the stickers on the car usually indicate that it complies, if it doesn't, it's worth getting the letter in case someone at the EPA or CBP asks. Canadian safety specs are usually tougher than US standards so going to the US with your car is usually simpler. There are exceptions though, for example if the State has some screwy standard like California.

Depends on how old your car is too, like it says at the start of the thread, Canada isn't as tough on the airbag requirement as the US.

[nicole0585]

hey
i have a quick question i have dual citizenship and i am moving to the us i want to bring my car with me.......is there any way at all to bring my leased car to the us. what forms do i need to fill out my car is leased through ford and is an american car that came from california.. any information would help since i have no experiance with this at all.
thanks

[Steven]

is there any way at all to bring my leased car to the us

No, you have to own it, which means you have a bill of sale for it. Even if it were possible to transfer the lease, it means the company that holds the lease would be responsible for the import of the vehicle rather than you and nobody will do that for you. Even if they would, they'd charge you a mint I suspect. Whoever owns the vehicle must comply with the import procedures.

Your question is a bit confusing, but I take it you're saying the car was originally from California and you've leased it in Canada?

[maryanng]

Very interesting site; just what we need, you should be linked to the Canadian Snowbird Association, they could use the info posted here.

My question: we are winter Texans and might bring our 2004 Ford Freestar and leave it in Texas for our personal use. Do we have to declare it as imported at the border? If so, once through customs forms, what does Texas have us do to change over the plates, etc. Little information available on the DMV Texas site. Would it be cheaper and less bother to buy a used Texas car? And if we did, would that entail getting a Texas driver's licence? What do they require?

Thank you all for your help.

[agnelson]

State registration begins with formal importation (either at the border, or later at a local airport POE). Unless you would need to make mods to the car to make it 'importable', there shoudl be no problem. You need the letter from Ford Canada first in any event.

Once imported, the TX DMV will treat you like any other new resident. That way you aren't exceeding the 1 year limit on temporary importation.

The simplest would be to drive it back and forth, so no importation needed.

[Steven]

My husband and I are moving to the States for a period of one year only. We have a leased vehicle that we want to take with us for that time period.

Are you aware of any restrictions on this? We are planning on having it insured in the states of MA, getting US plates, as well as registration.

This is one of those questions where you have multiple laws involved. Canada and the US have an agreement which says basically you can drive in either country for up to a year without having to import your car. However State law in the US might make that difficult because the State might consider you resident and might require you to get a DL and plates.

Also the insurance and lease agreement might have clauses in there that limit use in the US.

Potentially you might not have to do anything at all. Getting the lease holder to import the car for you is basically a non-starter so you either leave the car behind or pretend you're a visitor for a year in case you get pulled over in Massachusetts I guess, if their law requires registration.

More info further back in the thread.

[Sholezard]

If I was to obtain car insurance in Canada (that would cover me for the entire 1 year period that I'm in MA), would I then be required to obtain US plates, driver's license, registration, etc. in MA or can I get away with my Canadian equivalents?