Author Topic: Usa Import (Read 4786 times)

spindle3 · « **on:** March 22, 2007, 04:43:03 PM »

I just got back from Phoenix ( bought a 21w project) and am waiting for the transport co. to deliver it to Blaine. Anyone been through this import thing (form 1) where you have to have it inspected by 45 days or take it back across the border? Are they flexible or give extensions on this? The sunroof is all apart (hope I got all the bits), the steering needs work (sloppy) and it came with no wiper motor or linkage plus a few other deficiencies.

dannyboy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2007, 04:59:26 PM »

45 day limit is for vehicles 15 years or newer to go through the safety inspection, you dont need to worry about that.you will however need a mechanical inpection to register and insure it. make sure that you have good documentation to show what you paid for the van, (bill of sale, title, and another bank receipt) when i imported my 69 they gave me shit for just having the bill of sale, and title....

spindle3 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2007, 05:06:05 PM »

Yeah I have a written bill of sale and a title in my name, but I got cash outa the bank and gave it to the guy. Oh I think I have a withdrawl slip from the bank. thanks for the info---do I understand--there's no time limit on the mechanical inspection?

Mowser · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2007, 05:39:39 PM »

My '67 Riviera camper has been in the country for about 2 years now. I'll finally be ready for inspection in a few weeks. It ain't no thing......

spindle3 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2007, 06:59:32 PM »

thanks for your help--here's a picture of it in phoenix--

68IIIbuggy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2007, 09:16:22 PM »

Nice bus. My 67 bus was brought across the border in Feb, I bought it from the guy who imported it, finished it, and got it inspected in August. Took about a hour in ICBC, but no problems at all. The guy doing the mechanical inspection was so taken by the bus that he pretty much forgot to inspect it!!

vwboop · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2007, 10:57:31 PM »

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Nice bus. My 67 bus was brought across the border in Feb, I bought it from the guy who imported it, finished it, and got it inspected in August. Took about a hour in ICBC, but no problems at all. The guy doing the mechanical inspection was so taken by the bus that he pretty much forgot to inspect it!!

\"Type III buggy\"That is a really sweet bus.

Same \"spindle 3\"

, looks like a great bus. Congrats! You're going to have fun with it.
BTW, yes you understand correctly....there are no time limits on the old ones. I've had no issues getting them registered even years after bringing them up, but the wording on the \"form 1\" does bring confusion around that.

Here's the one we're bringing up. It is much less desirable, but my desires are evolving a bit. Really wanted something my family and I could camp comfortably in and maybe do some road trips.. It's a bit young for it, but being from AZ has given it a bit of premature \"patina\". I think it looks sweet...can't wait to get it up here. Purchased it from a Dr. in AZ (second owner - bought it in 1981), no accidents, OG paint , and best of all no rust.

amishrabbi · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2007, 11:14:21 PM »

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45 day limit is for vehicles 15 years or newer to go through the safety inspection, you dont need to worry about that.you will however need a mechanical inpection to register and insure it. make sure that you have good documentation to show what you paid for the van, (bill of sale, title, and another bank receipt) when i imported my 69 they gave me shit for just having the bill of sale, and title....

that wasnt even good enough when we brought the cougar my dad got up, the guy had to call the owner and pose as a prospective buyer and ask how much she got for it before he believed us

surgerypending · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2007, 09:12:01 AM »

Hum.....when I bought my car across....3 years ago.....the guy told me it was a 30 day inspection period. If I couldn't get it past inspection within that time frame I would have to bring the paper work back to the boarder...pay a fee and they would restamp it for me. Then I could ( with my current inspection) go to ICBC and register it.
Has something changed in the past couple years or was I given the wrong info at the boarder?
Gerry

spindle3 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2007, 06:24:42 PM »

I should be finding out the current rules pretty soon--I just received an email from the US Customs at Blaine that I have the ok to export it into Canada. Then I have to stop at the Canadian customs, pay GST, and get the lowdown on this inspection period for vehicles over 15 yrs. old. I still haven't got my wiper motor, so I'm gonna try driving it to Horseshoe Bay with some Rain-X on the windshield.

BUSDADDY · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2007, 07:28:30 PM »

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I should be finding out the current rules pretty soon--I just received an email from the US Customs at Blaine that I have the ok to export it into Canada. Then I have to stop at the Canadian customs, pay GST, and get the lowdown on this inspection period for vehicles over 15 yrs. old. I still haven't got my wiper motor, so I'm gonna try driving it to Horseshoe Bay with some Rain-X on the windshield.

Just how do you plan on driving it in Canada?

You can't register it until it's had a safety inspection and you can't insure it or get a permit until it's registered. Unless you are an American citizen using it's US plates and tabs (which are possibly void because title has been transferred) you're screwed.

I know of people who have driven them anyways B) but better line up a trailer to have on standby just incase customs says you can't drive it.

That's a pretty valuable bus to be driving with no insurance not to mention the potential liability.

68IIIbuggy · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2007, 08:02:10 PM »

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Just how do you plan on driving it in Canada?

You can't register it until it's had a safety inspection and you can't insure it or get a permit until it's registered. Unless you are an American citizen using it's US plates and tabs (which are possibly void because title has been transferred) you're screwed.

I know of people who have driven them anyways B) but better line up a trailer to have on standby just incase customs says you can't drive it.

That's a pretty valuable bus to be driving with no insurance not to mention the potential liability.

