I was doing some searching after seeing a few ludes popping up on ebay and other places ... our money here is ~64% of the US Dollar .. so take a USA dollar, multiply by 1.53 or something of the like and there's what we have to pay Canadian. .. the salarie dollar values are similar to usa too , so we really get shafted ...
BUT - Cars in the USA now ... in areas have next to no rust, in Calgary the roads are salted every winter, ontario is super humid and prone to rust .. vancouver isn't supposed to be so bad ... but cars from the USA to us seem usually under priced and with the exchange would actualy save us money ...
enough of the rant . .
Whats the process of importing a car from USA to Canada? I know they are on the list of acceptable vehicles to be imported. There is a $182 permenant import registration fee that has to be paid by Customs I think, the OEM recalls etc. has to be obtained for the vehicle, otherwise if KM's on the gauge for speedo are there the car doesn't have to be modified by what I know.
Whats the rest? Duty etc, other hidden fees ? .. Does anybody have information on this?
If I go this route, I would be going to calif. or arizona, shoppin for a car ... and then just drive it back.
you have to get daytime running headlights if the car doesn't come with it, and the rear seat has to have a baby harness mount installed. At least that's what we had to do 4 years ago. And ya it was about $200 at customs.
I don't really see that many advantages in doing this. Unless the preludes are DIRT cheap. USDM prices are always higher than CDN prices for brand new cars anyways. So I would assume that would also reflect used prices as well? What are the going rates of ludes in the States? Plus like Greek said, you'll lose all the fancy CDM features. Yes you can prolly put them back in, but more $$$. I'm sure you can find a similar good condition model back in your home area. But if you do find something cheeep, but all means. Enough with my useless rambling. I'll copy and paste the info you need to import USDM car to CAN. Keep in mind this meant for the Vancouver audience, but most of the info is applicable. Credit due to the RS.net crew.
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Read this site 1st. http://www.pcb.ca/vimp.asp
Transport Canada
For vehicles manufactured for sale in the US, check with The Registrar of Motor Vehicles @ 1-888-848-8240 to see if the vehicle is admissible in Canada. For all other vehicles call Transport Canada @ 1-800-333-0371. Websites: www.riv.ca or www.tc.gc.ca
Before leaving the USA:
There are special procedures to follow. Any self-propelled vehicle coming from the US must be reported to US Customs 72 hours prior to export from the US. This includes vehicles that are not licensed for the road such as excavators, bulldozers, golf carts, etc. Failure to do so will result in a $400.00 USD fine by US Customs. The vehicle must also stop at US Customs before it physically crosses into Canada. Copies of the bill of sale and the title (the front and back) must be faxed to US Customs and if no title is required then a letter from the exporting state's Department of Motor Vehicles stating that no title is required for that type of vehicle must be provided. You also need to have the supplier certify in writing that the sale is a bona fide sale and that the vehicle is not stolen. Fax to US Customs in Blaine, Wash. @ 1-360-332-2341 or phone 1-360-332-2632.
Canada Customs & Revenue Agency
For vehicles being imported from the US (must be registered in the US) there is no age restriction. For vehicles being imported from all other countries there are restrictions - contact Customs @ 1-800-461-9999 or 1-613-946-1520 to see if the vehicle is admissible. Also confirm what documentation is required and what value the charges will be assessed against. Website: www.ccra.gc.ca
Import Charges
Duty may apply to the vehicle - possible 6.1% duty
GST will be collected at the time of import - 7%
Excise Tax applies if there is air conditioning in the vehicle - $100.00
PST will be collected at the time the vehicle is insured
HST will be collected if applicable in that province.
RIV fees of $192.00 will be collected at time of import
Website: www.ccra.gc.ca
CFIA - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Vehicle being imported from a country other than the USA may require special steam cleaning. Call 1-800-835-4486 to find out more details. Website: www.cfia-acia.agr.ca
Please contact Pacific Customs Brokers if you have any more questions.
akimoto, thats an excellent and informative post, thanks.
yield:
I'm assuming you did import a car, what were the extra fee's on top of the cost of the car and maintaining to meet Canadian safety guides ?
