Thank you for visiting my site on how to import a vehicle into Canada. I hope to provide you with all the information you need for the import process and links to any additional resources or tools that will be useful.

As I write this, the Canadian dollar is above parity with the US Dollar creating an opportune time to purchase a vehicle in the US for a significant savings. Fundamentally, I feel it is wrong that we will pay 20-30% more for the identical products in Canada. Even a car manufactured in Canada and imported to the US can be cheaper in the US then in Canada. Thanks to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) there are no duties on vehicles manufactured in the US or Canada. So you are free to import and save money on many big ticket purchases…like most cars, so long as you follow the rules.

And for those of you with vehicles from outside North America, you can import those too under certain circumstances.

What is the definition of Vehicle?

According to Transport Canada it is “Any vehicle that is capable of being driven or drawn on roads by any means other than muscle power exclusively, but does not include any vehicle designed to run exclusively on rails.” So this definition covers a lot of different vehicles from Cars, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles to trailers.

There are three types of imported vehicles

1. Vehicles that require to be registered in Registrar of Imported Vehicles Program
2. Vehicles that are not required to be part of the RIV program
3. Lastly Vehicles deemed prohibited or inadmissible.

Don’t let the process daunt you…its really not that difficult.

My hope is that this site will be able to guide you through the process to figure out if your vehicle is allowed, how much it will cost, Customs procedures, and how to register it and get it on  the road.

What is RIV?

Transport Canada set up the RIV Program to make sure that imported vehicles, intended for the U.S. market place, satisfy Canadian safety specifications before being registered with a provincial or territorial ministry of transportation for licensing. The RIV Program is a Canada wide inspection and certification program which makes sure that eligible vehicles are:

•           modified in order to conform to Canadian safety specifications;

•           inspected to ensure that the modifications have been completed and that they were successfully done

•           certified that the vehicle has been brought into compliance

Most vehicles from the US will be required to enter the RIV Program. However, some vehicles will not be able to enter the program, as they cannot be modified enough to conform to Canadian standards. If your vehicle from the US is less than 15 years old or a Bus manufactured on or after January 1^st 1971, you will most likely have to enter the RIV program to import your vehicle to Canada.

Are there any vehicles that do not require to be entered into the RIV program upon importation?

Yes, there are a few exceptions.

1. Vehicles that are older than 15 years and Buses manufactured before January 1^st 1971.
2. Vehicles imported temporarily e.g. in-transit, visitors less than 12 months, those here on study permit, those here on a work permit valid for 36 months or less.
3. Vehicles imported for exhibition, demonstration, testing or evaluation.
4. Diplomats – on approval by the department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
5. Visiting forces personnel for the duration of their assignment.
6. Vehicles entering temporarily for repairs or alteration i.e. warranty
7. Work vehicles – defined as one used primarily for civil engineering construction and maintenance, that is not built on a truck or truck-type chassis. This does not include a tractor or any vehicle designed to be drawn behind another vehicle. Agricultural units and equipment (e.g., farm tractors and manure spreaders) are not considered vehicles for Transport Canada purposes and are not subject to a Transport Canada import requirement.

*Please note that  the Vehicle Import Form 1 is still required.

So now you need to determine if you are required to obtain and complete a Vehicle Import Form 1.

This form is partially completed by the importer or agent and partially completed by Customs. Usually, this will be completed at the time of entry at the CBSA office you are crossing the border at. Sometimes this Form can be issued and completed at an inland office that offers commercial services in particular circumstances. However, Commercial importations of vehicles must be done at the port of entry. Customs will provide the Form 1.

Vehicles not requiring a Vehicle Import Form 1

Only the following types of vehicle importation will not be issued a Vehicle Import Form:

1. Authorized importers- Companies Authorized by Transport Canada to Import New Vehicles Manufactured for the Canadian Market
2. Short-term visitors to Canada
3. Agricultural units/equipment, unless required by the province
4. Vehicles in-transit
5. Low risk importer under the Cold Weather Testing Program
6. Vehicles temporarily imported for shows or entertainment.

Vehicle that require a Vehicle Import Form 1

Vehicles required to enter the RIV Program and need a Form 1 completed are the following:

1. Those that are built for sale or use in the U.S. market and admissible to Canada
2. Vehicles that are CMVSS-certified but were permanently exported to the U.S. and are now being re-imported by another individual.
3. Snowmobiles bought or acquired in the U.S. that are CMVSS or SSCC-certified.
4. Foreign vehicles designed, built, tested and certified to meet either CMVSS or U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards and bearing an SOC label affixed by the original manufacturer
5. All Vehicles not exempt which are admissible to Canada, from the US or any other country that are more than 15 years old.

