| u are a resident of Canada you most likely will have | | | | may have warned you of the perils of loss of service |
| seen many stories on the media – whether it is | | | | privileges if you purchased the vehicle outside of their |
| on TV or in the Globe and Mail or your local | | | | sales areas. |
| newspaper that car prices are much less expensive in | | | | You may consider that it is wrong, unethical or immoral |
| the United Sates than in Canada. You may have | | | | to import a U.S. car into Canada. True most people like |
| wondered if you can save money and is it worth the | | | | to be loyal to their local merchants. However under the |
| effort. Yes it can be less expensive and well worth | | | | NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) |
| the effort. However it is a simple matter of doing your | | | | cars are shipped back and forth among the NAFTA |
| homework thoroughly and following the rules according | | | | trading area (the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico) without |
| to Government of Canada Transport Canada and the | | | | extra tariffs and taxes. This has benefited the car |
| Registrar of Imported Motor Vehicles of the | | | | makers greatly – allowing for reductions in costs |
| Government of Canada. It is not a very complex | | | | due to specialization of factories and economies of |
| procedure, which is too difficult. That is as long as you | | | | scale. Before NAFTA each car maker has different |
| follow the rules to the letter and in the correct | | | | factories in each separate country manufacturing |
| sequence. | | | | select models and car lines. With NAFTA that can be |
| From the very beginning you must be stressed and | | | | scaled back to only several, larger and more efficient |
| you must understand that if you do not follow the | | | | factories – each producing a certain model or |
| Canadian and American rules for importing and | | | | car line for the entire NAFTA trading areas. If the car |
| exporting a vehicle you may well have very expensive | | | | makers can benefit from the economies of scale of |
| auto, truck or S.U.V .stuck south of the border. As a | | | | NAFTA why not you as a consumer? You cannot |
| result you will not be able to bring this car into drive into | | | | have your cake and eat it too. |
| Canada to drive register it or drive it in Canada as a | | | | Interestingly enough the humour is that same car, |
| Canadian citizen or resident... In that case you will either | | | | which you are importing into Canada, May very well, |
| be forced to sell your vehicle, at cost and | | | | have been manufactured in Canada, for the North |
| inconvenience to yourself, to a person in the United | | | | American car market. You are in effect repatriating |
| States. It cannot be overemphasized that you have to | | | | that vehicle home. If the car is not made in Canada, but |
| do proper research, check and either recheck the | | | | in the U.S. or Mexico, the same person and people will |
| rules, and then follow the auto importation rules exactly | | | | have their jobs regardless of whether you purchased |
| and to the letter. | | | | the car in Canada or in the U.S. The one person or |
| Many Canadians have saved substantial amounts of | | | | organization that gets left out of the loop is your local |
| money importing cars from the U.S. into Canada. This | | | | car dealer. True. However, it may be surprising for you |
| is even more so with the more expensive luxury | | | | to discover, that most of the profits of a car dealership |
| brands and models.. Simply and exactly follow the rules | | | | are from service work of your vehicle, not the sale. In |
| as laid out, on the government websites or on similar | | | | this day and age of computerized, technically difficult to |
| pamphlets. If you are not sure – then ask .Either | | | | repair automobiles, who are you going to take your car |
| email, phone or both It’s only a phone call or an | | | | to for service, both warranty and non warranty |
| email away. Nothing difficult. It all comes down to | | | | related. The answer is that your service work, in most |
| simple preparation. If you prepare well not only are | | | | cases, will be done by your local dealer, whom you |
| these officials more than facilitating and happy to help | | | | wish to support. |
| you out. They will even assist you in either of the | | | | The basic rules in importing a car into Canada are as |
| official languages of Canada- French or English. It can | | | | follows. First consult the Government of Canada site |
| be said that in the end the departments will be | | | | – Officially the “Registrar of Imported |
| collecting the same taxes in any event. On top of that, | | | | Vehicles “, also called Riv. This can be done by |
| the humour is the best chance is that the vehicle itself | | | | phone, email or both. |
| was manufactured in Canada in the first place. | | | | Transport Canada issues a comprehensive |
| You may have heard many, if not dozens, of mythical | | | | “List of Vehicles Admissible from the United |
| stories of Canadians who saved vast amounts on car | | | | States”. This is your initial bible to consult |
| purchases by importing cars from the U.S. into Canada. | | | | – both in terms of admissibility and inadmissibility. |
| Contrary to your research and readings you may well | | | | Note that certain model years may have different |
