Driver registration question

Hi Guys,

I know this question has been asked many time before but I can't find an answer. We moved down to NJ last month and will be here for less than a year. I knew I had to get NJ car insurance (which I did when we arrived). I thought registering my car would be as simple as showing registration paper from Ontario and proof of insurance but no. They want the letter of compliance from the manufacturer (Ford) along with Customs forms. Is this really necessary for a stay of less than 1 year? It would difficult enough to get the letter from Ford but how would I get Custom papers now that we are here in the US? To add to this my Ontario plates expire at the end of this month and I cannot even order a new sticker online as I have no Canadian insurance (just US). Feeling the noose getting tighter....

Any help would be much appreciated.

DR

That is the problem between federal rules and state rules. The feds will let you in for a year without importing, but most states require residents (and all TNers living at a permanent address are residents) for get state DL and plate their cars.

This, the fed 'waiver' is really only useful for tourists and students.

The letter from Ford Canada will be pretty simple to get, and imporation can be doen at any POE, not justt border, so you've got plenty of airports and ports to choose from. Forget Ontario, you no longer live there.

It's actually really easy to get the compliance letter. Just call Ford Canada. If you didn't officially import your car when you crossed the border, you'll have to go to a POE and do that. You need emissions tests usually to do the importing, too, if I recall correctly. We had to do this. In our state, you pay a penalty for every month the vehicle is not registered at your current address.