Importing a Porsche from the US into Canada

[vandenam]

Hi

Can you help me with activation of DRLs on a 2007 Carrera S with Sport Chrono and Nav. I bought the car in Wisconsin and need to get it ready for inspection next week

Thanks

[Vancity12]

Hi Guys, newbie here so please excuse my questions

Q- how many miles must the vehicle have to be considered used for importing?
q- is the warrenty and serive agreements transferable to bc from USA?
Q- any advantage to register to Alberta vs bc?
Q- where online can you find a site that compares USA to cdn msrp?
Q- can I drive my vehicle back from say california to bc without paying sales tax?
Q- I must pay gst at the border, duty of 6.1 at border then pst once I insure it?

Thanks in advance for helping me out

[stealthn]

Van, the dealer can do it or a mechanic with the proper Odb II tools


For importing a car,

A car sold from any lot/ dealer that is not brand new is used
Warranty is transferable, but you will be the last in line for service for a US car
Ab vs BC, depends, not sure but check with RIV
Msrp, no comparison, cheaper in us
No you will pay tax, duty, etc, there is no sales tax?
I don't think there would be PST, but I live in Alberta so no idea about that

I know an importer here that brought my Cayman up, call Dale at Goodcarsolutions.com for more info....

[GWN7]

For MSRP go to the Porsche web site and "build" your car in Canada, then "build" it in the Porsche USA web site. Compare.

If you live in AB you only pay GST on the car. In BC you pay HST (combined PST & GST, till they do away with that). Unless you have a address in AB that you actual live at you will pay the HST. You will need documentation such as a drivers licence that you live in AB. Canada Customs asks for your drivers licence when they are filling out your entry paperwork and ask for a phone number.

If you buy from a dealer in California they will try to collect the sales tax because the state expects them to. You need to have the car shipped out of state for them to not collect the taxes. If you buy from a dealer in the USA get the recall letter for RIV from the dealer. If buying from a private party get them to provide a recall letter from their dealer. I've been told Porsche Canada charges $2,500 to provide the letter.

Not sure about Porsche but GM told their dealers not to sell new vehicles to Canadians. They will sell you used, but not new.

[997ajk]

Has anyone purchased a vehicle from Michigan? The car is from a private seller. According to the state website I am required to pay Michigan taxes? But I won't be switching titles to my name. Or simply presenting MI title + bill of sale with US customs form all is required for export?
I'll be towing the car to the border, if that makes a difference.

Thanks
Adrian

[trapper_canada]

Originally Posted by 997ajk

Has anyone purchased a vehicle from Michigan? The car is from a private seller. According to the state website I am required to pay Michigan taxes? But I won't be switching titles to my name. Or simply presenting MI title + bill of sale with US customs form all is required for export?
I'll be towing the car to the border, if that makes a difference.

Thanks
Adrian

You shouldn't need to. I bought a car from New Mexico from a dealership. State sales tax would normally apply but because I was "out of state" they were able to exempt me.

As you are buying privately you should not have to worry about sales tax. Title and bill of sale is all border guards will need....in advance of course.

[997ajk]

Thanks guys.

See section 8-4 (is it possible this applies to dealers only?)
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Dealer_Manual_Chapter_8_186065_7.pdf

[GWN7]

Your buying from a private party not a dealership. All the regulations on those pages only apply if your buying from a stealership. Buy car, drive/tow home. Canada Customs cares not if you put car in your name.

[Rekoob]

this is a great thread and very useful.
ill chime in on my soon to be import.
We will be moving to vancouver end of august and ill be brinign our 2 motorcycles and a '78 targa, all in my name. all vehicles are registered and insured in virginia. my plan is to simply trailer the bikes with my girlfriend driving, and me follow, driving the car. I will simply say im visiting vancouver, helping her move back, and im unsure if i will be staying there or not. once in vancouver ill then go to the local import or customs office to do the needed transfers and import paperwork.
this has worked for me 3 times in the past on other moves and always seems to be much smoother and painless than actually doing everything at the boarder.
i do have a couple questions:

1) are there any inspections or emissions of any kind to pass when registering in BC on the older cars? approximate cost?
2) changing over a US drivers license, anything special to know? tests to retake ect..?

