I about to buy a car in Canada Still have US title Car is running What is the pitfalls about bringing a car over the boarder ? Anyone have experience and would like to share ? What paper is needed ? What fees are involved ? Ie Entry bond fees ? Custom handling frees ? My regular transport broker did not want to deal with it. Told me to tell the seller to bring the car over to US side and he wound pick it up there ... Thx Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I have sold cars both ways across the border (pre covid days). The last time because it was two cars and the dollar amount a broker was needed and expenses were incurred that the buyer was willing to pay. Paperwork can be confusing but with the help of the broker is not that bad. It is fairly simple if the car can be driven into the US from Canada. All that is necessary is a bill of sale and title/registration and off you go but with the restrictions now I'm not sure how that works getting entry into the US? So a check with US Customs would be advised
Carefull asking us customs because you have the title ,they will want to know how its in canada . I would call a broker. The last cars i sold to USA the guys just drove to border ,one was trailered . No issues at all .coming into canada requires a broker now
I once made the mistake of buying a Canadian registered car at the NSRA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. I had the registration and the signed title by the Canadian owner. When I went to register the car in Kentucky the DMV refused to register it as I had no US Customs inspection documentation. At first a US Customs agent told me I had to take the car back to a Canadian/US boder check point and get the required documentation. I knew that wasn't going to happen and contacted the US Customs Headquarters in Washington, DC and explained the predicament. Fortunately the airport in Louisville, Kentucky is a International facility staffed by US Customs who inspected the car and provided me the required documents. All the inspection consisted of was checking the VIN # on the car against the title. The correct way is to buy the car in Canada and bring it through US Customs border check point who inspects the car and provides the required US Customs documentation. I lived and learned.
You cannot cross the border unless you are an essential worker. I am pretty sure driving a car across the border to sell it or vice versa is not going to be considered an essential service and will not be allowed. This is not going to be an easy task at this point in time. Sent from my SM-G950W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
^^^Yep, today the border restrictions were extended to Sept. 21. Call US Customs, explain what you have in mind (including which border crossing will be used) and see what they advise. Have your ducks in order.
Getting across the border is a pain in the butt right now. Some of the guys in BC buy/sell cars back and forth all the time and their answers are probably what you need to go by.
Non essential travel is not going to happen. Do not even think that you are a exception. You are going to be turned back. Not worth the trouble at this time. Vic
I don't believe I can leave the state of California for any reason without going into quarantine for 14 days.
Here is a link to the US Customs website section about importing cars to the US. Note there is a paragraph partway down the page that touches on re-importing a car that was originally in the US. https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car There are other websites out there that may be helpful, just Google on "importing a car from Canada." One other I found was a section on the Hagerty insurance website: https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/how-to-import-a-car-from-canada-to-the-us/
I live two miles from the border crossing and there are dozens of cars heading south every week, thanks to they strength of the US dollar. This having a US title should even be easier. Covid does not stop it from crossing the border. Your shipper will pick it up in Canada and do about 30 minutes of paperwork at the crossing and then bring you the car. If you come up, that is a whole different story that includes 14 day quarantine. You need to call US customs for the real story and not rely on some of the half-baked dribble that two bitters toss in, I recommend a quality shipper (I used TFX International my last purchase) that does all the broker work for you and then enjoy your purchase. I assisted in a Contineneal Mk II sale earlier this month and the whole process was 5 days, from money arriving, shipper (Reliable) picking it up and it was across the border.
The Jalopy Journal