Before you import a car or any other kind of vehicle, and spend thousands of dollars it is crucial to check that the vehicle is allowed by Transport Canada.

The below are factors that you should check over carefully,

Admissibility

Some vehicles from the US will be inadmissible according Transport Canada Regulations so double check the list to avoid disappointment.  Here is the link to check and see if your vehicle is ok. – Transport Canada’s list of admissible and inadmissible vehicles. All other foreign vehicles are inadmissible unless they are 15 years or older or fall under a few rare exceptions.

Modification

Keep in mind some vehicle may require more modification than others. Also the cost of the modification can vary quite a bit depending on manufacturer. For example, some vehicle manufactures charge a lot just to switch the odometer from miles to kilometres. After market modified vehicles are not admissible.

Grey Market Vehicles

Grey market vehicles are European-specification vehicles that are re-certified by a U.S. company. The Registrar of Importer Vehicles program is applicable to vehicles manufactured to comply with the U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards and meet the basic Canadian safety standards. As a grey market vehicle is re-certified it cannot be imported into Canada. Grey Market vehicles are deemed prohibited. They might have some sort of a label affixed by the U.S. Company which modified the vehicle. There could also be a statement such as “imported by” or “altered” or “modified” on the label, by a company other than the original manufacturer. A further potential warning sign would be the absence of a SOC label.

Warranty

Some manufacturers in Canada will not honour a warranty for a vehicle manufactured by their sister company in the US. As such I highly recommend contacting the manufacturer to research their warranty program. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to drive to the US every time you need work done that would be covered by your warranty.

Vehicle Recalls

It is also your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle you are importing is free from any safety recalls. To prove this you can request a letter from the manufacturer attesting to this fact or ask your local dealer.

Here is a link to the RIV Programs website where you can search the major manufacturers and their contact info. – Recall check

*Sometime there can be a cost associated in procuring this letter.

Direct from Registrar of Imported Vehicles (website):

Acceptable forms of recall clearance documentation

RIV will accept any of the following recall clearance information:

1. A letter from the vehicle manufacturer’s U.S. or Canadian head office.

The letter must be written on company letterhead clearly stating that there are no outstanding recalls for the vehicle. If the manufacturer’s logo does not appear on the letter, it will be rejected. The letter must be dated and signed by an authorized employee of the manufacturer and include their name and title, the vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model. RIV routinely forwards a copy of these letters to the manufacturer for authentication.

1. A printout from an American or Canadian dealership’s vehicle service database.

This document must be produced by an authorized dealer and not a reseller. You can confirm whether or not a dealership is authorized by visiting the manufacturer’s web site or by calling their head office and providing them with the dealership’s location. The printout must also contain the 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model, and indicate that there are no outstanding recalls. RIV routinely forwards a copy of these printouts to the manufacturer for authentication.

1. Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) web site.

Some manufacturers post their recall information on their public web sites specific to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This recall information will be accepted subject to verification by RIV.

Vehicles with multiple manufacturers

If you are importing a bus, limousine or any other vehicle that results from more than one manufacturer, you may require two recall clearance documents. Where the final stage manufacturer provides a recall clearance letter that also references the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) recall information, only one letter is necessary.

Normally, the recall clearance letter from the final stage manufacturer will say, “Please contact the chassis manufacturer for recall information.” It is your responsibility to determine the number of recall clearance letters that are necessary. The final stage manufacturer of your vehicle can also assist you with this.

Emissions Excise Tax

Another factor to consider is whether or not your vehicle will incur emissions excise tax upon importation. This is basically a gas guzzler tax for vehicles manufactured from March 19^th 2007 to present that a weighted average fuel consumption rating of 13 or more litres per 100 kilometres will be subject to the excise tax at the following rates:

• at least 13 but less than 14 litres per 100 kilometres, $1,000;
• at least 14 but less than 15 litres per 100 kilometres, $2,000;
• at least 15 but less than 16 litres per 100 kilometres, $3,000; and
• 16 or more litres per 100 kilometres, $4,000.

