Yet another car import question (well two)

[bluegreen 0]

Nope! I get it now. I just don't think we did it completely legally, like you're trying to do. He didn't have a letter of compliance when he crossed the border, nor did we ever receive a letter stating that we needed to get it re-registered in Canada/imported properly.

We actually just assumed that when his registration expired on his Alberta plates, we'd just need to take it in! Our troubles started when he lost his registration, which was expired so Alberta didn't have a copy on record. Got about a dozen different answers as to whether a bill of sale would work (both from USCIS and the local DMV) but in the end, I guess we managed to bumble through it.

Isn't it odd how un-standardized some parts of this process are? (Like being able to get an EAD at JFK still, etc.)

That's the part that gets me! The different answers! If there was one, firm answer to this, I would happily follow the rules. But since there seem to be so many different ones, I am going to search and search and bumble around and talk to a million people until I find the rule I like best:)

Sounds like it all worked out nice and easily for you guys! I will remember not to lose track of my registration or bill of sale now:)

[Texanadian 10]

How are they going to know you've been there for longer than 30 days? Heck, 25% of Californian drivers have no insurance at all on their vehicles. (Uninsured drivers in the US is a huge problem. Much worse than it is in Canada)

For Texas, the rules are "fairly" straight forward.

1) Get a TX inspection/emissions test. $40. Need to show proof of insurance. My BC insurance was fine. They gave me a sticker for the front windshield.

2) Get the vehicle registered. Need to show proof of insurance. They wouldn't take my BC insurance. So I got GEICO to give me TX insurance. GEICO doesn't use the plate. So they don't care if I have BC plates or TX plates.

2b) Go back and register the car. Pay the $178, get TX plates and windshield sticker (we use windshield stickers instead of license plate stickers here. So we have 2 stickers on the front window: inspection & registration)

3) Get a TX driver's license.

It all had to be done in that order. Can't get a driver's license before the cars are registered. Can't get your car registered before the inspection is done etc.

When I came across the border, they gave me a 7501 form for importing my car free as my K-1 personal exemption. So no duty or federal taxes. Although Texas did charge me a $90 "new resident" tax as part of my registration. Hence the $178 fee. Normally it's about $60/year. (They charged $28 for a TX title as well)

As for the letter of compliance from GM for my car? I didn't need it at the border. Some do, some don't. They didn't bother asking for it for my car. Didn't check for EPA stickers or anything. All they wanted was the VIN. But Texas did want the compliance letter for me to register. So I had to shell out $89 for that piece of paper. ARGH.

[Texanadian 10]

Oh yeah, I registered my car about 14 months after crossing the border. They didn't seem to care that the 7501 form from the border was older than a year. The DMV in Texas doesn't seem to import many cars from Canada. They were surprised when I pointed out to them that the registration was the same paper as my ICBC car insurance.

I wouldn't pay some importer to bring in your vehicle if worse came to worse. Heck, drive it home to see your family and bring it back in yourself. If need be, sell it to a family member for $1 and then buy it back for $1. Import it and register it in the US.

But really, you should be able to just stop by any customs place and do the duty and get it imported. Duty on most cars is 2.5%. Not too bad. Although still more than the free cost that it should be.

Edited January 10, 2009 by Texanadian

[BermyCat 1]

I think someone has given you misinformation on importing a car permanently with K-1 visa. When I brought my car over the CBP guys went over my letter from the manufactor stating that the car met DOT and EPA standards very closely. They didn't like the wording of part of it but they let it go. The paperwork they gave me shows that the car has been imported. There is no mention of this being only temporary. They charged me $6 for some reason. I don't know what that was about...

~ Catherine

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Well, when you brought your car in you also brought you in - the $6 was probably the fee for the I-94 they put in your passport:-).

[Krikit 1,164]

Sorry, I only had a few minutes when I gave you that link the other day.... I guess I should have mentioned that I brought my car to the US and registered it here without a problem.

