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Volkwagen Warranty Policy Update

2011-01-27T17:22:00.001-08:00

Warranty Coverage Honoured in US Only

Posted by Anonymous:

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Thank you for contacting the Volkswagen of America Information Center.
We are pleased to see your interest in purchasing the environmentally
friendly Touareg Hybrid!

If you purchase a US-specific Volkswagen vehicle and register it in
Canada, warranty coverage will not be available if you have the vehicle
serviced or maintained at a VW dealership in Canada. All warranty
concerns, as well as maintenance coverage under the Carefree Maintenance
Program, must be addressed and performed at an authorized Volkswagen
dealership in the US.

We have no resources to verify if diagnoses or services can be performed
on the Touareg Hybrid model at Volkswagen dealers in Canada. We
encourage you to contact the Volkswagen Canada website at
http://www.vw.ca/ca/en_ca.html for additional assistance on this matter.

Thank you again for visiting vw.com. We hope to find you behind the
steering wheel of a Touareg Hybrid in the near future!

Matt
Volktalk

BMW Under Scrutiny in Europe

2010-10-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

On October 26, 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest luxury-car maker, is being investigated by Swiss antitrust authorities for allegedly preventing vehicle sales in some European countries to Swiss residents.

For UCanImport readers who have been following the class-action lawsuit currently underway in Canada, this likely comes as no surprise.

To read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-26/bmw-probed-for-blocking-sales-to-swiss-customers.html

To follow the Canadian lawsuit: http://autolawsuit.blogspot.com/

If you wish to import a BMW vehicle from the US into Canada, while maintaining the warranty, be advised that BMW Canada imposes a number of punitive costs for instrument cluster modification and heater module conversions, plus a fee to receive recall clearance. To learn more, search "BMW" on the upper-left hand search box and click on the magnifying class.

Volkwagen Warranty Policy Update

2010-08-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Warranty May Not Be Transferred For 2009 and Newer Vehicles

Further to our posting from March 29, 2010 where we learned the VW is denying warranty coverage on newer models, we have received this letter via a UCanImport reader.

"Thank you for contacting Volkswagen. We appreciate your interest in the
warranty coverage of Volkswagen vehicles.

For US-marketed Volkswagen vehicles 2008 model year and earlier, all
applicable warranty coverage is transferred when the vehicle is
registered in Canada. For 2009-2011 US-marketed VW vehicles, there is
no warranty coverage when registered in Canada. If you need additional
assistance with warranty concerns, please contact the Customer CARE
Center at 1-800-822-8987 and an advocate will be able to help.

Thank you again for visiting vw.ca. We look forward to finding you
behind the steering wheel of a new Volkswagen car in the near future!"

Please note that there are many third-party warranty providers to choose from, but there are also many other manufacturers who may be more honourable to deal with.

Ford Sells Volvo Unit to Chinese Company

2010-08-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

China's largest acquisition of a foreign car maker closed yesterday with Ford selling its Volvo unit to Geely for US$1.3 billion in cash and a $200-million note.

This means that Ford is no longer providing recall information on its website and details of any outstanding recalls must be obtained through a Volvo dealership in Canada.

Note, that there will likely be a steep fee for this letter as Volvo dealerships in Canada state that certain "Volvo" modifications are required. Modifications have been known to cost close to $3,000 and include instrument cluster changes and other inspections.

Please note that these modifications are not a Transport Canada requirement but a Volvo-mandated requirement.

Read more: Ford, Geely complete deal for Volvo; Volvo now parked in China

BORDER CROSSING UPDATE: HIGHGATE SPRINGS, VERMONT

2010-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

If you are traveling through the ST-ARMAND/PHILIPSBURG border crossing in Quebec, you will have to submit your US Vehicle Export documentation in original format to the HIGHGATE SPRINGS, VERMONT border, which is the opposite port of entry to cross back to ST-ARMAND/PHILIPSBURG.

1. Drop off the original and a photocopy of the vehicle Title certificate, the Bill of Sale, and the Vehicle Export Worksheet to the main lobby at Highgate Springs where an officer will stamp your documentation.

2. Hours of vehicle export services are Monday-Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Your paperwork or your export will not be processed outside of these hours.

3. A minimum of 72 hours later (weekends and holidays DO NOT COUNT) you may cross the border with the vehicle you intend to export out of the US. Stop in again at the lobby and this time receive an export stamp from the officers.

4. Proceed to the ST-ARMAND/PHILIPSBURG CBSA office to complete the vehicle importation process for Canada, pay duty(if applicable) and taxes before heading home.

Important: Do not operate your newly purchased vehicle without insurance coverage. Purchase a temporary or full policy before you collect your vehicle. For more details on document requirements for vehicle importers visit Border Crossing Information at UCanImport.com

Temporary Insurance Provider In US

2010-07-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

US Insurance Provider offers Temporary Coverage for Vehicle Importers

Thanks to our UCanImport readers, we have learned that there is a major auto insurance company in the U.S. who deals with odd ball policies i.e. total 30 day coverage without regard to origin of driver’s license and other similar types of requirements often needed by vehicle importers. They are called Hallmark Insurance Group Inc and can be accessed on line or through certain insurance brokers in most states.

Most Canadian temporary insurance coverage ranges from 10-days (BC) to 2 weeks (Saskatchewan), and some Ontario companies don't like to issue temporary insurance unless the bill of sale is under 10-days or unless they've had you as a client for an extended period. However, Hallmark will offer a good 30-day policy for about US$189 and could potentially allow you to make a longer holiday of your car buying trip.

To contact Hallmark directly, use this form - http://www.hallmarkinsurancegroup.com/contact.aspx

Please note that you must have some form of auto insurance before driving your newly-purchased vehicle back from the US and into Canada. Do not overlook this important step! Full importation details are provided within the UCanImport importing guide available at http://www.ucanimport.com/Subscription.aspx

We'd like to hear from you if you have had any experience with this company, so please blog your thoughts.

Minnesota Temporary Permit

2010-05-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

How to Obtain a Minnesota 31-day Temporary Permit

If you purchase a vehicle in Minnesota you will need a temporary permit to drive it back to Canada. Minnesota has a variety of trip permits, but the one best suited to Canadian vehicle importers is the 31-Day Temporary, Non-resident

For more information visit Driver and Vehicle Services and click on Vehicle Services

Then click on Permits for details on the various types available.

Office locations can be found by choosing from the drop down list on this page http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/MotorVehicle/Information/Vehicle%20Frame.htm Search for "Vehicles: Including Titles and Renewals" to find an office that will issue a trip permit.

For more information on how to complete a vehicle export from the United States, consult UCanImport.com

North Dakota Trip Permit

2010-05-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

How to Obtain a Temporary or Drive-Out Permit for North Dakota

If you purchase a vehicle in the US and have not registered it, you will require a trip permit to operate the vehicle back to Canada.

For North Dakota, please visit http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/mv/vehicleinfo.htm and click on Temporary Permits under Titling and Registration.

The fee for the permit is $5 and the permit is valid for 30 days from date of issue.

For more information on importing a motor vehicle from the US into Canada, please consult UCanImport.com

Update for the Lewiston Border Crossing

2010-05-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Crossing from Buffalo, NY into Ontario

For all clients exporting a vehicle from the U.S. At the Lewiston Crossing (New York State)- DO NOT proceed to the office at 726 Exchange Street, Suite 400.

Upon entrance, you will be told that you need to go directly to the office AT THE BRIDGE. At the American side, stay to the left, and enter the American Border Offices. They will direct you to the correct department.

This will save you time, as the Exchange St. office is 15-20 minutes south of the bridge.

Ontario Trip Permits

2010-04-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

How to apply for an Ontario Trip Permit

If you are importing a vehicle from the United States into Ontario, you will require an Ontario Trip Permit once you are back in Canada and ready to operate your vehicle to complete Federal and Provincial Inspections.

Use this link http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetAttachDocs/023-SR-LV-054~2/$File/SR-LV-54.pdf to access the application form for a 10-day trip permit.

The US trip permit is only valid until you are back at home and parked in your driveway.

For more information on how to successfully import a vehicle from the US into Canada visit UCanImport.

Vehicle Imports from the US Continue Upwards

2010-04-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Strong Loonie Drives Canadians South

The North American Automobile Trade Association reports that imports have jumped in the first quarter of 2010 with Canadians importing a total of 36,272 vehicles under the RIV program. GM and Ford vehicles led the pack with Toyota, Chrysler, Honda and Volkswagen rounding out the top 6.

If the strong dollar has you comparing vehicle prices, join the thousands of Canadians who have opted to purchase in the US and save.

Recent articles of interest: Globe & Mail and MSN Money make a good case for comparison shopping.

Still not convinced? Well, Cars Without Borders, a consumer advocacy group leading the campaign for fair prices for Canadians, has a few eye-opening examples of how Canadians continue to get duped by the manufacturers.

And if you have already imported your vehicle and had to pay manufacturer fees for recall letters and other non-Transport Canada required modifications, read about the class action law suit at http://autolawsuit.blogspot.com/

UCanImport encourages you to learn about the price differential between vehicles available in Canada and the US and to exercise your legal right to do what's best for your budget.

Nissan Voids Warranty on Brand New Vehicle Purchases

2010-04-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

Vehicle Must Be Registered in US for Warranty Transfer

If you are thinking of importing a Nissan vehicle from the US, note the following:

1. If you purchase the vehicle brand new in the US, you MUST register it in the US, before you import it to Canada. When you import it to Canada, you are restricted from selling the vehicle for 6 months. If you sell the vehicle within 6 months, the new buyer will not get the warranty.

2. If you decide to purchase a pre-owned vehicle in the US, the vehicle must have been owned and operated for 6 months in the US. If the vehicle is pre-owned, but not owned and operated for a minimum of 6 months, the warranty will be void when the vehicle enters Canada. There is no delayed warranty activation. So, if the vehicle was owned and operated for 5 months, and you import it to Canada, Nissan will void the warranty. If the vehicle is pre-owned, and has been owned and operated for 6 months, the warranty will transfer over to Canada.

If importing a brand new vehicle that you have registered in the US or a pre-owned vehicle that has been owned and operated for a minimum of 6 months, be sure to call Nissan North America at 1-800-387-0122 to register the vehicle and hold on to any remaining warranty.

Recall Clearance for Audi Vehicles

2010-04-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

If you are importing an Audi vehicle from the US into Canada, you will need to know if there are any recalls outstanding on your vehicle.

There are several ways to obtain this information, and we believe the first 2 are the most efficient:

1. If you are purchasing the vehicle from an Audi dealership, ask them to print off the dealer internal system report. This is usually 2-pages long.

2. If you are purchasing the vehicle from a private seller or a non-Audi dealership, visit the Audi website at http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en/owners/main/recalls_campaigns/vin_lookup.html and type in the VIN number for your vehicle.

3. The final way you can complete this step is by using the guidance we provided in an earlier blog posting at http://ucanimport.blogspot.com/2007/11/importing-audi-from-us-request-recall.html

We wish all importers good luck on their purchases!

Volkswagen Denies Warranty Coverage for Brand New Jetta Imports from US

2010-03-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

UCanImport has just learned that Volkswagen is choosing not to honour warranty coverage on some brand new vehicles purchased in the US. The vehicle in question is a 2010 VW Jetta.

For those importers who are fortunate enough to find a dealership willing to sell them a brand new VW vehicle, beware that the OEM warranty may be declined.

It is uncommon to find VW dealerships who will sell new vehicles for export as most claim they are prohibited from doing so under their dealership agreement with the manufacturer. It seems very likely that this dealership's choice to sell the 2010 Jetta to a Canadian triggered a backlash from VW, who responded swiftly by stating that it will remove warranty coverage once the vehicle leaves the US. In the case of this particular importation, only the dealership was hurt as the purchaser walked away from the deal - thanks in part to their in-depth knowledge of the importation process and their capacity to research these nuances.

If you are interested in importing a VW vehicle, please research warranty coverage particularly if you are in the market for a brand-new vehicle.

There you go folks, another blow to NAFTA.

Mercedes-Benz Charging for Recall Clearance Letters

2010-03-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

UCanImport has learned that Mercedes-Benz USA is now imposing a US$350 fee to issue a previously-free recall clearance letter.

At this time, importers are advised to telephone MB USA in advance of their importation to ascertain whether this fee will be charged. The telephone number is 1-800-367-6372.

UCanImport's earlier advise on how to request a recall letter from MB USA is no longer valid to importers.

How to benefit from purchasing an MB vehicle in the US:

1. Despite this new fee, importing Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the US still offers value to the importer. Lower prices and larger inventories are available to you.

2. Purchase a Mercedes-Benz vehicle that is nearing the end of its warranty coverage and you will be free to avoid dealing with the MB dealerships in Canada. MB Canada states it cannot honour a warranty on a vehicle unless one of its dealerships in Canada have been paid to inspect and modify the vehicle. So, if you don't have to worry about a warranty, you don't have to pay them a fee for inspecting your vehicle.

3. And finally, as part of your purchase negotiations with the US seller, request an Internal System Printout off the MB system. This free printout, which shows if the vehicle is subject to any current recall campaigns, will satisfy RIV and save you the US$350.

Last, but not least, save yourself hundreds of dollars on exchanging your funds from Canadian Dollars to US Dollars. Contact CanadianForex and set up your currency account with their professional assistance. Then simply use this account to convert funds and transfer them to the US. We think the savings you experience through this institution will compensate you for the monies you may have to fork over to MB.

Thank you to our ever-vigilant subscribers who share their experiences with us.

Update to Class Action Lawsuit Against BMW and Mercedes-Benz

2010-02-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

Update to Class Action Lawsuit Against BMW and Mercedes-Benz

2009-11-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

If you have imported a BMW or Mercedes-Benz vehicle from the United States into Canada and have had to pay fees for letters of admissibility, recall clearance and/or BMW and Mercedes-Benz mandated modifications, this update may affect you:

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The class action lawsuit is awaiting scheduling of the certification hearing in Ontario. There are a few important stages in a class action proceeding, the first of which is known as certification. In the certification stage, the court determines whether the lawsuit can proceed as a class proceeding.

People do not have an automatic right to pursue class action lawsuits. The court has to first give permission to proceed as a class action. Otherwise claimants have to sue on their own. The court determines whether to give permission or certify a lawsuit as a class proceeding at the certification stage.

The court will examine several factors in making this decision and will certify a class proceeding if the following conditions are met:

* the pleadings disclose a cause of action;

* there is an identifiable class of two or more persons that would be represented by the representative plaintiff;

* the claims of the class members raise common issues;

* a class proceeding would be the preferable procedure for the resolution of the common issues; and

* there is a representative plaintiff who,

(i) would fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class,

(ii) has produced a plan for the proceeding that sets out a workable method of advancing the proceeding on behalf of the class and of notifying class members of the proceeding, and

(iii) does not have, on the common issues for the class, an interest in conflict with the interests of other class members.

These issues are adjudicated at the certification hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

The claim is being put forward to represent all persons in all provinces and territories in Canada who have incurred losses as a result of the alleged conduct.

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Questions and comments may be posted to this blog or e-mailed directly to info@ucanimport.com Your questions and responses - if determined to be relevant to other importers - may be posted on this blog for others to review.

Strategies To Avoid BMW Fees On Vehicles Imported From The US

2009-10-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

The following experience and advise was posted to the UCanImport blog and we have placed it here as a new post for those of you who are sitting on the fence about importing a BMW vehicle from the United States.

Please, review the information below and search this blog for other BMW posts.

If you are interested in sharing your story or joining the lawsuit against BMW, please visit this blog - http://autolawsuit.blogspot.com/

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UCanImport reader post dated October 22, 2009

Guys, I want to let you know what I did to bypass BMW Canada intervention for owner who import. I can say now, that I would have taken my car for service at BMW, but now the car will NEVER.. EVER.. see a BMW dealership.

They hold you hostage. "Do these unnecessary modifications to your car that we require to make some money or you don't get your recall letter."

I just imported a BMW 5 series and here is what they told me needed to be done.

New Instrument Cluster - $1590 + $125 Programing
I said to them, why do I need a new cluster when it has KM/H on the cluster and that is OK with the RIV.

IHKA Heating Module - $1060 + $125 Programing
They told my the IHKA Module is for Canadian emissions standards... I said to them, the car already passed drive clean, it meets the standards.

Daytime Runners - $375
This is a requirement, but you'll note my costs to have this done below.

Car Inspection - $187
CASH GRAB.. This is to verify all of the VIN, which CDN Tire does with their FREE Government inspection.

RECALL LETTER - $500
Finally I am "allowed" to have the honor to pay for this letter, which is free with most car manufactures.

Grand Total with Tax: $4,477.06

Here's what I did...

Contacted Unity Auto - http://www.unityauto.com/licensing.php They supply you with the letter for $400
Went to TechMax Auto - http://www.techmax.ca/ To get my Daytime lights activated - $100

Grand Total with Tax: $500

That's almost $4,000 in savings.

The changes BMW requires are unlawful and not required by law to certify the car in Canada. Canadian Tire is the certified shop that determines the requirements + your provincial standard inspection. Which my car meets every single requirement.

I called BMW's head office and was told that there are several lawsuits pending right now due to these charges, and I'm not surprised. I've heard stories of the dealers telling people they cannot activate Daytime Runners unless the cluster is replaced which is falsifying the truth and highly illegal.

As a final note, my car is out of it's warranty period, so having BMW Canada support me is not required for myself, and now I have $4,000 to give to the indy mechanic TechMax for any repairs I need. If you do go this route and have a very new BMW with lots of warranty you're stuck the 5K way as far as I know, and I can understand the modifications and letter fees are for them to re-coupe costs they will incur fixing your car under warranty for years. But if you're importing a car that has no warranty this is the route to go IMO.

I hope that this really helps out a lot of people. I found out all of this information by doing hours of searching the net, so I wanted to add my contribution back. If you're looking for a local dealer to set up your daytime lights, just google your area and European Independent Mechanic.

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UCanImport suggests the following:

1. Ask the seller to obtain the Warranty Vehicle Inquiry report from their BMW dealership in the US. This is a screen capture that also shows if any recalls are outstanding on the vehicle.

2. Submit this report to recall@riv.ca and have them review it and if okay, approve it.

3. Have the DRLs activated in the US! Folks, this is the one that gets most BMW importers. Most people are just happy to get the recall printout that they forget to ask for the DRL activation.

4. Take your vehicle to a Federal Inspection Center once you receive Form 2 from RIV and bypass BMW entirely.

This is a strategy that has been used by hundreds of UCanImport subscribers and they have successfully avoided the BMW money-grab.

And, finally, don't sit silent while these practices continue. Tell us your stories at http://autolawsuit.blogspot.com/ and sign up for the lawsuit if you have been at the receiving end of these money-grabbing policies.

Import a Harley Davidson Motorcycle from the US

2009-10-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

Request Recall Clearance Using This Form from Deeley Harley Davidson

If you are importing a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from the United States, please read and complete this form to request recall clearance information from Deeley Harley Davidson - http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_us/media/downloads/motorcycle_shipping/export-to_canada.pdf

You may only request this information when you have a copy of the title in hand.

Before negotiating the purchase of any Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the US, please ensure that it is admissible to Canada by reviewing the Transport Canada admissibility listing.

The recall letter is required by RIV/Transport Canada before they are able to issue the Federal Inspection Form. You are able to submit this letter at any point in your importation project, i.e. before you bring the motorcycle into Canada or after.

September 2009 Vehicle Imports Almost Double January Figures

2009-10-20T11:56:00.001-07:00

Currency parity has more Canadians looking south for vehicles

After importing 240,000 vehicles from the United States last year, Canadians are back at it after a brief respite over the last 9 months.

If you are thinking of purchasing a vehicle in the US consider the following:

1. Will the dealership in the US sell me a brand new vehicle, or will I only be able to purchase a used one?

2. Does the seller have a clear title to the vehicle or are there any encumbrances on the vehicle?

3. Am I really getting the best rate on my wire transfer payment to the seller, and how do I shop for a better exchange rate?

4. How significant are the required modifications on the vehicle and can I have them completed in the US?

Read the most recent article in the Vancouver Sun related to importing vehicles from the US. For answers to the above questions and for additional clarification on the vehicle importation process, download a copy of UCanImport's easy-to-follow vehicle importing guide.

For a list of vehicles that can be imported from the United States, please see Transport Canada's admissibility listing.

For a list of USA and Canada Border Crossing details please visit our listing information at http://www.ucanimport.com/Border_Crossing_Info.aspx

US Trip Permits and Temporary Registration for Vehicle Imports

2009-09-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

When you purchase a motor vehicle in the US with the intention of importing it immediately into Canada, you will want to have a trip permit for the vehicle.

What is a trip permit?

A trip permit, also known as temporary registration or in-transit permit, is a sticker or a piece of paper issued by a motor vehicles department (DMV or DOT) in the USA. This permit gives you permission to operate an unregistered vehicle until you arrive in Canada. If you are an average importer, you only want to pick up the car, truck, RV or motorcycle from the US and bring it to Canada without having to register it first in the US.

A list of trip permit information is provided on the UCanImport website for a number of US states.

With a trip permit purchased in one state, you may operate the vehicle through all states that fall between your origin and your destination. For example, if you purchase a trip permit in Texas, you can use that permit to operate your vehicle through all the states up to the Canadian border and to your residence. You are not required to purchase a trip permit for each state.

If purchasing your vehicle through a dealership, ask the dealer to obtain the trip permit for you.

Important: Once you have arrived home in Canada, the US-issued trip permit is no longer valid. You must obtain a Canadian-issue permit from you auto insurance agent in Canada.

Porsche Follows BMW and Mercedes-Benz By Imposing Compliance Letter Fees

2009-08-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Importers Face Payment of $1,250 For "Importation Inspection"

As of June 24, 2009, Porsche is insisting that it can no longer issue Recall Clearance Letters and that any such confirmation may only be obtained from a Canadian Porsche dealership once the vehicle has been imported.

The cost of the importation inspection is $1,250 and results in the issue of a Letter of Compliance from Porsche.

Here's what importers ought to know before completing their purchase:

1. RIV does not require a Letter of Compliance to issue Form 2; RIV only needs recall clearance confirmation, copy of Form 1 and payment of the RIV fee.

2. 1. If purchasing your Porsche vehicle from a US dealership, ask them to print off the Porsche warranty inquiry report off their internal systems. This is a screen capture that dealerships have access to and it will be accepted by RIV.

3. If purchasing from a private seller in the US, have them go to the dealership that does their service work for them and get this printout.

If the vehicle you desire to import into Canada is shown as admissible on the RIV website then Porsche has confirmed that the vehicle may be imported into Canada and can be modified to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Please post your Porsche importing stories here for others to read and learn from.

We're disappointed that Porsche has followed BMW and MB down this path.

For all of you who have paid the $1,250 fee, please sign on to the Class Action Lawsuit

RIV Launches New Website

2009-08-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Vehicle Importers Can Track Cases Online

RIV has leaped into the 21st Century with a brand new, easy-to-navigate website.

If you are importing a vehicle from the US into Canada, RIV offers more comprehensive manufacturer information, a customizable Importer Checklist, and links to border crossing information.

Please note that not all manufacturers will issue recall clearance information to you when you contact them. These include BMW and Honda among others. UCanImport suggests using this blog for tips on how to obtain recall information. Additionally, RIV does not provide exact documentation requirements for the US border, so you may choose to use UCanImport's border crossing information for ready access to fax numbers and other document details.

Overall, we applaud RIV's efforts to make importing information more transparent and love the fact that importers can now use a handy Case Tracking tool to keep up with the documentation approval process needed to receive the Federal Inspection Form (Form 2).

Importing a vehicle from the United States into Canada just became friendlier...

BMW Recall Clearance Letters Available For Importers

2009-07-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

UCanImport Reader Provides Advise To Importers

I just imported a 2007 BMW 328i convertible from the U.S and the BMW dealerships here in Toronto told me I had to pay $500 for a recall letter and then $2500 for the instrument cluster to change it to km/hr, and then another $300 for day light running lamps. Thats almost $3500+! BMW is getting ridiculous.

Luckily I found a shop here in Toronto that gets recall letters from an internal BMW employee for $400 flat fee, his email is bmw@cagossip.com

NOTE: UCanImport has not verified the validity of this process and asks importers to use caution when sending money to an unknown party. For information on the class action lawsuit please view http://autolawsuit.blogspot.com/

Import A Salvage Vehicle Into Alberta

2009-06-05T13:13:00.001-07:00

Process To License a Salvage/Rebuilt Vehicle in Alberta

If you are importing a vehicle from the US and the title indicates that the vehicle a salvage or reconstructed vehicle, please note the following for licensing in Alberta.

1. Prior to commencing your importation, please verify that the vehicle is admissible to Canada by checking at RIV or using this list;

2. Contact a salvage inspection shop using this Alberta Transportation map - http://www2.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp ***PLEASE SELECT "SALVAGE" FOR INSPECTION TYPE PRIOR TO COMMENCING YOUR SEARCH.

3. Get 2 to 3 quotes for a salvage inspection; As these shops are privates businesses, prices may vary.

4. Take the vehicle for the customary Federal Inspection following the guidelines in the UCanImport guide, and then go for a salvage inspection. When you pass, you will receive a Salvage Inspection Certificate.

5. The Salvage Inspection Certificate is VALID FOR 14 DAYS only, so you must take the vehicle to a registry agent to have it registered and licensed within those 14 days.

6. You will then get your plates and your vehicle will be registered as "Salvage" in Alberta.

Recall Clearance Approval Process At RIV Has Changed

2009-05-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Importers No Longer Able to Obtain A General Inquiry Number Without Form 1

UCanImport has learned that there has been a slight change to the recall clearance approval process at RIV.

Until now, we had recommended that our readers submit recall clearance documentation to RIV prior to importing their vehicle into Canada. By so doing, importers could receive confirmation that the recall clearance documentation was approved by RIV. Importers would receive a General Inquiry Number (GIN) under which their recall documentation would be accessible until the vehicle was eventually imported into Canada.

As of now, importers will have to submit recall clearance documentation along with Form 1 to RIV only AFTER the vehicle is in Canada, all the border fees have been paid, and they have received Form 1 from the CBSA. Then, using the sample cover letter provided in the importing guide, the importer will submit the recall clearance documentation and Form 1 to RIV, await approval and the ultimate release of Form 2 (Federal Inspection Form).

If you have any questions or concerns about this change in process, please contact us at info@ucanimport.com

Importing A Motor Vehicle From The US

2009-04-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

Avoid Common Dealer/Seller Scams When Buying A Motor Vehicle In The U.S.

This article written by Matthew de Paula of MSN Autos provides information on the following scams and give you tips on how to protect yourself:

1. Selling Cars Without Proper or Clear Titles;
2. Selling Wrecked or Salvaged Vehicles;
3. Bogus Warranties;
4. Financing Falls Through;
5. Credit/Identity Theft; and
6. Misleading Advertising.

For importers, note that in order complete your export out of the US, you must submit export documentation to the US Customs & Border Patrol office a minimum of 72 hours in advance. To complete this submission, you will have to provide copies of the front and back of the title certificate, as well as a copy of the bill of sale.

One statistic we have encountered suggests that up to 12% of online advertising is misleading. Please review the first part of this article to understand how to safeguard yourself against unscrupulous vehicle sellers.

Import a Mercedes-Benz from the US

2009-03-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

How To Request A Recall Clearance Letter

If you are importing a Mercedes-Benz vehicle from the US, you will need to show RIV that there are no recalls outstanding on the vehicle.

To receive a Recall Clearance Letter from MB USA, you will need to fax a cover letter to (201) 476-6213 (Attention: CAC) along with proof of ownership in the form of a Title, Registration or Bill of Sale. You should also indicate that the recall information is required to complete an export out of the US and import into Canada.

Remember to provide your full contact information and your preferred method of delivery, i.e. fax or mail. Give yourself up to 10 days to receive this letter. To telephone MB USA use 1-800-367-6372.

At this time there is no charge for this letter.

***IMPORTANT*** AS OF 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ WILL COLLECT $350 FOR THIS LETTER. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING POST CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS FEE MAY IMPACT YOU *****

http://ucanimport.blogspot.com/2010/03/mercedes-benz-charging-for-recall.html

Update on Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Auto Manufacturers

2009-02-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

If you have imported a vehicle from the US into Canada, this update may affect you.

------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Vehicle Importer:

Thank you for your continued interest in the progress of our claim against the auto manufacturers.

At the time we commenced our lawsuit, a similar suit was commenced in Ontario, and we have been asked to join forces with that Ontario firm.

In order to join forces we have agreed to discontinue the claim in British Columbia. We believe that by this partnership we have a better chance of wining this David & Goliath battle.

These lawsuits are usually strenuously defended and can take years to wind their way though the legal system, so we ask you for your patience and continued interest. We will endeavor to provide monthly updates so that you can follow the progress of this lawsuit as it works its way through the court system.

Kindest regards,

Wm. Rory Lambert

Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson

E-mail: rlambert@dinninghunter.com

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BMW Imports From The US

2009-02-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

Warranty Transfer Process

If you are importing a BMW vehicle from the US, you may come across conflicting information on the process.

For example, RIV doesn't require a Letter of Compliance from BMW Canada in order to release the Federal Inspection Form (Form 2) to you. You can register your vehicle in Canada without a BMW Canada Letter of Compliance. However, BMW Canada insists that one of its registered Canadian dealerships must perform modifications to your newly-imported vehicle, often to the tune of $3,000. They also insist that once the modifications are done, they must issue a Letter of Compliance at a cost of $500.

While the Letter of Compliance is not required for RIV/Transport Canada, BMW insists it is required for Warranty Protection on the balance of your vehicle's warranty.

This is a verbatim response to a customer query:

"Dear [BMW X3 Importer];

Thank you very much for your reply email.

We are truly sorry for the experience that you did receive at Calgary BMW and we can certainly look into this further if you would like us to do so.

However our response does remain unchanged regarding reimbursement of the costs associated with importing your vehicle from the United States. You are correct in stating that there are ways to go about importing your vehicle into Canada without paying the $500.00, but these ways are not suggested by BMW Canada as your vehicle would not be properly registered with us and the remaining portion of your warranty would not be validated.

If there is anything else that we can help with please email back and we would be glad to assist.

Sincerely,
Matthew
Customer Interaction Specialist
BMW Canada Inc. "

When asked by the importer to verify that folks need to "register" their imported vehicle with BMW Canada in order to have the warranty recognised, this was Matthew's response.

"Dear [BMW X3 Importer]

Thank you very much for responding.

I have contacted Calgary BMW and spoken with Service Manager Kevin Mah regarding your concerns and we certainly aim to improve the quality of service that you receive during your next visits. Regarding the importation of your vehicle, there is a difference between vehicles that are visiting from the United States and vehicles that have permanently moved to Canada and not registered their vehicle properly with BMW Canada. We certainly do assist our counterparts in the United States by honoring the warranty with customers visiting, but with vehicles that have moved to Canada permanently we do ask that the importation procedures that you have followed are performed.

I hope that this provides clarification regarding your concerns and if you would like to discuss these issues further please do feel free to contact me directly at 1-800-567-2691 and ask for extension 5069.

