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
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
US Trip Permits and Temporary Registration for Vehicle Imports
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Porsche Follows BMW and Mercedes-Benz By Imposing Compliance Letter Fees
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
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
Friday, August 14, 2009
RIV Launches New Website
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...
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...
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
BMW Recall Clearance Letters Available For Importers
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/
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/
Friday, June 5, 2009
Import A Salvage Vehicle Into Alberta
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Recall Clearance Approval Process At RIV Has Changed
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
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
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