Importing a vehicle from Canada question

[audiquattrot]

Ok so my cousin from Toronto, is moving back to the Philippines, and currently owns a couple cars (Benz 190E & older civic hatch)...both super clean. He's willing to give both cars, the 190E to myself & civic hatch to his brother who could use the car.

Question I have is, would it be worth the hassle bringing both cars over from Canada for 2 cars that aren't worth much?

For those who have imported cars, what kind of costs should I be expecting crossing both cars over the border? The 190E is a 1986-87 I believe, but the civic hatch is a 2000...so I know that it may not qualify for import.

I'm not sure rules/regulations are any different if the car is gifted to me from a close family relative.

[nando]

the 190e will be easy since it's more than 25 years old. I haven't imported something that old but it's likely straight forward.

The civic will require a letter from the manufacturer that states it meets US emissions and safety standards (it should). You will also need an instrument cluster that reads MPH. that should be pretty simple - since it's a Honda, you should be able to find some gaudy gage faces on ebay and swap it in before you cross, or if you're lucky it already has it (they don't have to be the "major" markings, they just have to be there). You don't need any forms, you fill out all the paperwork at the time of crossing.

Make sure you have a bill of sale (for customs & of course registering it locally). You will need to get a temporary tag from your state DOT in order to drive it across, unless you want to pay registration and taxes in Canada (these cost $40 in WA state). And obviously you will need insurance to drive it.

You will have to pay taxes on the cars value (even if they were free). The way around this is to spend the night in Canada, then cross - if you're there for 24 hours you don't have to pay anything. However, the taxes are pretty minor - I think I paid like $300 on a $14,000 car last year.

the customs website has a lot of this information on it, but it's worth it to call ahead to the border you're going to cross at and ask them some questions. The guy I called at the Blaine, WA crossing was actually super helpful, and ended up being the same guy that did the paperwork when we brought it in.

Since they are free, and the hassle is only minor really - I'd say it was worth it. you could definitely sell the 190e for more than you paid for it (nothing) even if you have to spend the night in a hotel to avoid taxes (which might be less than a hotel room anyway).

[Wschnitz]

I did this with an E30 that was 29 years old, its pretty easy. Drive it to the boarder, fill out some paperwork, pay your taxes, a dude who knows nothing about cars comes out and takes the vin and looks around the car. Go back inside, get some paperwork back, and your done.

[audiquattrot]

the 190e will be easy since it's more than 25 years old. I haven't imported something that old but it's likely straight forward.

The civic will require a letter from the manufacturer that states it meets US emissions and safety standards (it should). You will also need an instrument cluster that reads MPH. that should be pretty simple - since it's a Honda, you should be able to find some gaudy gage faces on ebay and swap it in before you cross, or if you're lucky it already has it (they don't have to be the "major" markings, they just have to be there). You don't need any forms, you fill out all the paperwork at the time of crossing.

Make sure you have a bill of sale (for customs & of course registering it locally). You will need to get a temporary tag from your state DOT in order to drive it across, unless you want to pay registration and taxes in Canada (these cost $40 in WA state). And obviously you will need insurance to drive it.

You will have to pay taxes on the cars value (even if they were free). The way around this is to spend the night in Canada, then cross - if you're there for 24 hours you don't have to pay anything. However, the taxes are pretty minor - I think I paid like $300 on a $14,000 car last year.

the customs website has a lot of this information on it, but it's worth it to call ahead to the border you're going to cross at and ask them some questions. The guy I called at the Blaine, WA crossing was actually super helpful, and ended up being the same guy that did the paperwork when we brought it in.

Since they are free, and the hassle is only minor really - I'd say it was worth it. you could definitely sell the 190e for more than you paid for it (nothing) even if you have to spend the night in a hotel to avoid taxes (which might be less than a hotel room anyway).

I did this with an E30 that was 29 years old, its pretty easy. Drive it to the boarder, fill out some paperwork, pay your taxes, a dude who knows nothing about cars comes out and takes the vin and looks around the car. Go back inside, get some paperwork back, and your done.

awesome this is great info. thanks fellas!

I've been reading the customs website, just wanted to see first hand experience.

Def not as complicated as I thought it would be!

[nando]

Yeah people are afraid of it but its not hard at all.

[Mr. Burns]

the 190e will be easy since it's more than 25 years old. I haven't imported something that old but it's likely straight forward.

The civic will require a letter from the manufacturer that states it meets US emissions and safety standards (it should). You will also need an instrument cluster that reads MPH. that should be pretty simple - since it's a Honda, you should be able to find some gaudy gage faces on ebay and swap it in before you cross, or if you're lucky it already has it (they don't have to be the "major" markings, they just have to be there). You don't need any forms, you fill out all the paperwork at the time of crossing.

Make sure you have a bill of sale (for customs & of course registering it locally). You will need to get a temporary tag from your state DOT in order to drive it across, unless you want to pay registration and taxes in Canada (these cost $40 in WA state). And obviously you will need insurance to drive it.

You will have to pay taxes on the cars value (even if they were free). The way around this is to spend the night in Canada, then cross - if you're there for 24 hours you don't have to pay anything. However, the taxes are pretty minor - I think I paid like $300 on a $14,000 car last year.

the customs website has a lot of this information on it, but it's worth it to call ahead to the border you're going to cross at and ask them some questions. The guy I called at the Blaine, WA crossing was actually super helpful, and ended up being the same guy that did the paperwork when we brought it in.

Since they are free, and the hassle is only minor really - I'd say it was worth it. you could definitely sell the 190e for more than you paid for it (nothing) even if you have to spend the night in a hotel to avoid taxes (which might be less than a hotel room anyway).

exactly all this.
I just sold my e32 to a chap that flew to Ottawa Ontario Canada from St-Paul, to drive my E32 back to Minesota.
provided the vehicle is 25yrs+ you're golden, you're looking to pay 2.5% of the agreed upon sale price when you cross the boarder.

**HOWEVER**

there is a "gas guzzler tax he had to pay, to the tune of almost $1300USD for bring a car that's deemed high in emissions.

not sure if this would apply to a civic or an e30 tho.