Importing a Porsche from the US into Canada

[GWN7]

The RIV part of importing is actually 3 parts:

1) You pay them

2) You send them the Recall letter

3) Once accepted, they send you part 2 of their form that you take to have the car Federally Inspected (DRL, Stickers, ect) at CDN Tire or where ever.

As noted from the RIV web page:

"Acceptable forms of recall clearance documentation
RIV will accept any of the following recall clearance information:

1) A letter from the vehicle manufacturer’s U.S. or Canadian head office.
The letter must be written on company letterhead clearly stating that there are no outstanding recalls for the vehicle. If the manufacturer's logo does not appear on the letter, it will be rejected. The letter must be dated and signed by an authorized employee of the manufacturer and include their name and title, the vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model. RIV routinely forwards a copy of these letters to the manufacturer for authentication.

2) A printout from an American or Canadian dealership’s vehicle service database.
This document must be produced by an authorized dealer and not a reseller. You can confirm whether or not a dealership is authorized by visiting the manufacturer’s web site or by calling their head office and providing them with the dealership’s location. The printout must also contain the 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model, and indicate that there are no outstanding recalls. RIV routinely forwards a copy of these printouts to the manufacturer for authentication.

3) Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) web site.
Some manufacturers post their recall information on their public web sites. This recall information will be accepted subject to verification by RIV.

Paragraph 1 says it has to have the Company Letterhead & logo. Paragraph 2 makes no mention of this. Paragraph 3 is new (and I like it).

I would submit a copy of what you received from the dealer with a letter saying "as per websites instructions enclosed is a copy of the recall notices from the dealers data base" and then copy and paste the second paragraph on to the letter.

And do as Christian suggested and copy the dealers business card to the top of the recall notice they supplied. Then send that in.

[Brian 162]

I went to Can. Tire on Monday. They said the inspection charge is $27. I checked the RIV letter and it stated the inspection is included with the fee paid at the RIV office.
They didn't do the inspection because I have to get the daytime running lights working (even though the lights come on automatically already).
I did let them do the emission test.

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

I went to Can. Tire on Monday. They said the inspection charge is $27. I checked the RIV letter and it stated the inspection is included with the fee paid at the RIV office.
They didn't do the inspection because I have to get the daytime running lights working (even though the lights come on automatically already).
I did let them do the emission test.

Try a different CDN tire.

Last one I did with them the guy walked out, checked the serial number and said start it up. He signed the paper and handed me my copy and I was off.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Try a different CDN tire.

Last one I did with them the guy walked out, checked the serial number and said start it up. He signed the paper and handed me my copy and I was off.

I went back tonight and when I signed the work order the charge said around $30
When they called my name they sent me on my way. The $30 must be how they bill the RIV office.

[Boxster01!]

As a suggestion go to the dealership whee the Porsche was serviced and say hi to the service manager, buy him a drink from the coke machine and say "hey can you help me out". Ask him to printout the no campaigns document from their data base and if hes a good guy ask him if he can write you 2 lines on his letter head stating there are no recals for VIN xxx and your guaranteed a clearance from RIV. I loose sleep when Ihear of people paying Porsche, they shouldnt feel bad though I know a guy who paid Ferrari $15K and all he had to do was go to a US dealership and be nice to a service manager.

[dimf]

hi,

I am looking at buying a 2006 Turbo S with the following mods from a US reseller

FVD Turbo “S” Software-$1,995.00 Upgrade!
Model #: FVD 955 618 94
+29 Horsepower Increase Over Stock
Changes Power From 521hp to 550hp
Removes Top Speed Limiter
Increases Rev Limiter
Modifies Ignition Timing
Increases Throttle Response
Optimizes Air / Fuel Ratio’s
Modifies Boost Mapping For Increased Performance & Reliability
FVD “Profi” Diagnostic Tool-$870.00 Upgrade!
Model #: FVD 721 500 02
Allows Computer Laptop Hookup For Real Time Diagnostic Systems Information
Cargraphic Carp55Takter Turbo Racing Down Pipes-$800.00 Upgrade!
FVD High Performance GT Sport Exhaust-$4,000.00 Upgrade!
Model #: FVD 210 111 955 08SP
+23 Horsepower Increase Over Stock
Classified As Super Sound Exhaust For The Most Aggressive Unrestricted Race Sound
Utilizes Stock Exhaust Tips For A Stealth Like Appearance
50 State Smog Legal

do you guys think that I can legally import this unit with mods into Alberta, Canada?

