What are the legal requirements when importing a Hummer from USA?

Answer 1

1. Double-check that the car you are going to purchase is permitted in Canada: http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf 2. As of March 20 2007, if you import a big V8 vehicle (or any "gas guzzler" as defined by the RIV), you can pay up to $4000 in extra "green levy" fees. This charge will be part of the fees you pay to Canada Customs (which you will see later on in these instructions). For more info: http://www.riv.ca/english/07.03_New_Green_Levy.pdf For imported vehicles, the tax will only apply to automobiles put into service on or after March 20, 2007. An automobile is considered to be put into service at the earliest of: • the date the automobile is registered with a motor vehicle authority; • the date it is plated; • the date on which the automobile's warranty has been put in place; or • the date the automobile is appropriated by a dealer for their own use. 3. Check that the warranty for the car is also valid in Canada by calling the US side of the manufacturer and asking how the vehicle warranty would apply if you had to immediately move your American vehicle to Canada (due to possible relocation for a job, for example). If warranty coverage is unavailable in Canada, you can get a third party warranty from http://www.ensurall.com

Making the Deal 1. Identify prospective dealers and e-mail their internet Sales Managers. State what you want to buy, that you need temporary tags, and that you will not pay state tax (because you will be registering the vehicle in Canada). Also state you will make a deposit by credit card and wire the full amount before picking up the car. Be fully open about your intentions - some will say they can't sell without charging state tax (and offer to let you choose the state if you can provide an address), while others will accommodate you. 2. Negotiate price/package with chosen dealer (usually starts by e-mail and ends by phone). For new vehicle prices in the US, check: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef17997/ 3. Pay deposit by credit card. Get VIN Number. Get bank info for wire transfer of payment (bank, branch, a/c, FAST #; dealer accounting dept. usually has this info, and sales manager likely won't). Some dealers may want to fax you the Buyer's Order, for you to sign and fax back; others are happy with your credit card deposit ($500 should be sufficient). Watch the exchange rate (it can vary by 0.5% during the day) and service fee (0.5- 2.5%); my credit card charges 2.5% above the official exchange rate while my Investment account only charges 1% (for $25K or more); the best I've seen on the Internet is 0.5% (the person had access to the exchange service used by his firm).

