Importing Porsche into US from Canada

BoxsterGT · 03:53 AM

What obstacles do I face in importing a 85 911 into the US? Its over the 25yr old emissions limit.

I searched here but only found advice on importing into Canada, not from.

I am told I need a broker and must present the original documents at the border.

Anyone recommend a transporter with good feedback?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Len

BoxsterGT · 10-18-2011, 03:51 AM

The one-way distance to Stow is 550 miles.

Found a place called "USCanada auto transport" that will do this for $1800, including a $300 Bond fee.

Is a bond necessary on a 25 yr old vehicle?

Others I called want $2200 & $2500, so USCanada is the lowest so far.

Anyone out there have experience bringing in a 25 year old vehicle of any kind?

Len

dreeves · 10-18-2011, 04:03 AM

I imported a euro-spec '84 BMW a year ago from British Columbia. Because of the age, importation was a matter of showing the title and bill of sale at the border. After a 10 minute wait and time to fill out a form, I was through.

rw229 · 10-18-2011, 07:06 AM

I am interested in learning about this as well. As I understand there may be a bunch of state requirements (conversion to US spec, emissions, etc.) in addition to the import process.

dreeves, did you have to pay duty or is there an exemption due to age? Did the car need to be brought to US spec?

LakeCleElum · 10-18-2011, 07:23 AM

Did this last year with a motorcycle. Being over 25 yrs, I showed title and bill of sale at border and US Customs checked the VIN and filled out a form for me to take to my DMV. No tax as over 25 yrs old.

However, some at the border are uninformed and wanted a letter from the office in Minn. that clears Vehicles newer than 25 yrs.

So, I really suggest you call ahead to the border crossing you are planning to use, talk to a supervisor and record his/her name. Once I dropped the name, the problem about the letter I didn't have went away.

I is not legal for the seller from Canada to transport the vehicle over the border for purpose of a sale.

Hope this helps, G'luck.

BoxsterGT · 10-18-2011, 08:24 AM

Wonderful. Thats great news.

I will call the border crossing.

Also must get a new Passport as mine has expired. Hope it won't take too long.

Len

dreeves · 10-18-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rw229

I am interested in learning about this as well. As I understand there may be a bunch of state requirements (conversion to US spec, emissions, etc.) in addition to the import process.

dreeves, did you have to pay duty or is there an exemption due to age? Did the car need to be brought to US spec?

The car's value was pretty low (under $2k) and there was no duty. I was actually unclear if we didn't pay b/c of age or because it fit under the $1000 standard exemption my girlfriend and I each had.

No changes were required to register the car.

inaminit · 10-18-2011, 02:46 PM

Len-PM sent.

BoxsterGT · 10-18-2011, 03:19 PM

I called the US customs office at the NY crossing point, and since its 25yrs old its considered an antique. All I need is a current Title and the Bill of sale to me.
I pay 2 1/2% duty and thats it.

Also need proof of citizenship, and my expired passport will be OK for that.

Wow, and to think I was worried about being stuck at the border for days.

Hooray!

johnsjmc · 03:51 PM

I is not legal for the seller from Canada to transport the vehicle over the border for purpose of a sale.[/QUOTE]

I have sold 2 cars into the US. In both cases I delivered them. I stopped at the US customs office at the point of entry. There is a form which is filled out where the vin is verified and that is given to the new US owner along with a signed over Cdn ownership. Both cars were over 25 yrs old I sold one to Florida and the other to Virginia. The Virginia deal was complicated by the point of Entry telling me I didn,t need any forms other than my ownership. We had to take the car to a port of Entry in Virginia (any international airport). If importing a 911 remember a 930 was available in Canada all thru the 80's. I doubt it can legally be imported as it didn,t meet US fed standards during that period. We can't import a car to Canada which isn,t available here through normal channels. No new Pontiac GTO's although the CTS-V is virtually the same car. No Scions either until just recently.
Shipping is a lot cheaper from point to point within the US . I bought a 911 in Florida and shipped it to Detroit (DAS cost about $300) I then went and picked it up and drove it across the border to my home in Canada (about 125 mi from Detroit) . This avoids the brokerage costs and cross border shipping premiums.

