Importing Car from the US - how to?

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[SpecV-Trevor]

45 days is for RIV. nothing to do with registration

[_Rod_]

Rod,

Where did you get this 90 day trip permit?  From Arizona?

I've bought multiple cars in the states and I don't think I've ever gone through the hassle of getting the right in transit permits.  To me, they don't really make sense.  IN Alberta, the intransit permit only can be for 7 days I think.  But RIV can take a while since you have to pass federal and provincial inspections.

So I'm not sure of the "proper" way that you are supposed to be driving the car around until you can register it in canada.  I've usually just stuck a plate on it from another car in my name and kept all my docs and insurance with me in the car.  I don't think thats the proper way, but I've never had any issues, even when I got pulled over by the cops.

Yup it was in Arizona for the 90 day.  I think it might have actually been a 60 day permit for the one I got with the STi in Utah.  BTW, I did manage to get pulled over for speeding on both trips.  There were no issues with the trip permit (got pulled over in Montana with the Utah permit, and pulled over in Utah with the Arizona permit  ).  The 90 day permit was only $15 in Arizona, and I think they charged me $30 for the Utah permit.  I can't really see why it would be a problem because it is a transit permit...  What if it takes you 8 days to get home?  Are you supposed to get a new permit at the border?  It could be that you need to do that to be legal, but I don't really know.  BTW, I was in conversations with a Police officer in NJ (I was going to buy his car).  He said that he may be a Cop, but he didn't pretend to understand the ins and outs of state permits.  So I wonder if any of them really know?? LOL  State troopers might no a bit more about it though?

I'm not sure if every state has 60 or 90 days permits, so just ask the seller or if it is private just give the local DMV a call (or check out their web site).

Rod

[JC Inc.]

I think that's only if you owned the car and then moved here, but I'm not sure.  The car has to be insured somewhere/somehow to be driven though.

Insurance is not the issue, its registration.  Of course you need insurance.

I've been told so many differnt things by so many differnt people that I think no one knows about registration.

Regarding the State transit permits, they are supposed to be only valid for that state.  And as stupid as it sounds, you are supposed to get a transit permit for every state your drive through.  ALthough I've never heard of anyone actually doing that.

When I got my last in transit permit in Alberta, they said it was only valid from point A  to point B, and that I was not allowed to drive the car until it was registered.  I think thats BS.  Since the RIV process can take along time, especially if you have to do things like new bumpers, it doesn't make sense that you can only drive from point A to point B and never drive the car again until the RIV is done.  I was also told that you can use your RIV forms as your temporary registration in Canada, until you pass the RIV.  Although that means you would have no plate, which I also think doesn't make sense.

I've imported 5 cars from the US and talked to many others who have as well, and everyone seems to have a different opinion as to what is correct.  I've also never heard anyone getting in any crap about it, so I guess it probably doesn't matter as long as you have insurance.

[JC Inc.]

45 days is for RIV. nothing to do with registration

yeah but they are interrelated, since you can't get registration until you get your RIV.  At least not at any regisrty I have gone to.

[SpecV-Trevor]

Well OK ya got me there....

I guess I should have been a little clearer. There is no time limit on registration, so the 45 days must be for RIV.

[Boy Racer]

Jay, I know several people including myself that got a plate with just the Form 1 and OOP. You still need to complete the form 2 requirements before the 45 days though.

[locotoy]

For those who drove their car back, would you mind telling us how much you spent to get your car from where you bought it to Calgary and how long of a drive was it? Not the expenses that you pay at the border, just the expenses like flight, fuel, permits and hotel expenses?

Thanks.

[4WARNED]

To pick up the Shelby (San Antonio Texas), I spent $400/person CDN on airline tickets, $90 for the hotel the first night, and about $400 US in gas. + $100 US on meals...some good, some not so good meals...keep in mind this was a 2300 mile trip completed in 2 days.....
I'm headed to OHIO in two weeks for a Nissan Titan truck....flight cost me $300/person CDN and 1900 miles to drive back....i'm banking about $550 US for fuel (truck) and $100 US for meals....three of us are going so no hotel ....just drive straight through.

I always seem to find the farthest away vehicles possible.....but who can pass up a road trip?

[JC Inc.]

Costs will be highly dependant on the location of the car and your personal preferences for accomodations.

Most recently I bought a 4 door car in Nebraska and drove back with only a nap at a rest stop.

Before I bought a Vette in San Antonio and drove back napping while the other person drove (not that comfortable in a Vette).

Before that I bought a Syclone truck in Portland and it took 2 days to get back since they didn't receive my fax of the title at the border.  That was a trip from Hell and we ended up sleeping in a ditch one night and rock quarry another (again, not recommended).

I bought a Supra in LA and slept in a $29 hotel in Mesquite Nevada.

As for flights, search out expedia.ca.  Theres a huge variation in flight prices depending on when you book and where you are going.  If you book 2 weeks in advance the flights are reasonable (less than $500).  After that, they can go up 2-3 times.

Depending on your scenario, you will save a lot of money by having the car shipped.  Thats would I would do next time.  Just have it shipped to Montana.

And if you want an inspection done beforehand, try autoinspections.com.  I have used them, and they are fast and very thorough and provide over 100 pics of the car.  And basically service the entire USA.

[locotoy]

Thanks for replying to my question.

I had a car shipped last July and it took six weeks to get to me. Based on the $ figures that you guys have given, I would have saved a $1000 if I had driven the car myself. I posted a reply in the other thread about this.

http://cscc.speedracer.ca/forums/index.php/topic,7348.msg29638.html#msg29638

I guess if you can get time off of work, driving back is the most economical thing to do.

[Talonman]

I looked at driving both the cars home and I could make more money here than I can save driving, the savings were small at best driving it and that is until you get into a fender bender.

[randedge]

I looked at driving both the cars home and I could make more money here than I can save driving, the savings were small at best driving it and that is until you get into a fender bender.

Agreed!

Anything further than the two provinces left or right of us, I'd probably get it shipped just for that reason.

[_Rod_]

I looked at driving both the cars home and I could make more money here than I can save driving, the savings were small at best driving it and that is until you get into a fender bender.

What, and miss an excuse to take a day off work?  I don't get paid when I take a day off, but I'd drive anyway.  I guess I should have been a truck driver.  Nah, I'd just get homesick.

[JTC]

No one has said any thing about insurance when driving back. I phoned my insurance company and all they would do is issue a 14 day liability slip.
Is this the norm? I must admit am a bit leery of driving a $30K plus car 2500 miles through the states with no collision!

[Talonman]

Ship it, it will cost you 2k and it is dropped at your door.