Duty / GST fee's is what im most curious about and how they're calculated.
I've seen like eclipse and stuff in my cousins auto trader from florida that are like 4grand for a 95 and stuff .. $6080 CDN.
Checking recent prices in my area, 92-94 prelude SR's are 10g's Canadian at least. $6500 or so US .. preludes are in and under the 5thou mark easily.
Plus a plane flight and drive back ? .. Great travelling in a great car. I own a 4WS that I paid 10,500 CDN with and that was the better of the vehicles for sale at the time so .. that was with 170, 000 km 105k miles. had remote starter, keyless entry, intake & exhaust and had over 170psi compression in all cylinders so it was good n strong.. just needed brakes and rotors, all the others .. one had compression of 155 in one cylinder, the car smelt like oil, another from ontario had 230k on it all rusted under neath ...
So with a rare car in the region, the overcost of the actual book value which is like $8000 CDN. for the 92 .. the states might work out to be cheaper.
I say look into vancouver. That is where my lude is from and it doesn't have any rust. I don't know how long it was there for though. In the end I don't think it would be worth buying in the US and importing it into canada. Get a paper from vancouver and see what is in the classifieds, there are probably a few good deals in there.
There are a few more deals where cars are in the 8800 range (closer to book value) than in calgary, but overall there's 92's & 93's in there people are asking over 12 for.
There was ONE 97 with 150ish k on it for 13,000.. thats not bad. (all CDN dollar values)
If you need help with looking at a car in AZ just let me know. My area code is 85207, and I'll travel up to 30 miles (long enough for most all major cities here) or so to inspect a car for you if you are serious.
Greek: Thats what I'm saying ... 13,000 ($8550 US) for a vehicle thats 11years old and no vtec ? ... Its a prelude still .. but when they sell for 3 grand less in the USA with vtec ... less km's .. better body .. no rust.. plus, in canada the winters are hard on the cars with cold starts etc. so the engine very well may be in better shape also.
4bidden, thats super cool of you to offer man! .. I just got my car 6months ago so ... I think I'll be holding on .. but its something to look into if mine ever gets written off ..
Do you have any auto-trader like websites that private sale car owners use ? .. I'd love to see the ranges of ludes down there.
I don't think the price differences are huge in the used market. I got my 93 SI (SR) for $6200 (I got a good deal on it considering it had a new engine in it for 20k), which comes out to a little over $9000 CAD, which is less than most SR's I've seen in Canada. They usually appear to go for $10g to $13. So I'd say there are deals to be had anywhere. As one other person said though, your best bet is probably Vancouver where you wouldn't have any import hassles and the condition of their cars is great. however they are expensive because they are in such good shape. They have crazy re-sale values there.
Yohan: Also, i don't know about taxes because the car we imported was a gift so we didn't have to pay (I think). It was basically $200 at the border. The daytime running lights and baby mount didn't cost much for an install, $50 maybe?
Well when cars are going on e-bay for 4-5 g's with lil over 150,000 km's ... the cars priced up here are all 150 - 200 k's .. the cheapest i saw was 8800cDN with 230,000 k's .. the driver seat wouldnt recline, air conditioning was broken, entire underbody of the car was rusted to sh!t and the front pass. tire was blade and the others seemed ok .. it drove alright, started by barely tapping the key, but just wasn't worth it ..
But you are right, there are deals to be had everywhere .. just gotta be lucky when the time's right. I'll check in s'more on my buddy's recent traders in florida ..
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What are the going rates of ludes in the States? Plus like Greek said, you'll lose all the fancy CDM features. Yes you can prolly put them back in, but more $$$. I'm sure you can find a similar good condition model back in your home area. But if you do find something cheeep, but all means. Enough with my useless rambling. I'll copy and paste the info you need to import USDM car to CAN. Keep in mind this meant for the Vancouver audience, but most of the info is applicable. Credit due to the RS.net crew.
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