GWN7 · 10-18-2011, 03:47 PM

When in doubt start at the horses mouth so to speak.... I typed into US Customs search engine "Importing a car from Canada" and it directed me to the nhtsa.gov web site: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG_Canada03262010.pdf

It and every other US Customs/nhtsa site all are only worried about cars 25 years or younger, but I would phone US Customs and speak to them about importing a car older than 25 years. As mentioned take notes of who you spoke to and the tariff codes they quote.

As to shipping, drive up and drive it home. Leave Friday after work, drive a few hrs, get a room and arrive Sat afternoon. Pick up car and head home. Arrive home Sun afternoon. For the amount you have been quoted you can stay at some nice hotels and eat very well for the weekend. Ask the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your state of residence about temporary license plates and what documentation their DMV would require from Customs. You might have to get the seller to fax you a copy of the title and a copy of the bill of sale to get the temp licence/insurance.

GWN7 · 10-18-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

I called the US customs office at the NY crossing point, and since its 25yrs old its considered an antique. All I need is a current Title and the Bill of sale to me.
I pay 2 1/2% duty and thats it.

Also need proof of citizenship, and my expired passport will be OK for that.

Wow, and to think I was worried about being stuck at the border for days.

Hooray!

You will need a current passport to get into Canada .....or you will be stuck at the border (and sent home)

jorian · 10-18-2011, 04:14 PM

You only need a current passport if you are flying into Canada. An enhanced drivers license or Nexus card will get you through. If you don't have either call ahead to see what they will accept.

GWN7 · 10-18-2011, 04:48 PM

Entry into Canada is solely determined by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials in accordance with Canadian law. Please see the CBSA’s website for details. Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card (see below) satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens.

When returning to the United States from Canada, it is very important to note that all U.S. citizens are required to present a valid U.S. passport to enter or re-enter the United States via air. For entry into the United States via land and sea borders, U.S. citizens will need to present either a U.S. passport, passport card, NEXUS card, Enhanced Drivers License or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document.

Canada

jorian · 10-18-2011, 04:54 PM

Not wanting to start an argument here however I had friends up from the US a few times this summer and they do not have passports. Their drivers license were enough to get them through. You will find that the Canadian customs agents are a little more relaxed than the US side.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorian

Not wanting to start an argument here however I had friends up from the US a few times this summer and they do not have passports. Their drivers license were enough to get them through. You will find that the Canadian customs agents are a little more relaxed than the US side.

Really? I'm guessing you're not crossing at one of the Niagara region crossings. There, the US border guards are downright friendly, and the Canadian border guards are absolute pricks.

1990C4S · 10-18-2011, 05:13 PM

I believe the 'leniency' has ended. A passport is required now. You are risking denial of entry if you show up without one. And they don't just say 'you can't come in', you are detained for hours.

jorian · 10-18-2011, 05:25 PM

Nope not Niagara. Vancouver where I drove my 911 with the S/R open and windows down this afternoon.

The local Canadian side is very decent but there isn't a month that goes by here that there isn't an article in the paper detailing the US sides' heavy-handedness. Arbitrary bans, surly attitudes, etc. Friends of mine have a place in the US and use at the Point Roberts crossing. This US crossing seems to an incredible amount of bad press as well even though they serve a small community (point Roberts is a small, US-owned peninsula that can only be accessed by driving through Canada)

Christien · Christien's Garage

You mean it stopped raining long enough to open the sunroof?

It was a beautiful sunny crisp autumn day here, but those days are limited, and the cars go away for a long sleep

I hate coming back into Canada at any of the local crossings. And I hate that that's the face of our country that visitors first see.

GWN7 · 10-18-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorian

Not wanting to start an argument here however I had friends up from the US a few times this summer and they do not have passports. Their drivers license were enough to get them through. You will find that the Canadian customs agents are a little more relaxed than the US side.

No argument needed. What I posted was from the U.S. Department of State web site. Click on the Blue "Canada" link at the bottom of my last post for the whole read.