Crossing The Border With A Car?

[bwaz]

I've asked something similar before, but want to bring up something from the states, mid 60's bug,  it would have to be towed or trailered. Anyone have  experience in crossing the border, what's needed at the US and Canadian side? I read something about notice to the U.S. customs before you got there, and something in advance for the canadian side too. AS to inspection, does it need to be done immediately or when trying to get insurance.  thanks for the help
Brian
 

[GRK]

I know when Pointblank brought up his DC he let the border know day's in advance and faxed all paper work ahead of time.

[Russ]

they ask for 3 days notice i believe (make sure the vin number matches the registration)
i think you need a bill of sale as well
then bring it to the us customs side they will check the paperwork stamp it and then you go through canada pay your pst.
i don't think it needs to go to inspection until it is ready to be insured.we brought ours through and had it through inspection in a couple of days no biggie
russ

[surgerypending]

Actually Canada Customs doesn't care about the 3 day paper work thing. That's only a big deal to the U.S. guys when you try to bring the car back across the boarder for a trip, or to sell. If the U.S. guys find out that thier paper work wasn't cleared then you get slapped with a nasty fine!
As for Canada Customs u need current reggie, bill of sale,  the add where it was posted(internet or news paper) to prove how much you paid and a bank statement showing where you got the cash. This should make your life a little easier.  If you don't get the car tru inspection within the given time line you will have to bring the paper work back after inspection and get them updated....I believe there is no charge for this...or atleast that's what they told me!
Gerry

[Russ]

US customs definatly does want the three days notice (although they did waive it when we brought ours through)
Canada customs could care a less as long as they recieved their pst money.they do not even look at the car but your right about having a bill of sale and current reggie for them (also needed for when you bring it to insure it into B.C.)

[bwaz]

That's the opinion I seem to get generally, three days in advance for the u.s. side, and nothing except the correct paperwork for the canuck side. What do they look for in the inspection? Road worthiness? I see canadian tire does newer ones, but does it just need to be someone licesnsed to do the older cars?
thanks as always
Brian  

[Pipes]

Canadian tire wouldn't do my car when I brought it over from the US.  I had a really hard time trying to find a place.  It ended up being this Truck place near by Airspeed parts.  They were looking for all the legal things, like headlights, turnsignals, defrost fan (I had to rig up something), oil leaks, rust holes.....

[Aircooled Angel]

I thought lots of shops did it? The shop up the street from us does it so we have always taken it there. I didnt' know there was a time line to get the car through an inspection though. I thought that was for newer then 15 years? Sure hope not - the 58 has been sitting here for 2 years with no inspection yet.
 

[thrasherbill]

I brought my bus across in April and just had it inspected and licenced/insured last week. Paperwork has to be at US customs 3 business days before the vehicle gets there (weekends don't count). If you go through Peace Arch or the truck crossing you have to cross Monday - Friday between (I think) 8 am and 3:30 pm. Aldergrove won't do it and you can go through Sumas 24/7, my bus went through Sumas at about 1:30 am Monday morning. I also found the people at Sumas much friendlier and willing to help than at the White Rock crossings. The inspection is the Provincial safety inspection and is quite strict. Basically whatever safety features the car came with have to be there and in working order. This includes obvious things like brakes, steering and mirrors, and also minor things like sun visors. Any rust hole that you can stick your finger in will not pass, but I have heard of a piece of duct tape over the hole can be passed, same goes for rips in upholstery or headliners.

The place I took my bus was quite leniant (sp?) although I went to great lengths to make sure it would pass no matter how strict they were. If anyone wants the name of the place, PM me and I will give it to you. I won't post it here because I don't want them bombarded with calls of \"hey, I heard you're an easy inspection pass\", and you didn't hear anything from me!  B)


 

ThrasheR

[kirin]

Just to elaborate
Its insanely easy to do it right. Just do it right and not dick around and risk the 500-5000 dollar fine plus Jail time...
 

[Bubba]

Go to www.riv.ca  All the info is there.

[bwaz]

sooo, do I need the actual registration from the car, or would a copy do for the U.S. side. I expect the car i'm looking at  wouldn't pass inspection in it's current state and I'd have to wait a while to get it up to snuff before passing. I thought I heard that you'd have to pay some fee again if not doing it within a certain amount of time, but that may be for newer vehicles? thanks again
Brian  

[bwaz]

It looks like the helpful RIV.ca site says that you have 45 days to pass the inspection or it has to reutrn to the states. I expect this is for newer vehicles and not the older type we're looking at. I'll have to call them in the daytime and let you know what they say. I don't think they're coming to your shop with a tow truck to take it away after the two years you've been working on it.... will they?
Brian  

[thrasherbill]

I had no problems with the time period between the border and the inspection (almost 7 months).


ThrasheR

[LIQUID]

where is the car located???
 

[bwaz]

Seattle, so If I can swing a deal, I'll give him a deposit, take the registration and stop at the border on the way home, or fax it in on Monday, and pick the car up next weekend. I guess come back through the Sumas border on Saturday as the peace arch and truck crossing wouldn't do it on weekends? Still going to call to see about the inspection stuff
thanks
brian
(i keep saying this will be worth it)

[bwaz]

According to the Customs site, You can import a vehicle from the United States without entering it into the RIV Program if the vehicle is: fifteen years or older (excludes buses). You determine the age of a vehicle by the month and year it was manufactured. Then you avoid the RIV program totally. When I called and confirmed, they said that if it's over 25 years old, then there's no duty only tax at the border. No going to check on the inspection stuff
Brian

[Pipes]

They still made me pay duty on my 67 when I brought it accross a couple years ago.  I also did the inspection about 1 year after importing.  They shook my finger at me about being late but never said anything else.

[Bruce]

They still made me pay duty on my 67 when I brought it accross a couple years ago.

Check your paperwork.  If what you paid was actually duty, this is a mistake and you will be entitled to a refund.  If it was really tax, you didn't get screwed.

[Russ]

Check your paperwork.  If what you paid was actually duty, this is a mistake and you will be entitled to a refund.  If it was really tax, you didn't get screwed.

i agree with Bruce,although i think we still get screwed because you buy a used car here no PST bring one across the border you have to pay the PST then gst when registering it
russ

[LIQUID]

do you have a way to get your car up here yet?