Importing an LC200 to Canada?

[BetoLC]

Looks like the family and I are moving to Vancouver - have started thinking about logistics and wondered if anybody had recent experience of importing an LC200 to Canada from the USA or knows anybody who does?

I know 1) Toyota doesn’t sell them in Canada and 2) it will need some tweaks such as daytime running lights to pass the inspection.

I don’t want to get to Vancouver and be hostage to the service department at the inspection shop , or worse, discover there is some insurmountable issue with the cruiser.

I found an old thread from 2009 that suggested calling “Wilson” at Toyota Bellingham but he seems to be long gone and the sales person I spoke to didn’t seem to know anything.

We are east-coasters and this will be our first time time living in the Pacific North West. It can’t rain any more than England can it?....

 

[LBridges]

Nobody has answered and I won't be giving much of one, but...

Have visited Canada and considered living in BC for a while when I was living in Oregon, but never tried to import a vehicle.

In the case of what needs to be done, I think Google may be your friend. One site I got that seems to cover a lot of bases is here (I have no affiliation). I think bringing in a LC will be quite expensive (could easily end up being thousands of dollars).

Regarding "can't rain any more", maybe not, but it can rain about the same. No science, no data collection, pure seat of the pants: I would compare Vancouver to the Isle of Skye. But both quite beautiful (in different ways), both get a fair amount of rain (more than we get in Florida).

 

[BetoLC]

Nobody has answered and I won't be giving much of one, but...

Have visited Canada and considered living in BC for a while when I was living in Oregon, but never tried to import a vehicle.

In the case of what needs to be done, I think Google may be your friend. One site I got that seems to cover a lot of bases is here (I have no affiliation). I think bringing in a LC will be quite expensive (could easily end up being thousands of dollars).

Regarding "can't rain any more", maybe not, but it can rain about the same. No science, no data collection, pure seat of the pants: I would compare Vancouver to the Isle of Skye. But both quite beautiful (in different ways), both get a fair amount of rain (more than we get in Florida).

Thanks for the reply.

I think we get some sort of import tax relief as we are taking up residency but there are a load of other fees etc. i am doing more digging, When i get some concrete info I will post here in case this thread gets found again in the future

 

[blatant]

I thought all 200's had DRLs?

 

[grinchy]

Maybe not what you want to hear but you can sell and buy an Canada lx570

 

[BetoLC]

my heart was set on a late model LC, once it clears the import inspection I can drive back to the USA and get a discrete Icon upgrade etc.

There is a good chance i will be moving back to the US in a couple of years and i don’t want to be stuck with a Canadian truck long-term.

(On that note, can anybody recommend a good shop for Icon installation in the Seattle area?)

If DRL is standard that would be handy but they should be easy to add.

i started a new thread on kilometers/miles on the instrument cluster which is another requirement (have to be able to see the speed in kph and the odometer has to state the units - suppose so you don’t trick a metric canadian into thinking its a lower mileage car

 

[LBridges]

Nothing about Seatttle area, but I had some dealings with Cruisin' Offroad located (or was) in the BC area. This was on stuff for a 100 series and he quit shipping to USA. If you are looking for any sort of fabrication he would be a good source. IMHO he made the best set of sliders for the LX470.

For Seattle area info have you looked through the thread: Events/Trails - Seattle area role call and planning thread Should be some good contacts in there.

 

[GordJ]

Looks like the family and I are moving to Vancouver - have started thinking about logistics and wondered if anybody had recent experience of importing an LC200 to Canada from the USA or knows anybody who does?

I know 1) Toyota doesn’t sell them in Canada and 2) it will need some tweaks such as daytime running lights to pass the inspection.

I don’t want to get to Vancouver and be hostage to the service department at the inspection shop , or worse, discover there is some insurmountable issue with the cruiser.

I found an old thread from 2009 that suggested calling “Wilson” at Toyota Bellingham but he seems to be long gone and the sales person I spoke to didn’t seem to know anything.

We are east-coasters and this will be our first time time living in the Pacific North West. It can’t rain any more than England can it?....

I imported an ’08 LC. There were no issues at all. Daytime lights were on by default I think. I contacted Customs on both sides of the border and they gave me all the info I needed. It was 11 or 12 years ago so I don’t remember much of the procedure but it was no more complicated than importing a boat. Plus 11 C today and clear skies and my buddy got three kings and a couple hundred prawns yesterday but I’m sure you’re used to that kind of weather and recreation back east?

 

[posgu]

Torfab just north of Seattle gets a lot of good reviews, they specialize in Landcruisers.

Torfab » The NW destination for Everything Land Cruisers parts and service, including complete one-off custom built Cruisers, maintenance, suspension, and expedition builds

The NW destination for Everything Land Cruisers parts and service, including complete one-off custom built Cruisers, maintenance, suspension, and expedition builds

torfab.com

 

[BetoLC]

Thanks very much for all your help. Reaching out to Torfab (and checking weather reports!)

 

[grinchy]

Thanks very much for all your help. Reaching out to Torfab (and checking weather reports!)

Nitro gear is over the cascades near Wenatchee. Adventure ready in Seattle. MULE in issaquah

 

[LXCruza]

@BetoLC , let us know if you ended up importing one. I thought about it too, but figured it would cost more than I'd like to pay for it buy hey LX 570 is "almost" a Land Cruiser

 

[BetoLC]

I will keep you posted!

If the tax/duty exemption for relocating is what I think it is then that’s what makes it work. That’s what I need to get confirmed.

 

[GordJ]

@BetoLC , let us know if you ended up importing one. I thought about it too, but figured it would cost more than I'd like to pay for it buy hey LX 570 is "almost" a Land Cruiser

With the dollar the way it is you can buy a LX and swap out everything that you don’t like. Lol.
I imported mine in ‘08 when our dollar was strong and the import duties (truck is made in Japan and Canadian duty hasn’t been paid yet) and the “luxury” tax didn’t hurt as much.
I do have my ‘08 for sale but I’m in BC. FYI, I like the LX more than the LC.

 

[Jtman95]

What was the final outcome of this? I'm thinking of bringing an LC 200 from the US into BC myself.

 

[Sandroad]

What was the final outcome of this? I'm thinking of bringing an LC 200 from the US into BC myself.

The original poster has not been on the forum for a year and a half. You likely won’t get a response. Maybe someone else has imported more recently
?