After You've Arranged the Deal 1. Steps 2-11 in this part should suffice for your vehicle importation. As a precaution, I highly recommend that you print, read and understand everything here (and keep a copy to take with you along with this entire document): http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html 2. Have the dealership fax a Manufacturer State of Origin or Certificate of Origin (MSO or CO) to US Customs 72 hours (no less than that - this is extremely important) before your arrival at the border crossing. If the vehicle is used, you will need to fax the Title (produced by the DMV the first time the car was registered) instead of the MSO or CO. As I am on the west coast, we take our exports through: Bureau of Customs & Border Protection 9901 Pacific Highway Blaine, WA Ph: 360-332-2632 Fax 360-332-2639 Email blaine-export@customs.treas.gov Call US Customs after the fax has been sent to ensure that the fax is fully legible and does not need to be re-faxed. 3. Obtain a typed letter (with letterhead) from the manufacturer (not the dealership) stating the car (including the specific VIN) does not have a Recall Pending. This paper explains that there are no outstanding recalls associated with your vehicle which has the VIN # on it too. If this paper states that there are outstanding recalls and isn't clear, you'll have to fix those deficiencies in order to complete and pass Federal Inspection in Canada for a new car. Check for liens too. For further information: http://www.riv.ca/english/html/recall_clearance.html Also check here for contacts for recall letters from other manufacturers: http://www.riv.ca/english/html/recall_contacts.html 4. The dealer will provide you with a temporary transit plate stuck on the rear window. You may need a Temp plate from State to State if you're importing a vehicle farther from the border States. Before leaving dealer with vehicle, check that you have title document (original Certificate of Origin, transferring ownership to you), temporary registration and temporary state license plates, and sales receipts. The vehicle should have the manufacturer's compliance label on the driver's doorframe (has date of manufacture, manufacturer, statement of compliance with regulations, etc.). 5. Call your insurance company and provide the VIN number to arrange coverage. If you give the insurance company the VIN # of the car you're going to buy, you can ask them to send you a fax of the insurance form so you have proof that you have insurance. If you do not do this and you get stopped by police, you will at the least get a fine for driving without insurance. TD Auto will insure your new car no problem but you have to tell them the VIN I believe before you just buy and drive. 6. You will arrive at the border with your new car. First, park the car and bring in all documentation including proof of insurance, original ownership and recall letter. I walked in and went to the counter and told them that I was exporting a vehicle and showed them the paperwork. They looked at the car, stamped my ownership, checked the VIN to the car and I was out the door. For a used car, they might inspect it a little more. It took me less than 10 minutes. This is where the paperwork that the dealer put together came in handy. No scrummaging through papers, everything was in order. 7. After dealing with US Customs at the border, you now have to go through Canada Customs. At the booth, I told the officer I was importing a vehicle to Canada...gave me a yellow slip and told me to see the officers in the building. Parked the car again and went to the desk and showed them all paperwork again. They will also fill out "FORM 1" which you'll need later on. Showed them the Bill of Sale and they converted the amount I paid US into CAD dollars. From there, the US amount converted into CAD, I was charged the GST (6%). If it's a used vehicle, declare the value and don't under declare the value of the car. Canada Customs has the ability to seize your vehicle. The vehicle (and all goods in it) will be seized, you won't be charged/arrested under the Customs Act unless the officer feels you have hindered them. You will however have committed an offence under the Custom Act. Oh yeah...there is a import duty fee of 6.1% if the vehicle isn't made in North America and $100 A/Conditioning Tax. The RIV Importation Fee is now $206.70 and only credit card is accepted, NO Interac. This is because the $206.70 goes directly to Transport Canada, the funds do NOT go to the CBSA. Another 15 mins. After all is paid, you're good to go. Again this is where the paperwork in order came in handy. I've read horror stories of missing 1 vital piece of information and being turned back and refused entry. 8. Drive to your home in Canada and park your car. Email or fax your MSO/CO and recall letter to the RIV and they will process your application and email you Form 2 the same day IF you call them with your case # (which is affixed to the top of Form 1) right away. Otherwise, it can take 3-10 business days. Form 2, once you've received it, will enable you to bring the vehicle to Canadian Tire to have the vehicle inspected to meet Canadian Standards (i.e. bumpers, Daytime Running Lights, Child Tethers, Airbags). Bring Form 2 to CT for inspection. They will stamp your Form 2 and ask for the "Recall Clearance Letter" as mentioned before, and fax it to the RIV. There must be metric markings on the speedometer, but it doesn't mean the speedometer must be replaced even though miles per hour are more prominent on vehicles manufactured in the U.S. 9. Obtain proof of insurance for your new vehicle through your auto insurer. 10. Present stamped Form 1, Certificate of Origin, and Canada Customs payment form to provincial licensing authority for registration & plates. This is also where you would pay any PST (if applicable in your province) on your vehicle. Pay to have the car registered and plated. You can use the Temp plate for the time being, but I don't suggest it as it is a TEMPORARY PLATE. You don't need an Emissions test if it's a new car. When I went to register the car in Alberta, they tried to tell me I needed an out of province inspection. No, I didn't. I explained very firmly that this was a brand new car and therefore an inspection was not needed. They told me that I could only avoid the inspection if I had certain paperwork that the manufacturers provide to Canadian dealers. I forget what this is called, but the US issues the Certificate of Origin instead. As long as you have the MSO/CO, you don't need the inspection. Be firm, and go to another registry office if they don't budge. 11. After that's all done, confirm with the RIV that they will send you a Canadian Certification Label to affix to your door sill (usually comes within 10 business days). Useful Websites & Forums SiennaClub.org, Canadian Sienna's http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?showforum=22 Edmunds TownHall: Importing Car into Canada from US http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir...w/.ef18c13/116 Edmunds TownHall: Toyota Sienna Groups & Discussions http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir... model=Sienna RedFlagDeals.com: New Cars from US up to 20% Cheaper http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/a...07601-p-2.html General Information Site http://www.importcartocanada.info