Sincerely,
Matthew
Customer Interaction Specialist
BMW Canada Inc. "

BMW does not come out and state that they will refuse to honour the warranty if the $500 is not paid for a "registration" fee. So, what exactly is their policy? We have long decided that BMW is seeking these financial rewards to appease their Canadian dealerships who have lost sales to importers seeking better deals in the US.

We encourage other readers to share their experiences. Like you, we are frustrated by the rules that BMW imposes and the penalties they charge.

If you have paid these fees to BMW, you may wish to put your name on the list of potential plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit. If so, please e-mail info@ucanimport.com and we will add your contact information to the growing list.

Vehicle Imports in 2008 Break Previous Records

2009-01-29T09:12:00.000-08:00

The North American Automobile Trade Association (NAATA) has summarized the importing stats from 2008 as follows:

A total of 239,929 vehicles were imported into Canada through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles program in 2008, breaking the old record set the year before of 189,738 vehicles.

This figure represents an average of 22, 600 vehicles per month from January to October allowing for the dramatic declines in November (7,854 vehicles) and December (5,661vehicles).

With the drop in the Canadian dollar exports from Canada to the US and to other parts of the world are starting to pick up.

Daytime Running Lights for Chrysler Vehicles

2009-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

Canadian Dealers Can Activate DRLs

A few weeks ago a subscriber asked:

"Do you know if Chrysler makes a module to turn on the DRL system in a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. I live in the States and have a Canadian made unit. All the dealers and Chrysler have given me is a run around. Anything will be helpful."

UCanImport offered this reader some advice on how to get the information, and asked them to provide any feedback for our subscribers and blog readers. Here's the answer for all Chrysler importers:

"I finally found the answer to the question. American Chrysler product dealers do not have the ability to turn the DRL system on with their Tech Box, but I have discovered that Canadian Chrysler product dealers do. All I have to do is drive over to Windsor and go to the dealer and they will take their box and flash the PCM and on they come."

UCanImport advises that in many instances Canadian Tire may be able to help depending on the year of the vehicle.

Import a Mercedes-Benz from the US

2009-01-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

Transport Canada list shows 2009 models are now admissible to Canada

If you are seeking to import a Mercedes-Benz vehicle from the US, please review the newly-updated list at Transport Canada for admissibility requirements. To review admissibility listings directly at Mercedes-Benz, please see http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6872

We encourage you to review an earlier blog posting to understand how to obtain a Recall Clearance Letter for your Mercedes-Benz importation.

Transport Canada Admissibility Listing Currently Not Available

2008-12-30T16:29:00.000-08:00

If you are trying to import a vehicle from the US, you must first check the admissibility listing at Transport Canada's web site through www.riv.ca

At this time, Transport Canada is modifying its web site and the link to the list of admissible vehicles is not working. RIV informs us that this is a temporary issue and you will have access to the admissibility list shortly.

If you are in a hurry and would like to receive a copy by e-mail please telephone RIV at 888-848-8240.

Happy Holidays to all.

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-09-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Access Recall Information Online at Volvo.com

If you are importing a new or pre-owned Volvo vehicle from the US, you are able to review and print off recall clearance information from the Volvo Owners Info section on the corporate website.

To do so, you must register by entering your contact info and VIN number. You will then have access to all your vehicle information such as:

Owner's Manuals
A library of documents covering current and past models
Service and maintenance information
Warranty information
Accessory information

You can choose to submit the recall information to RIV using the pre-clearance format indicated in the importing guide, or you may opt to wait until you vehicle is in Canada before providing this information to RIV.

For more information about importing a Volvo vehicle into Canada, read the UCanImport blog or visit UCanImport.com

Import a Vehicle from the US

2008-09-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Payment Options at CBSA

If you are importing a vehicle from the United States you will have to pay GST and duty (if applicable) at the Canadian port of entry. Your options include:

1. Certified cheque - any amount is accepted. Remember to make your certified cheque amount just less than you think your overall payment to CBSA will be, and make up any shortfall by using credit (up to $500), personal cheque (up to $2,500) or debit (unlimited).

2. Visa or MasterCard up to $500 at most ports, although some will accept more.

3. Personal cheque up to $2,500.

4. Debit card up to any amount.

If you are using a Customs broker to clear your vehicle through CBSA, you will make your payments to them in advance and they will pay CBSA on the date of importation.

To speak with a CBSA officer, call toll-free:

Service in English:
1 800 461-9999
Service in French:
1 800 959-2036

For all other expenses related to importing a vehicle from the US, please use the UCanImport worksheet provided within the importing guide.

Letter of Admissibility Fee Refunded

2008-07-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Informed Importer Receives Refund From BMW

Comments from UCanImport reader:

I am pleased to announce that I was able to get my $350.00 for the Letter of Admissibility refunded from BMW/ Mini.

After reading the UCanImport Blog, it prompted me to re-look at the RIV admissibility list and see the changes. Armed with the downloaded RIV info, and the fact that the Mini I am importing has not made it to the border yet, I contacted the issuing Mini dealer and stated that the letter is useless and I would like a refund placed on file towards my required modifications. They complied! The total mods are still going to be $1750.

Thanks for the new info on being able to get the Recall letter from a US dealer, that will save me another $500!!

I love this site!

--------------------------------

UCanImport says:

Congratulations on your savings! We are pleased to have been a part of your experience and thank you for sharing these valuable comments with our readers nationwide

Inspections for Vehicles Imported from US

2008-07-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Successfully Completed Inspection Report Must Be Faxed To RIV

In an effort to keep your importation process moving along smoothly, please ensure that your inspection centre sends RIV a copy of the successfully completed inspection report and Form 2 by faxing it to 1-888-346-9416.

If the inspection centre does not normally complete this step, you will have to do it yourself to receive your Canadian Compliance sticker from Transport Canada.

As mentioned in the importing guide, please make photocopies of all your importing documents, including the completed and stamped Form 2 after the federal inspection is completed. In the event that RIV doesn't receive the fax from the inspection centre, and you have given this form to your insurance agent, you will still have a back up copy that you can send in.

Many thanks to a UCanImport subscriber who provided these additional hints to make your importing experience more streamlined.

Duty and Tax Relief for Returning Residents Importing Vehicles

2008-07-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Import Up To $10,000 Duty And Tax Free

If you have been a resident of another country for a minimum period of 1 year without any return trips into Canada during this time, you will qualify to bring up to $10,000 worth of goods back to Canada tax and duty free.

If the vehicle you purchased while abroad is valued at over $10,000 and was made outside of North America, you will be charged duty and tax on the amount exceeding $10,000.

NOTE: all vehicles with a VIN beginning with 1,2,3,4 or 5 may be imported duty free.

For more information on this program, please contact CBSA at 1-800-461-9999 and press "0" to speak to a helpful officer.

Letter of Admissibility Waived For Volvo Imports From US

2008-07-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

RIV List Updated To Show All Volvo Models Admissible To Canada

We are pleased to report that as of today importers of Volvo vehicles from the US will not require to apply for a Letter of Admissibility. The RIV list has been updated to that all 1993 to 2009 Volvo models are admissible to Canada.

In January 2008, Volvo Canada refused to provide admissibility information on the RIV website stating that they would only provide a Letter of Admissibility when requested by the importer.

As of today, importers may obtain admissibility information from www.riv.ca and separate Letter of Admissibility is not required from the Volvo Canada head office.

Previously, the requirement for a Letter of Admissibility made it difficult for importers to negotiate on vehicle purchases in the US as they required advance written confirmation from Volvo Canada that the vehicle in question would be allowed to enter Canada. In addition, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would request proof of admissibility prior to allowing the vehicle to be imported into Canada.

Waiving this requirement means importers simply have to verify the admissibility list before completing their negotiations and purchase in the US.

Mercedes-Benz Imports Exempt From Letter of Admissibility

2008-07-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

RIV List Updated To Show Admissible List of Mercedes-Benz Models

We are pleased to report that as of today importers of Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the US will not require to apply for a Letter of Admissibility. The RIV list has been updated to show which Mercedes-Benz models are admissible to Canada.

Importers may obtain admissibility information from www.riv.ca or from Mercedes-Benz Canada at the following web address: www.mercedes-benz.ca/admissibility

A separate Letter of Admissibility is not required from the manufacturer's head office.

Previously, the requirement for a Letter of Admissibility made it difficult for importers to negotiate on vehicle purchases in the US as they required advance written confirmation from Mercedes-Benz Canada that the vehicle in question would be allowed to enter Canada. In addition, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would request proof of admissibility prior to allowing the vehicle to be imported into Canada.

Waiving this requirement means importers simply have to verify the admissibility list before completing their negotiations and purchase in the US.

Letter of Admissibility Not Required For BMW Imports

2008-07-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

RIV List Updated To Show All BMW Models Are Admissible

We are pleased to report that as of today, the RIV list shows that all 1993 to 2009 BMW models except the 1995 M3 are admissible to Canada and do not require a Letter of Admissibility from BMW Canada.

If you have imported a BMW and paid $350 for the letter of admissibility, please follow the instructions on http://www.ucanimport.com/lawsuit.aspx to participate in the class action lawsuit launched earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that these fees charged by BMW are unnecessary, unlawful, and arbitrary.

This letter is no longer a requirement and the importer does not have to pay a fee to determine if the vehicle may be legally imported into Canada. A complete list of admissible vehicles is available at www.riv.ca

This is a great victory for the vehicle importer.

Volvo Safety Inspection Costs

2008-07-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

RIV has no say or authority over manufacturers' methods

Communication between concerned importer and RIV follows:

------------------------

From: RD
Sent: July 3, 2008 2:30 PM
To: RIV Info
Subject: safety inspection gouging by Canadian dealerships

Dear Sir/Madam

I’m sure I am not the first to write to you on this subject but I thought I would add my name to the list of those concerned. The Canadian retailers of specific European manufactured cars are using the RIV’s importation programme to legitimize an artificial monopoly by requiring that the safety inspection of US imported vehicles be run through their service departments rather than by any generally qualified inspection centre. One retailer is charging as much as $2495.00 for a 2-3 hour inspection that, prior to March 2008, was charging roughly $250 for the same service. In speaking with individuals at retail stores associated with that car manufacturer, no one can reasonably justify the exorbitant increase except to say they are trying to re-coup the sales losses they are experiencing due to the increased importation of vehicles. It has NOTHING to do with a change in the inspection service.

Please take this seriously and consider mandating any approved inspection agency as qualified to perform inspections on passenger cars rather than allowing the original manufacturer to dictate who can inspect the cars. In my opinion, this is likely to get far worse before it gets better if it’s not managed.

For a change, we in Canada have a strong dollar and as a result we have many benefits we haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing for a very long time. Please don’t allow these car dealerships to use the RIV to take away one of those benefits.

Kind regards
RD

------------------------

From: Gray, Cameron
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:57 PM
To: RD
Subject: RE: safety inspection gouging by Canadian dealerships

I sympathise with the frustration you must feel with the difficulties you are having in getting your vehicle inspected and registered. Please note that the RIV's processes and requirements for issuing an inspection form are independent of the manufacturer's methods or conditions for issuing certifications of admissibility and recall clearance.

The RIV has always required that acceptable recall documentation come from the manufacturer in order to ensure that a vehicle will meet Canadian safety compliance. Furthermore, the issuance of an inspection form has also been dependent on vehicle admissibility. The www.riv.ca website shows that these requirements are applicable to passenger cars and multipurpose vehicles made by all manufacturers.

The RIV's mandate is to merely certify that US specification vehicles being imported into Canada meet all applicable Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, through inspection, proof of recall clearance, and proof of modification. Unfortunately, it has no say or authority over the methods a manufacturer chooses to provide proof of recall clearance or admissibility.

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Respectfully,

Cameron Gray
Registrar of Imported Vehicles

------------------------

UCanimport advises that there is currently a way to bypass the "safety inspection" fee, but cautions that manufacturers may dream up new ways to stall importations from the US.

What is critical is that manufacturers' representative dealerships charge fair prices for their work. In our opinion $2,450 for an inspection constitutes unfair pricing and extortion, and a violation of importers' rights.

While Transport Canada won't step in to resolve this money-grab, we fear that other manufacturers' will sense an opportunity and want to join in.

Continue to seek fair treatment and keep the limelight on these unfair practices.

Manufacturers' Policies Frustrating Importers

2008-07-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Special Meeting For Importers Sponsored by NAATA

The North American Automobile Trade Association (NAATA) is holding a special meeting on July 17, 2008 at 2pm at the Credit Valley Golf & Country Club boardroom in Mississauga, Ontario.

If you have been affected by manufacturers' policies that have forced you to pay exorbitant costs or entirely prevented you from purchasing a certain vehicle from the US, this meeting is targeted to you.

To participate in the meeting or for more information, please contact Brian Osler at brian@naata.org.

Bumper Standards Harmonized!

2008-06-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Good news for vehicle importers.

Today, the Government of Canada announced the amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) whereby Canadian bumper standards for passenger vehicles would be harmonized with similar safety standards from the US and Europe.

Canadian importers have been impatiently awaiting this new regulation since the proposed amendment was announced in March 2008.

"This amendment will therefore allow vehicles manufactured for the United States that were deemed inadmissible due to differing bumper requirements to become admissible since bumper modifications will no longer be required."

Read the full amendment: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2008/20080625/html/sor199-e.html

Import an Acura from the US

2008-06-25T10:02:00.001-07:00

If you plan to import an Acura vehicle from the US, use these tips to simplify the process:

1. For recall information, register on the Acura Ownerlink website at http://owners.acura.com/registration/registerstepone.aspx and create an account to access all kinds of information about your particular vehicle.

2. Print off the recall information (showing no recalls outstanding) and submit it to RIV with your Form 1, or in advance as per our suggestion in the importing guide, and you will receive the federal inspection form.

3. If there are recalls outstanding for your vehicle, have them completed (at no charge to you) and submit the work order to RIV with the recall campaign information.

4. RIV has access to recall information for Acura vehicles, but will not release the federal inspection form to you if there are any recalls outstanding. So, to save yourself the hassles, get this information pro actively by following our instructions.

Enjoy the savings on your imported Acura!

2008-06-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

Obtain a California Trip Permit

2008-06-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a vehicle from California, you will need to have a trip permit issued by the DMV for private transactions. To locate your nearest office check out this listing http://www.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/toc_fo.htm

Import a Vehicle From California

2008-05-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

California is very specific about the process of purchasing a vehicle within the state. However, our communication with the California Board of Equalization has confirmed that if you are purchasing a motor vehicle from a private seller in California, with the intention of leaving the state without engaging in any side trips, you do not have to pay the state sales tax or the use tax.

To contact the immensely helpful folks at the BOE, use (916) 445-6662.

NOTES:

1. If you purchase a vehicle in California with the intention of exporting it out of the US, you will have to obtain a paper title (pink slip) from the seller.

2. If you have to pay off a lien in order to receive a Title certificate (required to export your vehicle out of the US), you should review the DMV’s Electronic Lien and Title Program (ELT): http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2524

3. For a listing of California City and County Sales Taxes for vehicle purchases from dealership, please see this database: http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi

4. If you purchase a vehicle from a dealership and have it transported out of state you will be exempt from the state tax.

5. Once you have the Title certificate, you must submit it along with the Bill of Sale, and a lien release if applicable to the US border office a minimum of 72 hours prior to exporting your vehicle. For more information on US vehicle export requirements review Border Crossing Information

Import a Jaguar from the US

2008-05-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to import a Jaguar vehicle from the US, please note the following information:

1. All 2003 to 2008 models are admissible to Canada and may be imported. A separate Letter of Admissibility is not required.

