Canadian owning a US registered vehicle in Canada

I am a Canadian, currently living in Canada, but also a winter Texan. I recently imported a vehicle from Texas to Canada. I had to license it in Texas to buy it new.
My question is, after completing the RIV work, do I have to license it in Ontario, or can I keep it licensed and insured in Texas, as I am there for almost 6 months of the year? This way I can maintaim my warranty.
I've asked our local licensing bureau and the RIV people and they seem to think that would be okay.
Betty

Keeping the plates may not be a problem The problem may be insuance, bot the private and the public portion.

Consider the reverse, if you bought a car in Canada, and plated it in canada, you could take it down to US for the winter with no problem, with the same plates, But you may to modify your insurance, or like some, be able to argue that their time in US was merely as a visitor and temporary, and that you actually legally live and maintain residence in canada, at a specific address.

In your situation, you are insuring a car at an address where you are not a legal resident. I would get written confirmation from my US insurer that my insuarnce remains valid while living in Canad between xx and yy dates.

You may stioll run afoul of the provincial no-fault insuance provisions if those exist in your province.
At worst, you may have two sets of plates and two policies.

Also, many police observe foreign plated (even other-province plates)for a week or two and then issue a 48-hour notice that you need to re-plate the car locally, since that is where you legally live -- not texas. This would happen even if moving betwee On and QC, so TX would be a red flag.

I have another vehicle question too!

Hi there,
I have a bit of a situation. My husband is canadian and lives in canada(for the time being) and I am American and live in the US(for the time being) about 6 hours away from him. We actually had applied for an american visa for him but we are well beyond the normal processing time already, and during that extended time he was able to land a pretty good job, so now we are unsure if we should go forward with his visa...but that's another story all together.

Since both of us currently don't own a car, we were considering buying a car together in the USA, if we could put both of our names on the lease, if that's even possible. If it is, would it be possible for us to both use the car in both countries? For example I would drive up to see him, take the train back, and he would drive it back to see me, so on and so forth so long as we both can handle it.

Anyone got some nuggets of wisdom for me? I would appreciate it. Thanks!

-- Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:46 pm --

I have another vehicle question too!

Hi there,
I have a bit of a situation. My husband is canadian and lives in canada(for the time being) and I am American and live in the US(for the time being) about 6 hours away from him. We actually had applied for an american visa for him but we are well beyond the normal processing time already, and during that extended time he was able to land a pretty good job, so now we are unsure if we should go forward with his visa...but that's another story all together.

Since both of us currently don't own a car, we were considering buying a car together in the USA, if we could put both of our names on the lease, if that's even possible. If it is, would it be possible for us to both use the car in both countries? For example I would drive up to see him, take the train back, and he would drive it back to see me, so on and so forth so long as we both can handle it.

Anyone got some nuggets of wisdom for me? I would appreciate it. Thanks!

-- Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:46 pm --

I have another vehicle question too!

Hi there,
I have a bit of a situation. My husband is canadian and lives in canada(for the time being) and I am American and live in the US(for the time being) about 6 hours away from him. We actually had applied for an american visa for him but we are well beyond the normal processing time already, and during that extended time he was able to land a pretty good job, so now we are unsure if we should go forward with his visa...but that's another story all together.

Since both of us currently don't own a car, we were considering buying a car together in the USA, if we could put both of our names on the lease, if that's even possible. If it is, would it be possible for us to both use the car in both countries? For example I would drive up to see him, take the train back, and he would drive it back to see me, so on and so forth so long as we both can handle it.

Anyone got some nuggets of wisdom for me? I would appreciate it. Thanks!

The important thing is residence. His residence in canada precludes him driving a US-owned/registered car in canada without formal importation.

If you live in US and you want to buy a US car, then YOU buy the car. You can drive it up to Canada, and temporarily leave it there. If you husband gets caught with the car, he can maybe prove that you are his spouse and that you live in US, but that is a stretch.

However, if he is owner of the car (part-owner doesn't mtter), first off he won't be able to drive into canada. period. Only you will. And if he gets caught driving that car in Canada, it will probably be impounded until he formally imports it.

I know its romantic to do things as a couple, but steer clear of co-ownership of a car until you both live in the same country.