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

[RicoChet]

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I have a few questions,

My parents live in North Carolina. Im looking to buy a used Suzuki M109. I have been doing my research and ive found that some sellers in the US are willing to sell them used for between $8500-$8900. The cost in Canada for one of these is $18,999 brand new, about $14,000 Used.. So it makes sense to buy a Used one in the US. I am currently insured for motorcycles in Ontario, but Im wondering if more people here prefer to just ride their bikes back up to Canada or transport them in a van/truck. Do you get Temporary plates? if so, from the US or Canada?

My other question is that because I have parents who live in the US, would anyone consider buying insurance under your "address" in the us, and keep those US plates and leave it up in Canada? Insurance would be $200 a year for me. I talked to a guy who lives on my sisters street, he has florida plates on his bike. He claimed that his US insurance covers him for anything even if he's in Canada.

The other question is regarding Bill of Sale. If I buy from a private seller, would would be considered the "Bill of sale" - Ownership papers? the other side of the green sheet? (if thats what they have down there..)
Thanks for your input!

 

[NinjaNikki]

D2-4-1
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d2-4-1/d2-4-1-e.html[/quote]

Residents of Canada

Residents of Canada may operate conveyances on which duties have not been paid in Canada only in accordance with the terms and conditions of tariff item No. 9802.00.00 and the regulations made pursuant thereto.
Purpose of Importation

Conveyances imported temporarily under these Regulations are admissible for personal transportation only from the point of arrival to a specified destination in Canada and return within 30 days, when the purpose of importation is to transport personally owned goods into or out of Canada.

Similarly, customs inspectors may permit importation in instances where a resident is required, due to unforeseen circumstances or emergency reasons, to utilize a conveyance on which duties have not been paid for personal transportation to reach a specified destination in Canada and return.

Under no circumstances are conveyances admissible under these Regulations for touring purposes or for other leisure activities in Canada, nor is any local use permitted (e.g., point to point movement in Canada).

Customs inspectors will grant free importation of a conveyance under these Regulations only when satisfied that the applicable conditions have been met.

You will not be able to ride around on US plates as a Canadian Resident.

 

[RicoChet]

D2-4-1
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d2-4-1/d2-4-1-e.html





You will not be able to ride around on US plates as a Canadian Resident.

Hmm.. that is the legal way of doing it I suppose. Heres the other question, does anyone do this and just not give a damn? Hell there are people out there who drive with no insurance.. im not saying its right, im just saying people manage to stay out of trouble with the law and end up saving some money. Anyone ride around with US plates?

 

[romey]

Hmm.. that is the legal way of doing it I suppose. Heres the other question, does anyone do this and just not give a damn? Hell there are people out there who drive with no insurance.. im not saying its right, im just saying people manage to stay out of trouble with the law and end up saving some money. Anyone ride around with US plates?

i met someone who drives with michigan (?) plates but the car is registered to her partner who resides in michigan, all legit with papers but the cars here. . . nice for parking tickets i guess?

i also got away with crossing the border back to canada with a US car (my aunt's) the customs agent was half asleep and was swatting away at a bug in the booth when i specifically told him i was canadian after he asked for my citizenship (after seeing the US plates)... and let me through.... sheesh, i coulda smuggled a bunch of exotic monkeys and fruit! lol!

 

[RicoChet]

i met someone who drives with michigan (?) plates but the car is registered to her partner who resides in michigan, all legit with papers but the cars here. . . nice for parking tickets i guess?

i also got away with crossing the border back to canada with a US car (my aunt's) the customs agent was half asleep and was swatting away at a bug in the booth when i specifically told him i was canadian after he asked for my citizenship (after seeing the US plates)... and let me through.... sheesh, i coulda smuggled a bunch of exotic monkeys and fruit! lol!

