Canucks - paperwork to import TLC? (2 Viewers)

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Joined
Jun 20, 2003
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Location
Fort Langley, BC
I took Semlin's advice and looked in the US for an 80 and there are lot's of them around. I then called Canada customs to start the process of understanding how to import. Wow - seems like to much hassle and paper work. Can anybody help me here? Like:

1) How do I insure to get to the border and into canada? Is there something like temp issurance I can get?

2) Sounds like a I need 3 papers Original title, Bill of sale and Recall clearance document. Is the recall document hard to get? All of this gives you an export control document from the US in 3 days

3) Once I have all this I go to the Canada side and file and pay ect....

I guess what I'm wondering is that it takes days to complete. Do I do all this while my truck is sitting in the US? DO I just buy it and then drive to the border with my papers and then wait? Store my truck for a few days? How do I move the vechical around the US before I get back to Canada to insure?

This probably isn't that bad but it would be nice to hear from someone how has gone through it. I hate paperwork and uncertainty.

Ben :(
 
Not much help but when I bought large items FROM Canada the person had to get some sort of border broker to work through. Also, common sense would say you can't buy a US vehicle and drive it to the border without some kind of insurance unless you wanted to take a chance.
Stupid idea number two - become a dual citizen, buy it here and just visit Canada for the rest of your life. I have a friend that does this with an RV.
Bill
 
Regarding the stupid idea - actually I am a dual citizen, the idea crossed my mine to just drive it up here with plates from Wshington and then work out the details later.

8)
 
I went to Calif. with a friend of mine a few years back, to pick up a 94 Cruiser and 94 Lexus coupe. I will call him and get back to this thread with the details. Both cars were his dads so I don,t think insurance was a problem. I remember that he had pre-arranged with a specific border crossing for the paperwork. He called the border crossing before we flew to LA and they told him EXACTLY what he needed. Now that I think about it he called Canada Customs first and they were more confusing than help. So call the specific border crossing you want to use. Not all of them are able to process the paperwork, but they will tell you the closest one.
Hope that helps,
Sean
BTW the dummy sold the cruiser (with lockers), to buy a stock that promptly tanked :'( :'( :'(.
 
Ben,

Tyler imported his 80 from the US. He has been sporadically visiting the forum as he works through some more pressing issues.

Here is a past post by Tyler with some e-mail addy masking by me:


[80] Importing an 80 into Canada (attn:Hugh)
from [ty1er_xxxxxx] [Bookmark Link][Original]

To:  80scool@yahoogroups.com
Subject:  [80] Importing an 80 into Canada (attn:Hugh)
From:  "ty1er_xxxxxx" <xxx@xxx>
Date:  Tue, 07 May 2002 11:36:50 -0000
Date:  Tue, 7 May 2002 06:36:58 -0500
Mailing-list:  list 80scool@yahoogroups.com; contact 80scool-owner@yahoogroups.com


Hugh ,

Off the top of my head here are the requirements for importing an 80 into Canada :

== Obtain a letter of recall ( based on the VIN ) from Toyota USA.
== Have the Title at the border crossing you wish to import across at least 72 hrs before you attempt importation.
== Obtain insurance.
== Make absolutely certain the Title is properly filled out and signed by the Seller.
== Obtain a Form-1 from customs and have it filled in before the event.
==
== Also,
==
== The duty is 6.1 %.
== There is a small air conditioning tax.
== There is a fee from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles.
== You must get your Form-2 filled out and submitted, and comply with all the modifications within 45 days, or export the vehicle.
== You must get daylight running lights.
== You will need a smog test, being that you live in T.O.
== Once your Federal vehicle inspection is completed by Canadian Tire, you can proceed to the MTO.. if they still aren't on strike -L-
== I plated mine as a truck, but actually had to bitch in order for the woman to comply with that wish.
==
== Take note to:
==
== Run the VIN thru Carfax.
== Get the loan pre-approved and consider a broker.
== Have someone in the US fax you the original spec sheet, based on the VIN.
== Phone up the dealership that serviced it and talk to the service manager; enquiring into service record.
== If bought from a lot, have a list member check it out if possible.
== Run the lot thru the better business bureau.
== If EBay, look at the feedback, and email negative commentors .
== Have someone in the US go to the State office required to check the Title against leins.
== Try and trace the Title's progress thru the banks involved;
  ensuring that it is indeed paid off ( if there is a lein ) when they get your cheque.
== Do not negotiate transport into the price, instead locate and hire transport for the 80 on your own.
== Try and write up a contract for shipment with the company, ensuring prompt delivery, or it defaults to another shipper at no expense.
== Have available funds `unfrozen' once you attempt to import ( for taxes etc etc ). ie: increase interac limits etc.
==
== See this site :
==
== http://www.riv.ca
==

