Importing a Motor Vehicle To Canada (the be all end all) | Page 28 | GTAMotorcycle.com

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

Forum Sponsor
I just got back from Lewiston today and found it was worth the hassle. I came back over to the Canadian side because I only saw "Immigration" on the BACK of the US customs building as I passed by over the bridge to Canadian side.

I declared, went in (Yellow slip) .. dudes at the desk were awesome and friendly while the other two officers on the bench waited for the paperwork to be finished. After I paid the GST and filled out FORM 1, I gave the bill of sale to the inspecting officer who immediately went to professional mode and began asking a LOT of questions about the price after going BEHIND the counter and disappearing for a few minutes (I think she went to check online) ...

She asked me how I heard about the deal and where I saw the ad, which was on craigslist by the dealership.. and NO longer online anymore)... IF I thought it was a good deal (duh , or I wouldn't have gone there to buy since Canadian dealership are $4,000 off with price matching haha) Then she was giving me a bit of a hard time with my total price versus my main invoice price, but then showed her my two bills (deposit on Visa AND bank draft receipt). After a few minutes of questioning she came out, verified the VIN and wished me a nice day. I had to go back however to stamp the US title... went back across bridge and parked on the RIGHT hand side (the export office is in the same building as the Import office) and there's no real way to get over there without looping back, so to any future goers, don't panick if you come back to the Canadian side without the Stamped US title).

After going through the border patrol booth on the US side, the officer was extremely helpful in helping me locate the Export office (the building is a maze). Went in, 1 other guy (and about 5 porsches, BMW m3, Corvette being exported by other people) was in the office, took 2 mins ... officer came out, verified VIN (they had a 5 on the vin as an "S" so, I'm glad they do this and not cut corners haha) ... wished me a nice day and I was on my merry way.

Tomorrow I'm going to R.I.V. office with my paperwork and hope to have it insured and on the road tomorrow (after I do the Inspection at Cantire)... Hopefully it goes as smoothly.
 
hi
I have friend looking to buy bike from co-worker.
The bike is on US plates, owned by US citizen, hi si going back home, and want to fly (so the bike is sold in GTA).
speedometer and odometer are only in miles

any experience with this, any potential problems.

Junkers
 
Last edited:
Went to the R.I.V. in person today in Etobicoke with my old bike (*the last ride ) .. the office is in one of those 15 story office towers.. 5th floor. Small little waiting area... paid R.I.V. fee and then got two pieces of paper (inspection form and instructions).

Came home, insured the bike and got the temp slips (statefarm looked at my bill of sale for the VIN), got the bike to Canadian tire with the R.I.V. papers.. had to wait for the service manager to do it. He verified Odometer, VIN (didnt even check lights or blinkers or ANYTHING). Left the bike there. Drove around the block to the MTO building, brought all my paperwork and then asked if I had to get a safety done on top of the inspection. She phoned head office to verify because she thought I MIGHT have to due to the fact it was a 2008 and not a current year. Turns out I didn't have to pay 90$ bucks for some dude to ride the bike around the block and say "yah it's mint" .. after she phoned MTO head office. Paid my PST and was good to go :)

ANOTHER happy importer
 
junkers said:
hi
I have friend looking to buy bike from co-worker.
The bike is on US plates, owned by US citizen, hi si going back home, and want to fly (so the bike is sold in GTA).
speedometer and odometer are only in miles

any experience with this, any potential problems.

Junkers
Click to expand...
First the bike must be exported from the states before it can be imported. Don't know if this can be done from this side of the border but my gut feeling says no. Once this is done it's a piece of cake.
 
anyone do this the other way around? as in export from canada into the states? specifically speaking from ontario to california? anyone know of any website for this?
 
Bike Older Than 15 Years Old

Anyone have experience importing a vehicle older than 15 years old?

As I read it, it would be exempt from RIV requirements, thereby cutting out some steps. I assume the process would be something like this:

1) still need to export the bike, i.e. send title documents to US customs 72 hours in advance,

2) pay GST/PST + duties (Japanese bike)

3) still need to register it, need certification. Question - do you need to meet the km/h requirement on the speedo and daytime running lights requirement?

Thanks for any help.
 
How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

We are supposed to pay duties on motorcycles assembled outside NAFTA. How do i find out if the motorcycle i would like to import is not assembled or made in US?

Planning to import Honda VFR 800 from US but not sure if i will be paying any duties. i know lot of honda motorcycles are made in US.

Does anyone know?
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

Look at the first digit of the VIN. If it is "1", "2", or "3", it was made within the NAFTA zone (US, Canada, Mexico respectively). If it is "J", it was made in Japan.
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

sar said:
We are supposed to pay duties on motorcycles assembled outside NAFTA. How do i find out if the motorcycle i would like to import is not assembled or made in US?

Planning to import Honda VFR 800 from US but not sure if i will be paying any duties. i know lot of honda motorcycles are made in US.

Does anyone know?
Click to expand...

no duties for bikes imported from USA (made in USA, Mexico, Europe, Japan...), if they can be legally imported into Canada (listed on RIV site as admissible)

Junkers
 
I imported my truck from the USA. Buddy sold it to me drove it to my house and drove mine back (we traded vehicles). This makes it sooo much easier. I just went to RIV, paid the taxes and duty, had the inspection done at Canadian Tire and she was a done deal. Took me a couple of hours total.

I traded an 87 Jeep YJ straight up for my 97 Dodge Ram 4x4...
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

junkers said:
no duties for bikes imported from USA (made in USA, Mexico, Europe, Japan...), if they can be legally imported into Canada (listed on RIV site as admissible)

Junkers
Click to expand...

