Need your input on car import

[brockt 0]

Ok so before my wife(Canadian) entered the US on her K1 visa her Canadian car broke down (major engine problem) she ended up buying a new car in Canada which she imported in at the time she crossed with her K1 visa. The broke down car was left in the US the Canadian plates taken off for her new vehicle and as she did not know what to do left it in the US we thought maybe fixing it but money is tight rite now with me not working...so it has been here un plated ....I have someone interested in buying the car to replace the engine but how would I go about the customs paperwork?....should I just give the ownership and compliance letter to the buyer and let them go to customs? it is only being sold for $400 so it is not a huge amount for tax or duty....I read that an immigrant can import after but cannot sell for 1 year....is it possible for the potential buyer just to go to customs and try to get the paperwork?? does customs need to see the car if so it does not run so how would that work lol??? Any ideas people???

[neiks 19]

I think it would probably be best to just call US customs and ask. I'm thinking that customs is going to want to physically see the car.

[BriCar 0]

Ok so before my wife(Canadian) entered the US on her K1 visa her Canadian car broke down (major engine problem) she ended up buying a new car in Canada which she imported in at the time she crossed with her K1 visa. The broke down car was left in the US the Canadian plates taken off for her new vehicle and as she did not know what to do left it in the US we thought maybe fixing it but money is tight rite now with me not working...so it has been here un plated ....I have someone interested in buying the car to replace the engine but how would I go about the customs paperwork?....should I just give the ownership and compliance letter to the buyer and let them go to customs? it is only being sold for $400 so it is not a huge amount for tax or duty....I read that an immigrant can import after but cannot sell for 1 year....is it possible for the potential buyer just to go to customs and try to get the paperwork?? does customs need to see the car if so it does not run so how would that work lol??? Any ideas people???

My thoughts are she has already imported the car (just a little ahead of time)

It has no plates and a Canadian registration with her as the legal owner.

She would have paid no duty on it and it is complient for the US.

Normally at this point she would register it in the US at the DMV along with a smog check (in California anyway)

If it's not running she could register it non operational.

I don't think she would have to surrender the Canadian plates. (which are being used elewhere)

All my assumptions but I would speak with your local DMV

And if it's too much trouble to register you could always just sell it for parts.

Good Luck!

[brockt 0]

so I got in touch with the border and wait for this.....they told me to put it on a trailer ....trailer it back to Canada loop around and go back into the USA with it so it can get the paperwork!!! ARE THEY INSANE??? I am going to call another CBP as they must be able to inspect it on the US side as she cannot go back to Canada without AP?!!!!!!!!!! I thought about parting it but I have someone who wants to fix the engine...I called DMV they said without the customs paperwork the buyer cannot register it....Now how does registering an inoperable vehicle happen? I think they would still need the customs document??

[brocku00 1]

Hi there,

I have a little experience with this. My husband bought an RV in Florida last year (he's American) and we drove it up to Canada for vacation, etc. On the way up from Florida we stopped into Delaware to get it titled. We went through the inspection but it failed one part. So, we decided to head to Canada (I had to get back to work) and then my husband would get it fixed and then bring it back down with him to get it repaired. Well, anyways, time went on and my 'VERY SMART" husband decided to sell the RV and put it up on EBAY with DELAWARE listed as home. Well, someone in Canada purchased it. SO we found out that this "RV" could be imported (some vehicles can't), but WE needed the title...which my husband hadn't done yet. We thought we would have to drive the RV all the way to Delaware but when I talked to the DMV in Delaware, since we were already there before and they recorded our info they said all we needed to do was come and do the paperwork...NO RV. Originally when we went to DMV for inspection, that is where they check the VIN and all paperwork PLUS the safety issue. So good thing for us we had done that. The Canadian that bought it fly to Ontario, and we signed the title over to him. He had a temporary tag printed from his province to us to drive the rv. I followed him to the local CBSA office (all over the place...just like CBP) and he went in with rv paperwork and got the 'customs' paperwork done there. They inspected the vehicle to make sure that it was 'importable', and for the VIN. He paid the one tax there, got his CBSA paperwork, drove back to his province and registered the vehicle. I'm guessing it will work the same down there. As long as your wife has the title, she can have car towed to local CBP office that does commercial imporation (just phone and ask for local office). They physically have to see the car, VIN and paperwork. Once you are done there, you can sign title over and give American customs paperwork to new owner and he can then go and register it. I would look up CBP on website, search importation of vehicles inland and look for your local office. My husband has sold two American vehicles up here in Canada without having to do anything. Hope this helps.

[BriCar 0]

so I got in touch with the border and wait for this.....they told me to put it on a trailer ....trailer it back to Canada loop around and go back into the USA with it so it can get the paperwork!!! ARE THEY INSANE??? I am going to call another CBP as they must be able to inspect it on the US side as she cannot go back to Canada without AP?!!!!!!!!!! I thought about parting it but I have someone who wants to fix the engine...I called DMV they said without the customs paperwork the buyer cannot register it....Now how does registering an inoperable vehicle happen? I think they would still need the customs document??

Ya if their saying they want customs paperwork that's a hassle.

OK what about people who ship their household stuff (cars and bikes too) to some customs office in the states and go and clear it there?

Maybe the local moving companies have some ideas about that.

The non op registration just transfers title and/or saves you money if the vehicle is down for a while but it sounds like DMV is still looking for customs paper.

Here's an idea...

She still has Canadian title for it and it's off the road so theres no hurry to change the registration. You could always sit on if it's not in the way, fix it up someday, get some Canadian plates or temporary permit and DRIVE it back on a Canadian vacation in a couple years after your AOS. Take your letter of compliance and import on the way home. She has 10 YEARS to get all her stuff here.

[Krikit 1,165]

should I just give the ownership and compliance letter to the buyer and let them go to customs?

If the buyer does the importing they will have to pay the duty. As an immigrant, your wife does not.

so I got in touch with the border and wait for this.....they told me to put it on a trailer ....trailer it back to Canada loop around and go back into the USA with it so it can get the paperwork!!! ARE THEY INSANE??? I am going to call another CBP as they must be able to inspect it on the US side as she cannot go back to Canada without AP?!!!!!!!!!! I thought about parting it but I have someone who wants to fix the engine...I called DMV they said without the customs paperwork the buyer cannot register it....Now how does registering an inoperable vehicle happen? I think they would still need the customs document??

Yes, they are insane. Well, maybe not insane. Just uneducated in their own policy and procedure.

How to Register a Foreign Registered Vehicle

Importing a Motor Vehicle