Anyway, it definitely sounds like you are getting huge misinformation. Just take the car to any POE. It doesn't have to be the one closest to you. That's so ridiculous it's laughable. I mean, good Lord. My POE was over a thousand miles from where I live. LOL. You must have been talking to a newbie. You will need the registration and sales receipt. I had actually left the sales receipt in the car and offered to get it for them but they said not to bother. They will ask you for the value of the vehicle. Keep it low because your State may tax you upon registration, so the value is important. My State used the Kelley Blue Book value, but they did give me the option of writing them a letter of explanation if I disagreed with that amount. One big thing to remember when you register the title at the tag office..... make sure the person who looks after imported cars enters the mileage in kilometers and not miles. I had a heck of a time with that one.

Hope you have better luck at the next POE.

[JillA 2]

Sorry, I only had a few minutes when I gave you that link the other day.... I guess I should have mentioned that I brought my car to the US and registered it here without a problem.

Anyway, it definitely sounds like you are getting huge misinformation. Just take the car to any POE. It doesn't have to be the one closest to you. That's so ridiculous it's laughable. I mean, good Lord. My POE was over a thousand miles from where I live. LOL. You must have been talking to a newbie. You will need the registration and sales receipt. I had actually left the sales receipt in the car and offered to get it for them but they said not to bother. They will ask you for the value of the vehicle. Keep it low because your State may tax you upon registration, so the value is important. My State used the Kelley Blue Book value, but they did give me the option of writing them a letter of explanation if I disagreed with that amount. One big thing to remember when you register the title at the tag office..... make sure the person who looks after imported cars enters the mileage in kilometers and not miles. I had a heck of a time with that one.

Hope you have better luck at the next POE.

When I registered my car at the tag place, I explained the car was in KMs but they did the conversion of how many KMs I had into miles, so I had like 120,000 KMs and they said I had 74,000 miles or something it was confusing. I hope it doesn't end up being a problem or anything.

[Krikit 1,164]

Sorry, I only had a few minutes when I gave you that link the other day.... I guess I should have mentioned that I brought my car to the US and registered it here without a problem.

Anyway, it definitely sounds like you are getting huge misinformation. Just take the car to any POE. It doesn't have to be the one closest to you. That's so ridiculous it's laughable. I mean, good Lord. My POE was over a thousand miles from where I live. LOL. You must have been talking to a newbie. You will need the registration and sales receipt. I had actually left the sales receipt in the car and offered to get it for them but they said not to bother. They will ask you for the value of the vehicle. Keep it low because your State may tax you upon registration, so the value is important. My State used the Kelley Blue Book value, but they did give me the option of writing them a letter of explanation if I disagreed with that amount. One big thing to remember when you register the title at the tag office..... make sure the person who looks after imported cars enters the mileage in kilometers and not miles. I had a heck of a time with that one.

Hope you have better luck at the next POE.

When I registered my car at the tag place, I explained the car was in KMs but they did the conversion of how many KMs I had into miles, so I had like 120,000 KMs and they said I had 74,000 miles or something it was confusing. I hope it doesn't end up being a problem or anything.

Yeah, who knows what's going to happen in the end? (Well, I guess we will eventually. ) But, yeah. My title came back as 120,000 miles on 120,000 kms (or whatever it was at the time). Here's some of the "fun" I had: No, all Fords are NOT built the same.

[bluegreen 0]

Sorry, I only had a few minutes when I gave you that link the other day.... I guess I should have mentioned that I brought my car to the US and registered it here without a problem.

Anyway, it definitely sounds like you are getting huge misinformation. Just take the car to any POE. It doesn't have to be the one closest to you. That's so ridiculous it's laughable. I mean, good Lord. My POE was over a thousand miles from where I live. LOL. You must have been talking to a newbie. You will need the registration and sales receipt. I had actually left the sales receipt in the car and offered to get it for them but they said not to bother. They will ask you for the value of the vehicle. Keep it low because your State may tax you upon registration, so the value is important. My State used the Kelley Blue Book value, but they did give me the option of writing them a letter of explanation if I disagreed with that amount. One big thing to remember when you register the title at the tag office..... make sure the person who looks after imported cars enters the mileage in kilometers and not miles. I had a heck of a time with that one.

