Importing a car into the US?

[blarneyman]

I know this has been covered many times for cars going north. But I'm looking at buying a car in Canada and bringing it into the US. Has anyone on here done this before?

[Herrlowlight]

I sold a car to a US citizen and followed him through the truck crossing to make sure everything was ok. For whatever reason it was really important that money changed hands in Canada. Other than requiring the usual notarized BOS and title (registration) it was straight forward.

Trevor

[blarneyman]

Thanks. Now I just have to see if the car is really what the guy says it is.

[Alp]

what are you looking at Blarneyman?

[blarneyman]

Looking at a 1997 Golf for my daughter. I haven't been able to see the car yet. Hoping it has a US DOT insignia on the door. If it doesn't, it's a no go. Don't want to mess with going through a vin search at a dealer to see if it meets the US standards.

A good friend of mine is a customs agent. He clued me in on what I needed to get it across the line.

[Alp]

what does it takes.....some Cohibas?

[blarneyman]

If the car is less than 25 years old it has to have a US DOT sticker in the door frame and notarized bill of sale. If it was manufactured in Mexico (first digit in VIN would be a 3) then there's no import tax. If it's built in Canada or Germany then we would have to pay taxes on it. If there's no DOT sticker then we could do a VIN search through a VW dealer to see if it was manufactured to US standards. If it wasn't, then no import.

[Bruce]

.... If it's built in Canada .....

There has NEVER been any VW built in Canada.

I don't think you need to enquire at a VW dealer in Canada to see if it meets US DOT standards.  The only cars that would are ones that were imported from the US.  Then those will have the DOT sticker.

[blarneyman]

I found out last night that the car does have the DOT sticker. If it's still available on Saturday we are going to look at it. This week got a bit to hectic.