Importing a car - with a lien

[EmilyandJason 0]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I checked through old posts and couldn't find anything specific.

I have a Ford vehicle that is financed. I can't pay off the balance before I go.

I've already arranged for the safety standards letter (I got charged $100 plus taxes .. what a rip, I think this is a dealer specific fee). The guy was super nice and offered to disable my running lights for me if I need to.

Anyway, my interview is next week so I plan on driving down to Bellingham on Friday. I'm not actually physically moving my belongings yet but I will be entering with the K3 visa and I don't want to run into issues with the vehicle.

I've contacted Ford Credit and they won't give me approval until I give them a copy of the state title and the insurance. They also want my US address (which I do have) and the name and address of my US employer - which I do not have) My vehicle is going to remain insured in Canada (my insurance does cover travel to the United States) until I get my SSN and US drivers license.

I couldn't find anything that specifically said I needed this approval from Ford Credit so I'm hoping I'll be ok with just the safety standard stuff.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

I appreciate all the help you guys have given me to date. It has really helped me out over these past few months.

Emily

Edited May 8, 2008 by EmilyandJason

[Krikit 1,164]

I don't have any specific experience with this, but I did notice that there was lien-holder information required on the DMV registration form for the State of Florida. So it doesn't appear there would be a problem on this end. The other thing I do recall is that there was a guy on here a couple of years ago who had a lien on his vehicle and brought it with him. He said it wasn't an issue... the only change he made was making his monthly payment from the US instead of Canada.

[EmilyandJason 0]

Thanks

This is what I was hoping. I just read through the CBP moving to the US guide and again found nothing.

I think its a fairly safe assumption that I only need this letter in order to register and insure the vehicle in the US.

I am planning to keep making the payments from my Canadian account .. I'll just transfer the money using Custom House.

Emily

[Leafgal 3]

I brought my car down with a lien from Canada as well. My loan is with Canada Trust and they didn't know I was leaving the country to be honest. I did insure it down here before I had it brought down (my mother drove it down for me) and I presented it to the CBP here where I live and they cleared it. The Virginia DMV also requires the lien holder information which was the name and mailing address. My payments just come out of my Canadian bank account and am planning on getting it paid off hopefully this year and then hopefully they will mail me title so I can take that to the DMV.

You can message me if you have any questions.

Edited May 8, 2008 by Leafgal