Is this true? Can't find any info on this. Heard some people did NOT have to pay 6% duty on a Japanese bike.
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

googlefish said:
Is this true? Can't find any info on this. Heard some people did NOT have to pay 6% duty on a Japanese bike.
Click to expand...

hi
That's what I was told during crossing with German bike.

to be 100% sure, call the crossing before, Canadian personnel is very friendly and will answer all your questions, not like USA.

Junkers
 
Quick question:

I'm looking to import a track bike with clean title. There are no street parts on it. From my understanding, I don't need to have the street parts on it until the Federal inspection at canadian tire?

So I have 45 days to put signals, reflectors, brakelight, and headlights on?

This bike will pull double duty as a street/track bike. Signals are not an issue, they can be installed quickly. I'm just worried about the headlights.

Does the inspection require stock OEM headlights? or can I just use any aftermarket unit as long as its bright enough?

How strict are they with the inspections?

Do the signals have to be stock as well?

Thanks!
 
DY said:
Quick question:

I'm looking to import a track bike with clean title. There are no street parts on it. From my understanding, I don't need to have the street parts on it until the Federal inspection at canadian tire?

So I have 45 days to put signals, reflectors, brakelight, and headlights on?

This bike will pull double duty as a street/track bike. Signals are not an issue, they can be installed quickly. I'm just worried about the headlights.

Does the inspection require stock OEM headlights? or can I just use any aftermarket unit as long as its bright enough?

How strict are they with the inspections?

Do the signals have to be stock as well?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well I just imported a bike and in theory (I read the website) and it said it must have all the stock lighting and reflectors it had from factory... Luckily for my bike I just had to slap some proper signals on instead of the integrated one.

CT is the one doing the check so they really aren't that thorough and it depends on your luck with who is doing the check. My headlights are tinted, the guy didn't even notice.

Basically he walked around the bike checking for reflectors and made sure the headlight, and highbeams ands signals all worked and horn i think. Checked and wrote down the mileage, which btw is supposed to be in km/h. Writes down the odometer reading, and then tells you how sweet your bike looks and sends you on your way. They fax in some stuff the ministry and give u some forms... u take that to the ministry and voila u can street that baby.
 
Freestyle72 said:
Well I just imported a bike and in theory (I read the website) and it said it must have all the stock lighting and reflectors it had from factory... Luckily for my bike I just had to slap some proper signals on instead of the integrated one.

CT is the one doing the check so they really aren't that thorough and it depends on your luck with who is doing the check. My headlights are tinted, the guy didn't even notice.

Basically he walked around the bike checking for reflectors and made sure the headlight, and highbeams ands signals all worked and horn i think. Checked and wrote down the mileage, which btw is supposed to be in km/h. Writes down the odometer reading, and then tells you how sweet your bike looks and sends you on your way. They fax in some stuff the ministry and give u some forms... u take that to the ministry and voila u can street that baby.
Click to expand...

thanks for the info. the bike im looking at is a SV with track fairings. I'm hoping I can just take off the front fairings and install a round headlight with signals.

keep the race tailpiece and install a undertail with signals.

I just think it will be sketchy because it will look nothing like stock.

its alot of trouble TBH but the deals in michigan and NY are so much better than here.:confused1:
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

junkers said:
hi
That's what I was told during crossing with German bike.

to be 100% sure, call the crossing before, Canadian personnel is very friendly and will answer all your questions, not like USA.

Junkers
Click to expand...

Just brought one over today and can confirm there are NO DUTIES at all on motorcycles. Overheard one officer explaining to another motorcycle importer that the import duties on all motorcycles is 0%. She was saying they were not sure why it was zero.

I'm sure the gov't will rectify this situation !!
 
My question is a bit different. If I buy a bike from an American dealer, they will give you a 30 day temporary plate/certificate so that you cn get it home.

Would this 30 day certificate allow me to ride the bike back to Canada provided I have insurance?

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
Re: How to find origin of a motorcycle for duty?

googlefish said:
Just brought one over today and can confirm there are NO DUTIES at all on motorcycles. Overheard one officer explaining to another motorcycle importer that the import duties on all motorcycles is 0%. She was saying they were not sure why it was zero.

I'm sure the gov't will rectify this situation !!
Click to expand...


Heads up...

I was forced to pay duty today on a UK built bike (Triumph Sprint) this morning (October, 2009).

My less than helpful (I could use much stronger words) friend at border services questioned my objection of the charge and offered to make my life very difficult if I persisted in pursuing the point. Given that he had the rubber gloves and was offering to tear my car apart and make my life miserable, I paid.

Here's hoping I can get a more polite government employee on the phone and get the charge reversed. Alas, I'm old enough not to have my hopes up.
 
Anyone has a link to an official site where it says there is no duty on all motorcycles imported from US? I could not find one.
 
hi
Thanks for all posts here they are very helpful, here is my story:

first facts: I purchase BMW bike from US citizen in London Ontario.
I had to export it and import by myself, so I pull the trailer with bike to USA crossing, did my paperwork, and return. You need good story why the previous owner sold it in Canada, did he exported it without declaring it, etc... It is good to have his driver license, and/or passport copied to prove the story.
Next Recall Clearance Letter, USA dealership will not write you, and if, RIV is not accepting letters from BMW USA, BMW Canada will issue letter, but it will cost you $500 +GST/PST, also since the dealership is not making money on it, they will check for any modification you have to make (speedometer in miles only, lights, etc..)

the rest is like in original post, if you follow the steps it is easy.
as for me total cost: GST+PST on sale price, + $565 (recall letter) + $205 (RIV fee), plus gas
no duty to be payed since it is motorcycle (although build in Germany, and it is still in Europe)

Junkers
Forum Sponsor
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom