Part II = Importing a car to Canada from the USA -
The following came from a reader and is worth passing on. Unfortunately, t was truncated but I believe i answered the hours of operation in Part I. Note, that they will also accept faxed documents to get started but you should have the original at the border itself. ------------------------------ Mr. Ingram: Some key points were missed in your reply to the person asking about importing their car to Canada once they are already in Canada... I base the following on my experience of importing my US car into Ontario in early 2002. Note: I have dual US-Canada citizenship and was returning to Canada after many years in the US; the car was purchased in the US 16 months before I moved to Canada (and at the time of purchase I was planning on staying in the US). I did my research BEFORE the move (which I suggest everybody do!!!), so it went mostly uneventfully. Issues: 1. INSURANCE A US insurer probably only covers the vehicle for a brief period once it has been moved to Canada. The insurer needs to be told where the car is (the "garage address" is now Canada, not the US). My insurance provider in the US was Geico. They DO cover vehicles in other countries (e.g. they cater to military personnel who would move abroad and take their car with them). But NOT Canada. Geico had no problem insuring my car for the first thirty (30) DAYS it was in Canada, to allow me time to get insurance coverage in Canada for the car. They would cover it at the provincial (Ontario) minimums at no extra charge. They sent me the inter-provincial coverage card -- the same as they send if one is travelling to Canada just for vacation (did you know they have such things ? they do!! *ASK* ). The key is -- your "garage address" - where the car is "kept" - changes. It is no longer in the US. Also, insurance minimums are MUCH higher in Canada than most places in the US. Some Canadian provinces are "no fault" jurisdictions. This has consequences for an insurer. Now there ARE some insurance companies with a presence in Canada and the US -- e.g. Allstate. But there is usually a US and Canadian "arm" to the company and when you switch countries you must formally get a new policy under the new country's arm. Bottom line: - the original poster may have NO insurance because they failed to notify the insurer the car has moved - their US insurance may only cover them for a brief period of time, to allow them to get Canadian coverage ==> they really need to talk with their US insurer ==> they need to look into getting Canadian insurance << and I hope they haven't made similar assumptions about their health insurance -- they could be in for a big surprise!! >> 2. US CUSTOMS Mr. Ingram is quite correct that you have to export your car from the US first, before importing it into Canada. However, if you are working with nice Customs people (on both sides!) -- in my experience, I have yet to discover a Customs person who is NOT nice -- they have some level of discretion and may be able to help resolve the situation fairly painlessly. Or not -- it really depends on how messy the situation actually is. But, in my experience anyway, they will at least try to figure out a solution. Exporting the car from the US requires that you have the US vehicle registration and title. If the car has a lien on it, like mine did from GMAC (remember, the car was not even 18 months old! it was still financed!), you won't have the original title. You will have a copy of the title though. If this is your situation, you will ALSO need a letter from the lien-holder giving you permission to take the car out of the US (CHECK WITH CUSTOMS !). US CUSTOMS at your chosen border crossing point will tell you EXACTLY what they need -- give them what they need !! Remember to include a nice cover letter explaining what you are doing and what you have enclosed. The US Customs office needs the paperwork at least 72 hours in advance of your crossing. Many will accept a Fed-Ex envelope containing it (gets it there quickly + is trackable). You will have to call them to get their street address, but you need to call and talk with them first anyway!! Some crossings have limited hours of operation during which they will expor ----------------------------- David Ingram's US/Canada Services US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists US / Canada Real Estate Specialists Home office at: 4466 Prospect Road North Vancouver, BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7 Cell (604) 657-8451 - (604) 980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325 Calls welcomed from 10 AM to 10 PM 7 days a week (please do not fax or phone outside of those hours as this is a home office) email to taxman at centa.com www.centa.com www.david-ingram.com Disclaimer: This question has been answered without detailed information or consultation and is to be regarded only as general comment. Nothing in this message is or should be construed as advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists between the reader and the author and any and all non-contractual duties are expressly denied. All readers should obtain formal advice from a competent and appropriately qualified legal practitioner or tax specialist for expert help, assistance, preparation, or consultation in connection with personal or business affairs such as at www.centa.com. If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be included." Be ALERT, the world needs more "lerts" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.centa.com/CEN-TAPEDE/centapede/attachments/20060111/9cd6b277/attachment.htm
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