I was also looking at the Norden website regarding the issue on the recall certificate and found this page. Does this mean that you have to go through a Porsche dealer now for the Federal inspection, and the Certificate of recall?

Whether you purchased your Porsche from an authorized Canadian Porsche Dealer, bought it pre-owned from an individual, or imported it into Canada, your Canadian Porsche Dealer is committed to treating each customer equally.

In order to offer the same high level of service to customers with imported Porsches, all cars brought into Canada must meet the same standards of quality and safety as Porsches sold by authorized Canadian dealers. In addition, regulations require that your imported Porsche be modified to meet Canadian safety requirements within 45 days of entering the country. Porsche Dealers will assist you with both.

Once you have booked an appointment with a Porsche Dealer, your imported vehicle will receive a detailed inspection and technical compliance confirmation; once these services, together with any necessary modifications and additional services required for the technical confirmation, have been effected, it will then be eligible to be licensed for use in Canada. The MSRP for the inspection and compliance confirmation services is $500. Other services, including modifications, may give rise to additional charges.

Only after an authorized Porsche Dealer has performed this work can they provide you with the appropriate Recall clearance to submit to government authorities.

Canadian Porsche Dealers provide service, parts, and accessories support for all Porsche vehicles. With their experience, trained technicians, comprehensive parts inventory and access to Porsche’s complete technical knowledge-base, a Porsche Dealer is the optimal place to service your Porsche.

more from the site

If you acquired your Porsche outside Canada, your vehicle must be inspected and modified to meet Canadian safety requirements within 45 days of its arrival in Canada.

Only your authorized Porsche Dealer in Canada can provide you with the documentation required for government authorities after performing these required modification and inspection steps.

Once you have booked an appointment with a Porsche Dealer, your imported vehicle will receive a detailed inspection and technical compliance confirmation; once these services, together with any necessary modifications and additional services required for the technical confirmation, have been effected, it will then be eligible to be licensed for use in Canada. The MSRP for the inspection and compliance confirmation services is $500. Other services, including modifications, may give rise to additional charges.

Why is this process important? It ensures that your imported vehicle is legal, safe and performs like it did when it left the factory. Any potential problems are highlighted and dealt with right away, meaning that down the road, your car will run better, run more reliably and will deliver the driving pleasure you expect and deserve.

What to bring

1.Original Bill of Sale from country of origin
2.Photo ID
3.Vehicle warranty and maintenance booklet
4.Proof of payment of importation duty
5.Vehicle Import Form – Form 1
What to expect

1.You will be asked for your original bill of sale, with photo identification, in order to ensure that Porsche can honour your car's warranty in Canada.
2.Your vehicle's maintenance book will be checked to verify its service history.
3.Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. will check the vehicle's authenticity on the global mainframe to ensure the imported vehicle was not a total loss or salvaged vehicle and to ensure the authenticity of the components fitted.
4.All modifications required to meet specific Canadian regulations and safety requirements will be performed.
5.A factory-trained technician will test-drive your imported vehicle to confirm it drives like a Porsche should.
6.Finally, your full contact details will be updated in order that Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. can contact you in the future – to keep your car up to date with modifications that need to take place from time to time.

the vehicle is being offered for sale by an ebay reseller, not a Porsche dealer. Still under Porsche warranty.

this thread is great, kudos to the guys who contributed.

[Christien]

If you acquired your Porsche outside Canada, your vehicle must be inspected

True. At any Canadian Tire location. They're contracted with RIV, and are the only people who can sign off on the RIV form. Not a Porsche dealership or anyone else. Only Canadian Tire.

and modified to meet Canadian safety requirements within 45 days of its arrival in Canada.

True. It will need daytime running lights definitely (can be performed by any mechanic/shop you trust with your car, or can be done by yourself, if you're comfortable doing the work - just google DIY daytime running lights Porsche) and may also require child seat tethers and french airbag stickers. Nobody yet (to my knowledge) has had to modify anything else on a US car. (i.e. bumpers are identical and meet CDN restrictions)

Only your authorized Porsche Dealer in Canada can provide you with the documentation required for government authorities after performing these required modification and inspection steps.

True, but very misleading in its wording. You will need a recall clearance letter from an authorized Porsche dealership, however that doesn't have to be one in Canada, and you'll likely have much more luck getting a recall clearance letter at a reasonable price from a US dealership. If you have the PPI done at an authorized dealership in the states, ask them to throw in the recall letter as part of the package.

