IMPORTING CANADIAN CAR WITH LIEN TO USA

[judysbiz 0]

I am a Canadian professional and have a few vehicles. My Visa is approved (IR-1) for me to immigrate into USA. I should be happy but this journey has been a pain. It appears that I MUST import my vehcile when I do my paperwork at the crossing?? I have just purchased a Jeep and have a bank loan against. My other vehicle is a leased car and I have been driving back and forth (as a visitor) for the past 4 years with no problem. I can leave that one here in Canada for my use here. But we really need to get the Jeep into the States and have been speaking to the bank and to different POC people and not getting the answers we want.

Seems that with the Canadian Lien the bank will not release and therefore I could not import? Honestly I dont care if I import the vehicle why can't I just drive it there like before as I will go back and forth all the time? Maybe I should just ask the lender to give me a letter to say that I can take it in the states without importing it. One POC stated that once I was a perm res of the USA I could not be driving this car with Canadian plates - huh? I was also thinking in doing the immirgation at another spot, ie cross at Sumas as a visitor then when I get to the AZ home stash the Jeep and find another POC (Mesa?) and do the paperwork there? I have no money to purchase a good vehicle so just dont want to be stuck in some rust bucket making my way to AZ. Any ideas? Thanks! Judy

[trailmix 77]

Our car doesn't have a loan on it, however we did import it. I could be wrong, but I don't think the problem is importing the car, I think the problem is registering the car. Is it not true that if you have a loan on it you do not have the title?

[judysbiz 0]

Our car doesn't have a loan on it, however we did import it. I could be wrong, but I don't think the problem is importing the car, I think the problem is registering the car. Is it not true that if you have a loan on it you do not have the title?

Yes that may be true for the leased vehcile as I dont own that one the leasing company does. But with the Jeep I believe if they allow this import then then cannot come after me if I refuse to make payments. My spouse's argument is that if we wanted to steal the vehicle we can do that very easily anyhow by driving it accross as a guest (they usually wave us through and there are no docs that the vehicle is in the country) He feels that since we are upfront and trying to do all things by the book we should be trusted and work with us on this. One immigration fellow stated that he didn't care if there was a lien, and in my paperwork it doesn't say 'clear title vehicles'

[Flames9_RN 358]

Have to check with ur State,as they vary---but usually after 30 days one has to register their vehicle in the USA and get a drivers license of that state! Getting a drivers license is usually not a problem--again depending on the State, it may be a simple 1 for 1 exchange, OR they may make u write a test, which may or may not include a drivers test!!! so be prepared for that! Some DMV's want prrof that u reside in that Stae as well--like a utility bill with ur name on it. I know VA did!

Yes your problems wil prob arise when u try and register your car in that State. They will want to see the title, which, of course you won't have!! I'm sure 1 could just keep their cdn drivers license and insurance, BUT if u were to get into an accident, you may then have bigger problems if they found out you had been residing in the USA all this time without registering ur vehicle. WOuld they investigate and find that out?? who knows!! I'm sure others will have better info! I pretty much gave away my Nissan Spec V prior to moving as I didnt want the hassle.

Don't forget u need the letter from the manufacturer stating it is compliant. The actual name of it slips my tiny male brain

[judysbiz 0]

Have to check with ur State,as they vary---but usually after 30 days one has to register their vehicle in the USA and get a drivers license of that state! Getting a drivers license is usually not a problem--again depending on the State, it may be a simple 1 for 1 exchange, OR they may make u write a test, which may or may not include a drivers test!!! so be prepared for that! Some DMV's want prrof that u reside in that Stae as well--like a utility bill with ur name on it. I know VA did!

Yes your problems wil prob arise when u try and register your car in that State. They will want to see the title, which, of course you won't have!! I'm sure 1 could just keep their cdn drivers license and insurance, BUT if u were to get into an accident, you may then have bigger problems if they found out you had been residing in the USA all this time without registering ur vehicle. WOuld they investigate and find that out?? who knows!! I'm sure others will have better info! I pretty much gave away my Nissan Spec V prior to moving as I didnt want the hassle.

Don't forget u need the letter from the manufacturer stating it is compliant. The actual name of it slips my tiny male brain

What - register the car within 30 days? yikes! What about the 1000 Snowbirds that come down? Surely some have USA status and a Canadian car? What a mess... I am wondering why I started this entire process?

Thanks for the help!

[Tankgurl38 0]

Check with your leasing company or who you have the car financed with and see what their policies are for the car being out of the Country.

Most Canadian lien holders do not like to have the vehicle out of the country for more than XXX number of months. If a person defaults on their loan it is tough for them to go get the car in a different company.

I know with Nissan Canada, I can not import my car without having my loan paid off first.

[Krikit 1,164]

I've seen this problem quite a few times. I'm going to give you some examples from the State of Florida. In order to register the vehicle, there is a form you must fill out: Application for Certificate of Title. In that form it asks about lien-holders. Unless the lien-holder signs off on the owner (you) receiving the title, it is automatically sent to them. Once the loan is paid off, the title is sent to you. This is why you will need to speak with whomever is holding the loan on your vehicle ahead of time. Some people have had no problem in doing this, others have had to take out a personal loan and pay off the vehicle.

