importing vehicle to NH from Canada

[lindsay_elaine 0]

I've searched the forums but I'm still confused as to how to go about doing this. My husband lives in Nova Scotia and is thinking about buying a 1991 Mercury Cougar which he'd like to bring with him to NH when he moves here (on a CR-1 visa) Can someone please explain to me the steps involved in bringing the car with him and then registering it in New Hampshire? He would be driving it over the border in Maine. Thank you, and sorry if this is a question that gets asked alot, I'm overwhelmed with information!

[Hendea3 4]

What I do know is that in order ot bring it across it would have to be US compliant....in other words you would have to call Mercury give the VIN and ask them to check...they check to see if any recall etc. BUT the kicker is that the compliance is for todays standards not when the car was made in 1991 which means...atleast in my case...that sicne my car was a 2001 it has no side air bags (only started to be put in cars in 2003-2004) SO in order to import it to US I would have to have them put into the car....which for me was too much money then it was worth. The lady I dealth with at Hyundai was very nice (jsut called the custoemr service to ask for the compliance letter) BUT I have read around here them some car companies are more difficult than others adn soem will charge you for this letter....IMHO I would wait to get a car in the US and save the hassle and money...

[lindsay_elaine 0]

What I do know is that in order ot bring it across it would have to be US compliant....in other words you would have to call Mercury give the VIN and ask them to check...they check to see if any recall etc. BUT the kicker is that the compliance is for todays standards not when the car was made in 1991 which means...atleast in my case...that sicne my car was a 2001 it has no side air bags (only started to be put in cars in 2003-2004) SO in order to import it to US I would have to have them put into the car....which for me was too much money then it was worth. The lady I dealth with at Hyundai was very nice (jsut called the custoemr service to ask for the compliance letter) BUT I have read around here them some car companies are more difficult than others adn soem will charge you for this letter....IMHO I would wait to get a car in the US and save the hassle and money...

Hmmm... that doesn't seem to make much sense, seeing as not all (new) vehicles even come with side airbags.

I did find this while searching, which leads me to believe that it has to meet the safety requirements from when it was manufactured:

"A certification label meeting the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567 that, among other things, identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer (i.e., the actual assembler of the vehicle), states the vehicle’s date of manufacture (month and year), and contains the following statement: “This vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) in effect on the date of manufacture shown above.”

Is the compliance letter all you need to have? Also, if it matters, vehicles over 15 years old do not require a title to get registered in NH.

[Colleens 40]

I think that the car has to be compliant with the standards at the time it was manufactured. My car was a 2003 and does not have side air bags and I had no issues importing it. There is a form that you need to fill out in order to import it (and I can't remember off the top of my head what it is). There is a recent thread in the Canada Forum on VJ that has some info about importing vehicles and has some links in it, so maybe that will direct you to the right place.

[lindsay_elaine 0]

I think that the car has to be compliant with the standards at the time it was manufactured. My car was a 2003 and does not have side air bags and I had no issues importing it. There is a form that you need to fill out in order to import it (and I can't remember off the top of my head what it is). There is a recent thread in the Canada Forum on VJ that has some info about importing vehicles and has some links in it, so maybe that will direct you to the right place.

Thank you!

[Great Canadian 0]

First of all, this might sound strange, but does you husband have status in the U.S.? Secondly, if he is just buying the vehicle, it still might be subject to duties and taxes since he has not owned it for the required time. Then he will need to have proof that it complies with U.S. safety and polution requirements. The following documents will be required 1) a letter from the manufacturer stating that the vehilce meets all requirements 2) an EPA form 3) an HS7 form and a 3299 customs form. If he is not driving the vehicle across the border, he will need to provide the carrier with those documents PLUS a copy of the signature page of his passport (must be clear) and depending on his status, an I-94 customs doc.