I just spoke to my friend who is a police officer and he told me that in his 15 years of service he has not recalled any one of his co-workers or himself pulling over a guy with US plates for no reason, and if it was a speeding ticket or whatever its all still legit as far as paperwork is concerned. He mumbled something about possibly having to register the vehicle after 6 months (according to the government) but that he cant see how that can be enforced.. He said there are people who drive up from florida and stay in Canada for more then 6 months at a time, they dont register the car here..

So the question remains whether or not leaving US plates on your bike in Canada really has any consequences? Im sure a case like this if it ever made to court is nothing more then a fine.

Im still trying to see legitimate reasons why more people dont do this. Im trying to learn!

 

[romey]

yeah, interesting. as far as i know, you can get away with parking tickets as well. there are definitely people here with US plates un-regiestered (legit). guess it's a "crack" in the system...but they got better things to worry bout i'm sure..... like people smuggling exotic monkeys...

 

[NinjaNikki]

You could do it, cuz pretty much once you leave the border it isn't enforced really... That is unless you get a cop that used to be a Customs officer and know about what I posted above.

However if you are going to ride around on US plates just don't ever take that vehicle across the border as if you do you are risking having your vehicle seized, you arrested and possible prosecution at the duty and taxes evaded will be greater than $2000 (the threshold for prosecution).

 

[joshmxpx]

I am considering buying a bike that someone recently drove from Tenessee to Canada. He has not done any of the Canadian registration stuff yet. He is willing to drop $500 off the price if I do it all myself.

What would this entail, and would it be less than $500?

Also, for him to have driven it through the border into Canada already, would he have done anything at the border? Or could he have just driven through without gettting any paperwork done, which I would have to do at a later time.

Also, what sort of things should I be asking for if I go to look at the bike (paperwork wise)? I know it has a clean American title, but that's about it...

Thanks

 

[RicoChet]

You could do it, cuz pretty much once you leave the border it isn't enforced really... That is unless you get a cop that used to be a Customs officer and know about what I posted above.

However if you are going to ride around on US plates just don't ever take that vehicle across the border as if you do you are risking having your vehicle seized, you arrested and possible prosecution at the duty and taxes evaded will be greater than $2000 (the threshold for prosecution).

The vehicle would have to go over the border some time again anyway, I plan on moving down to the states in the next few years.. Why would that be a problem?

 

[NinjaNikki]

I am considering buying a bike that someone recently drove from Tenessee to Canada. He has not done any of the Canadian registration stuff yet. He is willing to drop $500 off the price if I do it all myself.

What would this entail, and would it be less than $500?

Also, for him to have driven it through the border into Canada already, would he have done anything at the border? Or could he have just driven through without gettting any paperwork done, which I would have to do at a later time.

Also, what sort of things should I be asking for if I go to look at the bike (paperwork wise)? I know it has a clean American title, but that's about it...

Thanks

DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE! LET HIM DO ALL THE PAPERWORK FIRST. Since he hasn't properly imported the bike the bike is in this country illigally you will face red tape if you buy this bike and try to do the paperwork yourself. It's like trying to buy a stolen bike and then trying to register it.

 

[joshmxpx]

DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE! LET HIM DO ALL THE PAPERWORK FIRST. Since he hasn't properly imported the bike the bike is in this country illigally you will face red tape if you buy this bike and try to do the paperwork yourself. It's like trying to buy a stolen bike and then trying to register it.

Even if he has all the proper ownership papers and such? Why would it be so hard to do all the paperwork myself? What kind of problems would I run into?

Thanks

 

[NinjaNikki]

Buy it... You asked a question I gave you an answer if you don't like my answer then do as you wish and see for yourself. The bike has not been imported into the country do you know what that means? It means that the bike is in this country ILLIGALLY. Do you want to answer as to how the bike got here in the first place?

If it's not such a big deal why doesn't the seller import it?

 

[spawnx66]

I apologize for the dumb question but when is PST paid on the import if at all? It seems GST is paid at customs, but I went all through this thread and didn't see anything about PST.

 

[joshmxpx]

Buy it... You asked a question I gave you an answer if you don't like my answer then do as you wish and see for yourself. The bike has not been imported into the country do you know what that means? It means that the bike is in this country ILLIGALLY. Do you want to answer as to how the bike got here in the first place?

