Got through and trying to get plates for my car

[clim2009 0]

I have a 2015 Dodge caravan... tried to register it and they want form HS-7. Because Canadian vehicles don't come with titles.

So I looked at the form and it needs an attached compliance letter from the manufacturer... but manufacturer (Chrysler) wont give me a compliance letter.

So how do I register my vehicle? Checked stickers under the hood and it complies with EPA (even California standards)...

It is a Canadian bought vehicle... bought it in April of 2015. I have bill of sale to prove it. To my knowledge, the only difference between USA and Canada vehicle safety standards is that Canadian vehicles require daytime running lamps and USA doesn't require.

How do I successfully go through form HS-7 without Chrysler manufacturer letter?

Help appreciated. Thanks.

[teeak 224]

According to this: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/218/related/1/~/importing-a-car-or-vehicle---obtaining-epa-form-3520-1-and-dot-form-hs-7

"Note: If the vehicle has stickers on the engine (EPA) and inside the drivers-side door (DOT) stating that the car was manufactured to U.S. standards, you will not need a manufacturers letter. Some vehicles are listed by make, model, and year on the DOT and EPA web sites as conforming. If your vehicle is one of those, that would also negate the need for a manufacturers' letter."

I think you should research the DOT and EPA websites to see if your vehicle is listed.

[Darnell 8,478]

get back with 'they' and ask for the boss, giving over what was written in post #2 . Go Get Em, and Good Luck !

[CAMama3 1]

Canadian vehicles have titles-- BC's is on the registration, not sure where you are from. When you say you "bought" the car, you mean you paid for it in full and own it, right? No liens? Did you import it at the border?

[GP&LG 14]

There are 2 stickers in your car that pertain to importing your car via an HS-7. Not only do you need the EPA compliant sticker, but there also needs to be another sticker that is conforms to FMVSS which are the Federal manufacturing standards of the US. If you have both of these stickers, you can import via HS-7 (hopefully) problem free. If you do not have the FMVSS sticker - most Canadian cars only have the CMVSS sticker, which is the Canadian manufacturing standard and you cannot obtain a letter from the manufacturer as you have written above, I believe your only recourse is to hire a Registered Importer to properly import the car on your behalf and will basically be able to legally ensure and account for the fact that your car fits all compliance standards of the US.

Hope that helps

[clim2009 0]

Canadian vehicles have titles-- BC's is on the registration, not sure where you are from. When you say you "bought" the car, you mean you paid for it in full and own it, right? No liens? Did you import it at the border?

Ontario vehicle... only have green registration slip... Financed thru RBC... the border didnt even ask one question about the car. My paperwork was processed for 30 - 45 mins then I was just told "welcome to the USA"... then drove through...

[Loki_Go 126]

It doesn't sound like you imported it at the time of POE so you have up to a year to do that. I believe the car has to be paid off too.

[Ms Hogan 295]

It doesn't sound like you imported it at the time of POE so you have up to a year to do that. I believe the car has to be paid off too.

Ontario vehicle... only have green registration slip... Financed thru RBC... the border didnt even ask one question about the car. My paperwork was processed for 30 - 45 mins then I was just told "welcome to the USA"... then drove through...

Agreed with Loki_Go

If YOU didn't tell them you were importing your car when you processed your immigration paperwork there was no way for them to know. You have to tell them that you are importing your car and have the documentation ready. That is separate.

As someone else mentioned you have up to a year to import your car. it is usually necessary to have the car paid off.

Someone else mentioned that we have titles in Canada but that is not true for Ontario. Just registration which is your little green slip. You have to have the HS-7 form to present when you register the vehicle unless it is exempt. i actually import cars to the U.S. from Canada but they are collector vehicles 25 and older which are exempt HOWEVER, in order to get my title work complete, I have to have documentation stamped at the border showing the car was officially imported. You will take that paperwork and your ownership to the title bureau. Depending on your state you will need to get an out of state VIN inspection (dealers or DMV can do this) on the vehicle first and then present that with your documentation to the title office to get your title in your state. If your ownership has RBC listed on it you are going to have to show that the car is paid in full probably because RBC won't be able to register a lien in the U.S.

What state are you in?

[NikLR 13,228]

Have you even checked your lien to see if you can import the car to another country? Many liens do not allow this.

You need to import the car properly, have the stickers or compliance letter, and generally you cannot owe on the car because that means you dont actually own the car, the lienholder does.

[CAMama3 1]

Someone else mentioned that we have titles in Canada but that is not true for Ontario. Just registration which is your little green slip.

That was me. I should have said Canadian vehicles can have "titles"... or perhaps more accurately, proof of ownership. I only know about BC and how ownership and holding title is shown by a few lines on the registration (not a separate document like most states) so I mentioned that in case OP's registration was similar. Now i see that Ontario is not.

Anyway, agree with all of the above about the steps OP needs to take. Hope it all works out.

[Shadowess 13]

Ms Hogan, I might be sending you a private message sometime soon about importing classic cars. I believe I have all my ducks lined up but I'd love to chat with someone who's experienced with it.

[clim2009 0]

So... went to customs...

They told me they need:

1) compliance letter from Chrysler or registered importer that says it complies with EPA and DOT.

2) letter from the bank that says they allow car in USA

Called the bank...

Bank says I need to pay off the loan (around $20,000 CDN) so they will write a letter that says they're no longer a lienholder.

Chrysler already wrote me a letter saying they're not giving me a compliance letter so I need to go to a Registered Importer...

Any idea here how much do RIs charge to inspect the vehicle (Its a 2015 dodge caravan) and say it complies with DOT and EPA?

[Ms Hogan 295]

Ms Hogan, I might be sending you a private message sometime soon about importing classic cars. I believe I have all my ducks lined up but I'd love to chat with someone who's experienced with it.

No problem Glad to help if I can!

So... went to customs...

They told me they need:

1) compliance letter from Chrysler or registered importer that says it complies with EPA and DOT.

2) letter from the bank that says they allow car in USA

Called the bank...

Bank says I need to pay off the loan (around $20,000 CDN) so they will write a letter that says they're no longer a lienholder.

Chrysler already wrote me a letter saying they're not giving me a compliance letter so I need to go to a Registered Importer...

Any idea here how much do RIs charge to inspect the vehicle (Its a 2015 dodge caravan) and say it complies with DOT and EPA?

so are you paying off the loan? I would sell the car and leave it in Canada and get a new one in the U.S. So much cheaper to buy cars here anyway. If you're able to pay it off in order to have the lien released then that might be a smarter path to take.

I don't know what you are asking about how much do Rls charge to inspect the vehicle?

[NikLR 13,228]

Sell the car back in Canada and buy down here. Ive never heard of chrysler not giving a compliance letter which makes me leary you will need to change things. In 2016 this seems weird.

[HollywoodNorth 22]

It's odd, if its a US made vehicle/domestic sold in Canada [especially from the US big 3] there should a EPA/FMVSS/NHTSA decal under the hood and or on the door jamb, something like this:

[Canadian Jeep imported to the US, made in Ohio].

Edited February 6, 2016 by HollywoodNorth