Bringing a Canadian Car to the states - resources?

[gwenstar 66]

I am the USC and my husband, the Canadian beneficiary, is planning on driving his things here to the states once the visa is approved. I was wondering if anyone has personal experience or knows some good resources in finding the best way to go about this process.

He may or may not keep the car once he is here - living in NYC having a car can be quite a pain! Anyhow, my questions are - what would he need to have in order to do his POE and bring the car temporarily to the states. Or if he decides to keep the vehicle, what is required in order to register it here in the states?

From the few things I found, I was mostly just confused. I know there is something about getting a letter from the manufacturer regarding meeting US standards - also read something about import fees....I just don't know??

Any advice is much appreciated

thanks

[HeatDeath 430]

When I drove in in my Canadian car (July 2009), I told the CBP officer, after he finished processing my visa and I-94, that I wanted to import my car. He needed to see my compliance letters and Canadian registration/Proof of ownership/Proof of insurance. I filled out a form with my car's info, vin number, make, model and current value. The CBP officer stamped it. That was everything at the PoE.

Later, after I'd settled in Utah, I took the stamped import form, the compliance letters, and my Canadian registration/Proof of ownership/Proof of insurance to the local DMV. I paid 150-200 dollars, and they gave me plates, registration, and a little later mailed me a title deed. They took my Canadian registration/etc, but left me a photocopy so it could continue to be proof of insurance until my Canadian insurance expired and my US insurance (arranged separately) took over.

Depending on the age of your car, some jurisdictions use the value of the car on the import form as the basis of a 1-2% import tax.

The process in NY should be broadly similar, though the details will surely vary significantly from state to state.

Edited July 16, 2013 by HeatDeath

[NikLR 13,227]

There are instructions on the CBP website to what you need. I'm going to move your thread to the Canada forum where there are also other similar threads.

****moved from moving here and your new life to Canada forum****

[gwenstar 66]

There are instructions on the CBP website to what you need. I'm going to move your thread to the Canada forum where there are also other similar threads.

****moved from moving here and your new life to Canada forum****

Thanks for the info and for getting this post into the right spot

When I drove in in my Canadian car (July 2009), I told the CBP officer, after he finished processing my visa and I-94, that I wanted to import my car. He needed to see my compliance letters and Canadian registration/Proof of ownership/Proof of insurance. I filled out a form with my car's info, vin number, make, model and current value. The CBP officer stamped it. That was everything at the PoE.

Later, after I'd settled in Utah, I took the stamped import form, the compliance letters, and my Canadian registration/Proof of ownership/Proof of insurance to the local DMV. I paid 150-200 dollars, and they gave me plates, registration, and a little later mailed me a title deed. They took my Canadian registration/etc, but left me a photocopy so it could continue to be proof of insurance until my Canadian insurance expired and my US insurance (arranged separately) took over.

Depending on the age of your car, some jurisdictions use the value of the car on the import form as the basis of a 1-2% import tax.

The process in NY should be broadly similar, though the details will surely vary significantly from state to state.

Thank you - that is very helpful!!

[Rob & Monika 87]

We did this in NY, same process. We had to fill out 3 forms at the border, but they approved it with one of the forms missing the VIN, and the NY DMV wouldn't register the vehicle without it. CBP just said to write the VIN on the 3rd form and go back. It can't hurt to have the forms ready ahead of time since you have to fill them out yourself anyway.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/documents/3520-1.pdf

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/cbp7501/ - Don't forget VIN on this one. You may have to fill this out at the border as half of it they gave me a template to complete it.

[gwenstar 66]

Awesome! This is perfect