2. A Recall Clearance Letter can be obtained by contacting your local dealership in Canada. To find your nearest dealer, Click Here

3. Modifications required for Jaguar vehicles may be costly and you are urged to contact your local dealership with the VIN of your proposed import. They will be able to give you an estimate of the costs you can expect to pay to make your vehicle Canadian Safety Standard compliant.

4. When the modifications are completed, Jaguar will issue a Letter of Compliance. This Letter of Compliance will enable the release of Form 2 from RIV and allow you to complete your inspections and registration. All steps are detailed in the UCanImport guide

If anyone would like to share their Jaguar importing experiences, please post them here. We encourage you to share costs, nature of mods required, satisfaction with dealership service and any other points of interest.

Leasing Option Now Available for Canadian Vehicle Importers

2008-05-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

UCanImport is pleased to announce that it has negotiated a leasing option for UCanImport Subscribers with one of Canada's largest fleet leasing corporations!

Leases are now available for new or pre-owned passenger cars and trucks that are imported from the USA into all provinces except Quebec.

Previously, leasing was not a purchase option for Canadians looking to purchase and import a vehicle from the United States. For many, this meant that importing was not an option because it required that they purchase the vehicle outright (cash) or through a line of credit or pre-negotiated loan with their local bank.

However, with UCanImport's leasing option, all UCanImport Subscribers can now explore the wider choice of new and used vehicles, as well as preferential pricing available in the United States, knowing that they have leasing as a purchase payment option.

So... Why Lease Instead of Purchase?

First and foremost... if you can save 20% to 50% on the vehicle purchase price simply by importing the vehicle from the United States, these savings would more than offset your vehicle leasing expenses!

Improved Cash Flow - When you buy a vehicle, you pay for the entire cost of the vehicle, regardless of how much you use it. When you lease, you only pay for a portion of the vehicle's cost, which is the amount you use during the term of the lease, as well as an interest amount charged by the leasing firm. Leasing can provide significant cash flow savings (which can then be better invested in appreciating assets) AND it enables you to drive the vehicle of your choice! With improved cash flow, you may even wish to upgrade to a newer and/or higher end vehicle make or model.

To learn more, fill out the short online form now available at:
www.UCanImport.com/Vehicle_Leasing.aspx

A leasing representative will then contact you to assist in determining if a vehicle lease is the right solution for your vehicle importation. Alternatively, you can call (250) 883-0188 (9:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Time only, please).

Sincerely,
Zabin Somani (G.M.)
and the UCanImport "Pit Crew"

UCanImport Publications
"Driven by Knowledge"
-------------------------
info@ucanimport.com
www.UCanImport.com
www.UCanImport.Blogspot.com
-------------------------

Import a Vehicle From Texas

2008-05-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a vehicle from the Lone Star state, you will need to understand a couple of unique Texas DMV requirements.

1. In Texas, simply signing off on the back of the Title certificate does not convey a transfer of ownership. To complete a transfer of ownership from the vehicle seller to the buyer, you will need to read this page on the Texas DMV site http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/vehicle_titles_and_registration/vehicle_titles.htm Receipt of a Title in your name can take up to 2 weeks, so expect a short delay.

2. To become exempt from paying the state tax on the vehicle purchase - unless you have to register the vehicle in the state to take advantage of a dealership purchase incentive - you will have to complete this form http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/14-312.pdf

Happy importing!

Importing a Motorhome from the US

2008-05-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a motorhome from the US into Canada, please note that your vehicle will require daytime running lights to pass the Federal Inspection.

We have learned that Canadian Tire is not equipped to complete this activation for you (but encourage you to contact your local shop just in case), and that you will have to complete this modification at a mechanic that is willing to work on imported motorhomes.

In Red Deer, Alberta, Mid-Alta Motors will install daytime running lights for $250, and do an OOP for a further $250. To contact Mid-Alta use (403)343-3612. The address is 2319 Taylor Dr, Bldg 9, Red Deer, T4R 2R1. Tell your friends about this garage as they are willing to work on imported motorhomes.

We thank our UCanImport subscriber for this time-saving information and hope that many of our readers will benefit.

BMW Instrument Cluster Changeover on US Imports

2008-05-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a BMW vehicle from the US you may wish to confirm if your vehicle will have to undergo the instrument cluster changeover.

To do so you will require to know the BMW Model codes and to which model they refer. You can refer to this table provided by Turner Motorsport to verify the model codes, after reviewing the BMW Service Bulletin referring to this cluster modification.

We thank a UCanImport subscriber for forwarding this link which we hope will save importers a lot of energy in determining if their vehicle will require the modification.

Import a Mercedes-Benz from the US

2008-05-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

Recall Clearance Letter May Be Required

Mercedes-Benz importers are reporting that when they arrive at a Canadian dealership to complete their modification work that a number of dealerships are asking for a Recall Clearance Letter. Up until very recently the modifications, which range in price from $1,500 to $7,000, would result in a Letter of Compliance, which would also indicate the status of any recalls on the vehicle.

It seems that this extra step is now necessary. So, in addition to requesting a VIN specific Letter of Admissibility after reviewing this admissible vehicle listing provided by Mercedes-Benz Canada at http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6872 you will need to contact MB USA to request this letter.

We are pleased to see that a number of 2008 models have been added to the list.

How To Request A Recall Clearance Letter

To receive a Recall Clearance Letter from MB USA, you will need to fax a letter to (201) 476-6213 along with proof of ownership in the form of a Title, Registration or Bill of Sale. You should also indicate that the recall information is required to complete an export out of the US and import into Canada.

Remember to provide your full contact information and your preferred method of delivery, i.e. fax or mail. Give yourself up to 10 days to receive this letter. To telephone MB USA use 1-800-367-6372. At this time there is no charge for this letter.

MB Regional Reps.

Further to our blog postings about the MB inspector, we have learned that the correct term for this position is "Regional Representative". There are in fact 5 reps in Canada and their areas are allocated as such: Western Canada (1 rep.), Central Canada (Alberta, Sask., Manitoba - 1 rep.), Ontario (2 reps.), Quebec and Maritimes (1 rep.).

The regional representatives are charged with 2 tasks: 1. to verify the modifications to confirm that they were completed to MB specs; 2. to audit the dealership charges for the modifications to confirm that they are consistent with the work performed.

The MB dealership in Canada who will be performing your modifications can contact their Regional Reps to confirm their schedules and give you a time line for their arrival in your city. We have heard accounts of waits up to one month, but this sounds unreasonable and manipulative. We urge you to have your local MB dealership and have them schedule the inspector's visit based on their time line quoted for your modifications to be completed.

We look forward to receiving your comments and hope that our research saves you both time, and money.

Import a Chrysler Crossfire from the US into Canada

2008-04-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

Understanding Requirements for Bumper Modifications

If you are looking to import a 2004 to 2008 Chrysler Crossfire from the US, you will have to factor in the price of bumper modifications. Until bumper standards between the US and Canada are harmonized, here is what you can expect:

RIV Website

The RIV listing for Chrysler shows two asterisks for these models indicating "that the vehicle in question will require modifications to the existing bumper(s) before it can be registered and licensed. Some vehicles can be readily modified by installing the appropriate Canadian parts. However, some vehicles cannot be readily modified and may require comprehensive and expensive modifications."

Approximate Costs*

Bumper modifications: $1,000
DRLs: $300
*for the 2005 model

Part Numbers*

Light Switch Module #5098639AA
Right Front Energy Absorber #5102547AA
Left Front Energy Absorber #5102545AA
Centre Rear Energy Absorber # 5102556AA
Right Rear Energy Absorber #5102554AA
Left Rear Energy Absorber #5102553AA

*for the 2005 model

Import a New Vehicle from the US into Canada

2008-04-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Important Tip To Protect The New Vehicle Purchaser

If you are purchasing a brand new vehicle in the US, particularly one that the dealerships are not allowed to sell you because of manufacturer restrictions - think Audi, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volvo etc - you can use this tip to protect yourself while getting the car you want.

1. Select the new car and engage a US resident to complete the purchase for you using their US address;

2. Have the purchaser register the vehicle with the DMV and request a Title certificate, ensuring that they put your name as the lienholder;

3. As the lienholder, you will receive the Original Title for the vehicle. This means that you are the owner of the vehicle and the vehicle cannot be sold or transferred without your knowledge;

4. Ask the purchaser to provide you with a Bill of Sale showing the sale of the vehicle from them to you. At the same time, have them supply you with the Bill of Sale that they received from the dealership as this may be required for additional proof of purchase price by the CBSA;

5. Use the Original Title with your name, the Bill of Sale from the "purchaser", and the Vehicle Export Worksheet to submit your documents to the US CBP office where you plan to export your vehicle.

6. Use the Original Title, both Bills of Sale (dealership to purchaser, and purchaser to you) at the CBSA to have the duty, GST, A/C Levy calculated.

Why is this tip useful?

1. It allows you to rest easy at night knowing you hold the original Title to the new vehicle;

2. It allows you to circumvent the manufacturers' selling restrictions imposed on their dealerships;

3. It can be used in any State and keeps you protected when someone else is in charge of buying your car;

How can you increase the value of this tip?

1. Choose to purchase your new vehicle in a State that doesn't have a sales tax, like Oregon;

2. Use your personal exemption of up to $750 to lower the purchase price of the vehicle and therfore your GST and duty payable.

Import a BMW from the US

2008-04-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

BMW Refusing To Issue Letters of Admissibility

We have just been informed that BMW Canada is refusing to issue letters of admissibility for some models that, prior to the policy change of November 26th, 2007, were listed as admissible.

A recent purchaser of a BMW 2006 Z4 3.0si was denied a Letter of Admissibility even after being told by the dealership that the vehicle would be admitted to Canada.

As of November 23, 2007, just 3 days before BMW changed its importing policies, they had already informed Transport Canada and RIV that the 2006 Z4 was admissible to Canada.

Here is a link to the historical RIV lists very kindly provided by CarsWithoutBorders.com

http://www.carswithoutborders.com/wordpress/wp-content/vafus2007-11-23.pdf

Now if this doesn't show all importers that BMW refuses - ignores, rather - to honour its own information to Transport Canada and cannot be trusted to do the right thing for its customers, I don't know what does.

Do not purchase a BMW vehicle without a "subject to receipt of a Letter of Admissibility" clause in your purchase agreement.

And if we don't speak out against these above the law decisions that the company keeps making, we are knowingly putting ourselves in harms way. If they do this with a vehicle that was already deemed admissible once, you can be sure they will keep doing it.

Why is Transport Canada sleeping at the wheel? (pun fully intended!)

Transport Canada Not Responsible For Auto Manufacturers Importing Policies

2008-04-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

Manufacturers Ultimately Determine Whether Vehicles Comply And How The Vehicles May Be Modified Should They Not Comply

Submitted by : Mr. Jeff Newton - BMW Importer

Below is the response received from the Office of Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to Mr. Newton's inquiry:

Dear Mr. Newton:

Your Member of Parliament, Mr. James Moore, has forwarded to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, a copy of your e-mail of February 15, 2008, regarding the importation of vehicles from the United States. Minister Cannon has asked me to reply on his behalf.

By way of background, I should first mention that the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA), in effect since 1971, regulates the manufacture and importation of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment to reduce the risk of death and injury, and damage to property and the environment.

The MVSA requires that all vehicles imported into Canada comply with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations and associated Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSSs). However, subsection 7(2) of the MVSA provides an exception whereby vehicles purchased in the United States that are not in full compliance with the CMVSSs, may be imported into Canada, provided the vehicles were originally manufactured to comply with all applicable U.S. Federal Safety Standards, and provided they can be modified to comply with the CMVSSs. In addition, once modified, the vehicles must be inspected by a designated authority of Transport Canada. In this regard, in 1995, Transport Canada contracted with a private company to establish the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program to develop and operate a system of inspection and certification of vehicles imported from the United States.

As a convenience to both importers and manufacturers, the RIV posts a List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States on its website at www.riv.ca . The list includes many 2008 model-year vehicles that are admissible for importation. It is the manufacturers' responsibility to certify that vehicles comply with Canadian safety standards or to certify that the vehicles can be modified to meet these standards. The manufacturers are also responsible for providing and updating the admissibility information. I should emphasize that the list is not mandated by law; rather, it is an administrative tool meant to assist in the processing of imported vehicles. Although manufacturers are not obligated to submit admissibility information, most do so voluntarily, since otherwise, they would have to deal with importers on an individual basis.
Because the information provided by manufacturers varies periodically, prospective Canadian importers must exercise caution and inform themselves thoroughly on all aspects of purchasing a vehicle in the United States, including warranty coverage, before purchasing a U.S. vehicle. Any inquiries about the accuracy of the information the List contains must therefore be addressed to the manufacturers directly.

For a variety of reasons, some manufacturers are reluctant to provide vehicle admissibility information to importers, the RIV and Transport Canada. In addition, some manufacturers are charging a fee to importers who ask for a letter specifying that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle they wish to import. Transport Canada has no authority to dictate to those manufacturers when and how this information ought to be supplied, or to request that they provide the recall information free-of-charge, since the manufacturers are normally located in the United States, and the vehicles in question are initially produced for the U.S. market.

I should note that neither Transport Canada nor the RIV has access to the recall information of manufacturers that produce vehicles for the U.S. market. The information in the department's database relates only to vehicles produced for the Canadian market and originally sold in Canada. In many instances, the Canadian company and the U.S. company are two separate entities and do not share recall information. Therefore, it is important to firmly establish, in a reliable manner, that there are no outstanding recalls on vehicles purchased at the retail level in the United States and imported into Canada. The verification is specific to each particular vehicle and is performed by manufacturers using the Vehicle Identification Number.

There have been comments that some companies have refused to honour their U.S. warranties in Canada, have instructed their U.S.-based dealers not to sell to Canadian customers, or have delayed-or not responded at all-in providing a determination regarding the admissibility of their U.S. vehicles after September 2007. There have also been comments on price differences and what are alleged to be captive markets. I must emphasize that the MVSA does not mandate or regulate warranties, nor does it deal with the pricing of vehicles by manufacturers and importers. All of these issues pertain to company-specific policies, and these companies must be contacted directly to obtain additional details and clarifications.
In some cases, manufacturers are insisting that the modifications necessary to activate or install daytime running lights be performed by their authorized dealers and, in some cases, are also insisting that the instrument cluster be changed. The MVSA only requires that the importer ensure that the vehicle is made compliant with the applicable safety standards and is not specific as to who must do the work. However, the basic principle of compliance under the MVSA is a regime of self-certification whereby the manufacturer ultimately determines whether its vehicles comply with the CMVSSs and how the vehicles may be modified should they not comply.

A manufacturer can determine that various components must be replaced, and that such work can only be done by a qualified authorized dealer in order to ensure compliance, and Transport Canada is not in a position to challenge such a policy. The cost associated with such modifications is also beyond the control of Transport Canada. Concerns regarding such costs would be best addressed to Industry Canada's Office of Consumers Affairs or to the appropriate provincial/territorial Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

I trust that the foregoing has clarified the Minister's position with respect to this matter. Thank you for writing.

Yours truly,

Andrew Walasek
Special Assistant - Ontario and Western Canada

c.c. Office of Mr. James Moore, M.P.

Bumper Standards On Way To Becoming Harmonized

2008-04-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Proposal Would Have A Positive Impact On Cross Border Vehicle Trade

Vol. 142, No. 12 — March 22, 2008

Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Bumpers)
Issue and objectives

The proposed amendment to section 215 of Schedule IV of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (see footnote 1) would modify the Canadian safety standard for bumpers via incorporation by reference of similar safety standards from the United States and Europe. This would have the effect of aligning the testing speeds with those of Europe and the United States and provide manufacturers the option of meeting the European safety requirements or the safety and no damage provisions of the United States. This proposed amendment would result in one consistent set of globally regulated test speed requirements for the design of bumpers, which would simplify the task of designing bumpers for vehicles destined for North American and European markets. This proposal would also facilitate the introduction in Canada of the impending Global Technical Regulation for pedestrian safety, being developed under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UN/ECE).