thanks,
Booker

[trapper_canada]

Originally Posted by Rekoob

this is a great thread and very useful.
ill chime in on my soon to be import.
We will be moving to vancouver end of august and ill be brinign our 2 motorcycles and a '78 targa, all in my name. all vehicles are registered and insured in virginia. my plan is to simply trailer the bikes with my girlfriend driving, and me follow, driving the car. I will simply say im visiting vancouver, helping her move back, and im unsure if i will be staying there or not. once in vancouver ill then go to the local import or customs office to do the needed transfers and import paperwork.
this has worked for me 3 times in the past on other moves and always seems to be much smoother and painless than actually doing everything at the boarder.
i do have a couple questions:

1) are there any inspections or emissions of any kind to pass when registering in BC on the older cars? approximate cost?
2) changing over a US drivers license, anything special to know? tests to retake ect..?

thanks,
Booker

The issue I see (and not sure how you overcame it in the past) is that Canadian Customs can not "receive" a US vehicle until US customs has "released" it and stamp the title with their export seal.

I do have a friend that twice before has snuck campers into Canada...he just went with the bill of sale, got a plate, and that was it. Not sure a vehicle will work.

As for the emissions in BC I don't know.... BUT I did import my '78 911 from the US. I brought it across as an antique. When I registered it with the province (Saskatchewan) I also did it as an antique and thus was exempt from any safety or other inspections.

Good Luck!

[Happy911]

Hi All,

Thanks to those that started and have contributed to this thread. Very helpful.

I've just put a deposit on a car so am reading this thread and figuring out the import game.

Decided to call and confirm with my port of entry the 72 hour rule and what they need for documentation.

I was told that this port (Port Huron / Sarnia) now just has an email address that you send an email to with the vehicle VIN in advance. You then get an auto reply which you just print and bring to the border with your original docs and the car.

I'm just about to test this...will update.

[Happy911]

Well, there you have it! Sent an email to porthuronvehicleexport@cbp.dhs.gov and within 10 seconds received this.
__________________________________________________ __________
To Whom It May Concern:

From Port Huron Vehicle Export Team

This e-mail response serves as your confirmation that CBP has received your vehicle export information. You may export the vehicle 72 hours from recepit of the e-mail.

If you are a Commercial Exporter our commercial export hours are 8:00am to 8:00pm, Monday-Thursday and from 8:00am to 12 noon on Friday.

Vehicles for export may not be taken to Canada prior to being formally exported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Failure to comply with requirements set forth in 19CFR 192.2 may result in a penalty action.

Things required at time of vehicle exportation are:

· An orginal Title, Certificate of Origin, or Manufactures Statement of Origin.
· Vehicles that have no Title (ex: snowmobiles) or are unable to obtain a Title, Certificate of Origin, or MSO (because manufacturer is no longer in business) must present a registration and or bill of sale. Registration and or bill of sale serves as your proof of ownership (title). This requirement varies from state to state. It is your responsibilty to determine what that state's ownership requirements are.
· WHTI compliant indentification for yourself and all parties with you. Please refer to the following website for information on WHTI compliant identification: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) - New Travel Document Requirements Go Into Effect June 1, 2009 for Crossing the U.S. Border
· Lien release if a lien is present on the vehicle. Note: This can be done by having the finance company sign off on the original title itself (along with the finance company's stamp) or an original letter from the finace company indicating the lien is released. For those vehicles that are still being financed, you may present a certified copy of the title, along with an original letter from the finance company that the vehicle can be exported.
· This printed, e-mail confirmation including your original message to CBP.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by Happy911

Hi All,

Thanks to those that started and have contributed to this thread. Very helpful.

I've just put a deposit on a car so am reading this thread and figuring out the import game.

Decided to call and confirm with my port of entry the 72 hour rule and what they need for documentation.

I was told that this port (Port Huron / Sarnia) now just has an email address that you send an email to with the vehicle VIN in advance. You then get an auto reply which you just print and bring to the border with your original docs and the car.

I'm just about to test this...will update.

They switched to this system at Queenston/Lewiston a few years ago, thank god. It works fine. The auto-response email even says it's good for 6 months so please don't email again with the same VIN!

