Recent car import experience (split)

[alphabetagamma 102]

Congratulations to all who received their IL.

Just giving an update on the car import process. (Moderators - please feel free to move this post anywhere else if needed as I don't want to hijack this thread).

 

First, some info on my vehicle. I bought a used car last Aug in Ontario which was a 2013 Ford Model made in USA. It already has TPMS so I didn't do anything else for Tire Pressure system.

 

At the border I presented the following documents :

 

1. EPA-3420 form 

2. HS-7 form (I partially filled these two forms with whatever info was straight forward. Rest the officers at the border helped fill it up, They were super helpful)

3. Letter from vehicle manufacturer that states information regarding the vehicle's safety and EPA compliance. For those living in Toronto, I got this letter from Mike Knapp Ford in Welland, Ontario. They asked me to submit my model, year and the VIN number and then sent me the letter both over regular mail and e-mail. E-mail letter came the very next day and by mail it took a week or so. I was charged around $110 CAD for this letter. 

4. My Ontario Original Vehicle Permit

5. Bill of Sale

6. My Ontario car insurance

 

After presenting the above documents, the officers gave me the "Entry Summary" sheet.

 

At this time I had no idea where I would get the rest of the paperwork done for import. So my first stop was I at Penndot (I moved close to Philadelphia) office to get my DL. Since I already had a US DL in the past which was expired, it was easy for me to get the renewed DL same day with an expiry of 1 year. I'll have to get another one once I receive the physical GC. I was told at Penndot to go to an Auto Tag office for getting the car import paper work done.

 

So next stop was at Auto Tag. I used the one in Malvern, PA (Malvern Auto Tag). They asked for all the above 1-5 documents along with VIN picture from the car, car mileage, Pennsylvania DL and Pennsylvania Car Insurance. The only thing I had missing was the Car Insurance. So I went back and got it from Geico the next day. 

 

Today I went to the Auto Tag office again, they charged me overall $286 dollars that include $150 service fees, and rest state fees including title cost and registration cost. I was given a license plate at the same time and was told the original title and registration documents will come to be my mail in another 90 days or so.

 

That is it. I didn't pay any import taxes at the border as the officer told me its an American made vehicle. ( I think there is also an exemption to a certain level if you're spouse is US Citizen. I'm not 100% sure but there is some reading to be done for that).

 

One last thing for Pennsylvania. If the vehicle was bought within last 6 months and if the taxes paid are less than 6%, you have to pay the difference to make it to 6%. This tax is waived off if the vehicle is more than 6 months old after you bought. My case the vehicle was just less than 6 months but Ontario already charged me a 13% sales tax ( I should have got a 7% refund lol).

 

That was the overall process. If anyone needs any help, please feel free to drop me a message and I can assist whatever way I can. Good luck to everyone  

 

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,228]

~~Post split from IR thread in hopes to reach more members as a stand alone thread.~~