Description and rationale

Canada and the United States introduced safety standards for bumpers in the early 1970s. When the Canadian and the U.S. regulations were originally introduced, they were harmonized with a test speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) for front and rear impacts and 3 mph (4.8 km/h) for corner impact tests. However, in 1979, the United States added more stringent requirements that included cosmetic damage criteria, while maintaining the (harmonized) test speed and the original safety components damage protection requirements. In 1982, the United States reduced the speed requirements to 2.5 mph (4 km/h) for front and rear impacts and 1.5 mph (2.4 km/h) for corner impacts, and maintained their cosmetic and safety damage requirements.

In 1983, when the Canadian government proposed an amendment to harmonize the test speeds with those of the U.S. requirements (i.e. 4 and 2.4 km/h), many Canadian stakeholders, such as the public, provincial and territorial governments, media and the insurance industry, were against the proposed test speed reduction. As a result, the harmonization of test speed requirements was not pursued; thus for the past 26 years Canada has had a unique higher speed bumper test requirement for passenger cars.

This higher speed has resulted in some vehicle models not being available to Canadian consumers. In addition, in this period there have been some vehicles sold at the retail level in the United States that have been inadmissible for importation into Canada as they have not met the Canadian bumper requirements.

Manufacturers are presently more concerned with the ability to design vehicles capable of concomitantly meeting the unique higher Canadian test speeds and future pedestrian safety requirements that are being developed internationally, rather than the limitation of vehicle models available on the Canadian market. The Global Technical Regulation is aimed at reducing pedestrian fatalities by requiring that the front upper portion of vehicles be designed to reduce head contact forces when a pedestrian strikes the vehicle. This is accomplished by providing space between the vehicle exterior parts, such as the hood and upper fenders, and the solid structure of the vehicle, such as the motor or frame. In addition to reducing head injuries, the Global Technical Regulation on pedestrian safety will require that the bumpers of vehicles be designed to reduce lower leg injuries.

Manufacturers have strongly noted that a conflict exists in meeting the requirements of the three existing world regulations, ECE regulation number 42, Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 215, and Part 581, Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. As the European and Canadian requirements are aimed at improving safety, the intention at the time of introduction of the requirements was to protect the safety equipment of the vehicle, such as the lights, from damage in a low speed collision. The intention of the current U.S. bumper standard is to reduce damage to the bumper system and thus provide American consumers with a lower bumper damage replacement and repair cost, while also maintaining the integrity of the safety systems. Manufacturers have noted that from a design standpoint, there is a conflict between meeting the no damage requirement of the United States, the higher test speed in Canada with no damage to the safety systems and the need for bumpers to be designed to meet impending pedestrian safety requirements. Manufacturers have indicated that it will not be possible to meet all three requirements at once. Further, they have suggested that they would be able to meet the U.S. lower speed and no damage requirements and the pedestrian safety requirements with one design.

This proposal would have a positive impact on international trade as the Canadian requirement for bumper testing would be amended to be the same as the requirements in Europe and in the United States. This amendment would assist Canada with its obligation under the Global Agreement made under the auspices of the UN/ECE. Canada’s commitment to review the Canadian bumper test speed requirements was noted in the summary document of the Global Technical Regulation working group on pedestrian safety that is available at the following site: www.unece.org/trans/doc/2006/wp29grsp/ps-186e.doc.

It is important to note that the design of the bumper systems and the percentage of passenger cars sold in Canada have changed significantly since the introduction of the bumper requirement in the early 1970s. In 1970, almost 83% of the vehicles sold were classified as passenger cars. Today, that percentage has dropped to less than 52% because of the consumer demand for trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles, which are not subject to the bumper requirements. In the intervening years, vehicle designs have also significantly changed. Vehicle designs in the 1970s frequently included metal bumpers with simple replacement of sealed beam headlamps. In comparison current designs usually include hidden bumper protection systems with moulded plastic covers and integral unique headlamps designs.

In the 1970s, the Government estimated that there would be a very small reduction in fatalities and injuries as a result of the benefit that people would no longer continue to drive a vehicle with damaged non-functioning lights following a small collision. The intention was for this requirement to result in vehicle designs where lighting and similar safety systems would be protected in a low-speed collision so that they would remain functional should the vehicle owner continue to drive a damaged vehicle. Today, several factors may alter this conclusion, such as the significant increase in sales of trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles (almost 500% increase), the significant design changes in bumpers and lighting systems in the past 35 years and the requirement of most police forces to have vehicles towed away from even minor collisions. It is now impossible to determine if the unique Canadian test speed requirement of 8 km/h provides any safety benefit. As there are over 370 pedestrian fatalities per year (a significant portion of the 2 900 fatalities per year on Canadian roads), it is proposed that it is time to refocus road safety efforts away from a higher speed test requirement that protects the vehicle safety systems, to facilitating future pedestrian safety designs. Pedestrian fatalities have remained stagnant since 2001, despite Canada’s national Road Safety Vision 2010 target of a 30% reduction for vulnerable road users. Further information is available in the Road Safety Vision 2010 Mid-Term Review report, viewable at the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Web site www.ccmta.ca and in the Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, viewable at www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.

It is understood that making the front of a vehicle softer to protect pedestrians could result in some additional repair costs, especially considering that most low-speed collisions involve rear-ending other vehicles, such as in bumper-to-bumper traffic. This would have an impact on the insurance industry and, in turn, the consumer. In 2007, the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a new (non-regulatory) bumper test protocol to better mimic the performance of a car bumper and to assess under- and override during vehicle-to-vehicle low-speed crashes for all classes of light duty vehicles, with the focus being on damageability and cost of repairs. The impact speed for front and rear full-width impacts is 9.6 km/h and the corner impacts are tested at 4.8 km/h.

This proposed amendment would better serve a greater proportion of the public, as it would facilitate the enhancement in safety for pedestrians without reducing the safety of passenger cars. As the IIHS widely publicizes the results of their test program, Canadian consumers will be able to take advantage of this consumer information as part of their decision-making when purchasing a new vehicle.

Read the full amendment at Canada Gazette

How To Import A Car From The US

2008-04-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Importing Guide Provides Step-by-Step Process For All Types of Vehicles

The sixth edition of the UCanImport Guide has been entirely reorganized and features a number of new enhancements, including:

NEW VEHICLE COST WORKSHEET AND CHECKLIST TOOLS

At the beginning of Version 6 is the newly revised Vehicle Cost Worksheet and Checklist tools. The Process and Documentation Checklists now feature references to specific pages within the guide, enabling you to peruse the document in the typical linear "start to finish" fashion or skip to only those sections where you require additional clarification. For easier use, you will now also be able to download the Vehicle Cost Worksheet in Microsoft(r) Excel format and the sample letters and cover letters in Microsoft(r) Word format.

"I have to say, I likely wouldn't have tried this importation
project had I not stumbled across your guide. I'll be recommending
this to many others." ~ Les B, Calgary, AB, April 15, 2008

MORE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION

The revised guide also feature new discussions such as "the implications of your vehicle choice", "understanding your documentation requirements", and more, that have been written and rewritten so that regardless of the vehicle you choose to import, you will be equipped with the best overall picture of what to expect along the way.

In Version 6, there are also fewer database-style tables, and instead more detailed discussion of the various steps involved. Why? The information in these lists changes too frequently. It makes more sense to include the lists, such as manufacturers' warranty policies, manufacturers' contact databases, trip permit information, border crossing instructions, glossary, etc. in the Resource Library on the UCanImport web site rather than in the guide itself. We can now update the list content more regularly (daily if need be) for our UCanImport Subscribers without any disruption to their importation experience. The guide is now purely focused on teaching you the importation process itself.

"Really Good Job! Version 6 is a great update and very
comprehensive. I hope you do well with this version."
~ Vince M., Ontario, April 2, 2008

NEW ONLINE INTERACTIVITY

All web URL references in Version 6 that link to resources in the UCanImport web site or on other third party web sites are now "active". Readers can click on the links to be directed to the corresponding information online (make sure you are connected to the Internet when you review the new guide).

"Just wanted to say thanks for the comprehensive information
on vehicle importing from the US to Canada. I really appreciated the
detailed and specific information you provide. Good work!"
~ Ian A., Alberta, April 1, 2008

OTHER CHANGES AT UCANIMPORT

With the release of Version 6, UCanImport has also modified the format of its services. Now, for a low ONE-TIME fee of $19.99, you can become a lifetime UCanImport Subscriber . What does this mean? The benefits are threefold:

1. In addition to your initial copy, you will now get all future editions of the guide delivered to your inbox at no additional charge (typically every 3 to 4 months).

2. You will also receive a membership to the UCANIMPORT SUBSCRIBER, an exclusive monthly eNewsletter packed with the latest importing regulatory changes, auto manufacturer requirement changes, money-saving tips, as well as case studies and insights from fellow importers. The eNewsletter ensures you are up-to-date between guide releases. Many of you have already received the UCANIMPORT INSIDER on a trial basis and the feedback so far has been outstanding.

3. You join a national community of vehicle importers. UCanImport is committed to providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date importing information on the Internet. We are acting as a conduit for sharing the latest importing information, experiences, tips.

"Thank for the fantastic job you are doing of getting all the new information
to people like myself who have been a UCanImport Subscriber since early
2007 but who have not yet bought in the States. With your updates, we
always know what has changed, and what we can expect when we begin
our importation. Great service!"
~ Fijay M., British Columbia, April 2, 2008

BECOME A UCANIMPORT SUBSCRIBER TODAY!

UCanImport is the only service that teaches you the ENTIRE importing process from start to finish - from purchasing your vehicle and the implications of your vehicle choice right through to inspections and final vehicle certification! With our educational resources, you will learn each step and their order of execution. You will also have the confidence to perform the importation when you are ready.

Import a BMW Motorcycle from the US

2008-04-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

RIV Accepting DCS (dealer communication system) Printout for BMW Motorcycles

If you plan to import a BMW motorcycle from the US and can convince the dealership in the US to print off the DCS showing that no recalls are outstanding on the motorcycle, RIV will accept it in place of the $500 Letter of Compliance that is required for imported BMW motor vehicles.

A recent importer of a brand new BMW motorcycle has informed UCanImport that RIV initially refused the DCS printout, stating that a Letter of Compliance was required. Within a few days, however, they e-mailed the importer asking for the DCS and issued Form 2 within 3 hours.

This could be a one-time incident or may apply across the board to motorcycles only, so proceed with your importation knowing that you may be spared the $500 Letter of Compliance fee.

Import a Mercedes-Benz from the US

2008-04-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Letter of Compliance Process Requires Additional Inspection

Submitted by: MB importer in Alberta
Comments and other experiences welcome

”We had our conversions done mid-March to the tune of $4685.00. This covered the $500.00 inspection fee, replacing the instrument panel (which really isn't necessary as it has a built in metric conversion in the computer), and the bumper pads. The bumpers were about $2800 to convert.

Now we are still awaiting the arrival of the phantom MB Inspector to show up and rubber stamp their "exhaustive" repair work. Phoned the other day and he is still not expected into our city until April 23rd!!

I was told by the dealer that Mercedes-Benz Canada is down to one inspector for the country. So who knows when the inspector will return to our city to inspect the work completed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership? How ludicrous that Mercedes Benz-Canada has only one person in the entire country capable of this onerous task, and that Mercedes Benz-Canada does not place enough confidence in their dealers to ensure the work is done safely."

--------------------------
UCanImport says:

If you import a Mercedes-Benz vehicle from the US, you will have to complete the above documented process to receive a Letter of Compliance. The Letter of Compliance is required by RIV to release your Form 2 (Federal Inspection Form). However, the Letter of Compliance can only be authorized after a Mercedes-Benz inspector has confirmed that the modifications were correctly completed.

All prospective importers should at the very least get a written quote from their local Mercedes-Benz dealership for the modification work required to their vehicle. This can be done by submitting a VIN to the dealership and requesting a written quote. Understanding that you may have delays of up to 2 months, possibly more, before you can operate your vehicle should also be a consideration.

If anyone from Mercedes-Benz is reading our blog, tell us why you don't trust your dealerships to complete the modifications and why you insist on having only one inspector for the country. Surely, you can't be trying to prevent imports into Canada?

Import a Lexus from the US into Canada

2008-04-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

RIV List Updated to Include 2009 RX 350

If you wish to import a Lexus vehicle from the US into Canada, you can now broaden your search to include the 2009 RX 350. The 2009 RX 350 was just added to the RIV admissibility list.

Please not that Lexus claims that it has already provided the 2009 vehicle admissibility listing to RIV and that RIV has just not updated its website. We can't confirm that RIV actually has the list, but knowing that the 2009 RX 350 has been added to the admissible listing means that some information has been transferred to RIV.

Please do not attempt to import any other 2009 Lexus vehicles without confirming admissibility with RIV and/or Lexus.

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-04-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

British Columbia Dealerships Continue to Charge Exorbitant Fees for Safety Inspection

Comments from a frustrated Volvo Importer:

I just spent 30 minutes with a Lower Mainland Volvo dealer after getting a quote of $1895 for this inspection. Interestingly I asked for the service dept, got passed through to service until I told them that I was looking for a Safety Inspection for a US import. I was then transferred to a another person that I later found out was the General Sales Manager.

At any rate - he tried rather unsuccessfully to defend the rate but couldn't back it up with anything other than some general statements like they needed special tools and special training to do the inspection. I asked him to provide a list of tools or training that was required specifically to do the inspection (that they wouldn't otherwise already have) and he just danced around it and could not provide anything to me. He also tried to tell me that a US v70 was totally different car than a Canadian v70. I told him that was udder cow poop, that I was a mechanical engineer that had studied car manufacturing and sure there would be some differences but that they were not totally different cars.

What's interesting is that after the 30 minutes were up and I started joking around with him I told him that I thought this was gouge and that off the record the $1895 was nothing more than an artificial barrier to importing vehicles - and he agreed with me and said he had wished they would just let the market take care of the pricing.

Anyway it appears to still be $1900 and up in BC for the "safety inspection"
(nudge-nudge-wink-wink) in order to get the Compliance Letter from Volvo Canada. Don Docksteader still refuses to do them and they told me to save my time calling around the other dealers in the Lower Mainland because apparently they are all owned by Jimmy Pattison so the prices weren't likely to be any different. This is so brutal!

BMW Policies Continue to Frustrate Importers

2008-04-03T11:22:00.001-07:00

BMW Importers are seeing Red with the policies implemented in late 2007

Comments welcome

Well, I must say reading the article in the Vancouver Sun this morning totally MADE MY DAY!!!! I have downloaded all the necessary forms from Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson, and will be more than happy to join you in pursing a Class Action lawsuit!!!

On March 11th,2008 I purchased a 2007 BMW 328xi from Bellevue BMW . I had originally ordered a car from Brian Jessel, but couldn't believe the price difference in the US, so decided to go that route. I went online to the RIV website to see what was involved. The car I got would have been $76,000 Cdn .I paid $40,045 !!!for a 2007 with 12,000 kms...so it was totally worth it.

I didn't have any trouble getting the car across the border..I regretfully paid for an Admissibility Letter for $392 that RIV told me I had to have in order to get the car into Canada, but when I mentioned it to Customs, they said I didn't need it!!! sooooo, it has been quite a nightmare, all thanks to BMW Canada!