If it's not such a big deal why doesn't the seller import it?

The seller can import it, I just didn't know how big of a deal it was seeing as I've never done anything like this and am not really sure of the rules and such.

So from what you're saying, I should pay the extra $500 and get the bike with all the proper Canadian papers and such?

Sorry for all the noob questions, but I just thought it might be easier and cheaper for me to do the paperwork myself, I never considered the fact that it could be illegally imported.

Thanks

 

[spawnx66]

Just got off the phone with my insurance company. Sounds like it is possible to insure the bike to ride from the states back to Canada. The only issue is plating the vehicle. I called MTO and their suggestion was to get temporary permit form the state you are purchasing from and this will allow you to ride it over. MTO says it is possible to get a temporary permit from them if you have the original title and registration documents. The temporary permits lasts for 6 days from MTO.

 

[Duster929]

Just got off the phone with my insurance company. Sounds like it is possible to insure the bike to ride from the states back to Canada. The only issue is plating the vehicle. I called MTO and their suggestion was to get temporary permit form the state you are purchasing from and this will allow you to ride it over. MTO says it is possible to get a temporary permit from them if you have the original title and registration documents. The temporary permits lasts for 6 days from MTO.

What insurance company said this? How does it work? Will they insure a vehicle registered in the US as long as you own it? Or will they insure a vehicle as long as you put your Ontario plates on it? Let me know as I'm expecting to go pick up a bike this weekend.

--- D

 

[spawnx66]

My insurance company is Primmum. It sounds like how it works with vehicles here, just provide them with VIN # and thats about it. The agent didn't seem like it was a big deal. She even said its happening quite frequently this past year or two. I would give them a call regarding the plates, but MTO said to get a temp permit from the state you are buying from. Let us know how your US buying experience goes. I'm planning on heading down within a month to buy a bike also.

What insurance company said this? How does it work? Will they insure a vehicle registered in the US as long as you own it? Or will they insure a vehicle as long as you put your Ontario plates on it? Let me know as I'm expecting to go pick up a bike this weekend.

--- D

 

[Duster929]

My insurance company is Primmum. It sounds like how it works with vehicles here, just provide them with VIN # and thats about it. The agent didn't seem like it was a big deal. She even said its happening quite frequently this past year or two. I would give them a call regarding the plates, but MTO said to get a temp permit from the state you are buying from. Let us know how your US buying experience goes. I'm planning on heading down within a month to buy a bike also.

My agent (Kaspard) just told me it can't be done, so I have to trailer it. Probably because he writes for Royal & Sun and Jevco, and maybe they don't have US capabilities.... Might have to make some calls.

--- D

 

[Duster929]

My insurance company is Primmum. It sounds like how it works with vehicles here, just provide them with VIN # and thats about it. The agent didn't seem like it was a big deal. She even said its happening quite frequently this past year or two. I would give them a call regarding the plates, but MTO said to get a temp permit from the state you are buying from. Let us know how your US buying experience goes. I'm planning on heading down within a month to buy a bike also.

I just got off the phone with Primmum and they told me that they do not insure imported bikes at all, not even for existing customers. The bike has to have been insured by someone in Canada before they will take it on. I'm not sure which of us has the right information, but I'd hate to see you get stuck by your insurance co while trying to get the bike across. Give them a call and make sure that you're right and I'm wrong. But the guy was pretty clear and direct with me.

"We do not insure imported bikes, at all. They have to be insured in Canada by someone else, for at least one day."

--- D

 

[flightzed]

I danced with Primmum for a week about insuring my imported zx14.
Faxed them documents and was told it would probably be a go.
Called them today and they still didn't have an answer so I cancelled my policy. Got a killer deal with a company that insures my business.
Screw Primmum I will never deal with them again. They've f#$*%* me over
for 5 years ($984 liability ZX11 perfect record 43 yo) and they treat me like **** when you need them.

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