Bringing a Canadian Car over to the USA

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.

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.

My province has told me that I basically have to comply with rules and regulations of the State that I'm moving to for the one-year period. The MVR of MA has told me that I don't need to convert to the US documentation for that time being, even if I'm not a student or a visitor. The duration that I'm in the US is what influenced the answer that I received.

Soounds like you've done some good legwork.

Now "all" you have left is your insurance, and of course the automaker.

Just one question. How are you/Prov/MA going to document when your 1 year begins and ends, since you don't have to show anyone anything.

has anyone imported a "re-built" vehicle into the US?

I am a Canadian resident maintaining an owned home in Calgary AB and am retained on my company's Canadian Payroll. I travel occasionaly between my Canadian home and my temporary residence in South Dakota but spend most of my time in SD. I have an L1 work permit for 3 years. I started the temporary US work situation nearly 1 year ago. My company shipped both my vehicles down to SD in late November 2008. Both vehicles are insured and plated in Alberta and I am maintaining my AB drivers lisence.

My question. As I will likely only be in SD until spring 2010, what options do I have to keep my 2 vehicles registered in Alberta? I have been told that I just need to have the vehicles re-enter Canada and then I am OK again, but that does not sound right and if it is, what proof would I need that these vehicles were back in Canada?

Any help would be appreciated.

You cannot keep the cars in US for longer than 1 year without formally importing them into US, so that is your first concern. They should then be plated and registered in SD (they probably should have been already, given that you live and work there, and are not a student).

I do not believe that merely taking them back over the border restarts that 1-yr clock, since nothing about your situation has changed materially: you still live and work in SD and are considered by SD DMV to be resident there for registration and plating purpoes.

As to returning the cars to canada, when you return finally, you will export them from US (mere formality at POE, but must be done) and declare them at the Cdn border with all your stuff -- mentionning that they were originally bought in canada.

Once back in AB, plate and register there.

has anyone imported a "re-built" vehicle into the US?

I personally have not heard anyone doing this but I do know this. The imported vehicle in question must meet the following criteria:

1) Conforms to U.S. emission and safety standards.
2) Be brought into U.S. emission and safety standards if non-conforming.
3) The vehicle must be destroyed if 1) or 2) are not satisfied.

I am a Canadian resident maintaining an owned home in Calgary AB and am retained on my company's Canadian Payroll.

Well that sounds like a bigger problem than the car frankly because if you're working in the US, you must be on a US payroll (which can be under the control of your Canadian employer). You must pay payroll taxes where you work.

My question. As I will likely only be in SD until spring 2010, what options do I have to keep my 2 vehicles registered in Alberta? I have been told that I just need to have the vehicles re-enter Canada and then I am OK again, but that does not sound right and if it is, what proof would I need that these vehicles were back in Canada?

You can only keep your car in the US for up to a year without formally importing it, using the procedure outlined at the start of this thread. That's the law anyway, no-one is going to stop you from taking your vehicles back into Alberta at a later date given that you live there and they're registered there. To formally import it you need to leave with it and re-enter.

I notice one thing that Albertans never seem to pick up on is that Alberta registrations can be renewed bi-annually if you want, you get a two-year sticker. It's cheaper overall too. Which is useful if you happen to be in the US a lot with your car because you don't have to worry about renewing the registration.

Note also that SD is about the sloppiest State in the US on registering vehicles, I get the impression they'll register anything to anyone from anywhere.

I've looked through this forum and haven't seen anything relating to my particular situation. I apologize if I am asking a question that has already been posed and/or answered!

We are moving to New Jersey in November. We have a Nissan that has a lease expiring at the beginning of March 2010. When the lease is up, we plan to return the car to Toronto, and purchase a new car in New Jersey. This means that the car will be in New Jersey for 4 months.

I plan to drive across the border with the car when we move. What will happen at the border? Will they ask about the car?

Should I notify Nissan that I plan to have the car in the US for 4 months but will be returning it in March 2010? What about the insurance?

Thanks!
No-longer-WindyCityBound!

You can bring the car temporarily into US without having to import it. However, that is the fed rules. Your state of residence may require that you plate it, which would in turn require importing it.

The more pressing problme you might face is that most carmakers won't let you move to US with a lease.

And, your Cdn insurance may not cover you in US, and you may need US insurancw, which would again require importation.

You are moving to US, not spending the winter there. There is a difference.

Hi everyone,

I am going to be working in the US (New York state) under the TN visa soon. I read this thread and it seems like I will likely have to a) register my car or b) get a car in the US.

My question is, in order to get US insurance and register a car in the US, do I have to obtain a New York state driver's license? It seems like I do, but will this affect my TN visa in any way since it is supposed to be a temporary stay?

Thanks!