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Exporting/Importing Vehicle - US to Canada ONLY!

dsinghd

Star Member
Dec 13, 2018
132
49
maybe get it out of your way and go worry free. Otherwise you'll have to check with RIV about the timeline to get Canadian plates etc. You can get a Canadian insurance and have it for fire and property damage since it will be garaged for the time you are gone.
hi thanks for your reply. what do you mean by "have it for fire and property damage " ? can you please elaborate
 

Kuchbhi

Hero Member
Jul 16, 2017
233
94
Some time ago when I spoke with my insurance agent. This is what she told me.

When I am driving the car i.e. taking it out on road i need to have insurance. A big part of the premium is liability i.e. If I am involved in an accident or hit someone. If let's say that the car is in garage/parking lot and I am not taking it out for let's say 3 months since I am travelling outside of country. There is no question of liability and hence I shouldn't pay high premium. Only insurance is needed which protects you against - let's say fire burning down the house and your car with it and against theft. The premium for that is lower. Talk with your insurance agent to know more.
 
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anujm2000

Full Member
Jan 15, 2017
47
18
So i exported my car through the Ambassador Bridge on a Saturday afternoon.
I found the following post very helpful and accurate in locating the CBP office.

Once you obtain the Export stamp on Car Title, exit through the adjacent gate "Return to Canada". This gate opens every 15 minutes so we had to wait a while before a CBP officer comes and opens the gate.

Feel free to PM me for questions on this process.
 
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Aparajith

Newbie
Jun 13, 2019
3
0
Hi Guys, I am moving to Canada (Ottawa) from US. I am driving from Raleigh. I have applied PR, but for now I am moving with my work permit. Going through the forums, it looks like we do not need to go through the entire export - import work for Work Permit. Am I right? In that case, after I get my PR can I just drive back and do the import - export work? If so what is the process I need to follow in Canada? Any help please?
 
Last edited:

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
513
127
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
Hi Guys, I am moving to Canada (Ottawa) from US. I am driving from Raleigh. I have applied PR, but for now I am moving with my work permit. Going through the forums, it looks like we do not need to go through the entire export - import work for Work Permit. Am I right? In that case, after I get my work permit can I just drive back and do the import - export work? If so what is the process I need to follow in Canada? Any help please?
So, you do not have PR yet...
Do you have your "work permit" or do not have one? - "I am moving with my work permit.", "In that case, after I get my work permit" ?

Very confusing questions..., but read on the links below:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily.html
and
http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily/visitors-tourists-temporary-residents-entering-canada-foreign-owned-vehicles.html
As a visitor or temporary resident, you can bring a vehicle into Canada for your own use. Under Section 7(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA), a motor vehicle may be admitted temporarily into Canada without complying with the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations if it is to be used exclusively by a person entering Canada as a visitor or a person passing through Canada to another country. Persons entering under a work permit or student visa are also considered as visitors for the application of this section of the MVSA.
 
Last edited:

Aparajith

Newbie
Jun 13, 2019
3
0
So, you do not have PR yet...
Do you have your "work permit" or do not have one? - "I am moving with my work permit.", "In that case, after I get my work permit" ?

Very confusing questions..., but read on the links below:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily.html
and
http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily/visitors-tourists-temporary-residents-entering-canada-foreign-owned-vehicles.html
As a visitor or temporary resident, you can bring a vehicle into Canada for your own use. Under Section 7(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA), a motor vehicle may be admitted temporarily into Canada without complying with the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations if it is to be used exclusively by a person entering Canada as a visitor or a person passing through Canada to another country. Persons entering under a work permit or student visa are also considered as visitors for the application of this section of the MVSA.
Hi Alex, this is my situation:
1. I have applied for PR. Still in process. Will take at least a month or so more to complete
2. I am in US on H1B.
3. My company has processed my Work Permit and I am reporting at Canada office on the 4th of July.
4. I am planning to cross the Alexandria Bay border on the 29th of June.
5. I have no intention of returning back to US at least for the next 5 years or so

My question:
1. Since I am only on Work Permit, what should I do?
2. Am I eligible or Do I need to go through the entire process of Export (from US) and Import (into Canada) of my personal vehicle?
 

APPNOV2014NY

VIP Member
Nov 21, 2014
3,005
1,099
Hi Guys, I am moving to Canada (Ottawa) from US. I am driving from Raleigh. I have applied PR, but for now I am moving with my work permit. Going through the forums, it looks like we do not need to go through the entire export - import work for Work Permit. Am I right? In that case, after I get my PR can I just drive back and do the import - export work? If so what is the process I need to follow in Canada? Any help please?
Right. If you are entering Canada on Work permit then you will skip USA export process and directly head to Canada POE and get your car "temporarily" imported to Canada.

Once you get PR, you will drive to USA, keep Car their for 72 hours and then go to USA export office to get your car formally exported out of USA, then go to Canada POE to get your "permanently" imported into Canada. If you not a US Citizen or GC holder or not from visa-exempt countries then you will need to figure out logistics of how you will enter USA once you become PR. Alternately, you can just keep driving your "temporarily" imported Car in Canada until you are ready to send it to a junkyard as "temporarily" imported Cars cannot be sold in Canada.
 

