I know a couple ppl have imported cars before, and anyone who knows can feel free to tell me what u think...

i'm looking to buy a brand new car from a dealership in WA, and import it...

do i have to pay the WA tax? (8%), because other than that, it seems rather easy, other than paper work, as a brand new car (honda) should have DRL's, the child restraint system, and adequate bumper... so will i have any troubles doing this?

i cannot get a deal on this car at dealerships as its a limited production car, and i've priced it out at 1.157 exhange rate to be $4000 cheaper if i dont have to pay the WA tax ( i know i have 14% cdn tax...), but even with the WA tax, its about $3k cheaper, which is definately worth a day or 2 days of work...

 

Dude, i'm in the process of doing that as we speak. My car is coming from oregon state and so far, knock on wood, everything is going smoothly. It's not as hard as you think it is, perhaps more time consuming than difficult. The low exchange rate really attracted me towards this and I found the EXACT car that I wanted.

To answer your question you will not have to pay any U.S. taxes. You'll end up paying the GST at the boarder plus the registar fee of $200 or so. When you go to register the car with ICBC you will then pay the PST. Try and smuggle out of it someway, I know i'm going to try.

 

how would you do this?

but, i just cant believe how much cheaper it is FOR A BRAND NEW CAR! i really would have thought a new car would be priced efficiently across borders, as it begs the question as to why more ppl dont do this...

 

Look at i this way... A little more than a year ago the exchange rate was in the steady 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 range. We're talking 1.13 now a days and that may not seem like a big diff to the average shmoe buying headers or other parts from the states but when you get into the 10,000+ range it makes a huge diff! I'd say the reason people don't do it is because they fear cross-boarder transactions especially after 9/11. I say just do it and hope for the best.

 

When I sold my Durango accross the line and when I was looking into buying a CTS V in the states you have to be aware of a warranty issue.

I can tell you that GM has a policy that a car has to be 6 months old AND have 7500 miles before they will allow the warranty to be recognized. Your warranty on the buying of a new car, would be voided. You better check this with Honda (or whatever).

The reason there is the price differential is simply because the marketing and pricing decisions of car companies cannot react as quickly as the changes in the currency which has been dramatic resently, but you ARE starting to see it.

I'm looking at some used trucks in the US to replace the Durango I have now.

 

if the car your buying wasnt made in the states .. ask the RIV about duties you'll end up paying .. could be as high as 10% on duties + the 14% tax

www.riv.ca will answer all ur questions

 

Car is Canadian made, so there'll be no duties...

i've checked the riv.ca website, looks like all is a go, other than the warrenty issue... guess i'll have to email some honda ppl

 

You'll be fine. Just be nice with boarder people.

 

Sorry, but Honda Canada does not recognize Honda USA warranty at all. It's the same way with Honda USA. THey only recognize the extended Honda PLus warranty.

 

how do you know this? would one not be able to transfer the warranty upon registration (i'm currently waiting for a reply from honda, themselves)

edit: DAMMIT! no warranty, just got the word, if i bought in WA, i'd get no warranty in Canada... looks like i'm gonna have to get ripped off from a BC dealership

 

Just drive the car over for warranty work.

 

I just confirmed with Chrylser.

If you buy and import a "US" car the warranty is not recognized in Canada. Even if the car is used.

 

There are no car companies that I know of in Canada that will honor a warranty on a car that was originally sold in the USA. I know for sure that Chrysler and Ford won’t, I’m not sure about GM but I would think it would be the same. Although you can drive the car back across the border and get it serviced in the US the warranty is still good there. The reason I know this, is that my friend’s dad bought a 04 Viper from the US and Chrysler Canada won’t cover the US warranty. So he brought it back across the border and had it serviced in Bellingham for a bad lifter that was causing noise and engine / cam wear.

Also if you’re buying a car I’m pretty sure that you can’t buy brand new either. I believe that there is a clause in the importation regulations that you can’t import a car straight from a dealer. The car has to have at least been registered to one private citizen and has to be one model year old.

So you could say buy a 05 model car that has no miles on it as long as it is bought in 06 and has been registered to at least one private citizen previous to your purchase.

Now don’t take everything that I’ve said as the absolute truth as there could be a few loop holes. Most of this information comes from my cousin who works for a company that imports bikes into Canada. So he has to deal with customs regularly along with the rules regulating the importation of motor vehicles.

 

well, thanks for the information... i won't be buying from the states, however, its good to have this information here, incase anyone else needs it...

and honestly, my next fun car will be coming from the states, if the dollar stays near where its at now, its crazy-cheap... a nice, low mileage 1-2 yr old S2000, or WRX STi can be had for <$30k US, which is really really cheap, those same cars are in the $40k+ Canadian range here

 

So if your car is a low mileage car, you could actually never have a warranty at all? (assuming you drive less than 7500 miles in 5 years.)