Importing a Vehicle (Subaru) Without TPMS - Success!

[EVANGELINEQIAN 0]

On 9/27/2021 at 9:45 AM, 2013HondaCivic said:

Hey no problem. No my car doesn't have the FMVSS approval sticker. The only sticker I have is the Canadian version of it. I think it's called CMVSS. It's a silver rectangular sticker. The mechanic did not matter for me. I used a local mechanic I knew back in Toronto. Since installing the TPMS is such an easy and quick thing, they may not even charge you. All you need from the mechanic is a single paper invoice showing the name of the business and what has been done to the vehicle. The invoice I got from my mechanic did not have much detail. Very plain, but it worked fine. 

Hi! Thank you for sharing useful information. Can you please share the local mechanic you used and aftermarket TPMS you purchased? And which border did you cross when you imported your car? I am planning to cross one of the borders in Toronto to import my Toyota RAV4 2015 in November 2022. Thank you!!!

[TPMS 2]

10 minutes ago, EVANGELINEQIAN said:

Hi! Thank you for sharing useful information. Can you please share the local mechanic you used and aftermarket TPMS you purchased? And which border did you cross when you imported your car? I am planning to cross one of the borders in Toronto to import my Toyota RAV4 2015 in November 2022. Thank you!!!

Hi, I bought after market TPMS from Amazon and get it installed from Canadian tires. I crossed from Windsor-Detroit tunnel. 
 

thank you

[EVANGELINEQIAN 0]

11 minutes ago, TPMS said:

Hi, I bought after market TPMS from Amazon and get it installed from Canadian tires. I crossed from Windsor-Detroit tunnel. 
 

thank you

Hi! Thank you! Can you share the Amazon link please? Which Canadian Tires did you visit? I saw others posted that Canadian Tires refused to install. I am thinking about crossing Windsor-Detroit tunnel too. Thank you!!!

[TPMS 2]

17 minutes ago, EVANGELINEQIAN said:

Hi! Thank you! Can you share the Amazon link please? Which Canadian Tires did you visit? I saw others posted that Canadian Tires refused to install. I am thinking about crossing Windsor-Detroit tunnel too. Thank you!!!

I called Canadian tires in Hamilton and they were ok in installing. Initially, they thought i want them install and tune snd they gave me 120 cad rate. But I visited in real they found its quite simple task and charge me around 20 cad. So make sure convey them clearly when you want from them. A few places were refusing me too as they said they did not have expertise for this job. In fact, its very simple anyone can install it.
 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Blueskysea-Wireless-Monitoring-Real-time-Temperature/dp/B07QNV8T31/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_sspa?crid=2HIJBV0NZFH14&keywords=tpms+solar+power&qid=1666231627&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=tpms+solar%2Caps%

[EVANGELINEQIAN 0]

1 hour ago, TPMS said:

I called Canadian tires in Hamilton and they were ok in installing. Initially, they thought i want them install and tune snd they gave me 120 cad rate. But I visited in real they found its quite simple task and charge me around 20 cad. So make sure convey them clearly when you want from them. A few places were refusing me too as they said they did not have expertise for this job. In fact, its very simple anyone can install it.
 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Blueskysea-Wireless-Monitoring-Real-time-Temperature/dp/B07QNV8T31/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_sspa?crid=2HIJBV0NZFH14&keywords=tpms+solar+power&qid=1666231627&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=tpms+solar%2Caps%

Thank you!!! I am thinking about taking Blue Water Bridge to cross border too. I know you said you took Detroit-Windsor tunnel but taking Blue Water Bridge is a shorter path for me. Do you think it worth to take risk to take Blue Water Bridge? Or I should just go to Detroit-Windor tunnel since it should be working based on your experience.. Maybe I should call border officer at Blue Water Bridge to confirm? Sorry I am so uncertain and unsure what to do right now.. thank you in advance for any suggestions provided

[TPMS 2]

4 hours ago, EVANGELINEQIAN said:

Thank you!!! I am thinking about taking Blue Water Bridge to cross border too. I know you said you took Detroit-Windsor tunnel but taking Blue Water Bridge is a shorter path for me. Do you think it worth to take risk to take Blue Water Bridge? Or I should just go to Detroit-Windor tunnel since it should be working based on your experience.. Maybe I should call border officer at Blue Water Bridge to confirm? Sorry I am so uncertain and unsure what to do right now.. thank you in advance for any suggestions provided

