How To Register A Canadian Car In California

** Nosotros practice not provide import/consign services. This guide is for information only. **

If you alive near the Canadian edge of the United States, yous've probably been tempted to purchase a used car or truck and bring it over here. Peradventure yous're a snowbird that has a winter home and you want to keep your machine in usa full-time, or maybe you're eyeing those Nissan Skylines and Acura-badged Honda Civics that are unheard of in the U.S. Either mode, legally importing a vehicle from Canada can exist a rewarding or frustrating experience depending on how prepared you are.

Except the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, of course. That legendary car has its own story.

I am not going to lie to you – there are a lot of steps to take when importing a vehicle from whatsoever country. You will need to be organized and prepared to jump through some hoops. Still, if yous find the car you want at an affordable cost, it might exist worth the time to brand it happen.

In this guide yous'll learn all about importing a vehicle from Canada: what cars are eligible, the paperwork involved, and most importantly, how much it costs to practice information technology without the assist of a specialist company. We broke it down into 7 easy steps listed below.

What Cars Are We Talking About Here?

There are two master ways to import a auto to the Us. If a car is more than 25 years old, information technology tin be legally imported to the United States and registered for road employ nether the provisions of the 25 Year Rule. If a auto is less than 25 years old but has historical significance and was never sold in the United states of america, it could be eligible for import and express road utilise under the provisions of the Show and Brandish Rule.

This guide describes how to import and register cars from Canada that are less than 25 years old and are ineligible for Show and Brandish.

Why Not Just Bulldoze I Over?

Why become through all this nonsense instead of just bringing the car over and crossing your fingers? If you drive back and forth beyond the Canadian border on a regular ground, it's important to notation that your Canadian-registered vehicle is only legal in the United States for one year. After that, authorities can seize it for myriad reasons and either comport or crush your beloved car without a second thought.

To avoid the auto being confiscated, finalize the import procedure of your vehicle inside 365 days later the machine's arrival in the U.S from Canada.

I Thing Makes Importation Much Easier

If the kind of vehicle you want to import was also sold in the United States, y'all accept a leg up.

Take a moment to look at the car's manufacturer characterization. GM, Chrysler and Ford all accept plants in Canada that produce vehicles which are later sold in the United States. For example, Ford produces the Flex and Border vehicles in Ontario. In addition, GM produces their Camaro and Impala as well in Ontario also.

Even though American automakers have Canadian facilities building cars for the U.South. market, that doesn't mean all these cars are conformed to the US market place. The manufacturer'south label needs to exist inspected if yous want to make up one's mind whether the vehicle is valid for U.S. distribution.

You'll find this label in one of a few spots. Await in the door latch post, about the door's edge, or at the swivel pillar. If the characterization says information technology's fabricated for United States sale, you're going to have a slightly easier get of things. Slightly.

The Standard for Federalizing a Used Auto from Canada

Not all Canadian vehicles meet the standard of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safe Act or the Environmental Protection Bureau'due south emission standards. Thankfully, the rules aren't overly strict, and the process of meeting them is called federalization.

Canada'due south motor vehicle safety standards closely resemble our Federal requirements. That's why the NHTSA issues blanket eligibility covering many Canadian-certified vehicles spring for the U.S. market. Earlier y'all get your hopes upward, at that place are some discrepancies betwixt the two. If the Canadian-certified car or truck was manufactured earlier the FMVSS requirements changed, for example, and so the vehicle must be updated to meet U.S. standards.

Oft this simply involves making bones adjustments or adding basic things, but since this conversation is specific to each model, nosotros aren't going to go into detail hither. Expect into forums and groups for importing your model of automobile – it'southward unlikely that you are the first to do information technology.

As a little extra peace of listen, y'all might be happy to know that many of the vehicles north of the border are going to run into our government'south standards, just you lot should even so research the specific vehicle at the beginning of the importation process to salve yourself time and headaches.

Can I Legally Import a Vehicle from Canada?

Absolutely! Importing vehicles from Canada is permitted past any person looking to use the vehicle for personal use. It must comply with the Federal Section of Transportation safety standards and U.South. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. If it doesn't run across those already, then a DOT Registered Importer needs to import the vehicle instead. You can find these in many major cities.

Another thing you'll want to do in the get-go is check to brand sure the car has no liens, no title problems, and isn't stolen. Just imagine the headache of paying for a used auto then non being able to get it across the edge!

Thankfully, we can aid with this process. But use our handy Vehicle History Written report to make sure the auto is in guild before you buy it.

