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Importing a Motor Vehicle To Canada (the be all end all)

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Partial import question

Does anyone know what the status would be for the following situation? :

I'm looking into buying a recent year bike that was imported from the US. However, the owner has never plated it. RIV fees, GST, fed. inspection has been done just never taken to the MTO to be put on the road.
Title is "salvage". I know it will have to be chanced to "rebuilt".

Are there any issues with buying this bike (after I verify the VIN and history with RIV) and getting it safetied and plated I should know about? Since it was never plated does the ownership still reside with the previous owner or will be current one have to go to the MTO, pay the PST, change the ownership before he can sell to me (where I will pay PST again) ?
 
romey said:
question: is there a new rule now about changing the 15 year or older limit to import cars from say japan? and making it 20 years or older?? or even a rule about not allowing right hand drive cars anymore?? (didn't see anything on search)
Click to expand...

Haven't heard anything about that.
 
I've read this whole thread and it's been very informative. Thanks! I think I've got all the information I need. One thing I haven't seen anyone address is the Manufacturer's Recall Clearance Letter. If you buy a used bike in a private sale, how do you go about getting this letter from the manufacturer? In my case, I'm looking for a used DL650 Suzuki VStrom. Does anyone know the right department at Suzuki to ask for this?
 
Call Suzuki USA.
Christine Burcar.
714 572 1490
She will tell you what info you need to fax in order for her to send out the recall letter.
 
I've read through all 19 pages or so of this thread but I still have a couple minor questions.

  • Is there a fee for the RIV inspection at Canadian Tire and if so how much is it? Does this get included in the fee you pay at the border?
  • For those who have done this, how long does it take to get the paperwork in the mail? I'm curious how long I'll be sitting staring at a shiny new bike and not able to ride it.
I'm looking at selling my DRZ SM and bringing a Monster S2R 800 over from the states. I've worked it out to a savings of about two grand. What I would love to do is trailer the bike from Detroit to Windsor, take a trip to CT and the licensing office and then ride it home but I think the answer to the second question above will work against that plan.
 
In the 2 days since I asked my question about importing a bike, I've found a Suzuki DL650 VStrom online, went to look at it today in Mich, put a deposit on it. :happy3: :happy3:

Go back in a couple days pick it up and pay for it, will store it at a friends near the border for the 3 days and present my paperwork copies in person at the US Customs on the way home. Then return after the 3 days to trailer into Canada. I live minutes from the border.

I would be curious to see an answer to 400SM's question about the cost of the CT government inspection.
 
The CT inspection is included in the RIV fee. Nothing else to pay for the inspection
 
Brought my VStrom into Canada yesterday. Relatively painless process, but don't ever pick Good Friday to import your bike!

US Customs was quiet when we crossed over the Sarnia/Port Huron crossing around 9 am but a couple hours later, it was a pressing sea of humanity. You park just before the toll booths (back to Canada) against the cement wall and walk over to US Customs. Standing in line took almost an hour and then a few minutes for paperwork.
Crossing into Canada, the customs office there was almost empty. Quickly completed paperwork, paid RIV fee and GST and finally my bike is home!
Now I'll just be waiting for the form to come in the mail to take it to CT for government inspection.

A couple details folks might find useful to know:

1. We were able to obtain the Recall Release Letter from Grace Performance, Suzuki and Honda dealer at 2203 Wadhams Rd (near I69, just outside of Port Huron) The folks at this dealer were great! We walked in, bought some oil and inquired about the letter. They knew what we were talking about, had done it a couple times before and typed up the letter in only a few minutes. We walked out the door with it in our hands.

2. The Sarnia/Port Huron border can import vehicles 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. You don't have to cross during "business hours only, 8-4 pm" like some of the crossings demand.

3. Ever one of the customs officers we dealt with or asked questions of, on either side of the border, during the whole process were friendly and helpful and volunteered information they thought we should know. They all wanted to see us do this successfully, with no time consuming or agravating mistakes.

We did see them though get pretty ticked off at a guy who had underdeclared the value of a large sailboat he was bringing into Canada. They were in the process of wacking him with a 40% of value penalty when we left. So....don't even think about it! :)
 
footloose did you have to pay the Michigan sales tax on your V Strom? Where and how did you pay it if required? I found a couple of DL 650's in Michigan I may be interested in but GST + Pst + RIV fee + 6% Michagan sales tax might not make these such a great deal.
 
RIV inspection and MTO safety order

Does anyone know if I have to get the RIV inspection done before I can get a sticker for my plate?

I'm going to pick up a used Ducati at the end of the week and I need to know if I can get it insured and plated so I can ride it down CT for the RIV then off to get a safety? Would the MTO issue a temp plate so I can get it down for both inspections? The Ducati was legally imported last year (tax/fees paid) but the RIV inspection has not been done yet.

It would be really inconvenient to have to rent a trailer to truck this bike around.
 
hey guys i ahve a question
i ahve imported cars before, but only over 15 years old
I am looking at getting a 02 Ducati Monster from the US
a popular mod is to chop off the tail (aka giant mud flap) and replace the rear signal lights with flush mounts, and mount the plate under the rear light so there is no need for a seperate liscence plate light.
Will i have any problems getting it across the boarder or getting it inspected or saftied?
 
You shouldn't have any trouble provided the plate is lit and you have amber turn signals. I doubt the bike shops will safety turn signals any other colour than amber.

Most sport bikers will remove the ugly mud flaps anyhow, event he bike shop owners do it ;)
 
NIKKI put it all there. I did this and made some good $$ but quite frankly now with the lower CDN$$, the subsequent higher taxes and travel or shipping costd you might as well but here at home.
 
bushrjackson said:
NIKKI put it all there. I did this and made some good $$ but quite frankly now with the lower CDN$$, the subsequent higher taxes and travel or shipping costd you might as well but here at home.
Click to expand...

Actually, the dollar closed today at 90.24 cents US, which is within a penny of it's highest value over the last 20 years or so. The CDN dollar is doing quite well and poses no impediment to cross-border buying.

With the lower GST, taxes are actually a little lower now at 14% PST and GST combined.

And travel costs, if you go and pick up yourself, can be as little as or less than a tank of gas and bridge tolls each way if you're buying from any of the immediately neighbouring states.
 
just brought over a 2002 ducati mosnter via sarnia/port huron
You can export the bike from the US and import it into canada 24/7 as someone said
i think thats the only port you can do it 24/7
process was so far painless, and my bike was made in Italy and i did not pay any extra dutie :)
just gotta wait fo rmy RIV forums and i will be all set :D
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