Understand the costs for Compliance and Modifications
UCanImport has been informed that if you import a Volvo vehicle from the US into Canada, you may be charged $1,950 for a 2-hour safety inspection. To-date 2 Volvo importers have confirmed these charges, which work out to an hourly labour cost of $975!
Bottom line: neither vehicle required any modifications, nor did the dealership issue a statement showing what, if anything, needed to be fixed.
One of the offending dealerships named is Valentine Volvo in Calgary. UCanImport would like all Volvo importers to recognize that these charges may accrue to your importation and ask that you shop around for quotes. Even if there are no modifications required to your vehicle, you may still have to pay these costs just to comply with Volvo's new importing policies.
UCanImport requests that if you have received quotes for your Volvo inspection, contact us with the dealership name and the charges. We will continue to update importers on these punitive practices by the manufacturer.
Despite these costs, both importers report that the price disparity is too great not to take advantage of the savings. But go in informed so you don't get blind sided by these charges.
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18 comments:
Good for you, these car people are stealing from the public, it is bad enough how much they are charging.
These people are stealing from you, quit buying their cars
I find it odd that Transport Canada's stated objective in monitoring admissability of vehicles from the US is to ensure safety of Canadians but they are turning the determination of admissability over to Volvo Canada, who clearly has only a commercial interest to protect their profits in this matter.
I have received the same outrageous quote from Valentine in Calgary ($1950) and an even more expensive quote from Volvo Saskatoon ($2450). This is ridiculous given that most other car manufacturer would do an out of province inspection and service for around $300 and be happy to have a new service customer! Can believe that the RIV is letting Volvo rape people like that ... My next email is to them ...
I received a $1850 quote last week from Volvo of North Vancouver two weeks after they quoted me $108 for the inspection. They just said that the price has gone up as of March 1st and is now policy. When I asked what was involved in the 2 hour inspection to justify this cost I was given the run around. No specifics were given.
Volvo in vancouver quoted me 1895.00
they said they had no control of it they have orders from above (god????)
anyhow i contacted RIV and said if a shop on the riv list performs the provincial & federal inspection, why do i need a Volvo safety compliance letter. they said u dont. they said the provincial inspection is good enough. that inspection specifically checks the car for
faulty brakes, tires, etc as long u pass that you're good. im now licensed and enjoying my ride
i wont be going to volvo for any service issues....ever.
(Above, 7:40 pm Blog) How did you get the form 2 from RIV? We spoke with a RIV last week, we were told we can't get the Form 2 without the Volvo compliance letter, which means we'd have to go get the $1895 + tax inspection from the Volvo. Did you go to a "shop on the RIV list that performs the provincial & federal inspection" without form 2?
Interestingly enough we just went through the border very recently and they didn't even ask for the admissibility letter from Volvo that we apparently had to have and had to wait for by snail mail.
You can review the list of designated Federal inspection centres on the Resources Section of UCanImport.
See: http://www.ucanimport.com/Resource_Library.aspx
A provincial inspection does NOT require Form 2. The designated centre has their own provincially approved inspection form.
You can use the UCanImport blog, type in your province's name in the white search field in the upper left-hand corner, and locate the information for the Provincial Inspection Centres for your province. Easy!
If a province is not yet listed, and if you are aware of a directory of its inspection facilities, send them to us to post. It would be our pleasure to do so.
Kelowna Volvo ( Aaron) said the same thing!! $1950 !!! he said it is to protect their interests, their overhead and pay for their building.
He said it is their perogative. I I dont like it I can just not do it, and leave my 03 S60 sitting in the driveway. Problem is though, that I confirmed admissability on January 8th and NOTHING was mentioned to me by Volvo Canada when I called . I will gladly join the class laction lawsuit, this is against the rules of competitiion and is gouging for services not performed. Does anyone have a copy of what the Compliance letter will look like?
Interesting. I am waiting for my 2007 XC90 to arrive. I called Volvo in North VAncouver and they said the inspection was $300 (March 18). I had read about the $1950 issue and figured I would cover this one of two possible ways - 1)join the lawsuit to recoup my $$ - I still saved over $20k 2)try the provincial inspection route. Not sure what these guys (Volvo Corporate) are going after here - building customer disloyalty? I discussed buying in Canada, the price difference etc and the North Vancouver sales guy sales guy claimed they weren't losing that many sales because he mostly leases vehicles - Canadians can't lease a US venhicle.
Out of curiosity, does anyone have the verbiage from a local Volvo dealer that outlines their "safety compliance" letter?
Volvo Durham Ontario just quoted me $270. for the importation Safety Inspection Report - any necessary work can be done elsewhere.
This is great news. I think Volvo has just changed its policy! No word on the RIV site, but I have heard from another importer that RIV allowed release of Form 2 without the Letter of Compliance from a Volvo dealership.
I hope others come forward and tell us their experiences.
Could someone please post the steps of importing in order, and what's actually required. I'm not just a cross border shopper. I have lived in the US for two years and I'm bringing my car which I bought new back to Canada.
Thanks
You are in luck! Just download this importing guide and you will be relieved of any questions you have about the importing process.
Here's what's in the guide:
http://www.ucanimport.com/products.aspx
Here's is how to download it:
http://www.ucanimport.com/purchase_instructions.aspx
Here's what our subscribers are saying about the guide:
http://www.ucanimport.com/testimonials.aspx
And if you have any questions, we're here to assist.
I just talked to Anglo Canadian in Edmonton and they are now refusing to perform the inspection. Their rationale was that they thought it was too expensive, but to charge less would be unfair to the other dealers.... wtf?
Please follow our strategy of obtaining a Letter of Compliance from Volvo North America. You will bypass the need for the exorbitantly priced inspection - actually you won't have to set foot in a Volvo dealership!
If you want a sample copy of the letter e-mail us at info@ucanimport.com
Save your $2,000 hard earned money.
What about warranty? If you dont get the inspection dne, will they honour the warranty in Canada? I'm looking at a 2006 XC90 with about 14 months left on it.
Volvo honours warranty on both sides of the border.
If you would like to double-check, please contact:
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Attn: Volvo Customer Care Center
1 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647
Tel: 1-800-458-1552
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