Canadian Owning American Car in USA

[HiQ]

Hi Everyone! I just found this website and hopefully I can get an answer to a question I've been wondering about for over a year. I am a Canadian Citizen, but I have residences in Canada (Manitoba) and USA (North Dakota). I would like to be able to buy a vehicle in the US and register/license/insure it in North Dakota. If I did that, would I be able to drive it across the border and use it in Canada at all? If yes, are there restrictions on amount of time the vehicle spends in Canada vs. USA or anything like that? I just want to make sure it's legal and I will have insurance coverage if anything ever happened. Thanks!

[agnelson]

If you live in canada (under what status do you live in US -- a cottage doesn't make you a resident), then you must import the car at the border. CBSA is unlikely to allow you in with the car if they know you live in canada.

That said, you should plate and insure your car where you actually live.

[HiQ]

I have a house in both places. So there is no way for a Canadian to drive an American vehicle (insured, etc in America) in Canada? Can an American own a vehicle and let a Canadian drive it around in Canada?

[agnelson]

An american visiting canada can drive a US-registered car while he is visiting canada. CBSA would not let a Cdn 'borrow" a US car and bring it home with him.

[HiQ]

Thank you very much agnelson. I've wanted to know that forever, but you did just crush my dreams. Why Americans get such CHEAP motorcycle insurance is beyond me... We get absolutely hosed (especially in Manitoba).