That ought to point you in the right directions.
Cheers,
Tyler


-B-
 
IRe: Canucks - paperwork to import TLC?

I think that about sums it up for ya. 8)
Sean
 
Ben , good luck with your adventure ... PM me if you need any other help . It seems overwhelming maybe , but it all falls into place .. just do the legwork ...

Beowulf , you never cease to amaze me ! Thanx for finding that again for Ben ... I appreciate it . I wasn't sure I would have been able to remember all of it now .

Rick , thanx for the email .. gettin 'ma butt back here to try and help out .... what a breeze ! :p

Tyler
 
Ben, good luck with this idea. Here follows a truly Beonese dissertation

First Off some internet hunting advice

#1 Make sure you carfax a vehicle before you waste any time. I came across several vehicles with salvage titles for sale on line without disclosure. Also, don’t assume they don’t have lockers because they don’t mention it. &nbsp:Drop it in casually in the inquiry like you have a checklist (I actually made a checklist of about 15 things) so they don’t know it’s important to you and be prepared to give directions on where to look and you will find many do that don’t mention it. If you get very serious about a truck and want to confirm it has lockers you can try to persuade a Toyota dealer to pull the build-sheet off their computer for that vehicle which will tell you what options it had. If you find a vehicle in Utah I may be able to help you get a better vehicle history than carfax. PM me

#2 Be patient and wait for a one or 2 owner vehicle that has always been in the same state – this is more important than mileage to me -- Changes between states can “wash” salvage titles and many owners makes it less likely you will get a useful vehicle history. What I then did is carefully go over every issue I could think of and then negotiate a price subject to inspection by a mechanic. I then had the vehicle inspected by a local SLC Toyota aftermarket specialist mechanic ($120). In hindsight I would use a Toyota dealer b/c the guy was too glib and didn’t inspect the body properly. Also, in hindsight I would have asked someone on this board or 80scool to look at the truck (I had offers to do that but felt guilty asking and was too impatient to wait a week).

#3 For some reason, the highest prices in the US for cruisers are on the west coast in Washington Oregon and California. You can rail ship from the US east coast just about as cheap as you can truck trailer ship from California. I would stay away from the southeast (I never got a definitive list of safe “title“ states but I did learn there are possible problems with salvage titles being “washed” on any vehicle that has spent time east of Texas or south of New Jersey). Maybe someone else here knows the states with reliable title

Next, here’s the scoop on importing that I can remember.
To import a car into canada you have to do four things
1. clear it through US customs as ok to export
2. clear it through Canadian customs as ok to import
3. clear it through the federal RIV program, www.riv.ca,
4. get it provincially inspected, sited by ICBC and registered

You will need a clean original title and signed original signed bill of sale to get it in the country. There is no form for the bill of sale. I can PM you the one I used if you like (it worked)
If you use a rail shipping company they can help with 1 and 2. try Searail in Vancouver, or http://www.movecars.com for a list. Searail has a customs bonded yard in Surrey and the truck will be delivered there and they will help you clear customs in the yard. Shippers will all quote you destination to destination. For truck trailer shipping points you can get deals close to the date if a transporter is passing nearby that is not full.

The trouble with shipping is you never see the truck until it is too late. I opted to close the deal myself by flying one way to SLC. I am glad I did. There was undisclosed body damage and I ended up reducing the price by $500 on the spot (although there was more that I didn’t find until later). Flying one way and driving home was cheaper than shipping, plus a fun road trip.

