Ontario Registered Car in VA

yaahhuu
New Member



Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 7

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:36 pm

 

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I am a Canadian citizen and US greencard holder, moved to the USA (VA) last year and now want to bring by car from Toronto to VA. My question is, can I keep my Ontario registered plates in the USA? Few insurance companies will insure it with Canadian plates (already called and confirmed this). Since getting my greencard, I have travelled to Canada by my US registered car 4-5 times. If I fly to Toronto and decide to bring my other car (with Ontario plates) from there, would there be any problem at the border?

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1592
Location: Calgary

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:17 pm

 

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As a visitor you can keep a Canadian-plated vehicle for a year, but you're not a visitor so you would have to formally import it immediately. Can't see why you would want to keep Canadian plates on it if you live in the US. There's no duty because it's a personal effect.

Declare it to CBP and get a conditional clearance, get the EPA check done any State required checks and take the paperwork to the local CBP office and get the clearance completed and then you can swap the title for a US one and get the car registered.

Most Canadian insurance companies will cover you for up to a year in the US so it shouldn't be a major problem, read this also as it contains more details: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/importing_car.xml

For some reason it's vague about the duty-free bit, that's contained in the CBP guidance on personal effects.
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Steve.

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Gone South
Junior Member



Joined: 15 Sep 2008
Posts: 17
Location: Texas

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:23 pm

 

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I suspect each state is slightly different but I imported a pick-up and a motorcycle into Texas. I needed to get a compliance letter stating they meet all US safety and emission standards. The manufactures won’t supply them any more (at least most won’t) so I got them from the dealer no problem. Odd thing is all the running around to get them and no one ever asked for them? Sill have them in my file. When you drive across, the boarder checks your registration to the vehicle serial number and send you on your marry way as long as you have paperwork showing you are relocated to the US. Then, you have to (at least here in Tx) take them to the auto theft task force to ensure they are not on some hot sheet. Mostly that consisted of standing around bull-crapping with a police officer about bike riding. Next is a yearly inspection which any jiffy lube can do here. Then you have to get local insurance, then a trip to the tax office to pay general registration fees but no sales or importation tax. Here you can not register without proof of Texas insurance. I think somewhere along the way you’re supposed to have owned them for over a year to get away with no tax but can’t remember. Start to finish it took a couple weeks to get it done.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1592
Location: Calgary

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:45 pm

 

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Yes, it has to be have been your possession for at least a year, forgot that point.
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Steve.

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yaahhuu
New Member



Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 7

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:31 pm

 

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Thank you all for your reply. I am not planning to permanently keep it in the USA. That's why I am hoping to bring it with Canadian plates. Since I am a USA greencard holder driving Canadian car registered under my name to the USA, would there be any problem at the border?

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1592
Location: Calgary

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:11 pm

 

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Yup. At least according to the regs. You have to formally import it because your principal residence is the US, not Canada. Whether they notice or not, who knows, but you're supposed to show them your PR card and that (obviously) is a declaration of permanent residence in the US.
_________________
Steve.

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