Importing a Porsche from the US into Canada

[Christien]

Hmm, maybe we all should do our importing in BC If you should happen to speak to anyone from the Toronto-area dealerships, would you please let them know how easy it was for you?

[mroddis]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Well the car's home.

Can't believe how easy it was. Like farting through silk.

1 minute tops to get the US export stamp.

10 minutes tops at Canada Customs

4 minutes tops at RIV.

So altogether 15 minutes. Everyone helpful and polite.

Sort of makes me think you guys were pulling my leg with all the stories on this thread.

Which border crossing did you come through?

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by mroddis

Which border crossing did you come through?

Vancouver/ Blaine

[Dottore]

I've been seeing an increasing number of Beck Speedsters around with local plates.

Anyone know what the story is here? I thought these couldn't be imported because they are "kit" cars or some such thing.

Have the rules changed?

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Dottore

I've been seeing an increasing number of Beck Speedsters around with local plates.

Anyone know what the story is here? I thought these couldn't be imported because they are "kit" cars or some such thing.

Have the rules changed?

I don't know if it was the the licencing (or importing) but I know insurance was the PITA here in Ontario.

[Kristo]

..

[harold_callahan]

I found a car in Chicago. I would like to go down and drive it back to Ontario, but the dealer is saying:

"I'm sorry, but you can not drive the car to the border. Illinois law prohibits it to driven. Must be transported to the border. You would have to pay for that."

Any suggestions for how to drive it home?

I was hoping to get a 10 day Ontario temp plate, but other people have said that Ontario no longer allows this.

-Callahan-

[1990C4S]

Trailer it one block. Then drive it.

[GWN7]

The dealer is probably thinking about the Sales Tax aspect of the sale. Most states and provinces (the ones that charge sales tax) require that the vehicle be shipped out of state/province by a commercial carrier so the state/province doesn't charge them the sales tax. They need a paper trial for the tax man.

Ask them if this is the reason they want it shipped.

If so, then all you have to do is tell them the ABC Transport Company will be picking the car up for you. Create a invoice from the ABC Transport Company to you and give the dealer a copy of the invoice. Pick the car up and drive it home. Toss any ABC transport info before you get to the border so Canada Customs dosen't get confused.

[bookert]

Originally Posted by Fozzybear

Hi Guys,

Just finished getting my C2 cab across the border - many thanks to all who answered my previous questions.

Now on to phase II.....

Can anyone tell me if the cab has child tether anchors? (I don't have an owners manual)
If yes, *where* are they??
If no, where do most people install them?

Thanks!

Did you ever get an answer to this question? I have the same one.

[s_morrison57]

I shipped an old truck door to door using DAS, never use DAS but thats a different story on how they Ripped me off, 2 1/2 years later I took the truck to Crappytire for the inspection and they passed it even though it was past the time limit of registration so I don't know if that rule applies anymore or if they missed that @ C-T.
In BC they will only give you a point A to point B and return permit thats valid for 1 day , the cost was $15
I prefered that someone else did the paperwork and cross the car/truck for me, I was outta the country at the time so it was the only option for me.
From reading this thread I can see lots of trouble that a guy could run into, next time I'm gonna really check out the customs part of things before I look, its not only "buyer beware" it also looks like "importer beware"
Still a great thread.

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by GWN7

If the car is over 25 years old it can be imported as a antique and is exempt from duty.

Anyone knows if it's still the case in 2010?
I can't find anything about this.

[duncan1437]

i imported a 1981 porsche into canada in 2009 (over 25 years old). i can't find the paperwork but i think i paid 6% duty IIRC (plus the $100 a/c levy).

just an FYI, i found two sites that are pretty helpful about importing a car into canada. the first site deals with importing a car into ontario (generally), and the second site deals with importing a kit car

How to Import Car to Canada? , Importing US vehicle to Canada.


"Kit Cars" in Canada - Transport Canada

Frequently asked questions for Kit Cars - Transport Canada

the Transport Canada FAQ on importing a kit car is pretty interesting and easy to read. must have been written by a 'car guy'

[Jazzman]

Thanks for the reply Duncan.
The car is already here in Canada but I had to pay the 6,1% duty.
Since the car is a 1970, I don't want to pay it if I don't have to.
And according to these guys, I shouldn't.
Import Car To Canada! » Do I have to Pay Tax to Import a car from U.S. to Canada?

Here is a list of tax/duty costs that you could potentially pay at the border:

Duty Amounts:

Vehicles Manufactured in North America: Duty Free
Vehicles Manufactured outside North America: 6.1% on average
Vehicles over 25 years old: Duty Free

[GWN7]

Duty is charged based on where the goods are manufactured and what the items are. Some countrys duty payable can be as high as 22% depending on what it is and where it is made.

If, when you are importing a car over 25 years old and you use the tarif code mentioned in the previous posts the Customs agent usually overlooks the duty aspect for German manufactured goods and you don't pay anything.

It all depends on the Customs Agent and what type of day they have had tho.

So if you payed 6.1% you didn't overpay but I'm betting you didn't use the tarif code from the earlier post.

[duncan1437]

i found my import documents, and turns out i did pay the 6.1% tariff duty.

here's two other sites which confirm the exemption for 25 year old vehicles:

Hidden Taxes and Fees on Imported U.S. Automobiles

Welcome to the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada

looks like the cdn govt owes me a $1000 refund

i'll find out the official 'chapter and verse' for the exemption, and the refund process, and report back.

edit/update: "The authorities for the removal of the duty on 25 year old vehicles and their parts are Statutory Concessions 2440 (vehicles) and 2441 (parts) found in Schedule 2 of the Customs Tariff 1994."

from here:
http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-83688.html

[GWN7]

If I remember correctly you file a B3 form to reclaim overpayment.

[Jazzman]

They were closed today (12/28) but I'll call them tomorrow to file that B3 form.
They owe me more than $2k.

Thanks GWN7!

[duncan1437]

the exemption is tariff item 9966.00.00, and here's the related Memorandum D10-15-20:

Interpretation of Tariff Item No.9966.00.00

edit: not sure, but the refund form might be a B2G:

all of the forms:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/menu-eng.html

the B2G form and instruction sheet::

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b2g.pdf

presumably the customs duty refund will trigger an (automatic) GST refund as well.......and allow an application for a PST refund too:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/forms/rst/pdf/0298.pdf

[Jazzman]

Spoke to a "friendly" agent at the CSBA earlier this morning and she can't understand why I was charged the 6,1 duty for a 40 year old car
Just mailed my CBSA informal adjustment request with my Vehicule import form (Form 1) and the B-15 form (Blue).
Processing time should be somewhere between 4/8 weeks.

Thanks to GWN7 and Duncan for all the info.