Importing a Canadian car to the US

[Krikit 1,163]

By the time I move to Texas I will still owe probably $2000 on my car. Do I have to have that paid off before I cross at the POE? IS there a way I can tak the car to Texas and "import" it later when it's all paid off?

No, you don't have to have the car paid off from the US perspective. They will ask you for the lienholder information for your registration. You'd need to check the DMV website for Texas to see what the rules and regulations are regarding car registration and residency. I waited until I had my AOS NOA.... which was about 7-8 months after I moved here. But you definitely do not have to import it at your POE. You can visit your closest Port of Entry at a later date.

[ChasingAmy 0]

By the time I move to Texas I will still owe probably $2000 on my car. Do I have to have that paid off before I cross at the POE? IS there a way I can tak the car to Texas and "import" it later when it's all paid off?

No, you don't have to have the car paid off from the US perspective. They will ask you for the lienholder information for your registration. You'd need to check the DMV website for Texas to see what the rules and regulations are regarding car registration and residency. I waited until I had my AOS NOA.... which was about 7-8 months after I moved here. But you definitely do not have to import it at your POE. You can visit your closest Port of Entry at a later date.

I'll be near Houston...there is no border anywhere near houston...unless I got o the Mexico border? Can I drive to the Houston Airport and somehow do it there?

[Krikit 1,163]

By the time I move to Texas I will still owe probably $2000 on my car. Do I have to have that paid off before I cross at the POE? IS there a way I can tak the car to Texas and "import" it later when it's all paid off?

No, you don't have to have the car paid off from the US perspective. They will ask you for the lienholder information for your registration. You'd need to check the DMV website for Texas to see what the rules and regulations are regarding car registration and residency. I waited until I had my AOS NOA.... which was about 7-8 months after I moved here. But you definitely do not have to import it at your POE. You can visit your closest Port of Entry at a later date.

I'll be near Houston...there is no border anywhere near houston...unless I got o the Mexico border? Can I drive to the Houston Airport and somehow do it there?

At first I thought you were joking. But then I realized you must be serious. Did you not click on the link I provided? You don't need to go to a border. Look. Here's another link. It shows you all the POE's in Texas. Click on it and find the closest POE to you.

[ChasingAmy 0]

By the time I move to Texas I will still owe probably $2000 on my car. Do I have to have that paid off before I cross at the POE? IS there a way I can tak the car to Texas and "import" it later when it's all paid off?

No, you don't have to have the car paid off from the US perspective. They will ask you for the lienholder information for your registration. You'd need to check the DMV website for Texas to see what the rules and regulations are regarding car registration and residency. I waited until I had my AOS NOA.... which was about 7-8 months after I moved here. But you definitely do not have to import it at your POE. You can visit your closest Port of Entry at a later date.

I'll be near Houston...there is no border anywhere near houston...unless I got o the Mexico border? Can I drive to the Houston Airport and somehow do it there?

LOL your first impression of me joking was more accurate hehe. I might be slow...I'm not THAT slow hehe. Thanks for the list

[JillA 2]

I just received my letter of compliance from Mazda, free of charge and SAME DAY that I asked! How great is that service? Plus, the letter says my vehicle complies with all US regulations, yipeeeee!

[bluegreen 0]

Does anyone else have a lien with Toyota Canada? They will not provide me with a compliance letter or authorize me to import my car unless I pay off my loan...apparently that is a condition of the loan that I wasn't aware of.

Sooo I am kind of stuck. I can't get a loan to cover the remaining balance in the US because I have no credit here yet. I can't get a loan in Canada because I don't live there anymore and I don't have a job!!!! And I can't afford to pay off the balance (2 years worth). The Toyota lady was a bit mean and said I would just have to sell my car, which I absolutely do NOT want to do.

Plus we are moving to Cali where I am already going to have to pay quite a bit in taxes and things to register it I think - they have some strange rules there, and the car was manufactured in Japan.

I know I CAN actually import it without the compliance letter, since it has the EPA compliance sticker and I spoke to the inland port people who said that is sufficient. But I also know that when I go to register my car they will want the lien info to create a title. Do they then send the title to the lienholder? Or do I get it?

I think I might just drive it back to Canada and park it till I work this one out!!

[Krikit 1,163]

As far as I'm aware they don't issue you the title until the loan has been paid in full. Ergo, I would imagine they would send it to the lien holder. Why don't you call the California DMV and ask them?

[bluegreen 0]

As far as I'm aware they don't issue you the title until the loan has been paid in full. Ergo, I would imagine they would send it to the lien holder. Why don't you call the California DMV and ask them?

Oh, I did. I called twice and got two different answers. Then they basically said "just make an appointment and bring everything in and we'll tell you". So I will do that when we are actually there:) I am just trying to figure this out now, because it is becoming pretty clear to me that I have two options - pay off my loan or sell my car.I think I am just grasping at straws trying to work around this, and I probably can't...

