Problem Importing car to Canada

Hi there,

I've seen many helpful responses here and I'm hoping someone can give me some guidance on this problem.

I live in the States now, but I'll be moving back to Canada soon (as a returning resident) and I thought I had everything figured out, but I missed an important detail. I just finished paying my car loan and I thought I was going to get the title immediately, but as it turns out, it may take over a month to get the car title from the DMV.

Now, US customs won't let me export the car without the title so I can't import it into Canada. I don't want to delay my return date so I'm wondering if it would be possible to drive back to Canada, enter with my California plates, maybe get some temporary insurance, wait for the title from the DMV and once I get it, go back to the US border, do the paperwork for the export and start the import process in Canada. As a returning resident, I think I'm allowed to have an exemption of 10,000 dls of the car value. I'm wondering if by doing this (e.g. by not importing the car in the moment I cross the border), I would loose the right to get that exemption. Anybody has an idea? Also, would I get in trouble in Canada if I'm driving a car with US plates when I'm a Canadian resident?

Thanks in advance!
-L

Personal effects are not subject to duty, GST, etc. Provided you've had them for at least six months prior to entering. That includes vehicles. Even then, if it was made in a NAFTA country, the duty would be 0%.

The problem you're going to have is that you have to declare the vehicle on CBSA Form B4 with the rest of your effects, and CBSA won't let the car in without the correct import paperwork.

Maybe you can convince CBSA to let it in temporarily and explain the situation to them, have a read of the form: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/b4/b4-07e.pdf

One way around it is to declare the vehicle on Form B4, and collect it later. But getting it in and then declaring it later may be tricky.

I assume you're already familiar with all the US export/Canadian import stuff: www.riv.ca

There may be some other paperwork that is sufficient to establish title that you can get from the DMV as well.

Hi Steven,

Thanks. I already gave up the option of trying to get something to replace the original title from the DMV, since US customs seems to be very strict about it. I dont think there's a way around it.

My only hope is to declare the car in the B4, and "collect it later", as you suggested. But I'm a little afraid of what could happen if they refuse to let me take the car into Canada. Would they ask me to leave it in the US until it is properly exported? Or will the car not be elegible to be imported by me anymore?

I know this is a tricky one.

Thanks,
Luis

I got my Title with lien on it stamped from the Bank and then I went to DMV and got a clean title in no time.

DOnt wait for the mail, go to bank and ask them to stamp your title with Lien Intreest release, and then take that title to DMV.

My only hope is to declare the car in the B4, and "collect it later", as you suggested. But I'm a little afraid of what could happen if they refuse to let me take the car into Canada. Would they ask me to leave it in the US until it is properly exported? Or will the car not be elegible to be imported by me anymore?

Best way is to phone the POE and ask. I have a feeling they would seize it in the worst-case scenario which is obviously best avoided, until you came up with the paperwork, as they will charge you storage fees.

You might want to try asking a freight forwarder as I'm sure you're not the first person to be in this situation, but they can talk a lot of crap so take it with a pinch of salt.