Just wondering if anyone here done it...and whats involved?

For instance if I were to buy a pimp SUV for real world price instead of crazy truck country price here in Alberta. Anyone have any pointers?

 

I brought my 00 SS Camaro over from the states. Go here, http://www.riv.ca/ and read up on what you have to do. Personally, it was vey easy and i'd do it again if I had to. Hope that helps.

 

Bringing this one back from the archives - would you have the car shipped or would you fly there to get it? Would you do your own finances here or if its from a dealership - use their financial options (can you even do that?)

 

Actually financing is one of the challenges. You would not be able to use the US for financing. They would not be able to process the loan and hold the lien if you were to move the car to Canada. in fact one of the requirements with the importation process is that there are no liens on the car. (from the US perspective)

For a similar reason a CDN bank would have some degree of trouble because you are going to buy a car that will not be "registered" in CDN for 7 - 14 days and thus they cannot process a lien against the car.

What you would have to do is arrange financing some other way (line of crdit, unsecured loan, family member help) pay for the car, get it up here and re-registered and THEN get a bank to refinance it.

I was looking at buying cars in the US a couple of times. one thing you have to note is the warranty issue. Dodge will NOT respect the warranty on cross border vehicles. GM requires that the car be 6 months old AND have 7500 miles on it. They will then respect the warranty in CDN on a "US" car.


GL. Its DEFINATELY worth looking into.

 

Yeah, its sounding more intimidating now. I have some money, would be taking a loan for the remainder...

So on an 04 Quest, the remaining warranty might not be recognized...

 

Imported tons, nothing much to it.

 

I brought my ex-vette in to Canada. I got a vehicle loan from TD, and had to massage them to agree to it. Especially so because the car had a lien on it in the US. I had the bank make out the draft to the lienholding bank, NOT the owner, to ensure the lien was paid off when I bought it.

It was well worth the trouble.

 

I bank with TD and spoke with them the other day, no trouble in giving me a loan for what I need. They said where I was getting the vehicle from a dealership they just need the sale agreement - easy.

Now for driving back across the border, are there any new rules I should know about? Still just a driver's license and a birth certificate?

edit: oh yeah, and the warranty on the 04 would transfer over.

 

yes you can still drive across using your dl and birth certificate.

 

So since I'm an Alberta resident, I'll be responsible only for the GST on the vehicle? (obviously the exchange too)

(this is outside of riv fees and inspections)

 

Correct. Dont forget your passport to get into the US now that the new rules are in effect. You will also want a "binder of insurance" from your insurance company to cover you while you drive the car home.

 

Actually for land travel under the new policy you do not need a passport. A driver's license (aren't they all photo ID now anyways? mine is...), and birth certificate is all that is required.

I just read the press release on the ne wborder policy.

Is GST applicable on a used vehicle? For some reason I'm thinking it isn't.... or is that only from private sales?

 

i think the border will still get you for gst.

 

Thats what I'm wondering, is there GST on a used vehicle, and where would be paid...so its the border?

 

yes you pay it right there are the border. you will also pay RIV fee, and an air conditioning excise tax at the border.