How to Import a Vehicle from Canada in seven Steps

After conducting the inquiry we discussed and verifying your vehicle is eligible for importation, go to Canada and buy the vehicle. Brand sure y'all get a Bill of Sale showing the VIN with your name as the purchaser. You can coordinate with a person or visitor in Canada to do these steps for you lot if traveling in that location is an inconvenience.
You volition also demand the Manufacturer's Statement/Certificate of Origin or the title and registration.
Become ahead and obtain a temporary license plate and an insurance card from the Province in which you brand the buy. You tin often extend your U.S. insurance coverage to cover you in Canada too.
You volition have to pay a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the automobile, but you should exist exempt from Provincial Sales Tax (PST) if you lot aren't a Canadian resident.
Take the auto thoroughly cleaned and steam-sprayed prior to heading to the border. The U.South. Department of Agriculture wants the undercarriage completely free of whatever foreign soil, and y'all never know what the previous owner did inside.
Go your documents in society earlier attempting to cross the border. Yous'll have to make full out course CBP 7501 and some other customs paperwork declaring your possessions, including the car. During that time, the community officials will take time to inspect your car and match it up with your paperwork. Look to be there for at least thirty minutes.
Pay all associated fees. When importing a car from Canada, yous will exist required to pay fees you may not accept encountered before. The total cost volition vary depending on the model of vehicle you are importing.

What is the Total Cost to Import a Vehicle from Canada?

With all this talk of taxes, fees, and duties, it's clear that this isn't a cheap procedure. Thankfully, importing a vehicle from Canada is similar cost-wise to ownership one in the states. A detailed breakup of these fees tin can exist found on the United States Community and Edge Protection website.

Exemptions: At that place are two main sources of financial relief that come into play.

Every bit a U.S. citizen, you can apply a $400 Customs Exemption at the time of border crossing, so long as you lot're driving a machine dorsum that you bought during that specific trip. Each family member riding in your automobile can, also, providing they are likewise U.S. citizens.
Every bit a U.South. resident, you will receive a $10,000 Value Exemption on the vehicle. That ways if the car is worth $15,000, you lot'll only pay Canadian taxes on $five,000.

Import Duties: Vehicles made in Canada or the U.Due south., or ones imported for personal use, are ordinarily not discipline to duties (international trade taxes). However, foreign-made cars and those imported for sale sometimes are. For these you will probable pay the following upon importing a vehicle from Canada:

Autos: 2.five%
Trucks: 25%
Motorcycles: upwards to 2.four%

Gas Guzzler Tax: Some imports volition be hit with the infamous "gas-guzzler" taxation. This tax may be required based on the vehicle's combined EPA fuel-economic system rating.

Other Fees and Taxes: There will exist other vehicle-specific fees, such equally the Air Conditioning Tax for cars with A/C (yes, that'southward a existent matter) that can add substantial cost to importing a car from Canada.

If you import from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Labrador or Ontario, you'll also have to pay the provincial sales revenue enhancement when you lot cantankerous the border.

Other fees may apply based on the model of vehicle in question.

Once You Go Home

Yous have some further steps to accept once you get dorsum to the United states of america.

Insure the vehicle in the U.S.
Take your paperwork to the State DOT to register your vehicle. Prepare to pay the state taxes and applicative fees. You may also need to become an emissions test before registration.
In a few weeks, the tags and plates for the vehicle should arrive.

Too Much Work?

If all of this sounds like too much to bargain with, y'all accept two other options. The showtime is to simply purchase a car that'southward already been imported into the Usa. You know that these cars meet our country's legal standards and yous won't have to travel over the Canadian border or bargain with community, duties, and fees.

The other option is to use an importing specialist to walk you through step by step. These businesses understand how to import a vehicle from Canada, and they can aid you inquiry the safety standards needed for a motor vehicle and enable you to work with the National Highway Safety Administration to smoothly import a vehicle from Canada or anywhere else. Their services are non cheap, but they may be worthwhile.

Importing a automobile from Canada is something you lot can absolutely practise yourself without professional assist, but it never hurts to have a friend on your side.

You All the same Need a Championship and License Plates

Our team of championship specialists can acquire a title and license plates for cars, motorcycles, and just most anything with wheels. Nosotros as well offer on VIN Checks and Vehicle Accident Reports to give you peace of mind whether you're importing a motorcar or simply buying ane down the street. Follow the links to see if your automobile qualifies for our services.

** We practice non provide import/consign services. This guide is for information only. **