Importing a Motor Vehicle To Canada (the be all end all) | Page 23 | GTAMotorcycle.com

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

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dariussquared said:
Anyone have any luck getting the recall clearance letter for Honda Motorcycles? I called Honda Motor Co and was met with huge hostility when asking for the letter. The lady called me a 'grey market importer' and that Honda wouldn't do anything to assist me importing the bike. I then asked for a formal letter of this policy being enforced by Honda so she took the liberty of drafting up a letter and faxing it to me (below). Is there another way around this that doesn't involve a dealership? Anyone have any numbers or people to speak with at Honda that aren't miserable drones?

Also, does anyone know if a Birth certificate + driver's license is enough to import the vehicle?--i know it's still enough to cross by car back and forth, but don't know if it's sufficient to import a vehicle. Anyone? Thanks.
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Yes, I imported a new bike with just birth certificate and driver's license. Not 100% sure about used bikes, but I figure it should be the same.

Either way, the Americans are still going to be pricks about it. :toothy4:
 
NinjaNikki said:
You cross at the tunnel or bridge? That's odd that Windsor wouldn't know what they are doing. What time of the day/night did you get to the Canadian side? As for the US side... well by your account that was good encounter. I had a girlfriend threaten by US customs... different breed over there for sure... must be the polluted water.
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It's not the water. It's the gun on the hip.

There is a blond who works at the Lweiston Bridge Export office who needs an attidtude adjustment BADLY. She is just unbelievably rude. Demands things, no manners: just a horrible horrible person.

I just brought my BSA into the country. No major issues at all. Make sure your paperwork is complete. Title does NOT have to be in your name, but you must have a bill of sale showing the purchase, price, VIN etc.

All in all it's an easy process if you communicate efficiently.

Nites
 
954RR said:
Worked for me!
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So you had the same problem with Honda USA getting the recall clearance letter?--Or did you just go to the dealer first.

I heard you can get the letter from Honda.com OwnerLink but i don't know if Customs would accept that.

Was the dealership more than willing to cooperate?

Mjavor, thanks for the info
 
NiteshadeTA said:
All in all it's an easy process if you communicate efficiently.

Nites
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It's supposed to be an easy process but it basically boils down to who is working that time. I assure you I had all the proper paperwork, double checked and tripled checked everything. Communication was NOT the problem. Problems I had were attitude related on U.S. side and complete ignorance on Canadian side.

I guess I just happened to have a case of bad luck that day.
 
Ive read through ALL the posts and never saw one question mentioned about purchasing a NEW motorcycle and what happends with the Warrenty/Guarantee to your new bike since it is now in Canada? Would Kawasaki Canada honor that or do you get a new bike for a good price but your S.O.L with your guarentee? Do you have to bring the back back to the states to have work done to it?
 
Kirkz24 said:
Ive read through ALL the posts and never saw one question mentioned about purchasing a NEW motorcycle and what happends with the Warrenty/Guarantee to your new bike since it is now in Canada? Would Kawasaki Canada honor that or do you get a new bike for a good price but your S.O.L with your guarentee? Do you have to bring the back back to the states to have work done to it?
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Not sure about Kawi but Honda dealers aren't supposed to sell to us. Warrantee means a trip to the USA. Service is probably better anyway.

If the US economy continues to tank you can bet that US dealers are going to be inventive if some Canadian comes in with cash in hand.

What would you do if you were a dealer with overdue bills and the landlord threatening to shut you out? Turn down a sale? Not likely.
 
Kawasaki-no warranty.CDN dealers hear will say no warranty at all, but bike is covered in the US. First of all it's just a 12 month warranty........how many k's will you put on the bike?
10,000? Also if there is a problem you can put the bike in a van or on a trailer back to the dealer. I live 50 minutes from closet CDN Kawi dealer and 100 minutes from US dealer.
 
If the seller is shipping the bike using an importing company I'm assuming they take care of all the border paperwork. Does anyone know how or when i pay the fees in this situation. Also which of the steps do i still need to do to have the bike be ridable in ontario. I'm assuming I still need a recall clearance letter but is there anything else? Thanks
 
Spizzak said:
If the seller is shipping the bike using an importing company I'm assuming they take care of all the border paperwork. Does anyone know how or when i pay the fees in this situation. Also which of the steps do i still need to do to have the bike be ridable in ontario. I'm assuming I still need a recall clearance letter but is there anything else? Thanks
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The importing company I was going to use was going to handle all the paper work and fees. I ended up not using them and just doing it all myself, but they said they would handle everything.
 
anyone import a new bike?

Did you ahve to fax the MSO, 72 hours before hand? Did you have to get it stamped at the US boarder?
 
zc911 said:
anyone import a new bike?

Did you ahve to fax the MSO, 72 hours before hand? Did you have to get it stamped at the US boarder?
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You have basically two choices (I know of) with the new bike:
- register it in the states in your/friends name, meaning title it, essentially turn it into used bike, normal process follows afterwards (state where bike gets regitered retains original MSO)
- tow bike with the MSO and yes, you have to fax MSO, in that case but this may force some dealers into charging tax and/or not passing you all of the rebates and savings
 
yup your right
But the dlear is being great, giving me the MSO, and no sales tax, and getting me the recall letter :D
 
i had no luck, the dealer here was origonally 4k over. got them to 2000 over and thats the lowest they would go. If they went $500 -$800 over, i would have bought local
 
2 quick questions:
1. " U.S statement of compliance (S.O.C Label) at the border" This is mentioned as one of the requirements, but I am a little unclear as to where you get it.
2. I am looking at buying a bike from a friend then riding it home. How does it work with the plates in this case? I would just keep his plates, transferred into my name? Would that be done through my insurance, or would I have to go to a local DOT in the states?
Thanks
S.
 
1. That sicker should be on the bike somewhere. IF not get the recall clearence letter BEFORE you cross. That recall letter should state the bike was built to conform to US standards, and will do the job

2. i dunno i always trailer them back
 
I was planning on getting that letter first anyway.
Just need to figure out the ins & outs of riding it back now.
According to mapquest, itll be about 2500miles!
S.
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