Information for Canadian Buyers

Driving your car across the United States and into Canada is literally a matter of fuel and time; however, importing your car for a permanent new life in Canada is another matter. The Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) maintains strict standards for importing used vehicles from the United States. Check to make sure that your vehicle meets the standards--and make improvements if it does not--before you continue the process of importing.

Bison Motor Co. will handle the Recall Clearance on the purchased vehicle, all the documents required at the US and Canadian Customs, and an original title faxed to the border 72 hours in advance of your scheduled crossing.  Bison Motor Co. is experienced in cross border transactions, and will make your buying experience professional and painless.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Transport Canada vehicle importation list
• Canadian car insurance and certificate
• Certificate of title (Provided by Bison Ford)
• Recall clearance document (Provided by Bison Ford)
• Fax machine
• Exportation stamp
• Bill of sale (provided by Bison Ford)

1. Use the Transport Canada list of importable vehicles (see Resources) to determine whether your vehicle can be imported into Canada and if it needs any modifications before you import.
2. Complete a title history search of your vehicle by entering your vehicle's VIN number at one of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System's approved sites (see Resources). A title history search will reveal the history of the car, including any accidents serious enough to warrant a "brand." Branded vehicles from the United States are allowed into Canada, but sometimes with additional testing for structural integrity. If the brand issued meets the equivalent for the Canadian "non-repairable" designation, then it may not be imported.
3. Insure your car with a Canadian insurance company even while it is still in the United States. Keep the certificate of insurance with you. RBC Insurance, Intact Insurance and TD Insurance are all reputable Canadian insurers (see Resources).
4. Make any modifications necessary and complete any inspection that might be required according to the Transport Canada guide to importing vehicles.
5. Locate contact information for your exit port at the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website (see Resources). Fax the original certificate of title to the Customs department at the land border where you will cross into Canada at least 72 hours prior to arriving at the border. This will allow the Customs office time to process your request before you arrive with the vehicle for export. Bring the original title with you when you drive the car.
6. Contact your vehicle's manufacturer for a recall clearance document to prove that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle. This can be in the form of a letter from the manufacturer's head U.S. or Canadian office, a printed document from the dealer, or an online printout, if the manufacturer has recall information on the website.
7. Drive to the Canadian border via the U.S. Customs outpost where you mailed the title. Bring your original Certificate of Title for the U.S. Customs office to stamp for exportation.
8. Present the stamped title and bill of sale for your car to the Canadian Customs office. Pay the import fee to the RIV as well as an additional tax for cars with air conditioners. Take Vehicle Import Form 1 to fill out and later present to provincial authorities. Vehicle Import Form 2 will come in the mail a few weeks later.
9. Fill out Form 1 and Form 2 and take them, along with the recall clearance, to a federal vehicle inspection center for Canadian vehicle standards tests. Once the tests are passed, the inspection center will stamp Form 1. For Ontario residents, additional provincial safety and emissions inspections are required.
10. Present Form 1, the vehicle's title, bill of sale and insurance certificate to the provincial license plate issuing office. In Ontario, you'll also have to provide the certificates from the other inspections. Pay the required fees to purchase your license plate and sticker, which will come by mail in a few days.
11. Follow the attached instructions to affix the license plate and sticker to your car.

Read more: How to Import Used Cars From the USA to Canada | eHow.com