The MSRP for the inspection and compliance confirmation services is $500. Other services, including modifications, may give rise to additional charges.

MSRP my ass. Typical charges at a CDN dealership are $1500-$4000, depending on how much of an ********* they feel like being.

[dimf]

found the answer to the mods question on page 9. thanks

[Gunter]

Christian,

Many thanks for the detailed support on this subject.

I am considering a '95 Porsche from the US (Private sale) and like to fly there and then drive back to a border crossing in B.C.

Is this the sequence?:

I would ask the current owner beforehand to get a letter from an authorized Porsche Dealer confirming that there is no recall on the listed VIN number.

I can also get a Carfax confirming no lien and passing emission control.

I would get a Bill of Sale and the Title after paying for the car and would fax a copy of the title and Bill of Sale to the US Customs.

What other paperwork do I need before I show up at the border??

Please, comment on the above and how are the funds transferrred?

How would you do the whole transaction?





What do I need?

Current owner says clear title, no liens.
Should he fax a copy of the title

[Christien]

I started to type all this out, then had to refer to my original post at the top of p. 1 - have you read that? All the info's there, and AFAIK still correct.

With a 95 you're going to have to pay attention to the month code of manufacture, with respect to RIV. If it was manufactured in June or later, it's still going to fall under RIV. In that case, I'd wait a few more weeks or months, because it's much easier to bypass RIV with a 15+ year old car. They WILL check, for sure.

Having the seller get a recall letter from their local dealer is a good idea - shouldn't be a problem. Remember, it has to be on Porsche letterhead.

Carfax should have lien info - I would call the dmv as well to confirm. US emissions won't matter - that will be part of the safety, if it's still applicable (in Ont. it's 20 years old, not sure what BC is).

Remember, the border needs the title 72 hours in advance, not including weekends - they'll make you wait. And not all accept faxes - some need the original, so call the border crossing to be sure.

Funds transfer is always a tricky issue. I would get a legally-binding bill of sale signed by both parties (so you're not dickering over price - when you've already incurred the time and expense to fly there, the seller knows you're not going to back out over $1000, so they may play games with you), then bring a certified cheque - not a bank draft/money order, a certified cheque - there's a difference. His bank should be able to clear it immediately with a simple phone call to yours.

Hope that helps.

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by Gunter

Christian,

Many thanks for the detailed support on this subject.

I am considering a '95 Porsche from the US (Private sale) and like to fly there and then drive back to a border crossing in B.C.

Is this the sequence?:

I would ask the current owner beforehand to get a letter from an authorized Porsche Dealer confirming that there is no recall on the listed VIN number.

I can also get a Carfax confirming no lien and passing emission control.

I would get a Bill of Sale and the Title after paying for the car and would fax a copy of the title and Bill of Sale to the US Customs.

What other paperwork do I need before I show up at the border??

Please, comment on the above and how are the funds transfered?

How would you do the whole transaction?





What do I need?

Current owner says clear title, no liens.
Should he fax a copy of the title

Bill of sale and the title is all that is required for the border.

I've taken cash (you must declare funds over $10,000 at the border) for some cars and used a bank transfer for others. If you use the bank transfer method take a copy of that paperwork with you. Note: certified cheques, traveler cheques are considered "funds" and must be declared.

Being a 95 (it depends on the month of manufacture) you won't have to go thru the RIV process. Example if the car was built in August and you import it in July it's less than 15 years old and is not exempt. So check the build date. It could save you some time and money.


If it was me, I'd fly down, inspect the car. If your happy with the car put a deposit on it. Get the owner to get the recall letter. Check the build date. Get his bank routing info. Copy of the title. Fly home, fax title to the US Customs Port your exporting thru, along with a letter stating your planning on exporting on a certain date. Have your bank wire his bank the ballance owed. Get temp insurance from your insurance company. Fly down and drive it home 72 hours after faxing US Customs.

[Brian 162]

I just did this a month ago. Have copies of everything. U.S. Customs may not make copies.
I needed a lien release form before they would release the car. CAR FAX wasn't good enough. I purchased from a dealer so I wired the money to their account. The cash cleared within 2 hours.
As long as you have all the paperwork the process wasn't too bad.
On the Canadian side the most important thing you will need is a credit card.

[Gunter]

Thanks GWN7,

Sounds good, makes sense.
Electronic money transfer? I'll have to find out what the Bank charges for this.

Brian,

Lien Release Form? If the title is clear, where does this form come from? What office or Authority issues this?