Hi, I can share my experience of crossing Windsor-Detroit. In last one year i crossed tunnel hundreds of time. I choose tunnel over the bridge because heavy trucks can’t cross there. So it usually better frok traffic point of view. But again it depends upon the day or time of the day when tunnel become buzy. 
 

when you will reach the boarder security officer, either he may ask you want to declare or you can tell him you want to declare car to import in case if he does not ask. He will paste yellow sticker on your windshield and show you which way to go. Just follow instructions and bring documents to the office. Then show your documents when you will he called. At the end he will give you documents with stamp, you will pay fee, then good to go

[tigers76 3]

I would like to share my experience to give back! I have successfully imported my 2016 Honda Civic LX (made in Canada and not initially installed with TPMS). I would like to thank all contributors to this thread. Here we go!

 

If you reading this I must assume you are having trouble with the OEM (Official Equipment Manufacturer) TPMS requirement of Importing a car. 

 

To give you some background: I am from Sarnia, Ontario, I have a P-1 Visa and am a resident of the USA for more than 6 months of the year.

I started the journey to attempting to import my car in August of 2022. Initially, I knew nothing just started to look some stuff up on the internet. I called an import company to deal with the headache for me. So I found BoarderBuddy. They are a service that does this all for you. I emailed back and forth with a Rep. and he got me to take a bunch of pictures of certifications around my car (in the door, door jam, under the hood etc). he came back and said:

 

"While this vehicle is EPA compliant it is not DOT compliant as it only has the Maple Leaf. You will need to use a registered importer to assist you. 

We recommend using BidBuy."

 

So he gave me an email of a woman named Jayde at BidBuy. Jayde was much more helpful. We emailed back and forth for about a week. I sent her more pictures of my car. (pictures of the door jam, under the hood stickers, the instrument cluster on my dash). Now I know she was looking for the TPMS light on my dash that I didn't have. but she also said this:

 

"Have you requested a compliance letter from the manufacturer? If not call this number below and request a US DOT compliance letter. Tell them you are moving to the states and have your VIN number ready. Send the letter to us once received. This letter will determine the next steps and costs."

 

So now the ball is rolling. She gives me the number for Honda Canada. I call that number, I ask for a compliance letter and no one knows what I am talking about. So they tell me to contact Honda USA. You can find their contact info here:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/vig_canada09122017.pdf 

 

 

So I call USA Honda they ask for the VIN and some other easy questions, and they send me an email so I can give them pictures of certain information back. They ask for:

Canada Vehicle Registration - province issued document showing the vehicle is licensed to be driven (must be current, not expired).

Canada Identification - driver's license, passport, resident visa etc.

Canada Bill of Sale - document showing that you purchased, or leased, the vehicle in question.

 

So once I sent that back, I got a called only a few days later for Honda USA telling they cannot send me a "compliance letter" per say but instead they will send me a "non-compliance" letter. Basically the letter will say your car is EPA compliant but there is a couple things that are DOT non-compliant. 

 

So I tell Jayde at BidBuy about this, She tells me:

 

"The vehicle must have TPMS to be admissible to the US. The only way it would be admissible would be if it were installed by Honda with all OEM parts. I have yet to see anyone go through with installing the system as it usually makes more sense to sell the vehicle and buy another."

 

Below is from NHTSA website:

 

"If the manufacturer’s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS but does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, the vehicle can only be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B if the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or authorized repair facility of the vehicle’s original manufacturer showing that a tire pressure monitoring system identical to, and with the same part number(s) as the system the manufacturer installs on vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States has been installed on the vehicle for which entry is sought."

 

Well at this point I've sunk too much of my time to be told no.  Even though this statement on NHTSAs website says the part has to be OEM at this point I’m reading this thread on Visa Journey so I know its possible.

 

I was living in Lakeland Florida. I order a TPMS off Amazon for about $70.  I was calling around to reputable places to have it installed so I had some paperwork saying it had been installed professionally. Not one place would touch this with a 10 foot pole. I told them my story, said I have an aftermarket TPMS that'll take 5 minutes to install but I just need the paperwork. I don't even care if it works to be frank. Called places like Jiffy Lube, Midas, and Quick Lane. They all sounded confused and not interested in this at all.

 

COMPLIANCE

 

A little more than a week later I receive the golden ticket. An email from Honda USA attached with my non-compliance letter.

The compliance letter stated:

My car complies with EPA emission standards

 

My car complies with applicable US DOT standards except for:

 

FMVSS 101 Controls and Displays 

FMVSS 110 or FMVSS 120 Tire Selection and Rims

FMVSS 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment related to daytime running lamp performance.

FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: relating to TPMS systems: your vehicle was not installed with TPMS System.

49 CFR Part 541 Theft Prevention Standard: Relating to the parts marking requirements.

 

Okay so at this part can be a little overwhelming. Let me break it down.

 

101- Controls and Displays

(because you don’t have a TPMS light on your instrument cluster) (down worry it can be waived if your TPMS is approved)

 

110-120 Tire Selection and Rims

-don’t worry about this because this can be waived if your importing under box 2B see here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/vig_canada09122017.pdf 

 

108- Daytime running lights-

(don’t worry- this can be waived too- but all Canadian cars often need to have daytime running lights)

 

49 CFR Part 541-

My car already had these markings, and I got it confirmed at the Honda dealership

 

 

So to recap- the other non-compliant components of my car are not as important as the TPMS- that’s the main thing.

They also told me to go through a 3rd party mechanic to get TPMS installed, and then try to import it. Yes, Honda USA told me that. They pretty much told me you’ll never really get a Honda dealership with Honda parts to do it. And If a dealership does it’ll be thousands of dollars to do. 

 

 

In the email from Honda USA- the representative said this:

Hello!

Please see attached letter. For further assistance, please go to the following 

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/vig_canada09122017.pdf

Check under Box B2 for guidance. Vehicle will need to have a TPMS installed prior to importation. Once this TPMS is installed, please take vehicle into your local Honda dealership and request that TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) is inspected. You will receive an RO (repair order) that corroborates that the vehicle has this TPMS installed, that it turns on and that it works. Have them Check that 49 CFR Anti-theft Markings are present on the vehicle and that daytime running lamps are performing up to standard. This RO along with the letter attached, will make it a full compliance.

 

So what I read was that if I can just buy an aftermarket TPMS and install it myself, then I can take it to a Honda Dealer and just ask for a Repair Order telling me they work. This sounds a lot easier. So I install the aftermarket TPMS I got on Amazon. It was easy, took maybe 5 minutes in my driveway. It was really easy to install by myself (just screw little sensors on to the valve stem of the tire then sit the display on my dash board) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085C2HMQP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

So at this point I’m living in Greenville, South Carolina. I go to a Local Honda Dealership. I take this email from Honda USA telling me to get the TPMS, Anti Theft Markings, and Daytime running lights checked and confirmed in a repair order. Fortunately I got a good representative that was very understanding and charged me $107 or something like that. He told me it could’ve been much more but he knocked down the price because he knew all I needed was the paperwork. Only took maybe 30 mins to just check it over and get the repair order paperwork. 

 

So finally after months of dealing with this I had

• My after market TPMS installed
• Repair order stating TPMS, Daytime Running lights work, and there are Anti-theft Markings on the vehicle confirms by a Honda Dealership.
• Printed off the NHTSA sheet that said I was exempt from 101, 110, 120, 108
• My Compliance Letter
• Passport 
• P-1 Visa

 

IMPORTING

 

So I take it to the US Customs and Border Office in Greenville, South Carolina. And somehow the 2 people working in this office are fully aware off all the details about importing a Canadian car to the USA. They shut me down and tell me my TPMS isn’t OEM and unless it is OEM its not happening. They said they do not allow aftermarket TPMS to be installed. 

 

So there I was dead in the water again. 

 

But I was heading up to Canada for Thanksgiving in a week anyways, so I figured id give it a try. 

 

So one of the days I was in Canada (luckily I live maybe 10 minutes from the border) I got up at 7AM and drove to the Blue Water Bridge border (Sarnia/ Port Huron) with 

 

• Passport
• Visa
• Compliance letter
• Repair Order stating TPMS installed and worked from Honda dealership
• Ownership details of the car (can’t be leased)
• Canadian registration

 

I also brought these 3 forms that they will give you at the border. You don’t have to but I wanted to look diligent. They looked at them and just said yeah I’m just gonna redo these on the computer. 

• Form Entry Summary 7501
• EPA from 3520-1
• NHTSA Declaration form HS-7

 

They did not seem to care about the TPMS. One officer looked at the compliance letter and said “yeah all of this TPMS is  just formality, its the same car essentially”.

 

Just like that it worked. They kept all the originals of the Compliance letter, Entry summary 7501, EPA 3520-1, and NHTSA HS-7. Stapled them together and stamped them, they kept the originals, and gave me two copies of all these forms, one to give to the DMV and the other for me to keep in my glovebox. 

