Traveling to US after Landing

[bethanycupcakes]

Hey Guys,

So I'm exporting my car to Canada but I have a vacation planned in the states the next weekend in which I will be driving. Does anyone know if there will be any problems driving my exported car back into the US before I have it fully registered/inspected in Canada?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Ontariobat]

Hey Guys,

So I'm exporting my car to Canada but I have a vacation planned in the states the next weekend in which I will be driving. Does anyone know if there will be any problems driving my exported car back into the US before I have it fully registered/inspected in Canada?

Thanks a bunch!

When I was in school I had my US license plates for a while. I think if it's that quick that you're heading on vacation you shouldn't worry about changing the plates until you get back from vacation. I haven't dealt with exporting a vehicle but I'd imagine it has nothing to do with DMV / getting plates changed over. If you get in any situation just explain what you're up to. You may want to let your US insurance know that you'll be traveling to Canada so you're covered for that short time. Then once you're up here after vacation, switch the plates and insurance and license.

 

[bethanycupcakes]

Thank you for your response Ontariobat. I have everything figured out with insurance, I just didn't want to get hassled at the border ya know? But this is reassuring so thank you very much!

 

[Ontariobat]

Thank you for your response Ontariobat. I have everything figured out with insurance, I just didn't want to get hassled at the border ya know? But this is reassuring so thank you very much!

No problem. I think it's similar to when you switch states in the U.S. where you are supposed to change plates before 2 weeks or something otherwise you can be subject to a fine. To be honest I never changed my plates over while I was in Canada the first time during my studies (and just told my US insurance that I was in Canada part of the year). I did switch them over and got Canadian insurance (which is much more expensive btw) after I came here and moved in with my now wife and had more studies.

 

[Alurra71]

Bethany,

Once you export the car from the US the title and all that accompanies it is now invalid, which essentially means you can not keep your US plates on the car and drive it back to the US, as it is no longer documented as a US vehicle, because you have exported it. I don't know what, if anything, the border guards would do in this respect. I do know if you came to Ontario, you won't be able to find any insurer in Canada to cover the vehicle until it has gone through its inspection/emissions testing and if your policy is still in the US it won't give you coverage because you have officially exported the vehicle from the US so it is no long a US vehicle.

I know it all sounds confusing and certainly sucks since your vacation is right around the corner, but getting your car impounded or worse would be more detrimental I think.

Hope you get it figured out. Best of luck.