The fuel-inefficient vehicle levy is applicable to vehicles (which includes station wagons, vans, and sport utility vehicles) manufactured primarily for use as passenger vehicles, but not including pickup trucks, vans equipped to accommodate 10 or more passengers, ambulances and hearses, in accordance with the vehicle’s fuel-efficiency rating. Click here to go to Natural Resources Canada to check fuel consumption by vehicle

Effective date of the Emissions Excise tax

The fuel-inefficient vehicle tax will pertain to vehicles delivered or imported after March 19, 2007. The inventory of vehicles held by dealers on March 19, 2007 will not be subject to the tax. As well, automobiles for which an agreement in writing between a dealer and a final consumer was entered into before March 20, 2007 will not be subject to the tax, provided the final consumer takes possession of the vehicle before October 2007.

For imported vehicles, the tax will only apply to automobiles first put into service on or after March 20, 2007. An automobile is considered to be put into service at the earliest of:

•           the date the automobile is registered with a motor vehicle authority;

•           the date it is plated;

•           the date on which the automobile’s warranty has been put in place; or

•           the date the automobile is appropriated by a dealer for their own use.

The responsibility is on the importer to present proof acceptable to the Canada Border Services Agency to show the date on which the vehicle entered into service for purposes of tax determination.

Below are links to the various fuel consumption and excise tax amounts applicable.

Listing of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2012
Listing of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2011
Listing of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2010
Listing of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2009
List of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2008
Listing of Vehicles and Associated Tax Rates for 2007

What are fees would you have to pay?

there is also the following fees you will have to pay at the import level:

1. Excise Emissions Tax if applicable – See previous post
2. Duty if the vehicle is a personal importation and was not manufactured in a NAFTA country (USA, Mexico and Canada)
3. 5% GST (regardless of commercial or personal)
4. Registrar of imported vehicles program fee if applicable
5. Air condition Excise Tax of $100 if your vehicle has A/C

Well we covered the Excise Emissions Tax or Green Levy on gas guzzling vehicles in a previous post.

The Customs Duty on most non NAFTA foreign vehicles is 6.1% of the value. The value is determined by the bill of sale or the Retail Canadian Red Book value if Customs finds your declared value to be unreasonable. Oh and by the way…Motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles are duty free.

The 5% GST is calculated by adding the value of the vehicle plus and applicable duty. i.e. Lets say a Honda Accord is made in Japan is valued at $10,000. So duty would be $610 and GST would be %5 of $10,610 which is $530.50.

RIV fee – If you are required to enter the RIV program, you will have to pay the RIV fee which is $195 plus GST/HST or GST and QST if you cross the border into Quebec.

The RIV fee can be paid right away at Customs or afterwards online by using a credit card or interact directly at the RIV website. You can also mail in your payment (cheque or money order) or pay in person at one of two RIV offices.

Mail:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles 
405 The West Mall, Suite 500
Toronto, ON M9C 5K7

In Person:

RIV Toronto Office
405 The West Mall, Suite 500
Toronto, ON M9C 5K7

Hours of service:
Mon. to Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST)

RIV Pacific Highway Office
17735 1st Avenue
1st Floor
Surrey, BC

Hours of service:
Mon. to Fri.: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (PT)

Other possible fees

Recall letter fee – some dealers or manufacturers will charge a fee for issuing this letter.

Modification to Canadian Safety Standards – this will vary from car to car depending on what modifications are necessary. Sometimes its just day time running lights and switching from miles to kilometres and other times it’s a lot more. Also some manufacturers charge a lot more than other for relatively basic modifications. It is recommended that you research what kind of modifications are necessary before you purchase a vehicle to import to Canada and how much this will cost.

Shipping or transportation fee

If you decide not to drive the vehicle back yourself there are many moving companies or shipping companies that will assist in bringing your vehicle up to Canada for you. It is also recommended you research these companies as well. There are many horror stories of people having their vehicles held hostage and being charged exorbitant fees that were never agreed to at the start.

Storage and brokerage fee

If you do decide to have the car shipped up to Canada, keep in mind that the vehicle will have to be customs cleared at the border or travel in bond to a location inland and will most likely be stored in a bonded sufferance warehouse. You will then have to come to an inland customs office to do the clearance or hire a customs broker. Storage fees may be incurred in a bonded sufferance warehouse while awaiting customs clearance and if you use a customs broker their services are obviously not be free. Shop around and ask for quotes and make sure to ask what services are included.

There are many companies out there that will handle the transportation and customs clearance for you and deliver the vehicle, providing what is almost a door to door service. Again, check them out and make sure there are no hidden fees.

* Keep in mind then when calculation the final cost of importing a vehicle you should include provincial sales tax which varies by province and would be payable at the time of registration at your province’s ministry of transportation.