Canadian moving back to Canada, temp drive US car until sell

eeyew
New Member


TN Visa holder

Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Farmington, MI

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:36 am

 

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I'm planning on moving back to Canada and am currently making payments on a used car. This is a purchased car and not a lease. I still owe about $6500. Can I keep driving this car back and forth while working in the US and living in Canada until I sell the car? I want to sell the car as soon as possible though.

Thanks,
Eric

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1011
Location: Calgary

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:21 am

 

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Depends on how long you've owned it and where your principal residence will be. If you move your residence to Canada, then you have to alter the vehicle to comply with Canadian law, have a look at www.riv.ca If you've owned it for less than a year, you may be subject to duty and/or sales tax on it (depending on how picky the CBSA guy is). Ontario is particularly silly about the sales tax. If it was made in North America, there is no duty either way because of NAFTA.

CBSA don't like Canadians driving US-plated vehicles, various threads on here about it. If you pull out a Michigan licence and say you live in Michigan, you should be okay, pull out an Ontario one and say you live in Canada and they will want a good explanation as technically it will be an import at that point.
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Steve.

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