| encounter skeptical and downright misleading | | | | rulings. It is up to you to do a thorough a complete job |
| information from either local car dealers or | | | | of research. Again phone, email to check and recheck |
| manufactures when you conduct research or read | | | | if you are unsure or doubtful.. |
| articles in your local newspapers or on Canadian | | | | Before exporting the car from the United States, you |
| television programs. Such objections may include | | | | will have to fax U.S. customs the relevant documents |
| statements such as “The savings (except for | | | | 72 hours in advance. Next you will have to follow the |
| the highest end luxury cars) are minor.”” | | | | procedure outlined at the Riv site of “What to |
| The cars are not the same.” “, The | | | | do at the Border”. This involves documentation, |
| manufacturers will not honor new car warranties on | | | | the paying of certain fees and taxes and within a set |
| new cars bought in the U.S. and imported / shipped into | | | | time an “Imported Vehicle Inspection” |
| Canada. “These answers are either false or | | | | and certification by an approved automobile service |
| mistruths taken out of context. It all comes down to | | | | agency. If modifications need to be done to bring the |
| your research. Take time to clarify your research both | | | | car into line with Canadian standards, these must be |
| to reassure yourself, to verify and as well eliminate | | | | done. Certification again must be done by the |
| false, wrong information and misconceptions and | | | | approved repair facility. |
| answers taken out of context. Again the correct | | | | Lastly remember that cars manufactured within the |
| answers may only be a phone call, email or one | | | | NAFTA trade zone do not pay extra duty. However |
| webpage away | | | | extra duties on cars manufactured outside the U.S., |
| You will save a fair chunk of cash. All that matters in | | | | Canada or Mexico may be demanded. By Canada |
| the end is the final price of the product delivered to | | | | Customs. Again it is your responsibility to do your |
| your door, driveway or parking spot. This is true in | | | | homework. |
| many, if not most cases. Again in the end all that | | | | Ensure that your paperwork is correct. Pay particular |
| matters in pricing out your car is what it costs | | | | attention to the declared value of the car. Ensure that |
| delivered to your door – with all taxes and | | | | this is the correct figure that you paid. Do not attempt |
| charges included. Even after including all of the | | | | to have a “false bill”. The Canadian |
| Canadian taxes and extra costs involved, in most | | | | border authorities have at their disposal accurate |
| cases, you will save a bundle. To the largest degree | | | | information as to market value of the car, truck or |
| currency fluctuations have made this so. The rise in | | | | SUV in question. This is their business and they do the |
| the Canadian dollar has made this so. It may also be | | | | time. If you got a good deal fine. It does not make |
| argued that the retail car industry in the U.S. is much | | | | sense for the sense of saving a small amount of |
| more competitive than in Canada reducing prices by | | | | taxes paid to under declare what you paid and risk |
| competition. | | | | fines , penalties and even seizure of your value priced |
| In terms of warranty coverage it is true that | | | | vehicle. Most likely you have saved so much money |
| manufacturers do not cover warranties on U.S. cars | | | | along the way, and even had a brief holiday as well. |
| imported into Canada. However the vast majority of | | | | Why push your luck and take foolish chances for no |
| car makers do cover the warranties. It’s up to | | | | good reasons. |
| you to do your homework. Again either phone or email. | | | | This is a basic explanation of the steps required to |
| It’s always best to get the answer in writing. At | | | | import a car into Canada from the U.S. There may be |
| the worst case with some brands, if you are being | | | | additional steps involved, in your specific case. Rules |
| actively discouraged from purchasing the car, since it is | | | | may change over time, either overall or in specifics. |
| a case that the factory warranty will not be honored if | | | | It cannot be overstated that you must do a thorough |
| the American purchased car is registered in Canada, | | | | and complete job of research – either by phone, |
| then if the savings warrant it, and the car is of a high | | | | email or both. |
| quality product line, it all comes down to final cost | | | | Written documentation is most preferential over verbal. |
| savings. If savings are substantial and warrant the | | | | Check and recheck. If in doubt phone or email. |
| costs – then there are no shortage of very | | | | At this point in time, many Canadians have purchased |
| reputable third party warranty coverage providers , | | | | a car in the United States and imported that vehicle |
| who will gladly sell you extended warranty coverage. | | | | into Canada. These smart consumers have found that |
| The humour will be that in most cases the actual work | | | | the cost savings on purchasing their vehicle well |
| will be provided by the factory authorized dealer | | | | outweigh their investments in time, efforts and extra |
| service department – the very organizations that | | | | work involved. |