Car import tariff

[CARR1 9]

Has anyone recently imported your vehicle at the border after CR1/IR1 approval? 

I am a U.S. citizen but lived in Canada for 11 years and moved back to U.S. recently. A few weeks ago I went to a port of entry in the states to import my Canadian car. They stated I had to use an importer now and will need to pay an extra 25% tariff. So I guess I’ll drive my car back to Canada and sell it.
 

I’m curious though when my Canadian husband gets his green card approval soon will he need to pay the tariff on his vehicle also? Or will it be duty/tariff free doing it at time of your first border crossing? 

[Boiler 47,913]

Well some cars are not practical, I wanted to bring mine but not possible.

[frange24 8]

14 hours ago, Boiler said:

Well some cars are not practical, I wanted to bring mine but not possible.

What's the model and year?

 

Thank you,

[Boiler 47,913]

It was an MGF forget the year

[JeanneAdil 7,234]

not duty free 

 

In many contexts, "duty-free cars" refers to vehicles that can be imported without paying the usual import duties and taxes. This exemption often applies to specific situations, such as: 

• Returning Residents: US citizens employed abroad or government employees returning from extended duty (usually 140 days or more) may be eligible to import a foreign-made car duty-free as part of their personal and household effects.
• Returning US-Manufactured Vehicles: Motor vehicles that were previously manufactured in the US and are returning to the country are generally duty-free.
• Classic or Antique Vehicles: Vehicles that are at least 25 years old can be imported into the United States without having to meet current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) pollution and safety requirements.
• Diplomats and other Special Cases: Some countries offer duty-free car purchases for diplomats and other eligible professionals, such as farmers, civil servants, teachers, doctors, and taxi drivers. 

[Fr8dog 473]

Depending of the time of purchase (you have to have owned for a year and cannot be intended for resale), cars should be considered "personal effects". I don't think you really need an importer for them but that may have changed in the last years. CBP.gov would be your best guideline. 

[CARR1 9]

49 minutes ago, Fr8dog said:

Depending of the time of purchase (you have to have owned for a year and cannot be intended for resale), cars should be considered "personal effects". I don't think you really need an importer for them but that may have changed in the last years. CBP.gov would be your best guideline. 

Yes that is what I thought also but when I went to the POE for CBP inside the US (not at a border) they stated they cannot do it at their locations anymore because of the new tariff, they cannot hold the large amounts of money needed for the new 25%. I talked to an importer and they confirmed that for cars in the US already. I should have imported my car when I crossed back over but I was in a rush and thought I would do it later. 

 

I was hoping someone that has done it very recently at the border would have some info if the tariff was charged. Our cars will all purchased in Canada but we would like to import them to keep using them but do not really want to pay the extra 25%, it just does not make it worth it.  

[mam521 2,652]

On 8/6/2025 at 12:00 PM, Fr8dog said:

Depending of the time of purchase (you have to have owned for a year and cannot be intended for resale), cars should be considered "personal effects". I don't think you really need an importer for them but that may have changed in the last years. CBP.gov would be your best guideline. 

The rules have changed a lot in recent times.  I was able to self import my vehicles a couple of years ago, but many Canadian manufacturers won't issue a letter of compliance anymore and the registered importer thing has been pushed pretty hard since post covid, especially so in the last 2 or so years.  The tariff thing is just more fuel on the fire.  

[CARR1 9]

9 minutes ago, mam521 said:

The rules have changed a lot in recent times.  I was able to self import my vehicles a couple of years ago, but many Canadian manufacturers won't issue a letter of compliance anymore and the registered importer thing has been pushed pretty hard since post covid, especially so in the last 2 or so years.  The tariff thing is just more fuel on the fire.  

Funny enough I had the compliance letter and all the correct forms filed out when I went to the POE. He stated they just cannot do it anymore because of the tariffs, they cannot hold the amount of money needed in the facility. I really wanted to keep my car but it is looking as though it will be cheaper and easier to drive it back to Canada and sell it.