Importing a vehicle

[BlueBonnet 84]

So Im about to leave in a couple weeks and Im trying to read up on my POE. Im driving, and I have my letter from the manufacterer already. But as Im reading, I found a posting from a member who had to have bank approval to remove the car as she still had a balance owing on her loan for it. I purchased my vehicle out rite. Ive never carried a loan for it, and Im wondering if Im suppossed to prove that somehow to the border patrol. Is my letter enough or do I need more ?

[JenandDon 3]

I am sure you could go to a registry, and get a Lien Search done. They will search your VIN and give you a copy of the search to show no Liens (Loans) on your vehicle.

[Inky 1,110]

You don't need anything if you own the car. I own my car out right paid in full. They only asked for my ownership papers and the compliance letter.

[BlueBonnet 84]

Thank you.

So basicaly my vehicle registration says I own the car, but just to ensure, I paid for a lien search. Cost $10.45. I have a friend who works at the government registries office, I gave her my VIN and shes dropping off my paperwork in about an hour. SWEET.

[Wis-Can 0]

I crossed at Sault Ste. Marie and the only thing they asked for was my compliance letter, ownership paper and registration.

[BlueBonnet 84]

I crossed at Sault Ste. Marie and the only thing they asked for was my compliance letter, ownership paper and registration.

When I spoke to my friend today, I asked what ownership papers were. She said the registration is proof of ownership. So what exactly did you give them as "ownership" papers. I looked for my original bill of sale from the dealership and couldnt find it. Is the registration enough ?

[HeatDeath 430]

In Manitoba, Manitoba Public Insurance (Autopac) provide you with a piece of paper we just call "the registration" that is simultaneously A ) documentation of your car's registration with Vehicle Licensing, B ) documentary proof that your auto insurance is current, and C ) title and proof that you are the legal owner of the vehicle.

When I crossed from Manitoba into North Dakota at the Pembina CBP border crossing, my Canadian "registration" was enough.

In the US, these are all separate documents. Your proof of insurance is a card with an expiration date provided by your insurance company. Your registration papers are provided by the DMV or whatever local office process the registration renewal. Unlike a Manitoba "registration", which usually lives in your wallet, these two are stored in the car at all times. And your proof of ownership is a separate document called a "title deed" which should never EVER be in the car. Ideally it should be kept in your safe-deposit box.

Later, when I registered my car with the Utah DMV, they took my Canadian registration [but left me a photocopy so I could still use it as proof of insurance for the remaining few days my Canadian insurance was still good for], and gave my the US registration forms. A week later, my Utah title deed for the car showed up in the mail. Proof of insurance cards came from the US insurance company.

Edited March 6, 2011 by HeatDeath

[Wis-Can 0]

In Nova Scotia you have a registration/permit paper you keep in your car to show its licensed for the road, (and its the one that law enforcement asks you for should you get pulled over )but you actually have an ownership paper that they tell you to keep in a safe place. Its what you sign over to someone else if you sell the vehicle. Its printed on paper that almost feels like the paper they print money on! LOL Its two sided, front side is all your vehicle info, back side is to be filled out when you sell the vehicle and give it to the new owner. Your name and address and the bottom half tears off for you to keep when you sell the vehicle and forward to the registry of motor vehicles. It's where you record the buyers info. This covers you should the person you sell it to doesn't register the vehicle in their name. That's all that I gave them, they took a photocopy and returned it back to me. And they also took a copy of the compliance letters and returned the originals back to me. They told me the state in which I was moving in would require it....they didn't take it though when I did go to register it in Wisconsin.