Snowbird in Florida bring car home for the summer

[Snowbyrd]

Well for a few years now I have wintered in Florida and own a home there. I want to own a car in Florida and return to Ontario Canada for the 6 month required time and use the car in Canada, then drive the car back to Florida every winter.

1. Is this possible?
2. Do I have to register it in Canada?

Thanks for any advice.

[Snowbyrd]

Everything I read says a Canadian can't drive a US registered car into Canada. I guess I'm sunk

[Reba]

How about buy a car in Canada and drive it down and back again?

[Steven]

You can do it the same way everyone else does it, i.e. make it comply with Canadian spec as per the RIV, and pay the customs duty and GST on it (PST too for Ontario). Then you just register it and drive it back down again.

If you get an FL DL (which Canadian citizens can quite easily) and register the car in Florida and declare yourself as a returning resident, hmm. you might be able to convince them that it's personal effects and avoid the tax (but you still have to alter the vehicle), however the US considers anything less than a year old subject to duty. So if you turned around and went straight back you would be subject to US customs duty (because technically, you exported it).

However having said all that you might still be able to buy a car more inexpensively in the US so that will save you a few $.

[Snowbyrd]

Thanks for taking time to look at my thread. I just never knew buying a car was such a big deal or having it registered no matter where you bought it had to be at your principle residence. Maybe I'll just buy one for use in Florida and leave it here for next year when I fly down. Thanks for looking

[Old Hounddog]

What is the procedure for taking medications into the US by a Canadian Snowbird

[Steven]

Depends on what the medications are, but typically you don't need to do anything. There are a few medications that are legal in Canada that are banned from import into the US as the ingredients are not FDA-approved, I suggest you look at their website but if it's something you can get in the US then with extraordinarily rare exceptions you can take it into the US no problem. Probably a good idea to have a copy of your prescription on you but it's not strictly necessary.

[Old Hounddog]

Thankyou for your answer Steve. The particular medication is narcotic prescribed by a Doctor for years. Do you know if that is a problem as I wish to travel to Texas for 6 months. Old Hounddog