i want to say thx to everyone that built this thread. i've reviewed all of this thread and the RIV site, and summarized the process here. if i got anything wrong, can you please let me know. thx.
this post only concerns importing a (street) motorcycle, over 15 years old, from the US to ontario. the bike will be picked up by trailer.
i can ignore most of the information/requirements because the bike is over 15 years old. so i can ignore all the RIV requirements, including:
- the transport canada list of vehicles admissible from the US,
- the alpha-numeric VIN requirements,
- the modification requirements information,
- statement of compliance label (relevant only to confirm the VIN),
- the manufacturer's recall clearance letter, and
- the RIV fee.
i get the vendor to fax me a copy of the title and bill of sale, and then i fax these two documents to US customs (at lewiston, NY) at least 3 days in advance. then i call the US customs office to confirm they do not have any problem with the faxed documents (presumably they are checking to see if the bike is stolen.)
(people recommend using the lewiston border crossing. you have to bring the bike thru the same border crossing that you faxed the documents to.)
[lewiston contact info: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ny/0901.xml ]
then i pick up the bike (with the original title and bill of sale), and bring it into ontario through the lewiston border crossing between 8am and 4 pm on a business day. US customs will look at the title and bill of sale and stamp it. (takes 5 minutes) then i drive to canadian customs who will check the title and bill of sale, ask for personal ID and check the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the bike, and get me to pay federal sales tax(GST). i can pay with any major credit card. customs is pretty strict about the declared value, undervalue it at your own risk. there is no customs duty. They give me some paperwork (vehicle import form-form 1) which i need to register the bike in ontario.
i'm finished the process. i drive home, have to get the title changed into my name at the ministry of transport within 6 days, including payment of provincial sales tax. then i can get plates for the bike whenever i get the safety check and insurance arranged.
BTW, i called uhaul, and they permit their rental trailers to be taken into the US. For long distance travel, use one of their ramp trailers ($25/day), not their motorcycle trailer ($15/day).
(thx again for this great thread.)
edit: i'm picking the bike up about mid december and will post how it goes. FYI, i was looking at the ebay.com fine print and their free $20,000 buyer protection coverage covers cdns buying cars in the usa, but not motorcycles:
http://pages.motors.ebay.com/help/community/purchase-protection-eligibility.html
there's some suggestions here about the different ways of paying
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/payment.html
this post only concerns importing a (street) motorcycle, over 15 years old, from the US to ontario. the bike will be picked up by trailer.
i can ignore most of the information/requirements because the bike is over 15 years old. so i can ignore all the RIV requirements, including:
- the transport canada list of vehicles admissible from the US,
- the alpha-numeric VIN requirements,
- the modification requirements information,
- statement of compliance label (relevant only to confirm the VIN),
- the manufacturer's recall clearance letter, and
- the RIV fee.
i get the vendor to fax me a copy of the title and bill of sale, and then i fax these two documents to US customs (at lewiston, NY) at least 3 days in advance. then i call the US customs office to confirm they do not have any problem with the faxed documents (presumably they are checking to see if the bike is stolen.)
(people recommend using the lewiston border crossing. you have to bring the bike thru the same border crossing that you faxed the documents to.)
[lewiston contact info: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ny/0901.xml ]
then i pick up the bike (with the original title and bill of sale), and bring it into ontario through the lewiston border crossing between 8am and 4 pm on a business day. US customs will look at the title and bill of sale and stamp it. (takes 5 minutes) then i drive to canadian customs who will check the title and bill of sale, ask for personal ID and check the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the bike, and get me to pay federal sales tax(GST). i can pay with any major credit card. customs is pretty strict about the declared value, undervalue it at your own risk. there is no customs duty. They give me some paperwork (vehicle import form-form 1) which i need to register the bike in ontario.
i'm finished the process. i drive home, have to get the title changed into my name at the ministry of transport within 6 days, including payment of provincial sales tax. then i can get plates for the bike whenever i get the safety check and insurance arranged.
BTW, i called uhaul, and they permit their rental trailers to be taken into the US. For long distance travel, use one of their ramp trailers ($25/day), not their motorcycle trailer ($15/day).
(thx again for this great thread.)
edit: i'm picking the bike up about mid december and will post how it goes. FYI, i was looking at the ebay.com fine print and their free $20,000 buyer protection coverage covers cdns buying cars in the usa, but not motorcycles:
http://pages.motors.ebay.com/help/community/purchase-protection-eligibility.html
there's some suggestions here about the different ways of paying
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/payment.html