Hope you have better luck at the next POE.

When I registered my car at the tag place, I explained the car was in KMs but they did the conversion of how many KMs I had into miles, so I had like 120,000 KMs and they said I had 74,000 miles or something it was confusing. I hope it doesn't end up being a problem or anything.

Yeah, who knows what's going to happen in the end? (Well, I guess we will eventually. ) But, yeah. My title came back as 120,000 miles on 120,000 kms (or whatever it was at the time). Here's some of the "fun" I had: No, all Fords are NOT built the same.

Thanks both:) I will convert the KM to Miles before I go so I can just hand them a sticky and say, "here is the conversion".

Krikit, did you import your car when you crossed the border with your K visa? Or did you have your Greencard already? That seemed to be the crux of the argument with the POE people. That I never had a K visa, and am now a permanent resident.

[Krikit 1,164]

Thanks both:) I will convert the KM to Miles before I go so I can just hand them a sticky and say, "here is the conversion".

Here in Florida you have to make an appointment with the person who looks after car imports. You can't just walk into the office and expect someone to be there to look after you. Anyway, the import person must enter "Kilometers" on their import sheet.... not miles..... so you have an official record of the notation. Otherwise, the regular tag office employees won't listen to a word you have to say.

Krikit, did you import your car when you crossed the border with your K visa? Or did you have your Greencard already? That seemed to be the crux of the argument with the POE people. That I never had a K visa, and am now a permanent resident.

No, sorry. I did it at the time I crossed the border. But there are quite a number of people on here who did not. They just went to another POE at a later date and did it then. They were told at the border they could do that. I'm sorry I can't recall their names.

Edited January 11, 2009 by Krikit

[bluegreen 0]

Thanks both:) I will convert the KM to Miles before I go so I can just hand them a sticky and say, "here is the conversion".

Here in Florida you have to make an appointment with the person who looks after car imports. You can't just walk into the office and expect someone to be there to look after you. Anyway, the import person must enter "Kilometers" on their import sheet.... not miles..... so you have an official record of the notation. Otherwise, the regular tag office employees won't listen to a word you have to say.

Krikit, did you import your car when you crossed the border with your K visa? Or did you have your Greencard already? That seemed to be the crux of the argument with the POE people. That I never had a K visa, and am now a permanent resident.

No, sorry. I did it at the time I crossed the border. But there are quite a number of people on here who did not. They just went to another POE at a later date and did it then. They were told at the border they could do that. I'm sorry I can't recall their names.

Thanks for your help:) In CA I think once you have the form from the POE you can take it into the DMV and not any special office or import person. I called their special importer phone number and that is what they told me, although based on what I have been told by people on phones so far, it could be completely untrue:)

I have for SURE seen people on here that have taken their car to the POE later to import, once they are permanent residents, which is why this (mis)information I got from the inland port at SD was so surprising. And, two separate people at that office told me the same thing.

I have a couple of potential plans in my head now, based on everyone's advice here:) THANKS!

[Texanadian 10]

Here's some of the "fun" I had: No, all Fords are NOT built the same.

I would like to add that I am 6 metres tall and weigh 250 kg.

[bluegreen 0]

Here's some of the "fun" I had: No, all Fords are NOT built the same.

I would like to add that I am 6 metres tall and weigh 250 kg.

Well, they say everything in Texas is bigger, but that is a stretch...

[Travis & Kim 0]

quick question - i still have money owing on my veh - about another years worth

did anyone have any probs w/ reg?

[Danu 19]

Thats what I have been wondering too. I have to call Nissan to make sure they have no issues with me moving cuz it says I must remain in canada in my loan...but its a loaned car, not a lease, the account the payments are coming out of will remain open and I'm hoping that by letting them know ahead of time and not trying to hide anything that it will make a difference....but I'm wondering upon registration how that works for getting the title.