Re: Vehicle importing - Question for Canadian listeners

["Stephen Bigelow" <sbigelow@sprint.ca>]

http://www.mapsupport.com/thedatabase/impex/imprtgvehcan.htm

and also this...

Motor vehicles - Customs restrictions
Under customs law, import restrictions apply to most used or second-hand
vehicles that are not manufactured in the current year. Unless you qualify
for one of the specific exceptions (see the next paragraph), this means that
you cannot import these vehicles, even if you are willing to pay the duties
that apply. Generally, these restrictions apply only to vehicles imported
from countries other than the United States.

To find out more about the customs restrictions and the exceptions that
apply, pick up the brochure called Importing a Motor Vehicle Into Canadafrom
your nearest Revenue Canada customs office.

United States
Under NAFTA, the customs restrictions do not apply to vehicles imported from
the United States, as long as you meet certain conditions. In addition, if
they qualify for the United States tariff rate, a lower duty rate applies.
Each year, the duty rate on vehicles drops, until they become duty-free in
1998. Excise taxes and GST continue to apply in the usual way.

Mexico
Under NAFTA, the customs restrictions continue to apply to motor vehicles
imported from Mexico until the year 2009, when you will be able to import
vehicles 10 years old or older. This age restriction drops every second year
until it is eliminated in 2019. The duty rate on vehicles that qualify for
the Mexico tariff rate began to drop on January 1, 1994, and continues to
drop each year until 2003, when vehicles become duty free. Excise taxes and
GST continue to apply in the usual way.

Transport Canada restrictions
Transport Canada has regulations that affect all imported motor vehicles.
Under the regulations, all vehicles that are less than 15 years old have to
comply with Canadian federal safety and emission standards to be eligible
for importation into Canada. Vehicles that meet only European or U.S.
federal motor vehicle safety standards often do not meet the Canadian
standards. You may not be able to import them into Canada.

If you are considering importing such a vehicle, make sure it meets the
Canadian standards outlined in the Motor Vehicle Safety ActandRegulations.
It will also bear the manufacturer's statement-of-compliance label.

The person importing the vehicle is responsible for determining its
compliance status. Since the safety requirements are complex, you should
contact the following Transport Canada office for more information:

Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation
Directorate

Transport Canada
13th floor
Canada Building
344 Slater Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0N5

Telephone: (613) 998-2174
1-800-511-7755 (toll free from
Canada or the United States)

Your vehicle may be subject to provincial or territorial taxes as well as
the registration fee assessed by the Registrar of Imported Vehicles. For
more information, contact the department of motor vehicles in your province
or territory.

Temporary import restrictions
If you buy, lease, rent, or borrow a vehicle while abroad, customs law does
not allow you to bring it into Canada for your personal use, even
temporarily. In the case of a one-way rental, you have to go directly to the
authorized rental agent closest to your destination in Canada to drop off
the vehicle. In the case of an emergency, or if you have personal goods to
bring in or take out of the country, you can use the vehicle to go directly
from the border to a specified destination and back.


And for a truly bizzare twist, the Transport Canada office is _less_ than a
block from my apartment. I could hit it with a snowball.