My car is equipped with the IDrive feature, so the US Dealer was happy to switch it over to KMS, Daytime Running Lights, (which all worked perfectly) The instrument cluster was in both Kms and Miles so I thought that was fine..as well as I had a Immobilizer installed, (which I wanted anyways) .They assured me the bumpers were good tether straps in place etc etc..French Labels?? I went to the Inspection place to ask about that, and they just laughed, and said not to worry about it....so I thought I was good to go! Apparently not! The US Dealer also supplied me with a Recall Letter, which was rejected by RIV.

I have just spent the last 2 days.drivng back and forth to Auto West BMW to have my instrument cluster changed, and the daytime running lights switched (which all worked fine to begin with) and now I am left with a $2,400 bill!!

BMW advised me that it nows takes 10-15 days (NOT 5 days which I was orginally told by RIV) for the documents to be cleared, so I can finally insure the car in Canada!!!

Anything I can do to help you in any way, please feel free to contact me. I will be submitting my paperwork as soon as possible.

---
UCanImport has heard that BMW Canada has informed their dealerships that these policies are aimed at slowing down imports from the US. If you've had direct experience with a dealership who has told you that this is a BMW strategy they are working with, write to us.

Or if you are from a BMW dealership and can justify these expenses and frustrations, please share.

2008-04-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-03-31T16:13:00.000-07:00

Cost of Safety Inspection May Be Decreasing

We have just been informed that the Volvo of Durham is charging $270 for the Safety Inspection, instead of the outrageous $1,950+ fees that other Canadian dealerships have been charging.

The completion of a Safety Inspection by a Volvo dealership is necessary - as of this moment - to obtain a Letter of Compliance from Volvo Canada.

Letter of Compliance Alternative

However, we have heard accounts where RIV accepted a letter from Volvo Cars of North America LLC (issued at no charge) that states that the vehicle in question was manufactured to comply with both US and Canadian standards. We believe that this letter satisfies the RIV requirement to receive a Letter of Compliance.

To contact Volvo Cars of North America, use (201) 768-7300 and ask to speak with a Customer Care Consultant. You will have to have a VIN for the vehicle to provide to the Volvo representative.

Import a Harley Davidson Motorcycle from the US

2008-03-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Recall Clearance Information Available After Motorcycle Purchase

RIV will only accept Recall Clearance Information from Fred Deeley Harley-Davidson. To obtain this letter follow the following steps;

1. Telephone the dealership at (905) 660-3500
2. Request an Application Form for Recall Clearance by fax, e-mail or mail.
3. Complete the Application Form and submit it with a copy of the Title and Bill of Sale for your new Harley Davidson purchase.
4. Ask for the Recall Clearance Letter to be sent to you by fax, e-mail or mail.
5. Submit the Recall Clearance Letter to RIV to release Form 2.

The Recall Clearance Letter will be sent to you in 5 to 7 business days, and the folks at Fred Deeley are terrific to work with!

Lawsuit Filed Against Auto Manufacturers

2008-03-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Re: Lawsuit Filed in British Columbia Against Auto Manufacturers for Practices in Contravention of the Competition Act

March 24, 2008

Dear Canadian Vehicle Importer:

As a result of the strong Canadian dollar, Canadians imported a record 190,000 vehicles in 2007 from the United States. This trend is continuing in 2008 because the savings associated with purchasing a vehicle in the United States are considerable, usually in the range of 30%, but as high as 50% for some models.

Vehicle manufacturers stand to lose a considerable amount of money if this momentum continues, and are taking steps to stem the flow of vehicles entering from the United States. Already, Canadians are facing considerable and growing barriers when importing vehicles into Canada.

It is our position that the trade barriers erected by vehicle manufacturers are unlawful. The purpose of our lawsuit is to force vehicle manufacturers to comply with the law and to obtain compensation for Canadians who have suffered losses as a result of these exploitive policies.

If you are a resident of British Columbia or Alberta and have imported a vehicle from the United States, review the Statement of Claim to determine if you qualify as a plaintiff in this lawsuit. The Statement of Claim, as well as a Questionnaire and a Plaintiff Registration Form are currently available on the web site www.UCanImport.com. Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson is seeking court approval for this lawsuit to become a “class action” suit, which it anticipates having by June of 2008. All individuals who register will be contacted for further information on their particular case. It is also expected that other car manufacturers will be added as defendants, prior to certification approval. If you have been adversely affected by these exploitive practices, but purchased from a manufacturer not currently named as a defendant, you are still encouraged to register.

NOTE: This lawsuit creates the opportunity for individuals who have lost money to recover it. However, submission of documentation does not obligate you to participate in the lawsuit. In addition, once class certification is obtained, you are not at risk to pay any costs if the suit is unsuccessful. The costs will be borne by Westport Motors, the proposed representative plaintiff.

We welcome your interest and support.

About Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson

Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson has been providing a full range of legal services in Canada for over twenty-five years. The firm offers its expertise in areas such as complex litigation, aboriginal law, commercial and corporate law, immigration, insurance, personal injury, real estate, and estate law. Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson offers lawyers who are members of the bars of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Sincerely,

Wm. Rory Lambert
Dinning Hunter Lambert & Jackson

Tel: (250) 381-2151
Fax: (250) 386-2123
rlambert@dinninghunter.com

Compliance Work Receipts for Volvo Imports

2008-03-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

We are seeking Volvo importers who paid approximately $275 for their Volvo inspections last year to come forward with their receipts issued by the Volvo dealership that performed the inspections.

Since January 1, 2008 Volvo has introduced exhorbitant pricing for the same level of work. This is one of the allegations of the newly launched suit against a number of auto manufacturers.

If you have your receipts, please note that this serves as proof that the work that cost less than $300 last year is being charged out at $2,000 + this year.

If you, or anyone you know, imported a Volvo vehicle in the last 24 months, please submit copies of your receipts to Dinning Hunter Lambert Jackson using this link http://www.ucanimport.com/Lawsuit.aspx?t=downloads

Thank you.

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-03-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Avoid Paying Volvo Compliance Fees - Possible Loophole for Importers

UCanImport has learned that RIV will accept a Provincial Inspection in place of a Volvo Letter of Compliance. This was confirmed by a recent Volvo importer who received their Form 2 after first completing the inspection required for their Province of residence.

Here's what UCanImport advises:

1. Read comments from UCanImport subscriber: "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. I'm now licensed and enjoying my ride."

2. Locate a Provincial Inspection Centre for your province of residence by searching the UCanImport blog. You do not need a Form 2 for the Provincial Inspection.

3. Complete the Provincial Inspection for your Volvo import.

4. Send RIV a copy of the completed Provincial Inspection Report, and request Form 2 so that you can complete your Federal Inspection. Federal Inspection Centre listing is available in the UCanImport Resources Library.

Please let us know if this loophole is successful.

Importing Cars into Canada

2008-03-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

CTV News - Car Makers Sued Over Import "Obstacles"
ctvbc.ca
Updated: Tue Mar. 25 2008 18:19:46
http://www.ctvbc.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080325/BC_Car_Class_Action_080325/20080325/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

A few Victoria car dealers have filed a class action suit against some of the biggest automakers in the business, saying they are gouging importers unfairly.

One dealer says he thinks new measures like charging for changing a speedometer to kilometres per hour, or making a temperature read Celsius, are nothing but cash grabs.

"Canadians are getting ripped off by these manufacturers," said Todd MacDonald, who imports expensive pre-owned vehicles from the U.S. and re-sells them in Canada.

The new measures add as much as $5,000 to the cost of a $100,000 BMW for a local dealer -- and it takes twice as long to import it, he said.

MacDonald says he thinks the manufacturers are trying to keep prices high, despite a higher loonie that should make American goods cost less.

MacDonald's Victoria lawyer, Rory Lambert, has filed a class action suit.

With almost 200,000 vehicles imported last year, a lot of consumers may sign on, said Lambert.

He said it's a matter of fairness.

"You can go to a local GM dealer, and ask them how many US cars they have on their lot," he said. "They can take advantage of the price difference but we can't. Is that fair?"

The New Car Dealers Association didn't return phone calls to tell their side of the story, and neither did BMW or other manufacturers.

MacDonald isn't spending much time in the showroom -- he's buried in paperwork, working on his lawsuit, and hoping the government steps in to stop manufacturers from adding more obstacles.

"I'm hoping to put these guys in their place," he said.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dag Sharman

Import a Car from California

2008-03-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

California Tax Rates Vary by City and County

If you plan to import a car from California, unless you transport (not drive!) the vehicle directly out of the state, you will be charged the state tax on your purchase.

Tax rates vary by City and County and can be obtained from the California Board of Equalization (BOE) at http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/pdf/tax_rates_april2008.pdf

According to the BOE, "California has many special taxing jurisdictions (districts), which are funded by a transactions (sales) and use tax rate that is added to the standard statewide rate of 7.25%, effective January 1, 2002. The tax rates for these districts range from 0.10% to 1.00% per district. In some areas, there is more than one district tax in effect. In others, there is no district tax in effect."

UCanImport advises you to discuss the tax implication with the DMV or the dealership - or avoid it altogether by shipping the vehicle up to the Canadian border.

Import a Motorcycle from California

2008-03-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Use this Bill of Sale if Purchasing through a Private Seller

If you plan to import a motorcycle from California and you are purchasing from a private seller, here is a Bill of Sale form that you can use to facilitate your transaction.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg135.pdf

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-03-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Modification Quotes Higher in Saskatchewan

If you plan to import a Volvo from the US, you have to shop for modification quotes. Here are some recent quotes that importers have received for a 2-hour safety inspection. Note: modifications are generally not required on these vehicles. This is just a price that you must pay for the dealership to tell you that you vehicle complies with Canadian Safety Standards and for RIV to issue Form 2 (Federal Inspection Form).

Valentine Volvo in Calgary - $1,950

Volvo Saskatoon in Saskatoon $2,450

Volvo of North Vancouver in Vancouver - $1895 + taxes, in addition to $350 paid for a Letter of Admissibility.

Any higher bids? Has anyone else paid Volvo for the Letter of Admissibility?

Keep them coming and we'll keep posting this information for other Canadians who may want to import a Volvo from the US.

Despite these costs, the price difference is still enormous on Volvo vehicles that are imported from the US - so include these punitive fees in your UCanImport Vehicle Cost Worksheet to determine your bottom line savings on your Volvo purchase.

Importing Vehicles Into Canada

2008-03-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Class-Action Law Suit Aimed at Compensating Canadians for Unfair Pricing Practices

A lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and seeking certification for a class-action lawsuit was announced yesterday. The lawsuit alleges that a number of auto manufacturers are keeping vehicle prices artificially high in Canada - average of 30% - while imposing restrictions on Canadians who are trying to exercise their legal right to purchase a vehicle in the U.S.

Other tactics by manufacturers such as Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, GM and Chrysler include the voiding of warranties.

Audi, BMW, Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and others are prohibiting new vehicles sales to Canadians by citing territorial issues in their franchise agreements.

Yet others such as BMW, Jaguar and Volvo are charging exorbitant document and modification fees.

All policies are alleged to fly in the face of the NAFTA agreement and keep vehicle prices unjustifiably high in Canada.

To get involved by presenting your claim to the law firm, read http://www.ucanimport.com/lawsuit.aspx
and download documents from
http://www.ucanimport.com/Lawsuit.aspx?t=downloads

Import a Motorhome from the US

2008-03-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Two Recall Clearance Letters may be required when you Import a Motorhome from the US

If you are seeking to import a motorhome from the US you will have to obtain recall clearance information for all vehicles newer than 15 years. In some cases, where the chassis and the body are manufactured by two separate companies, you will have to obtain recall clearance information from both manufacturers before you are allowed to import the motorhome from the US.

Where the manufacturers databases are not able to locate the VIN number of the motorhome you wish to import, you will have to provide details from the vehicle identification plate that is affixed to the motorhome at the time of manufacture. This plate is located usually on the driver's side of the motorhome.

You will have to provide the Identification Number as well as the Date of Manufacture to the manufacturer. These two items will then be input into the manufacturer's system to obtain the correct recall information for your motorhome import.

If any recalls are outstanding on the motorhome, you will not be allowed to import it from the US until you have completed the recalls and can provide a work order to this effect. Where the motorhome is more than 15 years old, you are able to import it from the US and will be exempt from the RIV program.

Import a Car into Canada

2008-03-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

UCanImport Featured on BC's “Christy Clark Show” on CKNW AM 980

On Monday, March 24, 2008, UCanImport has been invited to take part in a live interview at 1:00pm on the Christy Clark Show on CKNW AM 980.

The interview will be dedicated to the topic of how to import a car into Canada from the United States, with special attention to the recent policy changes implemented by the auto manufacturers. The show will also feature an important announcement on the legality of these importation policies.

If you want to import a car into Canada, you should tune into the show to understand some of the implications of your intended purchase.

Import a Mercedes-Benz from the US

2008-03-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Understand your Admissibility Requirements and request a Letter of Admissibility

If you want to import a Mercedes-Benz from the US into Canada, you will have to request a Letter of Admissibility from Mercedes-Benz prior to proceeding with your importation.

Mercedes-Benz provides an online admissible vehicles list and give potential importers the ability to request a Letter of Admissibility through an online request form.

Note: that the Letter of Admissibility is only issued in hard copy and will be sent to you by mail.

Import a Volvo from the US

2008-03-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Import a BMW from the US and expect to shop around for modification quotes

2008-03-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber who imported a BMW vehicle from the US:

---------------------------------------------

Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber:

In Calgary the dealership has taken an aggressive approach to imported vehicles. If you call to book a service appt for a CDN vehicle, it’s a week to get in.

For US vehicles they’re making you wait 90 days!!! Kelowna BMW charged me $1350 for the cluster and programming installed (still a cash grab), but the Calgary dealership charges $2200 for the cluster installed and $400 for the DRL programming. Edmonton was similar in price.

I drove out and got the work done in Kelowna. I’d be super happy if they hadn’t put the wrong cluster in!!!

The 335, because of the bi-turbos, has an oil temp gauge in the cluster, all lower models have a fuel economy gauge in that spot. Guess which one they put in mine? Then they argued that it was the right one. I walked them over to a Canadian 335 sitting on their showroom floor and showed them the oil temp gauge. Apparently that wasn’t enough as I’m still fighting with them about it.

Anyway, I got my clearance letter and I just finished my import work this week. It was a pain. I like the car, but am pissed off at BMW Canada, and all the brands that are doing the same thing.

How do they think this will create good long term relationships with these possible new customers? Surely long term either the dollar will drop back, or the prices will realign. This short sighted cash grab protectionism will only hurt their image, customer relations, and in the end, bottom line.

Everyone who has asked me for help, I’ve directed towards brands that are treating importers fairly.

---------------------------------------------

UCanImport says:

Thank you for sharing your story. What we find interesting is that BMW Canada refuses to acknowledge any modification work completed in the US stating that they must verify it themselves through a Canadian dealership - as they cannot vouch for the quality of workmanship of their colleagues in the south.

We agree the pricing practices are unfair and illogical, especially since they were implemented unilaterally at the sole discretion of BMW Canada. The issue here is why Transport Canada would allow these practices to continue. If the modification work can be completed to meet Canadian Safety Standards, why should BMW dictate where and how they get done.

Here are some of BMW's justifications for their charges. I think if I got a CarFax report and an internal system printout (free) from the US dealership, I would be achieving the same thing as Mr. Caton describes below. The other point is that the word "service" is used incorrectly. It should only apply to something I have requested or something given to me at no charge; to dictate the charges within a monopoly seems unfair.

---------------------------------------------

Dear [importer],

I am in receipt of your email and offer this reply.

In your letter you reference the recall clearance letter and our $500 charge for it. You also state one of our staff suggested it provides some protection, please let me explain.