[GWN7]

All the vehicles I have bought in the USA have had clear titles or clear for several years. My understanding of their banking system, is a title that shows a lein on it is similar to our chattel mortgage system.

When a bank/credit union/ect here finances a vehicle they register a chattel mortgage against the vehicle (this might vary by Province). This gives the bank first claim on the vehicle until the chattel is payed off.

chattel mortgages: What Is A Chattel Mortgage

In the USA a "lein" is placed against the vehicle and this is recorded on the title (usually on the back side). It states the date, amount and who is owed.

So a lein release form would come from the financial institution that lent the money shown on the title.

It should basically state that the loan was payed off on such and such date and they no interest in the vehicle and would be on their letterhead.

Sample form: Release of Lien Free Form

If the title is clear of leins then no release form would be needed.

[Fozzybear]

Great thread! Takes a while to read through it all, but worth it.

I am looking at the purchase of a low mileage 2003 C2 Cabriolet. Pretty much stock other than Avanti rims, but *very* well maintained. A couple of questions/clarifications for the group:

- Liens. If I understand correctly, if there is no lien associated to the title (which would be on the back of the registration?) there is no need to worry about lien release. If there is, then a lien release form/letter from the lien holder is required (?)

- U.S. Customs. Early in the thread someone said that the US Border Agency required the actual title and bill of sale. Later posts have said faxing the registration and bill of sale is ok. Does anyone have current info on this - especially as it pertains to the Ogdensburg crossing? The reason I ask is that the Utah DMV (car is in Utah) said that they won't issue a temp permit without the actual title. They also said that its illegal in most states to drive without the title in the vehicle.

Thanks!
Phil

[Brian 162]

I purchased my truck from a Chevrolet dealer in North Carolina in late April. They faxed the title 2 days before I arrived to pick up the vehicle.I found out the day I picked up the vehicle it was reposessed. For some reason U.S.Customs wanted a lien release form. I never got an answer. They asked for the lien release form. I contacted the dealer and they faxed it in 10 minutes. Customs was happy and I was on my way.

As far as the temp. permit goes I needed to provide proof of insurance. The dealer gave me a temp. tag. I read some states won't issue temp. tags.

The process was pretty simple. Just make sure you have all your paperwork with copies.

[Christien]

To answer both your questions: call.

Call the Utah DMV about liens - better safe that sorry. Different states operate different ways - as I understand it pretty much all of them write lien info right on the title registration, but personally I wouldn't rely on that. I know how easy it is for the Ontario ministry to print wrong info on a title. Call the DMV, they might tell you right then and there, and if not, they'll tell you how to check for sure (eg in Ontario you'd search the gov't database, $8 by credit card, do it online with nothing more than the VIN, and that's for sure 100% correct).

Some border crossings accept a fax, some don't, and who knows if they change their rules with the change in the wind. So again, call them directly and get the answer straight from the horse's mouth.

These are both things you don't want to screw around with, so make sure you know 100%.

[Fozzybear]

Thanks guys!

Flying down on the 30th to pick it up and drive home. Taking my 9 year old son with me - he's been involved in the whole process to date, I figure he might as well get to help bring it home.

Btw interesting conversation with RIV, the girl told me that the bilingual airbag sticker is only required for vehicles that require 'periodic maintenance'. Now in my simple world periodic maintenance means change the oil and check the air pressure - apparently not so for RIV as she also told me that she had never come across a vehicle that required this periodic maintenance.

So, either she maintains her car the same way my wife maintains hers, or periodic maintenance has a specific/different meaning within RIV....any thoughts?

Phil.

[GWN7]

Well RIV is a private company (division of Livingstone International, a broker) so what some mininum wage clerk says over the phone and not written down so you can go back and complain to the Minister of Transport about what they said, I'd take with a grain of salt....

Just be ready to get some (or make your own) for the Federal inspection (RIV) and you won't have to worry about it.

Last inspection, the CDN Tire guy never looked inside, just checked the serial numbers.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Well RIV is a private company (division of Livingstone International, a broker) so what some mininum wage clerk says over the phone and not written down so you can go back and complain to the Minister of Transport about what they said, I'd take with a grain of salt....

Private or not, these are words to live by.

Last inspection, the CDN Tire guy never looked inside, just checked the serial numbers.

Last time I did it, he checked for daytime running lights, said that was important, didn't require child seat tethers (boxster, no back seat) and didn't mention or look for airbag stickers. I had some that I meant to bring with me, but forgot them at home.