 

I couldn’t believe it. If that attempt didn’t work I probably would’ve given up. Not sure if they just didn’t care, didn’t know the rules, or it was too early in the morning for them to question it. 

 

 

INSURANCE

 

So now I head back down to South Carolina. Time to get registered. In South Carolina there’s only certain DMVs that handle international customers so be sure to check. 

 

I enter the DMV the first time, they tell me I need to pay property tax on my car at the county office or county treasurer. And that I need a letter from my employer that I am still in fact employed. 

 

The property tax was only $79.

 

The next time I go they ask if I have US insurance. I say no. They cannot register a car without insurance. So I start doing some research. I found Progressive had the best rates. I found they were one of the only ones who recognized my Canadian driving record. I've heard that for the first year it will be expensive and then after 6 months you can shop around and find better rates once you have some sort of US driving history. 

 

So I go back with all of this. 

 

• Passport
• Visa
• Letter from my Company
• Property Tax receipt 
• Stapled/ stamped forms from the border
• Driver Licence 
• Canadian Registration

 

Finally, I got Plates, a registration and a license for a little more than $300. 

 

So now I am imported, insured, plated and licensed in the USA from Canada.

 

What a journey. 

 

I don’t think this should’ve worked. I think it depends on who you get at the border. They didn’t seem to care about the TPMS. But I’m glad my persistence paid off. I really only did this because I just got my car, it has low milage, and its good on gas. If your on the fence about selling and buying in the US, it would be far easier to sell to avoid this mess. Unforntunetly it wasn’t an option for me. But it can be done with a little diligence and research.

 

Thanks for listening I hope this helps. 

[RainbowUnicorn23 0]

Hi! Does anyone here recently crossed the border and imported their cars with aftermarket TPMS? Did it went well? No problems in the border? And were you able to register your vehicles on the state that you went to? Hope somebody share their recent experiences since I am planning to this aftermarket TPMS to my RAV4. Thank you in advance.

[RainbowUnicorn23 0]

On 10/19/2022 at 9:24 PM, EVANGELINEQIAN said:

Hi! Thank you for sharing useful information. Can you please share the local mechanic you used and aftermarket TPMS you purchased? And which border did you cross when you imported your car? I am planning to cross one of the borders in Toronto to import my Toyota RAV4 2015 in November 2022. Thank you!!!

Hi! Were you able to install aftermarket TPMS in your Rav 4? When in November are you planning to cross the border? Hope you will share your experience here soon. Thank you.

[EdwinK 0]

Hi all, 

 

I called the Buffalo border control today to ask about the aftermarket TPMS solution to import my car to US. (2020 Subaru Forester) It seems like there is only one phone number (716-843-8521) to call for the importation inquiries, instead of phone numbers of specific locations. (Was planning to call Lewiston/rainbow/peace bridge) The answer i got from the agent was a straight cold NO...

 

Did anybody contact POE at Buffalo area and asked about the aftermarket TPMS question and got some positive answers back recently? Did anybody successfully import a car recently through one of these POEs? 

[Kenny Nguyen 0]

I have the same trouble. Then I take the risk of bringing the car across the border to DC as a foreign car. Then I call custom at BWI Airport and they say they don't care about TPMS and it is up to the state, not the custom. They also forgive the minor display issue as well. I bring the car there, import and register. There were no problem at all.

[jhnmcnamer@yahoo. 0]

Thanks for this discussion! I followed the advice gleaned from it and my daughter just successfully imported my 2013 Outback into Vermont from Canada after my installing an aftermarket Aramox TPMS and obtaining the letter of compliance from Subaru.  The Aramox system requires tire removal and installation into the rim to replace the existing valve stems, but the local Fountain Tire shop was happy to do it after I sent them the Amazon link with the specs that show it is wireless direct transmission to the independent monitor you mount on the dash, does not involve hooking into the car computer. The border guards wanted to see the letter of compliance and the invoice from the tire shop -- which certified they had installed and described the system as direct transmission to independent monitor.  There was no duty as the vehicle had been manufacture in the US.  The TPMS works well.

[Rushpat 0]

mine is canadian Subaru 2014 forester with 180k kms on it, do i need to change the speedometer with miles dominanat, it  shows miles per hour in a small circle inside. 

 

 

does anyone know if i can simply register and drive a car with michigan places and licence without actually importing the car

[jhnmcnamer@yahoo. 0]

our 2013 Outback had similar speedometer, it was not an issue.on the import into US

[jhnmcnamer@yahoo. 0]

you will probably have problems registering car without border clearance papers