Hi David I am a Dual citizen of Canada and U.S. , and reside in Toronto. I currently work in the US on contracts for U.S. companies. Usually being out of Canada for about 3 months or so. Is it possible to purchase a new car in Alabama and bring it back to Toronto? With the U.S. Dollar lower, the cost difference is significant. What are your suggestions? I enjoy your newsletter and appreciate your advice. Thanks ==================================== david ingram replies: I have purchased 8 vehicles in the US in the last 14 months but did not buy because of cost, I bought old cars there because of selection and availability. Living in North Vancouver, two came from Florida (73 Citroen SM and 79 VW convertible), one From Pennsylvania (82 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible), one from Tucson (87 Jeep Grand Wagoneer), one from New Hampshire (87 Chevy Truck), two from Oregon (88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and 87 Cadillac Sixty Special)and one from California (85 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible). They all came across the border with no problems because they were all older than 15 years and not subject to CMVSS rules. If you are a resident of Canada you can only drive the car from the border to your house and back to the border if you do not officially import it by paying duty. And, of course, no one else in Canada can drive it If you are a resident of the US visiting someone in Canada, you can drive it in Canada anywhere you want but you have to be careful because it is easy to get caught being a resident even if you think you are not. One solution is to pay the duty at the border and then just leave it registered in the US if you are really living there most of the time. If stopped by the police or the Canada Customs people, you can show them the duty paid receipt and state that you are living in the US but paid the duty so that your wife, ex wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, ex husband, sister, brother, kids, best friend, worst enemy or old neighbour can drive it in Canada. Just remember that if you have US plates and are in Canada for a month without a contract to work in the States, your provincial rules will take over and you will require a Canadian provincial registration. And, although unusual, it is possible to have dual licences on a vehicle - think of all those transport trucks you have seen with multiple state and provincial tags. I saw a car with BC and Montana plates today. You have a tough time getting it started the first time but it does work. If you buy a car in Alabama or any other state, you have to make sure that it complies with CMVSS rules, just like buying a car in Lake Tahoe Nevada and finding it cannot be registered in Lake Tahoe, California because it does not comply with California Smog Emissions. For instance a 2005 or 2006 Ford/Mercury GT is NOT admissible. Neither is a 2004, 2005 or 2006 Pontiac GTO admissible to Canada and No FIAT is admissible for the last 15 years. So check the list below. This previous Q & A will likely help. * if you bring back a car from out of North America. - be aware that MOST cars (unless they are more than 14 years old) you buy out of North America will NOT qualify to come into Canada because they will not meet Canadian Motor vehicle safety standards (CMVSS) rules. You can see the individual requirements of the ACT at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/m/mvsa/regulations/m vsrg/toc_mvsrg.htm You can see the latest list of admissible cars from the US at: http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf As a rule, vehicles built in countries other than the US and Canada do NOT qualify for importation to Canada because they do not meet CMVSS and can NOT be converted by law. An exception is a car more than 15 years old. And please note that it is a CRIMINAL offence to try and sneak a non-complying car into the country as this excerpt from the CMVSS website shows: Transport Canada > Road Safety > Importing a Vehicle Into Canada Importation of vehicles into Canada from countries other than the United States Revised December 2002 Subject to revision without notification The illegal importation of a motor vehicle into Canada is a criminal offence. Inadmissible vehicles will be denied entry into Canada and will be detained. All storage and disposal fees are the responsibility of the importer. Please read the following carefully. VEHICLES PURCHASED OUTSIDE CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations require that all vehicles imported into Canada comply, at the time of importation, with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date the vehicle was manufactured. Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Canada and the United States do not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, CANNOT be altered to comply and CANNOT be imported into Canada. The only exceptions to this rule are vehicles fifteen (15) years old or older as determined by the month and year in which the vehicle was manufactured and buses manufactured before January 1, 1971. Vehicles acquired in foreign countries other than the U.S. and designed, built, tested and certified to meet either all applicable Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or all applicable United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and bearing a statement of compliance label affixed by the original manufacturer, as required by the Regulations, may be eligible for importation into Canada provided the vehicle has not been altered and the certification from the original manufacturer is maintained. Please contact Transport Canada, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate, at 1-613-998-8616 for further information. ---------------------------------------------- David Ingram's US / Canada Services US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists US / Canada Real Estate Specialists My Home office is 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 Vancouver (LA) time - (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" David Ingram gives expert income tax & immigration help to non-resident Americans & Canadians from New York to California to Saudi Arabia to Mexico to China or Chile - Cross border, dual citizen - out of country investments are all handled with competence & authority. 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