The $500.00 really covers the cost of providing a service for you which results in you getting the letter you require. Once we get the Retailer’s request for your letter we check both the US data base (which is not part of our regular warranty system) and the Car Fax system to view the warranty status and see if there are any outstanding recalls, (we are presently developing a system where we can notify the new owners in Canada of any future recalls as at present those notices would only be sent to the original owner in the US). We then enter your information and the vehicle’s into our system so our data base is up to date. From there we prepare the letter which goes to two officers of our company for signing. Once done it goes back to the Retailer for distribution to you. Before the letter was even requested from us your dealership inspected the vin plates on your car, entered the information into their system and consulted with you.

As you can appreciate this all costs money and because of the large volume of BMWs coming into Canada we have had to hire additional staff to administer it and therefore there is a charge.

In terms of the protection this all provides. Not everyone thinks to get a Car Fax (you were smart) so we get it for you and we check our US warranty system. Once done we can tell you the status of your warranty, now you may have already bought the car, but you will at least know then if its been in a bad accident, sold for salvage, been a flood car and whether the warranty is in force or not. Also, as I mentioned above we are developing a system to notify you of future recalls which could help keep us all safe.

We are sorry you are disappointed with our process and charges however, I am sure you are also in business and understand there are costs associated with providing services and while those costs could always be debated, we feel the fees we charge are reasonable based on our experience.

We hope you enjoy your car,

Best Regards,

Bruce Caton

National Manager, Pre-Owned

---------------------------------------------

Comments welcome.

Importing a Car from California - State Tax Exemption Availibility

2008-03-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a car from the U.S., there are a number of money-saving avenues you can take advantage of. In addition to the better exchange rates and lower pricing available in the U.S., there are tax saving advantages for importers as well.

If you are importing a car from California, understand that you will have to pay the State Tax on your purchase, unless the vehicle is delivered to you out of the state. If you plan to drive your car off the lot in California, you will have to pay the tax.

According to the California Board of Equalization, if you are importing a car, the "purchaser is not required to pay California use tax if the only use of the property purchased in California is to remove it from the state and it will be used solely thereafter outside this state. No other use can be made of the property."

The California Board of Equalization must receive a completed Statement Of Delivery Outside California form http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/boe448.pdf

If importing a car from California verify this information with the seller and save yourself the State Tax.

Importing a Car from Florida - State Tax Exemption Possibility

2008-03-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

If you are importing a car from Florida, you may qualify for an exemption from the State Tax of 6% if the seller delivers the car to you outside of the State.

Importing a car from the U.S. has many steps and there are a number of ways that you can avoid costly mistakes. One way is to confirm with the seller of the vehicle that the car you are importing from the U.S. can be collected without paying the State Tax. In States such as California and Florida if you are importing a car you will have to pay the State tax unless the car is delivered to you outside of the State.

For information on the Florida regulations and exemptions, see http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/vehicle_sut.html

Buying a Vehicle or Vessel from a private seller in Florida

2008-03-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

If you are purchasing a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel from a private seller in Florida, you will need to complete this Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for submission to Florida DMV.

For a listing of office locations click: http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/

Possible Tax Exemption for California Motorcoach and RV Purchasers

2008-03-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

State of California, Board of Equalization will allow purchasers of a new or remanufactured truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer, with an unladen weight of 6,000 pounds or more, or a trailer coach or auxiliary dolly, purchased from a dealer located outside California for use outside
California, and delivered in California by the manufacturer or remanufacturer to a purchaser who is not a resident of California.

Please confirm if your purchase qualifies for such an exemption by contacting the seller.

To view the application form for this exemption click: http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/boe837.pdf

Note, California Coach Company listed on http://www.ucanimport.com/USA_Car_Dealers.aspx?t=rvs
offers this service to its purchasers.

State Tax Exemption on Vehicles Imported from Arizona, USA

2008-03-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

The Arizona Department of Revenue offers the following information to exempt Canadians from the State Tax when purchasing a motor vehicle:

Out-of-State Deliveries:
Sales of Motor Vehicles to Nonresidents for Use Outside of Arizona

The Department’s Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax Ruling TPR 03-1 remains in effect and governs sales of motor vehicles to nonresidents when the motor vehicle dealer delivers the motor vehicle to the nonresident outside of Arizona. As required by this ruling, an Arizona Form 5010 must be completed by the nonresident purchaser and the motor vehicle dealer. Additionally, a 90-Day Nonresident Registration Permit must be obtained, including the completion of a nonresident purchaser affidavit.

More details on http://www.revenue.state.az.us/TpT/Motorvehiclesale/mvtaxrate.htm

Jaguar and Land Rover Vehicles Imported from the US require Admissibility and Recall Completion Letters

2008-03-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

From the RIV website:

If you are importing a 1992-2008 Jaguar or a 2008 Land Rover you must contact an authorized Jaguar Canada dealership to determine the exact nature and costs of all modifications.

All modifications MUST be performed by an authorized Jaguar Canada dealership. When required modifications and any outstanding recalls have been completed, your local Jaguar dealer will provide you with an official Jaguar Canada vehicle admissibility and recall completion letter.

RIV fails to state if this is also the case with 2007 and earlier models for Land Rover, but we believe that the same rules will apply the moment RIV notices this oversight.

To locate a dealer go to: http://www.jaguar.ca/ca/en/jaguar_ownership/locate_dealer/Locate_A_Dealer.htm

Correct Exporting Information for Montana and Idaho Border Crossings Is Now Available

2008-02-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

UCanImport is pleased to announced that the correct exporting information for Montana and Idaho border crossings is now available at border crossing information on the UCanImport website.

There are 14 border crossings in all that connect Idaho and Montana to parts of BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan and the requirements for all crossings are listed on UCanImport.

Importers can print off the Vehicle Export Worksheet as well as the worksheet titled Exportation of Equipment Not Requiring A Title directly off the UCanImport website and submit all requisite documents following the instructions provided.

Provincial Inspections for Vehicles Imported into PEI

2008-02-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

If importing a vehicle from the US into Prince Edward Island, a motor vehicle inspection report must be submitted at the time of vehicle registration.

Information on the inspections process and costs are available here: http://www.gov.pe.ca/tpwpei/index.php3?number=1002491

Location contact information is listed here:
http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=45875

Special Note:

When registering a vehicle imported from the US in PEI, the vehicle will be exempt from sales tax if:

the person must have resided outside of PEI for not less than 6 consecutive months;
the vehicle must have been owned by the person for at least 30 days prior to taking up residence in PEI; and
no customs duties were collected on the vehicle at the Canada-US border.

In order to bring goods into the Province as tax exempt the individual must establish permanent residency. Summer residence may not register vehicles as tax free. Collection of GST only at the border will not affect the exemption.

Note: the Federal Inspection is covered in the RIV fee of $195 which you are required to pay upon importing your vehicle.

Provincial Inspections for Vehicles Imported into New Brunswick

2008-02-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

If you are importing a vehicle into New Brunswick, a motor vehicle inspection is required in the province. According to Government of New Brunswick Services, a motor vehicle inspection is an inspection and mechanical examination of the body and associated components, the windshield and windows, the windshield wipers, the horn, the rearview mirror, the lights, the exhaust system, the brakes, the steering and suspension system, the wheels and tires, and the coupling system.

For prices and locations please see:
http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID1=795&ReportType1=All

For off-road vehicle registration visit:
http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID1=3575&ReportType1=All

Warranty specialist partners with UCanImport

2008-02-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

UCanImport is pleased to launch its partnership with Canada Wide Warranty.

Many vehicle manufacturers refuse to honour warranties on imported cars; however, Canadians no longer need to fear this tactic. Canadian importers can purchase superior third-party warranty coverage and customize it to meet their driving needs.

Canada Wide Warranty provides third-party warranties on practically any type of vehicle purchased in the USA or Canada. The company is an authorized representative of Secure®, one of Canada's leading warranty product solutions for various automotive and recreation vehicles. Secure® warranties are fully insured by the Sovereign General Insurance Company, a member of the Co-Operators, one of Canada's oldest and most respected insurance companies. The Sovereign General Insurance Company and its affiliated companies have assets in excess of $4 billion and a very strong credit rating.

Contact Canada Wide Warranty for your no obligation consultation on the warranty packages available to you.

Class-action lawsuit launched against Transport Canada

2008-02-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Ottawa sued over car import rules

GREG KEENAN

February 28, 2008 at 1:48 AM EST

Two vehicle leasing companies have launched a class-action lawsuit on cross-border vehicle shopping with a new twist, alleging Transport Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency were participants in a conspiracy to keep vehicle prices high.

The two arms of the government have been named along with BMW Canada Inc., Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and Mercedes-Benz USA LLC in a lawsuit that alleges actions they required of people or companies trying to import U.S. vehicles into Canada reduced competition and enabled prices of vehicles sold here to be 20 per cent to 35 per cent higher than similar U.S. models.

Read the rest of the article: Ottawa sued over car import rules

Volvo admissibility Q&A for importers from the US

2008-02-27T16:47:00.000-08:00

Volvo has posted a series of Q&As for the importer at this link http://www.volvocanada.com/NewsAndEvents/VehicleAdmissibility.aspx?lng=2

You will see that Volvo claims that "Transport Canada has delegated to Volvo Canada the responsibility of informing the public which Volvo vehicles are admissible in accordance with Transport Canada standards."

One of the statements that Transport Canada (TC) makes is that auto-manufacturers are "self-certifying" and unless called to audit the certification process, TC leaves it to the manufacturer, in this case, Volvo, to tell the importer and TC which vehicles may be admitted to Canada, and in their opinion, be successfully modified to meet Canadian Safety Standards that are governed by TC.

Where TC stands on the exorbitant pricing strategy for these modifications is anyone's guess...

Porsche Boxter, Cayman and 911 require modifications to bumpers

2008-02-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

For Porsche importers, please note that on the 2008 models, RIV has recently updated bumper requirements to read as follows:

All passenger car U.S. models (Boxster, Cayman, 911 varients) do not comply with CMVSS 215 (bumpers). In order for these vehicles to be brought into compliance with CMVSS 215, the two impact pipes (part # 996 505 019 01) and their mating two desk pad impact absorbers (part # 996 505 775 00) that support the rear bumper have to be replaced with the Canadian specification impact absorbers (part # 996 505 015 01) and desk pad impact absorbers (part # 996 505 775 01).

UCanImport is encouraging importers to get a quote for this modification prior to commencing their importation.

Obtaining an In-transit Permit in Florida for vehicle imports

2008-02-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

If you are purchasing a vehicle from a private seller in Florida, either you or the seller will have to purchase an in-transit permit as described below:

-----------------------------

What is the purpose for issuance of temporary license plates?

Florida law provides for a variety of legal uses of temporary license plates. The most common is by motor vehicle dealers to allow customers who don't have a license plate to transfer to be able to drive their newly purchased vehicle off the lot. The license plates are valid for 30 days, which gives dealers ample time to apply for titles and registrations for their customers.

If you are not a dealer, but you have acquired another vehicle and transferred your license plate from your old vehicle to the new vehicle, a temporary license plate may be obtained from the tax collector's office so you may demonstrate your old vehicle while it is for sale.

Non-residents also are eligible to secure a temporary license plate for "in-transit" purposes if they purchase a vehicle in Florida and want to drive it back home. However, proof of insurance (from Florida or home state) and sales tax in the amount required by the home state must be paid. If you feel you may be eligible for a temporary license plate, inquire through your local tax collector's office or the regional DMV office (http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/offices/)that serves your area.

------------------------------------

Bumper standards may soon be harmonized on vehicle imports from the US into Canada

2008-02-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

The following was published in Part 1 of the Canada Gazette. I think that we will soon see an amendment and harmonization of bumper standards. But, then it remains to be seen what else the auto manufacturers will dream up as a deterrent to trade.

Link to http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20071013/html/notice-e.html#i10
or read below.

---------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT

Notice requesting comments on the intention to amend section 215, "Bumpers," of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Transport is considering amending Canada's regulatory requirements governing bumpers and is soliciting written comments from all interested parties on the potential changes.

Summary

The Department of Transport is evaluating the need to amend its current bumper requirements by introducing changes that would either rescind the Canadian bumper standard entirely or align the bumper impact test speeds with those of the United States and require or allow compliance with the lower leg requirements of the future global technical regulation (gtr) on pedestrian safety currently under development. This gtr will come into effect when, and if, it is adopted by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

During the review process, the Department will ensure that the current level of safety is maintained. While out of our control, we can, however, give consideration to the effects of regulation on cost and availability benefits to consumers.

Introduction

The Department is seeking comments on various bumper requirement options in order to help determine which requirements governing bumpers would be more beneficial to consumers, rather than those presently in effect. The intent of the review is not to reduce safety in any way, but to investigate harmonization options which will allow manufacturers to continue to meet future bumper requirements, while ultimately reducing costs and possibly increasing vehicle model availability to consumers.

The objective of the Canadian bumper standard, which applies to front and rear bumpers, is to prevent or reduce the damage to safety-related components in systems such as the lighting, fuel, suspension, steering, propulsion, cooling and exhaust systems of passenger cars in low-speed collisions. Ultimately, the standard is aimed at reducing the number of fatalities and injuries associated with motor vehicle collisions, which would occur because of prior damage to those systems. It also establishes a range of bumper heights to reduce the risk of underride and override in the event of a collision.

The present bumper standard applies only to passenger cars, which are one of several prescribed classes of vehicles under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). This is also the case for the similar U.S. and European standards, which are the two other main world requirements for bumpers on motor vehicles. The Canadian bumper standard differs from those of the United States and Europe by having slightly different test procedures but, more importantly, the Canadian standard includes a significantly higher test speed. The Department has observed that U.S. or European market specification vehicles do not necessarily comply with the Canadian bumper standard.

Regulatory diversity between countries can limit the range of vehicle models marketed in any given country and may act as an impediment to the development of vehicle models. Alternatively, it may increase the unit cost of such vehicles, depending on the number of modifications or model variants that the manufacturer needs to produce to market the vehicle platform globally. This is why the Department needs to ensure that there is a demonstrated net benefit to Canadians if pursuing a non-harmonized approach.

In the case of the bumper standard, it has proven difficult to estimate the number of fatalities and injuries associated with motor vehicle collisions which occur because of prior damage to a safety-related component in a low-speed collision, and the extent to which the higher Canadian test speed has yielded safety and economic benefits.

In the intervening years since the introduction of the bumper standard, not only have vehicle designs changed significantly but the classes of vehicles used by Canadians have also changed. When the standard was introduced in 1972, most Canadians drove passenger cars, whereas today, many Canadians drive multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) and trucks; thus, the number of vehicles that must meet the bumper standard has continued to decrease each year.

One of the new challenges for bumper designs is to better protect pedestrians during low-speed collisions. There is significant interest around the world in introducing requirements to limit the injuries to pedestrians. Work is nearing completion on a gtr being completed under the auspices of UNECE.

Finally, to improve vehicle fuel efficiencies, manufacturers attempt to design bumper systems that are lighter in mass and offer superior aerodynamic profiles. This objective has resulted in a significant change in bumper designs from the heavier steel designs of the past to lighter more aerodynamic composite designs, which incorporate pedestrian safety features on modern passenger cars.

The Department's purpose in publishing this notice is twofold: first, to summarize the evolution of the Canadian bumper standard since it was first introduced in 1972, including the explanation for why the Canadian bumper standard is currently in disharmony with the U.S. and European requirements; and second, to outline the various options to rectify this and provide an opportunity for the Canadian public and other stakeholders to comment on potential amendments.

Background

The Department introduced its regulation on passenger car bumpers on July 26, 1972. The regulation comprised an 8-km/h frontal impact and a 5-km/h rear impact into a fixed collision barrier, under which damage to specific safety-related components involving structural components as well as principal operating systems were prohibited.