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
513
127
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
Hi Alex, this is my situation:
1. I have applied for PR. Still in process. Will take at least a month or so more to complete
2. I am in US on H1B.
3. My company has processed my Work Permit and I am reporting at Canada office on the 4th of July.
4. I am planning to cross the Alexandria Bay border on the 29th of June.
5. I have no intention of returning back to US at least for the next 5 years or so

My question:
1. Since I am only on Work Permit, what should I do?
2. Am I eligible or Do I need to go through the entire process of Export (from US) and Import (into Canada) of my personal vehicle?
All I can say that when you get your PR you will have to do official landing and during that time you will be able to export-import your vehicle (titled on your name) free of duty as a new settler. Hopefully at that time you still are on your valid H1B visa and will be able to enter US to do export.

Please read again - http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/importing-vehicle/temporarily/faq-visitors-tourists-temporary-residents-entering-canada-foreign-owned-vehicles.html

Personally I would drive for a while US plated/insured vehicle with US DL until you get your PR. Make sure you get from your US insurance company proper yellow Canadian insurance card to be presented to Canadian authorities on request. When you get your CORP - exchange your DL to Canadian one, get Canadian insurance and do formal export-import.
 

Aparajith

Newbie
Jun 13, 2019
3
0
Right. If you are entering Canada on Work permit then you will skip USA export process and directly head to Canada POE and get your car "temporarily" imported to Canada.

Once you get PR, you will drive to USA, keep Car their for 72 hours and then go to USA export office to get your car formally exported out of USA, then go to Canada POE to get your "permanently" imported into Canada. If you not a US Citizen or GC holder or not from visa-exempt countries then you will need to figure out logistics of how you will enter USA once you become PR. Alternately, you can just keep driving your "temporarily" imported Car in Canada until you are ready to send it to a junkyard as "temporarily" imported Cars cannot be sold in Canada.
So am I not allowed to do the Export - Import process or I can choose not to? Because, if I can I would rather prefer to do the complete Export - Import process since I have a PR on the way anyway.
 

APPNOV2014NY

VIP Member
Nov 21, 2014
3,005
1,099
So am I not allowed to do the Export - Import process or I can choose not to? Because, if I can I would rather prefer to do the complete Export - Import process since I have a PR on the way anyway.
On USA side you can export car when you move to Canada on Work permit but Canada won't allow you to "permanently" import Car on Work permit.

Food for thought: What if you export car from USA and temporarily import car into Canada now and once you get PR, you just flagpole and do "permanent" import Car into Canada. This way you won't need to enter USA and stay there for 3 days. I have never seen anyone doing this but no harm in checking with CBSA on this.

P.S: I am speaking from personal experience. I was on Work Permit in Canada in 2015-2016 and moved permanently to Canada in 2019 as PR.
 

mhaj0721

Star Member
Apr 1, 2019
58
37
Hi
I am a Canadian citizen and my wife is American. She will hopefully be coming to Canada temporarily as a worker while we file our spousal PR sponsorship papers.
We are trying to figure out how to bring her car here. I understand that she could temporarily import it and then would need to permanently import it once she becomes a permanent resident. However, it would be incredibly challenging for us to just flagpole - we live very, very far from the US border - it would literally take us days of driving.
If we bought a car in the United States under my name, could she permanently import it for me? I know we would have to pay duties on it. Or if we bought the car together and had both our names on the title, could we import it permanently before she became a PR? I’m not going to be able to make the drive with her because of my work schedule.
I’m trying to figure out how to do this conveniently. It would obviously be easiest if she could just fly in and then buy a car in Canada, but because she’s traveling with a beloved elderly dog, I’m not sure it’ll be an option.
 

Cmurphy9

Newbie
May 15, 2018
7
0
Hi there. I am moving from NJ to BC as a permanent resident and will be driving my car over by myself at Blaine, Washington. I have reviewed their Vehicle Export Cover Sheet and am totally confused. I have no idea what half of the information is that they are requesting. While I did reach out to them, I have yet to hear a response. Has anyone completed the form and can help me? I need help with everything after the Description of Vehicle section. I also know I have to pay a broker for the ITN. I pasted and copied below.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Vehicle Export Cover Sheet

Port of Export: BLAINE, WA



Description of Vehicle/Equipment

VIN/Serial:

Year:

Make:

Model:
Title #:

Title State:



Transportation Information

ITN:

Value:

Carrier:

Vessel:

BoL/AWB/Booking #:

Export Date: / /

Port of Unlading:

Ultimate Destination:

Vehicle Location:



Shipper/Exporter

Name:

date of birth:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Phone:

ID #:

Type & Issuer:



Ultimate Consignee ([ ] check if shipper)

Name:

Date of birth:

Address:

City:

Province:

Country:

Phone:



Designated Agent/Broker/Freight Forwarder

Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Phone:

Contact:
 

pfx2005

Full Member
Sep 6, 2018
22
7
So i exported my car through the Ambassador Bridge on a Saturday afternoon.
I found the following post very helpful and accurate in locating the CBP office.

Hi did you call the CBP office to find out they are open on Saturday?
I'm little confused thinking they are open only on weekdays.


Once you obtain the Export stamp on Car Title, exit through the adjacent gate "Return to Canada". This gate opens every 15 minutes so we had to wait a while before a CBP officer comes and opens the gate.

Feel free to PM me for questions on this process.
 

Alex54321

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2017
513
127
USA
Category........
FAM
App. Filed.......
20-10-2017
AOR Received.
01-12-2017
Is this a question or description of someone's experience?
 

meetme_here

Member
Sep 3, 2019
10
1
Hi,

I have imported the car from my brother (Family gift). Paper work at US Customs and CBSA done. I am trying to do the RIV registration form but unsure about 'Foreign Vendor Information'. Can anyone please advise what does it mean.



Regards,
Hi,

Did you found out what to mention in the foreign vendor information? Also about statement of compliance for the vehicle?

thanks
rahul