I was able to get a temp for my bus before it was inspected, although I was driving to the garage for inspection, so maybe there's an exception.

spindle3 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2007, 08:06:49 PM »

I realize that catch-22 situation. Before I left Canada I had a long chat with the local Autoplan agent here in Gibsons. She had me take out an ' Insurance Binder'. The heading on the form says 'Binder For Owner's Interim Certificate of Insurance'. $66 got me A. $5 million liability B. $500 collision deductible C. $300 comprehensive deductible ------for a term of ten days. It runs out tomorrow (Mar.24) so I'll have to buy another 10 days. She told me that this is what Canadians use when buying a vehicle in the states. I thought it would allow me to cross over the border and drive home, but you may be right about needing a trailer. I'll go in tomorrow and find out for sure. I originally had hopes of driving it up from Arizona. Huh! was I dreaming!! I do have the Arizona plate still on it, if that helps, I don't know.

BUSDADDY · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2007, 09:35:09 PM »

Hmmm..... If it's registered in AZ in your name it's probably good, don't know what their policies regarding new buyers and time to transfer/grace periods are. That's interesting on the binder policy, everything I've brought up was off the road at the time so it would have been useless anyway. Just saying check before you find out the hard way.

vwboop · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2007, 09:57:39 PM »

You will get different answers from different Autoplan agents, but there is an exemption for imported vehicles not yet registered. You can purchase a temporary driving permit for repair or inspection purposes only, and you can put a storage policy on it without having it BC registered in your name.

spindle3 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2007, 11:39:57 AM »

I just got back from my friendly Autoplan agent and they said;

1. make sure the permit to drive it issued in Az. is valid all the way up and into Canada. ( it is, I phoned them this morning)

2. have a valid ' Binder for owner's interim certificate of insurance ' ( which I do--had to re-new for another 10 days )

3. I will be ok to drive to my house---I can stop for gas and lunch--but basically I can't joy-ride around--I have to make every effort to go straight to my house.

4. and then all of the above has to be approved by the border guards.

Down the road when I want to get it inspected so I can insure it. I'll have to go get more permits to take it to the garage.

p.s. to BUSDADDY--the Arizona permit is only good for 30 days--It is called a 'Drive Through Permit' and should take you anywhere in the USA and Canada for the 30 day period.

BUSDADDY · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2007, 02:35:31 PM »

Good to know.

Best of luck with your wiperless drive on this craptacularly wet day. Let us know how it went.

68IIIbuggy · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2007, 08:11:41 PM »

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Good to know.

Best of luck with your wiperless drive on this craptacularly wet day. Let us know how it went.

If the rain is heavy I find it better sometimes to run without my wipers on anyway (I use a rain-x type stuff on the glass) and the water just flies off, instead of getting smeared around by the pathetic bus wipers.

spindle3 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:38:11 PM »

Got my bus thru american customs, took 'im 1 minute to find my file and then stamp the title 'Ok To Export'. Went over to the Canadian customs and they wanted to know how I heard about this vehicle, I told her 'on the internet' , she then asked me the website address. I told her \"Thesamba\" and she typed that into her computer. While she was looking for it I told her that people usually pull their ad after it is sold and there is no \"completed' section like on Ebay. She was figuring out the GST on the Can. dollar value and then she went to check the vin plate in the bus. She came back and said there would be 6% duty on it 'cause it was built in Germany!! Even though it was 40 yrs. old they still want to charge duty on it. After I paid up they OK'd me to go. An inspection form should arrive in about 10 days. When I finally register it they will tack 6% more on for PST. Expensive hobby! 6+6+6=18%!! plus the exchange on the dollar. It was dry all the way home so that part was ok.

red snapper · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:03:05 AM »

Is this Trenton?

Dude, dont you ever wear socks?

Congrats on your new project.

vwboop · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:05:09 AM »

The Canadian didn't know

she was doing. You can apply for a credit for the duty and will get it right guys. A lot of us have been through this. Frustrating when they don't know their jobs.

dannyboy · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2007, 04:43:49 PM »

i dont know about you guys, but i never got a form in the mail...
i was told to just bring my form 1 to get it inspected...

vwboop · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2007, 04:52:14 PM »

Form in the mail?

dannyboy · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2007, 05:00:39 PM »

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An inspection form should arrive in about 10 days. When I finally register it they will tack 6% more on for PST. Expensive hobby!

i think they are screwing with you again... i think you only get the form in the mail if the vehicle is 15 years and newer and needs the federal safety inspection...

amishrabbi · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2007, 05:19:30 PM »

yea they are screwing it big time

BUSDADDY · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2007, 05:48:46 PM »

Form in the mail ?? That's a crock.

If you have your stamped Transport canada vehicle import form (pub. 13-0132) and the casual goods accounting document (invoice for GST) you are ready for an inspection (that is if the bus is ready)

The person at the border should have checked box \"d\" in section 16 (vehicle is 15 years old or older ........)

If they filled in any part of the bottom section ( section 17), they made a mistake that will probably cost you time and paperwork, the customs officers badge number is on the form, may wan't to call them and see if you can get a replacement form filled out properly.

spindle3 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:33:09 PM »

I was given the Form 1 [ #13-0132 ] and Box D was checked (veh. over 15 yrs.) and the section 17 was touched, she crossed that out. I asked about the duty-free for old cars and she said that applies to USA-built vehicles. I didn't want to raise too much fuss as someone had ripped off the licence plate and the 30-day permit I bought in AZ. to carry me thru to home. I checked the customs website but couldn't find any info on the duty. They have a no. you call and leave your no., then their supposed to return your call. Maybe I'll hear from them tomorrow.

BUSDADDY · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2007, 09:26:54 PM »

Well then it sounds like you are good to go, all mine had the bottom crossed out too. If it's ready for inspection do it.

Keep watching the mailbox for the refund check for that duty.

spindle3 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 30, 2007, 08:45:41 AM »

Thanks for all the advice. I phoned Can. Customs--vehicles over 25 yrs. have no duty applied. Here's a link to the refund form 'B2G'

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/b2g/README.html