Insuring U.S registered car as an inland applicant

[LittleFriend]

I am an inland applicant and have issues with insuring my vehicle. Here is a short summary of my situation:

I am an American citizen who owns a car that has been registered in Florida. In March of this year, my boyfriend and I decided to move to Quebec as his student status in the US was expiring and he would have to go back to Canada. We spoke to a lawyer who told us that the inland immigration route would be the best course of action if I didn't care about going back to the US for an extended period of time and wanted to live with my boyfriend. We moved to Quebec in my car that is registered in Florida, saying that I was coming in as a visitor as we crossed the border. My boyfriend filed our inland application in May and I am currently waiting for first-stage approval in Quebec. I should be receiving my work permit any day now.

I cannot insure my car in Canada until it has been imported, and we were going to import the car along with some other belongings when I will land as a permanent resident in a couple of years. In the meantime, US car insurance companies will only insure me for up to 6 months in Canada, and Canadian car insurance companies will not insure me because my car is registered in the US. Is there anything else I can do to keep driving my car in Canada (possibly related to the upcoming work permit?)

Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

Unfortunately that lawyer gave you the worst possible advice. US citizens should always apply OUTLAND as the process is incredibly quick. You would have most likely been wrapping up the process now and landing as PR, instead of still waiting for work permit.

As for your car, read here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-visitors-faq-1336.htm

With a work permit you should be able to temporarily import the car for as long as work permit is valid for. This allows you to get the vehicle licensed.
For insurance, this is provincially regulated so you will need to ask the necessary Quebec government body that deals with this (perhaps the SAAQ?), and if insuring a temporarily imported car is possible.