Importing a Canadian car

[Flowergirl 737 46]

Here it goes I have imported two canadian vehicles. One I imported when I cross the border with my CR1 visa (marriage VISA). 

I was not sure what to expect and how will it go and I did not find many articles around here about this . So I hope my experience

will help many. So when you cross the border into USA to live there activating your visa importing your car is seen as bringing it 

with you and part of the process and you do not need to pay tax and duty. I had all the paper work I needed at the border , which is 

the form where you declair your car confirms with the US EPA most Canadian cars do and then most Canadian cars do not have 

the Tire pressure monitor system and you need to install that . REMEMBER TO HAVE A RECEIPT with you to show or they WILL NOT

IMPORT your car. You can take it over but they will not do the paper work for you so you will not be able to register it in your state. 

So, you NEED TO get the Tire Pressure Monitor System on , you can take it to the local mechanic and make sure you get a receipt.

So as I crossed over I told them I am importing the car and activating my CR1 VISA. They told me to pull to the side. So whenever you 

cross activating a VISA or Importing a car they will ask you to pull to the side and go inside. 

I went inside and did all the paper work that was needed, they gave me back all I needed to register my car in my state where I will 

live . I had the Tire Pressure Monitor System on , they did not ask for my keys t check the devide they just looked at the receipt. 

So then I went with the paper work to the place in my state to register , I got a new licence plate and I gave my title and they gave me 

an ownership that was conform to the state. I had to pay some fees which were about 40-80 or so dollars. By the way the car was a 

Hyundai 2018.

 

Now my second experience was after living in USA for a couple of years my parents wanted to give their car to my son. 

So here we had a different scenario, where a car was given to my son and we were not crossing activating a visa we were 

already US citizens. So we were coming back from Canada after visiting with a car. I was told I will have to pay tax and duty and 

tarif when I spoke on the phone with the officer. So , what happen when we crossed with the car we told them we want to import the car .

Let me back track, we also had to get a gift letter from my parents saying they are gifting this car to my son. The letter has to be notarized

Both parents had to sign because the car was in both their names. Then we took the letter over to the DMV and there we got a 10 day 

temporaty sticker that acted as the licence plate for the car. We took the plate off, since the car was now going to be in my son's name 

my parents plate was no lomger valid and we used the 10 day temporary sticker . Put the sticker in the back of your window not the front 

They will tell you to put it in the front but the police cnat see it and they will stop you . We had that happen, Once they see it you are good. 

So, we did put the Tire Pressure Monitor System in place but we did not have a receipt for it , so at the border we were not able to import it. 

We were allowed to take the car in but no paper work, so we had to find a border place close by which was not that close later on and go there 

to import the car, after obtaining a receipt. So at the border place we did not have to pay anything since the car was a gift , but when we went 

to register is in out state we they had to chage us . So they said they see it is a gift but they do not accept that so the car was evaluated just by 

model make and year into the blue book and we had to pay a percentage of the price that the blue book was evaluating the car at . Depending 

on the state you are going to the percentage will be different. So that is all we had to pay to import this car that was an old car about 12 years old. 

It was worth it, it was chaper than buying same car here in the US. 

I hope this helps !

 

 

[TBoneTX 48,830]

Thread is moved from General Immigration Discussion to the Canada regional forum.

[Flowergirl 737 46]

Thanks for letting me know  I find the site confusing  to manuver around  and I am not sure how to post in there, but if someone searches the site I am sure it will come up . 

Edited 16 hours ago by Flowergirl 737

[rbv_shard 57]

18 hours ago, Flowergirl 737 said:

Put the sticker in the back of your window not the front 

They will tell you to put it in the front but the police cnat see it and they will stop you .

 

Your registration sticker goes on the inside of the lower corner of your front window (windshield), so that it can be read from outside.  "Front" is telling you which window, not which surface of the glass.  The sticker isn't made to be outside in the rain and ice.

Edited 14 hours ago by rbv_shard