Shipping 1984 911 into canada... "grey" options

[gliding_serpent]

Hey guys. So I hope to be shipping my new to me 1984 911 into canada from the us. Plan was for a crossing from Maine to Nova scotia via ferry on the 21st of Aug. All was going according to plan until the seller just shipped me the title by mail today, that could take 10 days to arrive in my hands.

I have read the great article on importation here, and I have talked to us and canada customs at the point of US exit, and canada entry about what I would need for this to be legit. Big thing was the bill of sale, insurance, temp registration to drive to the us boarder, and 72 hr notice to US customs with cpy of title, and then present original title at us customs. Canada does not care for older cars, they just want a bill of sale and my money. ;-)

Anyway, so now I am stuck with no original title. In my favor the original owner has his plates on the car, and is fine with me using them for now. Canada customs doesn't care about them for now (they just want my money...).

A friend of mine told me that he never gets stopped by US customs only the canadian side stops you. Stopping at US customs is generally voluntary. Note that he is not versed in boarder law.

Still, we thought about insuring the car, and just driving it over throwing caution into the wind. We declare the car on the canadian end, pay up, and go home. Easy enough?

Anyone done such a "grey" importation. I would fully plan to do the entire due process when across the boarder, I just don;t want a logistical headache. I plan to talk to us customs to review options given that I will not have the original title, but would appreciate thoughts and experiences.

[John 996 TT Cab]

Pretty tough to insure a car when you don't have title.

[gliding_serpent]

Pretty tough to insure a car when you don't have title.

Just to update anyone interested....

Car was insured no problem without title. They just want my money. ;-). I got incidental, but collision etc required photos which i sent in for review.

I may very well be able to play dumb and just drive to canada, but canada customs requires i run a car by us customs first. They just want a bill of sale or receipt, and us customs export paperwork. Us customs requires the original title, no exceptions. The article at the top of this subform holds true (who-da-thought).