[Christien]

Originally Posted by trapper_canada

The issue I see (and not sure how you overcame it in the past) is that Canadian Customs can not "receive" a US vehicle until US customs has "released" it and stamp the title with their export seal.

That's not exactly true. I thought it was this way too, until about a year and a half ago when I was importing a Mini at Queenston/Lewiston. There was construction on the US side just before the export office, and there was a temporary sign pointing you over to the export office, which I missed, completely by accident. I ended up on the Canadian side and the guy at the booth said they didn't care, it was the Americans who care about the export side of things. I got the Ontario title no problem, and have since sold it through the auction (which clears all titles) to another dealer in Quebec, who (I assume) got title fine - that was 4 months ago and I haven't heard anything since. (and believe me, I would have heard through the auction house if there was a title problem!)

[dagriff]

When you do get it to C.B.S.A. make sure they get the paperwork correct.
I just went to register the M.G. and the Customs guy put the licence plate # where the vin # should be on the import form. So registries refused to plate it.....
So back to Halifax to do battle with the C.B.S.A.

[black98]

Christien


It is true that the cdn CBSA does not care about the American side
BUT
if a future owner was stopped in the US and the vin checked ( rare) the vehicle would be seized

[Trailrider77]

Hello
I recently purchased a 79 911SC in the states. Importing at the border was painless and took less than 30min.

My question/concern is the out of province inspection (OOP). I understand that if I register the car as a daily driver (not antique) I have to pass an OOP inspection. Although the car is mechanically perfect and DRL are a non-issue, some of the other items on the inspection checklist may be. Such as the ignition working without the clutch being depressed, or child restraints in the back.

- Has anyone else had similar inspection experiences with 30+ year old vehicles?
- Which inspection agency would be to my advantage, Calgary Porsche or Canadian Tire?

I know there is a option to register the vehicle as an antique and bypass the inspection process. What are the risks in doing this? I intend to drive this car most weekends, weather permitting.

Jeremy

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Trailrider77

... Which inspection agency would be to my advantage, Calgary Porsche or Canadian Tire?...

I tough CT had the exclusivity but none the less, I would go with CT unless some Calgarian Pelican recommended something else.

[Trailrider77]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

I tough CT had the exclusivity but none the less, I would go with CT unless some Calgarian Pelican recommended something else.

Thanks for the response

I think CT has the exclusive for Federal and/or RIV inspections. OOP inspections have been privatized and many businesses offer the service.

My only concern with CT is having some "Joe Mechanic" that doesn't know anything about Porsche's monkeying around with my car (ie removing wheels, trying to inspect fuel and brake lines, etc). Unless they let me stand there and supervise.

Kind of leaning towards a shop that at least knows or works on Porsche's, but not necessarily the Porsche Center.
Cheers

[Jp-oh]

Originally Posted by Trailrider77

Hello
I recently purchased a 79 911SC in the states. Importing at the border was painless and took less than 30min.

My question/concern is the out of province inspection (OOP). I understand that if I register the car as a daily driver (not antique) I have to pass an OOP inspection. Although the car is mechanically perfect and DRL are a non-issue, some of the other items on the inspection checklist may be. Such as the ignition working without the clutch being depressed, or child restraints in the back.

- Has anyone else had similar inspection experiences with 30+ year old vehicles?
- Which inspection agency would be to my advantage, Calgary Porsche or Canadian Tire?

I know there is a option to register the vehicle as an antique and bypass the inspection process. What are the risks in doing this? I intend to drive this car most weekends, weather permitting.

Jeremy

I had mine done at Alpine and they found stupid stuff like hood shocks were a bit weak blah blah; kind of pedantic if you ask me. Anyway things like kiddy seat belts and DRLs are not going to be an issue as thats how the car came. Its all the little mechanical bits that they'll look for. If you want my recommendation and can wait a week or two because they are busy go to Tunedub (Tunedub Inc. - Automotive & Customs). George owns the place and has been nothing but good to me for the 8 years I've been taking cars to him. He is a car nut, has built some monsters and has two 930s. I've seen a 993 GT2 on a lift at his place. He is going to be refurbing my suspension in a couple of weeks as a result of my recent rear sway bar bracket debacle.