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 6,583]

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

[siamnet74 1]

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

 

Regarding the Trump tariff commment, does it matter if the car was made whollymade in the US but was sold/purchased in Canada? I recall people stating that cars made in US/Mexico wouldn't be subject to duty fee (when importing).  I guess, "Would Trump's tariff threat still apply on cars that were NOT made/assembled in Canada"? I don't know if duty fee is the same as tariff? 

My car was made in California and sold in Canada. However, my wife's car (2021 Tesla Model 3) was probably made in China, which I suspect would be subject to some (2.5%) duty fee when we import it.

Our interview is Jan 29 2025 and Trump will be in Office already and not sure how long until we're approved after the interview. Or is this tariff "threat" not relevant to importing used cars?

 

[Leo The Great 141]

Our one car was made in Japan but sold in Canada by Mazda. We did not pay any duty on it. Both cars now have Ohio number plates although we had to do the Emission check before BMO issued number plates because of our county requirements.

Edited Tuesday at 12:51 AM by Leo The Great

[siamnet74 1]

15 hours ago, Leo The Great said:

Our one car was made in Japan but sold in Canada by Mazda. We did not pay any duty on it. Both cars now have Ohio number plates although we had to do the Emission check before BMO issued number plates because of our county requirements.

That's good news. We await our interview next month before we can start making plans but good to know about no duty on a car not made in US/Mexico !!!