Transfering Car to the US

[Veronik 19]

Hi everyone,

I don't know if any of you will be able to help, but I'm facing a tiny problem.

So if all goes well with the interview, I will need to transfer my car title in Virginia. Here's the problem, my car is already in Virginia. I drove down for the last visit, but flew home.

So I was looking at the requirements to transfer a 'foreign' vehicule, and they are asking for some sort of custom release form, as well as another custom form. I don't have any of these...

Does anyone know if I can get those after having crossed the border with the car (I drove down on May 23rd 2009)or should I just give up and sell it for parts (it's only a 93 Camry...)

Thanks for the help!

[trailmix 77]

You can just import it at your nearest POE (like the airport for instance). They will give you the forms to fill out, you need to get a letter of compliance from your car manufacturer.

[Veronik 19]

You can just import it at your nearest POE (like the airport for instance). They will give you the forms to fill out, you need to get a letter of compliance from your car manufacturer.

Thanks trailmix... But I don't think I'll be able to get a letter like that because I bought the car used from a particular...

I think I'll just sell it for parts...

[Colleens 40]

It doesn't matter if you bought it used. You have to contact the car manufacturer for the compliance letter. My car was in the US already when I did my POE. I just went to the local CBP office and they did the import for me in about 15 mins.

[trailmix 77]

Yes, as Colleens said, doesn't matter if it is used, you just need to give the manufacturer the vin number.

But yes, if you don't have say, a proper registration, then no you can't import it.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Your big problem may be getting it inspected, as VA you have to have yearly car inspections and every 2 years emissions has to be tested

[Veronik 19]

Thanks Flames_9RN, trailmix and Colleens!

Yeah, I'm aware of yearly inspection... But I think that with you guys' info I might actually try to do the change... Better to have an old car than none!

Do you guys think it will be a problem if the car has not been licensed since November 2009? My dad basically told the SAAQ that he was taking it off the road since I came back without it...

[Colleens 40]

Thanks Flames_9RN, trailmix and Colleens!

Yeah, I'm aware of yearly inspection... But I think that with you guys' info I might actually try to do the change... Better to have an old car than none!

Do you guys think it will be a problem if the car has not been licensed since November 2009? My dad basically told the SAAQ that he was taking it off the road since I came back without it...

I would call the CBP that you will be taking it to and ask if it needs to be currently registered. Tell them that you did not re-register it in Canada since you were unsure of whether you were going to keep driving it. If you find out before hand, you still have time to have the registration done before heading back to the US.

[Veronik 19]

Yeah well I just found out that instead of 'putting it away' for the winter, my dad actually had it put as 'scrap'. So now, I don't even know if I'll be able to transfer the ownership of it since in order to get it licensed again here, I need to have it inspected here...