Here are Florida's General Requirements to give you some idea.

[Malrothien 6]

What - register the car within 30 days? yikes! What about the 1000 Snowbirds that come down? Surely some have USA status and a Canadian car? What a mess... I am wondering why I started this entire process?

Thanks for the help!

Since we have a car with a loan on it, I phoned GMAC to see if we could transfer the loan to the US. They said no. We are legally allowed to bring the car to the US for a 6 month visit. That is how snowbirds are able to go down without having to worry about registering their cars - they're in the US on visitor only status.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Have to check with ur State,as they vary---but usually after 30 days one has to register their vehicle in the USA and get a drivers license of that state! Getting a drivers license is usually not a problem--again depending on the State, it may be a simple 1 for 1 exchange, OR they may make u write a test, which may or may not include a drivers test!!! so be prepared for that! Some DMV's want prrof that u reside in that Stae as well--like a utility bill with ur name on it. I know VA did!

Yes your problems wil prob arise when u try and register your car in that State. They will want to see the title, which, of course you won't have!! I'm sure 1 could just keep their cdn drivers license and insurance, BUT if u were to get into an accident, you may then have bigger problems if they found out you had been residing in the USA all this time without registering ur vehicle. WOuld they investigate and find that out?? who knows!! I'm sure others will have better info! I pretty much gave away my Nissan Spec V prior to moving as I didnt want the hassle.

Don't forget u need the letter from the manufacturer stating it is compliant. The actual name of it slips my tiny male brain

What - register the car within 30 days? yikes! What about the 1000 Snowbirds that come down? Surely some have USA status and a Canadian car? What a mess... I am wondering why I started this entire process?

Thanks for the help!

they are VISITORS, your not a visitor,lol your a permanent resident!! different can of worms!!

[JillA 2]

Have to check with ur State,as they vary---but usually after 30 days one has to register their vehicle in the USA and get a drivers license of that state! Getting a drivers license is usually not a problem--again depending on the State, it may be a simple 1 for 1 exchange, OR they may make u write a test, which may or may not include a drivers test!!! so be prepared for that! Some DMV's want prrof that u reside in that Stae as well--like a utility bill with ur name on it. I know VA did!

Yes your problems wil prob arise when u try and register your car in that State. They will want to see the title, which, of course you won't have!! I'm sure 1 could just keep their cdn drivers license and insurance, BUT if u were to get into an accident, you may then have bigger problems if they found out you had been residing in the USA all this time without registering ur vehicle. WOuld they investigate and find that out?? who knows!! I'm sure others will have better info! I pretty much gave away my Nissan Spec V prior to moving as I didnt want the hassle.

Don't forget u need the letter from the manufacturer stating it is compliant. The actual name of it slips my tiny male brain

[Flames9_RN 358]

Have to check with ur State,as they vary---but usually after 30 days one has to register their vehicle in the USA and get a drivers license of that state! Getting a drivers license is usually not a problem--again depending on the State, it may be a simple 1 for 1 exchange, OR they may make u write a test, which may or may not include a drivers test!!! so be prepared for that! Some DMV's want prrof that u reside in that Stae as well--like a utility bill with ur name on it. I know VA did!

Yes your problems wil prob arise when u try and register your car in that State. They will want to see the title, which, of course you won't have!! I'm sure 1 could just keep their cdn drivers license and insurance, BUT if u were to get into an accident, you may then have bigger problems if they found out you had been residing in the USA all this time without registering ur vehicle. WOuld they investigate and find that out?? who knows!! I'm sure others will have better info! I pretty much gave away my Nissan Spec V prior to moving as I didnt want the hassle.

Don't forget u need the letter from the manufacturer stating it is compliant. The actual name of it slips my tiny male brain

How my studying is going, surprised I didnt spell "male"----"mail" lol

[Krikit 1,164]

How my studying is going, surprised I didnt spell "male"----"mail" lol

What are you studying for? I thought you were done? Are you taking certification exams?

[Flames9_RN 358]

How my studying is going, surprised I didnt spell "male"----"mail" lol

What are you studying for? I thought you were done? Are you taking certification exams?

Before ya can cal urself a "RN" have to write the big NCLEX exam!! In Canada its called the CRNE

[Krikit 1,164]

Before ya can cal urself a "RN" have to write the big NCLEX exam!! In Canada its called the CRNE

Ahhhhh. When's the big day?

(sorry for the thread hijack, Judy )

Oh! And welcome to VJ!

[judysbiz 0]

Before ya can cal urself a "RN" have to write the big NCLEX exam!! In Canada its called the CRNE

Ahhhhh. When's the big day?

(sorry for the thread hijack, Judy )

Oh! And welcome to VJ!

We are hoping to be out of Canada by the end of July or sooner, we have two cats and our dog Pickles so hopefully we can keep the Jeep as it's a good vehicle to have in AZ and tons of fun!

Jude