[Krikit 1,163]

As far as I'm aware they don't issue you the title until the loan has been paid in full. Ergo, I would imagine they would send it to the lien holder. Why don't you call the California DMV and ask them?

Oh, I did. I called twice and got two different answers. Then they basically said "just make an appointment and bring everything in and we'll tell you". So I will do that when we are actually there:) I am just trying to figure this out now, because it is becoming pretty clear to me that I have two options - pay off my loan or sell my car.I think I am just grasping at straws trying to work around this, and I probably can't...

Why am I not surprised?

Well, good luck! Come on back and let us know how you made out. I may pop over to my local tag office today to pay my license renewal. I need to have ANOTHER conversation with them about changing "miles" to "kilometers" on my title.

[trailmix 77]

Well, good luck! Come on back and let us know how you made out. I may pop over to my local tag office today to pay my license renewal. I need to have ANOTHER conversation with them about changing "miles" to "kilometers" on my title.

Good luck krikit!!

[Scott'n'Natalie 0]

Ahh lovely thread which had me call my car company right away. I'm in a similar situation as another poster here, my car is financed with Chrysler Canada and they told me I cannot be outside of Canada for more than 3months, for insurance reasons the person could not explain to me. So in the end she elaborated on my options..

1- Pay the car off. I still have $11k left on it.

2- Sell it

3- Transfer it to someone that will take the rest of the contract out of my hands.

Not the news I was expecting to hear..especially since I need a car to move my 3 cats!

[bluegreen 0]

Ahh lovely thread which had me call my car company right away. I'm in a similar situation as another poster here, my car is financed with Chrysler Canada and they told me I cannot be outside of Canada for more than 3months, for insurance reasons the person could not explain to me. So in the end she elaborated on my options..

1- Pay the car off. I still have $11k left on it.

2- Sell it

3- Transfer it to someone that will take the rest of the contract out of my hands.

Not the news I was expecting to hear..especially since I need a car to move my 3 cats!

Ugh. That is the pits. That other poster was me:) I am still convinced some magical idea is going to come to me to help solve this one, but so far...nothing. I am studiously avoiding this issue.

[snapcracklepop 0]

I just received my letter of compliance from Mazda, free of charge and SAME DAY that I asked! How great is that service? Plus, the letter says my vehicle complies with all US regulations, yipeeeee!

Hi Jill, glad to hear you had such great service from Mazda! I'm about to request my compliance letter from them too. Is there a central number that you called? Or do you just go to your local Mazda dealer?

thanks!

[Krikit 1,163]

Well, good luck! Come on back and let us know how you made out. I may pop over to my local tag office today to pay my license renewal. I need to have ANOTHER conversation with them about changing "miles" to "kilometers" on my title.

Good luck krikit!!

So I went to see them last week and I actually made progress this time! Not a done deal, as yet, but at least they didn't insist that miles were the same as kilometers this time.

Ahh lovely thread which had me call my car company right away. I'm in a similar situation as another poster here, my car is financed with Chrysler Canada and they told me I cannot be outside of Canada for more than 3months, for insurance reasons the person could not explain to me. So in the end she elaborated on my options..

1- Pay the car off. I still have $11k left on it.

2- Sell it

3- Transfer it to someone that will take the rest of the contract out of my hands.

Not the news I was expecting to hear..especially since I need a car to move my 3 cats!

Mysterious insurance reason explained: If you are not a resident of Canada you cannot insure your car with a Canadian insurance agency. My Canadian insurance agency (State Farm) just changed my address to my parents' address in Canada until I switched it over to my American insurance. Geico just wanted the VIN, the license plate number, and my driver's license number to switch it over. They were fine that it still had its Ontario plates and I still had my Ontario license. I just had to inform them of the change in information when I received it.

Hi Jill, glad to hear you had such great service from Mazda! I'm about to request my compliance letter from them too. Is there a central number that you called? Or do you just go to your local Mazda dealer?

thanks!

Here's their contact info from this link.

Mazda North American Operations

Attn: International Imports/Exports

7755 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618-2922

USA: (949) 727-1990 extension 1114

FAX: (949) 727-6703 E-MAIL: intl.imports.exports@mazdausa.com

CANADA: (949) 727‑1990

[snapcracklepop 0]

Hi Jill, glad to hear you had such great service from Mazda! I'm about to request my compliance letter from them too. Is there a central number that you called? Or do you just go to your local Mazda dealer?

thanks!

Here's their contact info from this link.

Mazda North American Operations

Attn: International Imports/Exports

7755 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618-2922

USA: (949) 727-1990 extension 1114

FAX: (949) 727-6703

E-MAIL: intl.imports.exports@mazdausa.com

CANADA: (949) 727‑1990

Awesome, thanks Krikit!!