Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA

Larry Hill · 08-03-2022, 09:16 AM

Does anyone have any experience that they can share?
Do's and Don'ts and any pitfalls.

Thanks

Mark Howes · 08-03-2022, 09:40 AM

Shouldn't be a big deal.

Word of advice from experience though. A good broker is worth whatever they charge.....they can make the entire process seamless and easy.

I've brought race cars, trailers, motorhomes the other way across the border. Imported some myself. I had a broker do the paperwork on a trailer I bought and the process was easy. I since got them to do all the purchases.

Feel free to pm me

Good luck

nhramnl · 08-03-2022, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Howes

Shouldn't be a big deal.

Word of advice from experience though. A good broker is worth whatever they charge.....they can make the entire process seamless and easy.

I've brought race cars, trailers, motorhomes the other way across the border. Imported some myself. I had a broker do the paperwork on a trailer I bought and the process was easy. I since got them to do all the purchases.

Feel free to pm me

Good luck

Mark's advice is gold... follow it and you will have a much easier time of things.

Brian Oakes · 08-03-2022, 01:53 PM

larry, marks replies are correct, but if you are going to get the car in canada, and plan on reg. in your name in the states, is not a problem i did one last fall. sorry for no cap,s new computor and cannot find the caps button. and question get ahold of me. brian

GTX JOHN · 08-03-2022, 06:40 PM

Be careful if buying a new car from a Dealership in Canada
and bring it back to US to use.
I used to buy a few Corvettes that way BUT now GM voids the
warranty in many areas automatically when you bring them back
to US.
This is a new development this year.

KRatcliff · 08-03-2022, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Be careful if buying a new car from a Dealership in Canada
and bring it back to US to use.
I used to buy a few Corvettes that way BUT now GM voids the
warranty in many areas automatically when you bring them back
to US.
This is a new development this year.

That is my understanding also, but also a bit ironic since the Corvettes are made here. It applies to other vehicles I believe, but this one stuck out to me.

jmcarter · 08-03-2022, 09:49 AM

The documentation required is pretty straightforward but would add that your port of entry can make a huge difference in your experience. The border agents at Havre MT were great, even downloaded an additional form for me. Some other crossings have been less spectacular. I’ve crossed the border dozens of times for business and pleasure but basically if paperwork is in order and you display absolutely no sense of humor you’re good. And absolutely no weapons or ammunition. If you have a carrier doing the transport I’d solicit input here on which one(s) to use.

Tom P · 08-04-2022, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcarter

... and you display absolutely no sense of humor you’re good.

Haha, yes, for sure. Most of these people are completely devoid of funnybones. If they smile it's because a cavity search is imminent.

Larry Hill · 08-06-2022, 07:32 AM

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and information!

FrankM · 08-07-2022, 10:14 AM

To title the car you will want to contact the manufacturer and they will provide a letter of conformity which states safety and emissions regulation standards. If the car was manufactured in Canada, US or Mexico then no duties. If built elsewhere then you have to pay US import duties. This is for crossing the border. In Ohio we have to have a VIN inspection before they issue a title, I suspect most states are the same. If car will never be registered for the road (race car) the border won't ask for anything. I went thru all these when we moved to the US.

08-03-2022, 09:16 AM	#1
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,922 Liked 10,681 Times in 2,222 Posts	Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA Does anyone have any experience that they can share? Do's and Don'ts and any pitfalls. Thanks __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

08-03-2022, 09:40 AM	#2
Mark Howes Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Saint John, NB Canada Posts: 126 Likes: 349 Liked 80 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA Shouldn't be a big deal. Word of advice from experience though. A good broker is worth whatever they charge.....they can make the entire process seamless and easy. I've brought race cars, trailers, motorhomes the other way across the border. Imported some myself. I had a broker do the paperwork on a trailer I bought and the process was easy. I since got them to do all the purchases. Feel free to pm me Good luck

08-03-2022, 01:53 PM	#4
Brian Oakes Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 570 Likes: 2 Liked 408 Times in 115 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA larry, marks replies are correct, but if you are going to get the car in canada, and plan on reg. in your name in the states, is not a problem i did one last fall. sorry for no cap,s new computor and cannot find the caps button. and question get ahold of me. brian

08-03-2022, 06:40 PM	#5
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,731 Likes: 2,795 Liked 2,471 Times in 696 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA Be careful if buying a new car from a Dealership in Canada and bring it back to US to use. I used to buy a few Corvettes that way BUT now GM voids the warranty in many areas automatically when you bring them back to US. This is a new development this year. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

08-03-2022, 09:49 AM	#7
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,294 Likes: 2,371 Liked 3,173 Times in 971 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA The documentation required is pretty straightforward but would add that your port of entry can make a huge difference in your experience. The border agents at Havre MT were great, even downloaded an additional form for me. Some other crossings have been less spectacular. I’ve crossed the border dozens of times for business and pleasure but basically if paperwork is in order and you display absolutely no sense of humor you’re good. And absolutely no weapons or ammunition. If you have a carrier doing the transport I’d solicit input here on which one(s) to use. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock Set another place at the table

08-06-2022, 07:32 AM	#9
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,922 Liked 10,681 Times in 2,222 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and information! __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

08-07-2022, 10:14 AM	#10
FrankM Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 98 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Buying a car in Canada and getting licensed in USA To title the car you will want to contact the manufacturer and they will provide a letter of conformity which states safety and emissions regulation standards. If the car was manufactured in Canada, US or Mexico then no duties. If built elsewhere then you have to pay US import duties. This is for crossing the border. In Ohio we have to have a VIN inspection before they issue a title, I suspect most states are the same. If car will never be registered for the road (race car) the border won't ask for anything. I went thru all these when we moved to the US.