Importing a car to US via land border personally

[Leo The Great 141]

We are driving our car to US Peace Bridge land border to import it to US. We got compliance letter (with both parent names on it) from manufacture and all recalls have been repaired. We have couple of question with regards to US custom.

1. if the ownership/sale agreement of the car is on both parents name's but the registration is on my mother name and father is driving alone to border for import it, would there be any problem. Do mother needs to write consent letter and sign all forms or father signatures are good enough? Both parents are green card holder and immigrated to US  this year.

2. Can my father carry now tires and other personal stuff in it or it would create an issue at US custom while importing?

Edited November 28 by Leo The Great

[JeanneAdil 6,579]

Yes, one parent can drive a car registered to their spouse across the border if they have the proper documentation: 

Written permission: The owner of the car should provide written permission to drive the vehicle. The permission letter should include the owner's contact information, the driver's relationship to the owner, and the dates the driver is allowed to use the car. 

Proof of insurance: The driver should have proof of insurance for the vehicle. 

Registration: The driver should have the vehicle's registration document

 

I would travel before the tariff is raised by Mr. Trump

[Leo The Great 141]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:28 PM, JeanneAdil said:

Yes, one parent can drive a car registered to their spouse across the border if they have the proper documentation: 

Written permission: The owner of the car should provide written permission to drive the vehicle. The permission letter should include the owner's contact information, the driver's relationship to the owner, and the dates the driver is allowed to use the car. 

Proof of insurance: The driver should have proof of insurance for the vehicle. 

Registration: The driver should have the vehicle's registration document

 

I would travel before the tariff is raised by Mr. Trump

Thanks for the info. Two follow up questions

1. Does permission letter need to be notarized?

2. In addition to drive it with permission letter, one parent can also import the vehicle  via land border  that is registered on other parent’s name correct?

[Leo The Great 141]

We imported our vehicle via Buffalo land border without any problem. Whole process took 20 minutes. You need to have compliance letter from car manufacturer, EPA 3501-1 form and DOT HS-7 Form, original registration, vehicle purchase agreement and recalls fixed. Officer sent assistant to check EPA sticker ,VIN, year of manufacturing sticker on the car. CBP officer typed three forms on the computer and returned us the stamped forms including 7501 form for DMV. There is no duties on the car manufactured for Canada.

Edited December 11 by Leo The Great