Exporting from the US

by Vic Whitmore
(Thornhill ON & Mexico!)

You have omitted one very important aspect of buying in the US for importation into Canada. The US requires notification 72 hours in advance of your arrival at the border crossing. You need to send, by FAX, courier, or mail, the vehicle information, including the VIN to the US border crossing. Not all crossings support this. For example, in the Niagara area, the crossing point is Lewiston NY.

The vehicle export information is included on the US Customs and Border Services web site:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

A list of entry points:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

If you are importing into Ontario, you will pay GST at the Canadian border. After your RIV approval comes through, you can then register it. When registering in Ontario, you will then pay the PST. With the up-coming HST, this may change.