If you drive yourself, you can get special ICBC transit insurance before you go (about $50) and then you buy a transit permit from the local state DMV which is a temporary window sticker licence plate that costs $5. When you get to the border you have to get through US customs by showing them it is not stolen which requires clear title and an original bill of sale from the person shown as the owner on the title. You need to check the website of the DMV in the state you are buying for clarity as to what docs you need to ensure title is clear and you will likely want to go to a DMV with the seller at the time of sale and get the title document verified (at the same time you get your transit sticker). You should be able to buy without paying local state sales tax. Again this is a DMV issue.

US vehicles have original title documents which are sometimes held by banks as collateral or “endorsed” by the bank with a lien. Get a commitment from the seller as to when he can deliver a clear title early on. Many dealers give the titles on vehicles to banks and they can take days or weeks for the bank to release. US owners apparently will take delivery of the car before the title is released but that is no good for you. Some dealers also apparently don’t bother to transfer title on trade ins or are not the owners of the vehicles they sell – This may cause you border problems because the seller on the bill of sale won’t match the registered owner. Using an autoshipper can help you with these two problems since the truck can sit in a secure bonded yard in Canada while they are sorted out.

It is “fun” to deal with the US custom vehicle export division yourself. You will spend a lot of time on long distance hold and you will find that every customs officer has different rules. Find one person and deal with them exclusively and try to develop a rappor. There is an export office at the truck crossing at Blaine. They have forms they can fax you that you need to fax back. They need to see a fax copy of the title 3 days before you try to cross the border. Also, they are not open weekends so if you try to drive home on a weekend you will have to park at the border until Monday.

To get it through Canadian customs you need the title stamped by US customs as ok for export and a bill of sale. If they are paying attention they will charge you duty of 6.1% because the truck is made in Japan (they do not always remember to charge this) plus GST of 7%. They will also charge you a $100 a/c tax.

To get through the RIV program you have to pay $182. Look at www.Riv.ca. They require a letter from Toyota confirming that all applicable recalls have been attended to on the vehicle (any US Toyota dealer can provide such a letter). They make you fill in a form at Customs then you have to go for a federal inspection conducted by Canadian Tire (price included in the fee) This is a joke – they missed the rusted out muffler on my truck and the fact my tires were completely bald. Any defects identified by Canadian Tire have to be fixed within 30 days (but not nec. by Canadian Tire).

RIV also makes you retrofit safety features required on Canadian vehicles in the year of manufacture of your US vehicle. In the case of an 80, this requires daytime running lights and a child seat anchor mount (that need not be installed). Toyota charges $175 to do the lights. I am told the anchor mount kit from any vehicle in the glove box is good enough. Canadian Tire mistook the tie down loops in my truck bed for a an anchor anyway. Once Canadian Tire clears your vehicle they have to send it to the Ontario office of RIV and you get an approval form. If you ask nicely this can all be done quickly by fax.

Provincial inspection is the standard safety inspection for things like brakes –most mechanics can do it and it cost me $80. A major reason is to indentify damage so that you don’t try to claim it off ICBC (the only defect noted on my vehicle was a chip in the windshield).

The last step is getting it registered. You have to go to an Autoplan agent and they have to “Sight” the vehicle themselves by personally checking the VIN as well as confirm the RIV and provincial inspection forms (by this time your VIN will have been inspected by as many as 6 people so make sure it is the first thing you check when you go to collect the vehicle and compare the door and dash VINs). They will charge you PST at that point. Then you will be insured and on your way.

The ICBC transit insurance runs out the second you get the vehicle "home" and cannot be used to move the vehicle around from Canadian Tire to the ICBC inspector. I solved this problem by making a deal with a mechanic who was a provincial inspector. I delivered the truck "home" to his shop. He got the provincial inspection work, the DRL conversion work and other service work in return for using his repair plates to take it to Canadian Tire for me, and then to the Autoplan agent. This saved me more temporary ionsurance costs.

Bottom line – you can buy a very decent cruiser for $12,000US right now, and a decent LX450 for US$16,000. Including all of the charges noted above (taxes, duty, inspections) that works out to $20,000CDN or $26,700 for the LX450 plus your travel costs or shipping costs. I have yet to see a decent 80 of any year for sale in Vancouver for less than $27,000 plus pst.

There, it’s as easy as pie! The riskiest part is that you will not personally get to check out the vehicle yourself until you have already paid for a vehicle inspection and either flown to the truck or paid to ship it home. I would do it again, but I would be even more careful about the questions I asked and getting it inspected properly.
 
Semlin,

>> Here follows a truly Beonese dissertation <<

You make me as proud as a puppy with 2 pee pees ! !

-B-
:D
 
I don't know of anybody who could run the vin to tell you how it was built. 8) .

As I hate excercise, don't try to jog my memory ::)
 
Semlin,
Pardon my ignorance, but is Canadian Tire a government run bureaucracy? &nbsp:Do they sell tires? Is it the only place in Canada that you can buy tires?
-B-
 
=B-,
I don't mean to answer for Semlin but Canadian Tire is a chain of stores that sell tires, batteries, accessories, camping supplies, tools, etc. etc. etc. All the ones I have seen have service bays for oil changes, vehicle repairs, etc. Very nice stores.
Bill
 
*L* If the poor guy isn't intimidated by now ..  :-/

Better to prepare for the worst case scenario though . Reality crept in a few times in a very anti-murphy sense .

1 ) I just happened to have a friend in Austin Tx , that was able to physically go and check the title for leins . If you phone the bastards , they play this yes , no game with you . You ask specific questions and they are obliged to only answer yes , or no ! @#$%^& . Anyway , in reality if the bank hold the title in transit or because the seller has a lein/loan out on it , then it 'will' show a lein . Even after the title clears the bank , it can take up to 3 weeks to show as 'clean' . At least if you appear in the state office and pay the minimal fee for the check , you get some concrete evidence/proof .

2 ) The guys at the border crossing I took , had just ordered a pizza . It arrived just as we were completing the paperwork . If it had now been for my persistence , they would have gladly forgone the visual inspection ... easily !

3 ) As for insurance , no biggie . I just phoned my broker , and gave her the VIN , and she wrote out a 10 day permit . I drove for weeks after entering Canada ... no one gave a darn , and I was insured ! ( oh yeah , after ten days I started to whine , and got yet another 10 day permit ! haha )

4 ) I looked into the federal inspection at Canadian Tire near Toronto and the guy was pretty anal ! He wanted to do an emission test , child seat restraint anchor installation , daylight running lights , etc $$$ ................. well I get back to my home town , and decide to do it there instead . This guy has me go out into the parking lot (alone) and simply scribble my 80's axle weights and the tire pressure ... then I returned , handed him the paper , he smiled stamped my form 2 and I said bye ! NO money exchanged hands .. no muss , no fuss ! *G* Gotta love the North ..

5 ) The ONLY thing I required for the federal inspection to come to fruition ... was the installation of a relay and 2' of wire aka the daylight running lights . I had Toyota do that ... but have subsequently disabled them , for the sake of running in fog .

Always happens eh ? You come over prepared with folder upon folder of preparation , and half of everyone you meet along the way is in a hurry ... doesn't really care , or stamps the forms and ushers you along .. love it !

Tyler
 
Tyler, clean title ready to go was my biggest worry. I spoke to staff at the Utah DMV and explained my export problem and how critical it was that title was really clear. They were every helpful.

Wulfman, Canadian Tire is a private company that started off selling tires, then autoparts, then everything. These days it has big box stores that compete head on with Walmart. They are very good retailers and they offer low cost auto parts that keeps dealers honest.

Unfortunately they also have service bays. On the plus side they are open weekends and long hours. However, that is the only plus. Their mechanics are generally kids and their service managers obviously work in part on commission. They excel at mis or overdiagnosing the problem, being generally stupid, plus they never saw a set of brakes that don't need pads or a battery that shouldn't be replaced. Their ideal customer is a soccer mom in a minivan who goes in for an oil change and finds she is spending $450.
 
Wow - now that's lots of advice. I think I'm set now to go and find one.

Thanks again.

Ben :D
 
Semlin,
Pardon my ignorance, but is Canadian Tire a government run bureaucracy?  Do they sell tires?  Is it the only place in Canada that you can buy tires?
-B-

Yes comrade. only tires, specially made government tires...you see the domino theory is true :D :D

Cheers, Hugh
 

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