Bringing a Canadian Car over to the USA

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.

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.

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.

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?

Most insurance policies require that your plates be valid to maintain valid coverage. All provinces have residency requirements to maintain plates valid. Also, all states have plating requirements for 'residents' which, if you work in the state and live there, you are a resident of the state.

So, even if you found such insuarnce, the likelihood that your car would be properly plated at the time of an accident are small.

-- Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:34 pm --

... and in any event you would need a new DL.

Ok - update for all of those who are (were) confused (like I was). I have JUST finished placing a call to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (after being on hold for over an hour) and have confirmed that as a visitor OR resident for a period of one-year, all Canadian registration, driver's license, insurance, and license plates are VALID for that period of time. Therefore, no registration, license, etc. needs to be transferred over to the State of MA! GREAT to know!!

Now if only I get the permission letter from my leased vehicle's company, I'm good to go!

They can't really say that your insurance is valid; only your insurer can do that.

Nor can they say that your plates or DL remain valid, only your province can say that.

So, that doesn't really help you, does it.


... and if your TN extends to more than one year?

Agnelson, all I was trying to say is that one doesn't need to switch over from Canadian insurance, registration, license plate, driver's license, etc. to an American one if one is visiting or working for ONE YEAR. After that time period, it's up to the person to figure out what he/she wants to do (i.e. renew TN, etc.). In my case, my concern was only for that one-year period, since I'm there on a work permit. But thanks for your concern.

have you checked with your insurance company. Most do not accept living in US for a year as a normal condition of your insurance, which was issued based on your living at your specific address.

And have you checked with Prov DMV to see if your DL, plates, and any govt autoplan will be valid for this long-term move to US.

All we are saying to you is that you MUST satisfy MANY jurisdictions to make this move, as well as your insuarnce firm, and, in your case your carmaker, since they still own the car.

What MA says is only a small part of the puzzle, and would apply f you were going down to US as a visitor or maybe a student.

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?

Depends on Mass. State law. Some States have exemptions for students, but rarely foreign students. Usually there is some set period of 30-90 days where you have to register the car after becoming resident there. But "resident" is defined in many different ways in State laws I've looked at. If your principal residence is still Canada, maybe you're not a resident of MA.

You need to check with their DMV really for the lowdown on it.

Also there is the tax issue, some States (e.g. Florida) don't consider the car imported because it's a personal effect, so there is no sales tax. Some States only exempt vehicles from other States (e.g. Tennessee) so you have to pay sales tax if you register it there. Once again, check with the relevant agency in Massachusetts.