How to import a car with US title from Canada to the US?

[FRODADDY]

Dear Forums members,

what it looks like I already found the 964 I was looking for.
The car was registered in USA before and the US title is still in hand of the current owner.
What is now the best way to get the car over the boarder?
I would like to use temporary permits to drive the car down to Seattle.

Also I would like to ask what the best way would be to pay for it?
(Sorry, to ask but that is the first time that I buy a more expensive car here in the USA).

Thank you in advance!

[Aleman]

You found this? Dear God, whatever it takes, make it happen!

[FRODADDY]

No, something better.
I really need to figure out how to get it done...

[E30_Pare]

just drive it over?

[FRODADDY]

that would be the perfect way, i just wonder if that works without havoing to reimport the car?
I also don't know if there will be any import taxes to be paid?

[BigtroublesE30]

Ay Caruamba! I can only dream.. maybe a RS or RS america mmm ;D

Or maybe something spicier like a 3.3 Turbo!

Dreams aside i hope all ends up great! As for getting the car from point A to point B, couple things to consider first is purchase price. Unless you have already arranged with buyer US currency wont usually fly for a big purchase so if dealing with cash you will probably need to convert to the Canadian dollar to even purchase the car. Second would be insurance make sure your insurance provider will cover your adventure from A to B... and then get a quote!

You need to figure out what plates are on the car, it says it has the US title still im not a expert but dosent that mean it was never registered in Canada, but i may be mistaken i would believe with US plates it would make the transition easier. Side note, if it was previously registered in the US at some point that's a good thing in this case. Unless the owner fitted somekind of aftermarket distributor or headers since its been in Canada, that's a red flag!

If all is well the next step to make everything flawless would be At least 2-3 weeks before importing your vehicle you must contact the manufacturer of the vehicle and ask for a letter stating that your vehicle complies with all applicable U.S. safety and emission standards. The letter must identify your vehicle by the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Make sure the responding letter states that the manufacture confirms your vehicle complies with the US safety and emissions standers, and also make sure your 964 dosent have anything aftermarket! and your set! Dont forget to get a solid "Bill of sale" and after all is said and done drive to the local province DMV and get a temporary license plate

Air-Cooled for life :pimp:

[BigtroublesE30]

Almost forgot, probably about taxes and duties.. dont quote me but i think its %2.5 and probably a gas guzzler tax of some sort!

[BlackbirdM3]

You will have to reimport the car. The good news is that if the car was first sold in the US, than its a US car and I don't think you'll have to pay an import fee.
This might get you started in the right direction. yes its written for 25+ year old cars, but it might also help with modern ones

http://www.buyclassiccars.com/import.asp

This is a better resource.

http://www.willz.ca/importcanadatousa.htm

Will

[jeffnhiscars]

I lived in BC (for many years) and WA (for not so long) but was in the car/rv business and have moved vehicles in both directions across the border so hopefully I learned something useful.

As far as paying for the vehicle, moving anything over $5k across the border requires you declare it going out. This covers not just cash but money order, stock certs, bonds, bank checks etc...anything "negotiable". Big felony and subject to seizure and arrest (think money laundering) so best to arrange a bank to bank wire transfer. You should be able to set it up before you go so you can pull the trigger when you get there and this will work in either currency.

If the car has a US mfgs sticker stating it complies with applicable standards at the time of mfg, you do not need anything from the mfg. The speedo is hopefully still in miles so you should be good.

If he still has the US title it has probably not been imported in to Canada. This is good but there are risks. Canada has what is known as the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) to oversee require mods and track the process. If the car was brought in under this system, which begins at the border, there are time limits to get things done. If it was brought in "casually" and then left there without being properly imported, there is also a time limit which used to be 6 months before it becomes contraband in Canada and subject to seizure. You do not want to be caught in Canada with a vehicle that is "red flagged" especially if you've paid for it already.

There are stories of Canadians buying brand new Corvettes in the US, driving them to Canada, then finding out they cannot modify the electronic anti theft ignition system to Canadian standards and having to remove the cars from the country.

Exporting from the US is a simple as stopping by customs on your way out and documenting your intent with the correct paperwork. If he did that then you will have to reimport it since US customs will know this happened, but again, as a US compliant vehicle with a valid US title (you hope) there should be no issue and no duties. It may not even need to be reimported but you have to have that conversation with Customs once you have all the facts.

Some states allow you to put your plate on a newly acquired vehicle and drive it for x days or will sell you a temp permit. BC should also offer a temp permit but that may only be good in BC for BC registered vehicles. Again, if the vehicle is "below the radar" you probably dont want to walk in to the DMV and tell them you just paid $xx,000 for an illegal car and want to remove it from the country :-)

I just saw a show the other night about stolen high end cars moving back and forth to Canada to wash the new flawless replacement titles (printed in Mexico with VIN stickers) so beware that the title in hand does not make it a clean deal so there are red flags here depending on the specifics of "the story" and how comfortable you are buying a high ticket item in another country.

My biggest concern would be making sure you have good title and that you can safely remove it from Canada. Meeting at the border would be ideal..on the US side of course :-)

Good luck though

PS. If it were me before I even went to look at it Id run the VIN through US Customs, the RIV and the insurance industry data base in addition to the usual CarFax, Autofax and the DMV in the state where the seller says its titled

[FRODADDY]

Thank you all for the great help!
The import was very easy as the car was already registered in the US before.

That's what I was referrring to: