Bringing a Canadian Car over to the USA

You will pay duty to the officer when importing the car at the border or POE.

Thanks for your reply. I'm already in Florida. When I drove my car across the border and declared my car as a personal effect, I filled out the required forms (3520-1 & HS-7) and the customs officer issued me the car import papers (Resident Personal Vehicle Importation CF7501) but didn't charge me any duty. Perhaps I'll have to pay the county tax collector when I register my car in Florida??

If you imported your car and no duty was charged, then that is it in terms of duty -- which ias a federal levy.

What your county charges you for registering is a separate issue.

Thanks again for your reply. Yah, I just realized that Florida charges 6% tax when registering my vehicle. Too bad, I probably should've sold my car before I left!

You would have had to pay the 6% on the car you bought in Florida anyways.

Hi guys,

this whole car issue is turning out to be a nightmare....

My husband and I are moving to the US on Tuesday (yes, this week coming up!) we are planning on driving our Canadian car (which we are currently financing - not leasing) into the US (Atlanta, in specific).

we plan on going into the US with our canadian plates, & importing the car within the first 2-3 weeks we are there.
My questions are:
1. In terms of the financing - we thought as long as we continue to make the payments on time every month, we would be fine... now we are getting conflicting info that we may need to get another bank in the US to finance our loan... anyone know anything about this and how this works? would we need to refinance for sure?
2. the whole issue of staying in the US on our canadian plates for a year which is supposedly the doable and would save the hassle with the bank, doesnt even apply if the state wont allow us to stay there anyway past a certain time without registering correct??
3. the car is in my name - i am on an H4 so i wont have a SSN. Should we transfer it to my husband's name who will have a H1B, before we leave canada? would that make things any easier?

Thanks a million for your help guys... this forum is truly helpful!

1, Financing should not be a problem. You will still be able to register.
2. You won't be able to pull this off, since GA will require that you plate ther. Only students can avoid palting when living in a state. So you need to import the car, with the carmaker letter, etc. No real way to avoid this.
3.You can make the transfer at the GA DMV.

Not quite sure if this has been covered here. I went on a planned vacation to the US for 6 weeks. During that time, I married a US Citizen and now I plan on staying in the US and have filed my AOS paperwork. I originally drove over the border. I now have my car here and my Canadian plates expire in two months. Should I anticipate any problems importing my vehicle now if I go to a POE airport. Would it be easier if my wife purchased the car off me and plated and insured it in my name? Do I need a State Drivers licence and what do I need to get one?

You should have no problem importing.

Realize though, that once you moved to US, your Cdn plates were invalid -- and you were required by your state to register and plate there (the one-year no import reqiurement is only for temp visitors and students). Had you got in an accident, you would likely have had no insurance coverage, certinaly not from canadian insurance.

After reading this thread I'm still confused a bit. My situation as as follows: I am going to enter California on TN visa soon (I already have a job offer from employer in California), and I'm considering just driving my car from Canada to California when I enter the US. Is TN status considered to be a 'resident' or 'visitor' in California regarding car registration? Is my understanding correct that if I am a 'visitor' in California, I do not need (for 1 year) to get California plates and California Driver License? And if I am considered a 'resident' in California, I will have to formally import a car and get California plates/driver license within (I think) 20 days?

BTW, I have just checked, the car has both stickers - Federal Safety Standards (FMVSS?) and Federal EPA (Pollution) Standards, so for importing I will not need to have a manufacturer's letter, right?

You will be considered resident of california, and will need to (a) import your car fedaerally, meeting NHTSA requirements, (b) regsiter, plate and insure you car in california, meeting California emissions, and (c) get cali driver's license.