The regulation was amended on September 26, 1973, to add a pendulum-type impact test. In addition, the rear impact test speed into a fixed collision barrier was increased to 8 km/h.

On December 10, 1975, a new amendment to the bumper standard was completed to add a detailed test procedure for the pendulum-type impact test. The test included an impact speed of 4.8 km/h being applied to one corner of each bumper between specific heights. Those heights were later rounded off on April 25, 1979, in order for the Canadian bumper standard to be fully harmonized with those of the United States.

However, in 1979, the United States initiated a rulemaking action to amend its bumper requirements and the U.S. standard began diverging from the Canadian standard. To complement the existing no damage requirement to safety-related parts, the U.S. government added new criteria that prohibited property damage to all exterior vehicle surfaces not involving the bumper system, as well as damage resistant criteria not to be exceeded by the bumper itself. These additional requirements were in effect for 1980 to 1982 models and required barrier and pendulum impact test speeds identical to the Canadian bumper standard. On May 14, 1982, the United States reduced the test impact speeds from 8 km/h to 4 km/h for longitudinal impacts and from 4.8 km/h to 2.4 km/h for corner pendulum impacts. The damage resistance criteria were also dropped from the U.S. regulation. Conversely, the no damage requirement to safety-related parts and to all exterior vehicle surfaces not involving the bumper system remained in effect.

During the same period in Europe, a bumper standard specified by the UNECE was developed (hereinafter referred to as ECE Regulation No. 42). The standard, created in 1980, does not include a barrier impact test but comprises pendulum impact tests using speeds similar to those of the United States. In this test, a profiled pendulum strikes the vehicle with a speed of 4 km/h on the front and rear bumpers and at 2.5 km/h at the bumper corners. Similar to the Canadian bumper standard, ECE Regulation No. 42 ensures the integrity of various safety systems.

The U.S. bumper standard, on the other hand, is not intended to improve the integrity of safety systems but to reduce the costs associated with damage to bumpers involved in low-speed collisions. The reason for this difference is that through the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, the U.S. government is empowered to regulate the design of automobiles solely for the purpose of savings in cost to the public at large, whereas Canadian legislation constrains regulations to improvements in safety. In other words, Transport Canada does not have the authority to regulate requirements that would not offer a safety benefit. This is why the requirements of the Canadian bumper standard cannot be fully aligned with those of the United States on the basis employed by U.S. lawmakers.

On May 14, 1983, Transport Canada published in Part I of the Canada Gazette a proposal to partially harmonize its bumper requirements with those of the United States by lowering the velocities of the barrier and pendulum bumper impact tests to the same values as those of the United States. This would have also brought the Canadian speeds for the pendulum tests closer to those of ECE Regulation No. 42. However, the Department received significant opposition from the provinces and territories, the public, the media and the insurance industry with respect to the proposed lowering of bumper impact velocities. This opposition resulted in the Department withdrawing its proposal on August 3, 1985, and the Department not harmonizing its bumper standard impact test speeds with those of the United States and the UNECE. This divergence still exists today.

In the decades that followed, one issue that the Department put effort into addressing was collision compatibility between passenger cars and larger and heavier vehicles. On September 23, 2004, Transport Canada introduced a new regulation aimed at reducing the risk of injury in collisions between passenger cars and large commercial vehicles. This regulation mandated the installation of low mounted rear underride guards on large commercial trailers to reduce the likelihood of passenger vehicles from traveling underneath the rear of the trailer in the event of a collision.

Moreover, Transport Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2006 with the automotive industry aimed at improving compatibility between new passenger cars and light duty trucks in front-to-front and front-to-side vehicle collisions by the effective date of September 2009. In this MOU, vehicle manufacturers have agreed to redesign the bumper energy absorbing structure of larger vehicles to better protect occupants of smaller vehicles in the event of a collision.

Development of a global technical regulation on pedestrian safety

Since September 4, 2002, the Department has been participating in the development of a gtr on pedestrian safety at the UNECE. The intent of the gtr is to establish countermeasures that will help reduce injuries and fatalities sustained by pedestrians when they are struck by automobiles. Once approved, the gtr will comprise a series of tests to replicate collisions involving child and adult pedestrians where impacts occur at 40 km/h. It is expected that these tests will help reduce injuries to the lower legs of pedestrians against front bumpers, and upper legs and heads against hoods. Finalization of this gtr is expected in the near future. It is expected that when and if this gtr is adopted, manufacturers will be facing new challenges to design and manufacture more pedestrian-friendly bumpers, while still being required to meet the existing bumper standards of several jurisdictions. This will be further complicated by the need to maintain or improve fuel economy performance in relation to fuel efficiency regulations and incentive programs.

Ratings from insurance groups

There are several insurance groups worldwide that rate bumper performance during low-severity collisions based on the cost of repairing vehicle damage. These consumer metric tests influence bumper system design with the intent of minimizing vehicle damage. The largest groups are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States, and the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR) with members in Europe, Asia and America.

Until very recently, IIHS used four impact tests to rate bumper performance. The four configurations were two full-width front and rear impacts into a flat barrier, a front impact into an angled barrier, and a rear impact into a centered pole. The first two configurations were patterned after the U.S. federal full-width impacts but used the Canadian 8 km/h impact speed rather than the U.S. 4 km/h. The two latter impact tests were also conducted at 8 km/h and represented additional crash configurations that may be encountered in the real world.

In 2007, IIHS released a new bumper test protocol to better mimic the design of a car bumper and assess underride and override during vehicle-to-vehicle low speed crashes. The impact speed of the front and rear full-width impacts was changed from 8 km/h to 9.6 km/h and the flat barrier was substituted with a steel barrier developed with RCAR comprising a plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers from passenger cars. The third and fourth tests comprise front and rear corner impacts at 4.8 km/h against the same barrier with a 15% bumper overlap.

The RCAR test program, which has existed since 1999, uses a different test procedure for evaluating bumper performance. The tests are a 40% overlap front impact into a flat rigid barrier (known as the Danner test in Germany and the Thatcham test in the United Kingdom) and a 40% overlap rear impact by a 1 000 kg mobile barrier. The tests are completed at a speed of 15 km/h. In 2006, the tests were modified and the vehicle now strikes the barriers with an angle of 10°. In addition, the mass of the mobile barrier has been increased to 1 400 kg. In 2009, RCAR is expected to add the same front and rear full-width bumper impact tests into a steel barrier that were recently adopted by IIHS.

While IIHS widely publicizes its results, some members of RCAR use results of their tests to rate vehicles for insurance pricing purposes. According to RCAR, many manufacturers have also incorporated the insurance test into the development program for new models. The test serves to forewarn of any difficulties or problems that may arise with a production standard vehicle, and thus provides the opportunity to eliminate such difficulties at an early stage.

Protection of the occupants in high-speed frontal collisions

Car bumpers do not typically play a major role in vehicle crashworthiness or occupant protection during front or rear collisions. According to American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), new technologies permit the bumper design to absorb about 15% of the energy under high-speed impact. Nonetheless, there is a direct interaction between the bumper and the chassis rails. The bumper is also a common structural component in both low- and high-speed crash tests, and has an influence on the level of vehicle stability in a crash and the deployment synchronicity of the air bag system. Diverging bumper standard requirements between jurisdictions increase the complexity for manufacturers of complying with high-speed crash test requirements. A harmonized world bumper standard would reduce the burden on industry by allowing manufacturers to design, test and produce products to one set of standards.

Review of alternatives

Manufactures of vehicles are increasingly challenged to comply with all applicable bumper standards; receive high performance, low cost ratings from insurance groups; protect occupants in high-speed frontal collisions; enhance pedestrian safety requirements; provide visually appealing designs to their customers; and maintain aerodynamic characteristics which promote fuel efficiency. If manufacturers need to design several vehicle front and rear ends to accommodate different safety standards from various jurisdictions, this could increase costs to the consumers or decrease the number of vehicle models offered in a given jurisdiction. Thus, the Department believes that it is time to revisit the Canadian bumper standard and determine whether it is justified to maintain or amend the standard.

The Department is considering the following options and is interested in gathering comments:

1. Maintain status quo;

2. Maintain status quo but allow alternative compliance with the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety (since this portion of the gtr is the most advanced);

3. Rescind the Canadian bumper standard;

4. Rescind the Canadian bumper standard but regulate the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety as either mandatory or optional;

5. Amend the Canadian bumper standard to align the bumper impact test speeds with those of the United States; and

6. Amend the Canadian bumper standard to align the bumper impact test speeds with those of the United States and allow optional (or potentially require) compliance with the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety.

As a normal practice, the Department seeks to harmonize its regulatory requirements with those of other countries wherever possible to facilitate trade and minimize the economic burden of compliance on the automotive industry, as well as the costs that the industry subsequently passes on to its customers. The first option to maintain status quo by keeping the Canadian bumper standard unchanged implies that the standard would remain in disharmony with the U.S. and UNECE standards. The Canadian bumper impact tests are double the speed of any other country's bumper regulations. This higher impact speed may require a stiffer bumper system. This may represent an impediment to free trade if unique model variants are designed for the Canadian marketplace, with a potential loss of vehicle sales for some manufacturers, as well as the inability for the general public to import certain models of vehicles sold in the United States. In addition, some manufacturers have found it necessary to commit additional testing and engineering resources and, in some cases, have experienced longer lead times and/or the unavailability of certain models for the Canadian market due to the existing disharmony. The end result for consumers is a potentially smaller consumer choice and an increase in car purchase prices. An analysis, prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which supported that the U.S. bumper standard impact test speeds be reduced by half in 1982, indicated that while the faster Canadian impact test speeds reduce lifetime repair costs for cars, they increase car purchase prices and fuel consumption. In terms of safety, a second report prepared by NHTSA in 1987, indicated that the change in the bumper standard from 8 km/h to 4 km/h in 1982 had not affected the protection of the safety related parts. From a cost-benefit perspective, Transport Canada has been unable to justify why the Canadian bumper standard should continue to be more stringent than those of the United States or the UNECE. In the absence of evidence that the benefits of the Canadian bumper standard exceed the cost to society resulting from it, maintaining the standard unchanged would not appear to constitute an appropriate solution.

Option 2, that of maintaining status quo but allowing optional compliance with the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety, could facilitate trade and minimize the economic burden of compliance on the automotive industry by incorporating some of the future requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety. This would allow optional compliance with global requirements, while also maintaining the current requirements, allowing vehicle manufacturers freedom of choice. This option is practical only if the gtr is adopted by the UNECE and if any U.S. regulatory amendment mirrors the gtr.

Since the benefits to safety provided by bumpers in low-speed collisions are difficult to assess and there may be a greater need to address vehicle repair costs or pedestrian safety, options 3 and 4 are to either rescind the Canadian bumper standard altogether or to rescind it and regulate instead the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety. It should be pointed out that several countries in the world, such as Austria, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, and Australia, have no safety standards regulating bumper impact tests. The United Kingdom for one has an organization called the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham), which instead uses the RCAR test to rate the performance of bumpers for insurance pricing purposes. Other countries, such as Japan, are more concerned about injury to their pedestrians and therefore do not necessarily want car bumpers to be so rigid and unyielding that they could lead to a higher risk of injuries to pedestrians. The downside to options 3 and 4 is that Canadian consumers could lose with respect to both safety and reparability if some manufacturers (including perhaps emerging entities that do not currently market in Canada) choose to economize by selling cars in Canada that meet none of the other national standards for bumpers.

The proposed option 5 would be to amend the Canadian bumper standard to align the bumper impact test speeds with those of the United States. This would ensure free trade between Canada and the United States, and would also put the Canadian impact test speeds more in line with those of ECE Regulation No. 42. While introducing this option would increase the number of passenger car vehicle models available in Canada, the Department is not able to determine if there would be any negative effect on safety as the current passenger car fleet is capable of meeting the higher speed tests.

Option 6 would be to not only amend the Canadian bumper standard to align the bumper impact test speeds with those of the United States but also to allow compliance with the lower leg requirements of the gtr on pedestrian safety as an option or as a mandatory requirement. Discussions with the industry revealed that, while it is very challenging and costly to design to the Canadian bumper standard and the gtr on pedestrian safety, they are able to manufacture vehicles that would comply with both the U.S. bumper standard and the gtr. World studies all suggest that pedestrian head and leg injuries will be significantly reduced with the introduction of pedestrian safety requirements. The science on lower leg injury prevention is relatively more advanced at present.

Comments

Manufacturers, importers, public safety organizations, insurers, and other interested parties are requested to provide their comments on this proposal in writing, at the address provided below, before December 31, 2007. Comments should be supported by data wherever possible.

Comments should identify those parts of the representations that should not be disclosed pursuant to the Access to Information Act and, in particular, pursuant to sections 19 and 20 of the Act, the reason why those parts should not be disclosed and the period during which those parts should remain undisclosed.

Comments, questions, and requests for additional information regarding this notice may be directed to Matthew Coons, Senior Regulatory Development Engineer, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate, Transport Canada, 330 Sparks Street, 8th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5, 613-998-1961 (telephone), 613-990-2913 (fax); and Standards and Regulations Division, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate, Transport Canada, 330 Sparks Street, 8th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5, 613-998-2268 (telephone), 613-990-2913 (fax).

CHRISTIAN LAVOIE
Director
Standards Research and Development
For the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Provincial Inspections for Vehicles Imported into Ontario

2008-02-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

If you are registering an imported vehicle in Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation for Ontario has provided a handy checklist of required steps.

Click here to view the checklist: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/rgoutcan.htm

An SCC is a certificate that is issued by a government- approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Station (MVIS) after a vehicle passes an inspection. This inspection covers the minimum safety requirements for vehicles in the province of Ontario. You can have your vehicle inspected at a Ministry of Transportation-approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Station (MVIS). There are approximately 13,500 stations across Ontario, just look for the green and white sign that says "Ontario Motor Vehicle Inspection Station".

For more information on the SCC visit http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/faq/vehicle.htm#ssc5

Provincial Inspections for Vehicles Imported into BC

2008-02-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

To register an imported vehicle or any private vehicle previously registered outside of BC, you will need to obtain a "passed" Vehicle Inspection Report from a Designated Inspection Facility (DIF) in BC (a DIF is an auto repairer or service shop that has been certified by Government to perform inspections).

For a complete list of DPIs visit http://www.th.gov.bc.ca

Type "Private Vehicle Inspections" in the Search box at the top of the home page and click GO. Click on the link to "List of Designated Inspection Facilities" at the bottom of the new page that comes up.

Note: the Federal Inspection is covered in the RIV fee of $195 which you are required to pay upon importing your vehicle.

Provincial Inspections for Vehicles Imported into Manitoba

2008-02-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

According to Manitoba Public Insurance, to register any newly acquired motor vehicle in Manitoba, you'll have to get a valid safety inspection certificate. In Manitoba this provincial safety inspection certificated a Certificate of Inspection (COI).

The provincial safety inspections ensure that vehicle meets minimum safety standards before being operated on Manitoba roads. The inspection includes examination of the steering, suspension, tires, brakes, exhaust, lights, and the vehicle's supporting structure.

The costs at an provincial inspection station can be up to $45.00. This doesn't include any extra fee to reinspect brake components that failed the first time around - that can cost as much as $20 more. Any repairs to make the vehicle safe are extra - these repairs must be completed before you'll be allowed to register your vehicle.

Approved inspection stations are located throughout Manitoba. Call Vehicle Standards and Inspections at (204) 985-0929 or toll-free (866) 323-0542 for an inspection station near you.

Note: the Federal Inspection is regulated by RIV and is included in the $195 importation fee.