How difficult is it to import a 79 from Canada?

[Denis54]

I would appreciate if someone could help me understand what the steps are to import a 79 SC from Canada.

I did a search but did not get anything. (I got a lot of threads but nothing relevant)

[tonythetarga]

If you are importing it yourself, just call US Customs and find out what paperwork you need at whatever point of entry you will use. They will be looking at title/bill of sale paperwork and then there will likely be some import duty that will need to be paid.

I have done this with motorcycles a number of times and it was very straight forward.

[JB36]

It's not very hard, but it is some work. I imported a car from Canada in 01. I used an import broker. I happened to be working near the border which made it easier to do. I forget the tax and duty. I think it was like 6 percent. I faxed docs to the broker showing there wasn't any recalls on the car and the basic stats of the car. They provided the paper work to a brokerage office near the border. I purchased the car and drove it to the border. I picked up my paper work and went through customs. The car had to be held near the border for two days to be inspected and certified to be registered. This was part of the brokerage service. I think I paid around $1400.00 for the tax, duty, and brokerage fees for a $19000 car. The broker provided me with a document that I used to regester it.

You can perform the brokerage process yourself and save a few dollars. I think the service they provided was worth it. If you buy from a dealer, they will charge you Canadian tax...I think it's called GST. This can be refunded to you by a form filled out and then having the value certified. Someone basically looks at the car and states the value matches the bill of sale. You also would need two copies of a bill of sale....one for your DMV and one for the GST refund.

The problem for you at this time is the weak US vs. Canadian dollar. You use to be able to make out with the exchange rate. If there's a car you really want, I would go for it.

Frank

[Jim Garfield]

I bought a 911 in Canada in'02. You need to get a certificate from PCNA that states that the car met US DOT and EPA regs in '79. I don't think that they care about too much at the border crossing other than the car met US specs when it was imported to Canada and getting their % of the sale price. Do some homework and it will be pretty easy and straightforward.

[CurtEgerer]

I just imported a car myself a year or 2 ago. Once the car is over 25 years old there are no import restrictions. Personally, I'm waiting for the Lancia Delta Integrale EVO to hit the magic 25

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf

[crxnug]

im not sure if it is the same as importing into Canada, But i have bought from the US and imported into canada and you have to fax copy of bill of sale, and title to US border crossing 72 hours prior to crossing. heres the website and contact info, i made sure the first time i did it to call both US and Canada customs to see what you need
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/

[CurtEgerer]

And be VERY careful about that bill of sale. If you think you're going to pass off a bogus bill of sale for $5000 on a $20,000 car at customs, you may be in for trouble. If you tell them you found the car on the internet, they will 'detain' you and check it out right there as you wait. They will read every post in every thread pertaining to the car. They know about Pelican, S Reg, BMW forums, eBay, CL, and all the auto forums. Ask me how I know ....