How To Register A Canadian Motorcycle In Michigan

** We do not provide import/export services. This guide is for information only. **

If you live near the Canadian border of the United States, you've probably been tempted to purchase a used car or truck and bring it over here. Possibly you're a snowbird that has a wintertime home and yous desire to keep your motorcar in the States total-time, or peradventure you're eyeing those Nissan Skylines and Acura-badged Honda Civics that are unheard of in the U.S. Either style, legally importing a vehicle from Canada tin be a rewarding or frustrating feel depending on how prepared yous are.

Except the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, of course. That legendary car has its own story.

I am non going to lie to y'all – there are a lot of steps to take when importing a vehicle from any country. You volition need to be organized and prepared to jump through some hoops. Even so, if yous find the car y'all desire at an affordable price, it might be worth the time to make it happen.

In this guide you'll larn all about importing a vehicle from Canada: what cars are eligible, the paperwork involved, and most chiefly, how much it costs to exercise it without the help of a specialist company. Nosotros broke it downwards into 7 easy steps listed below.

What Cars Are We Talking Well-nigh Here?

There are ii main means to import a machine to the United States. If a car is more than 25 years onetime, information technology can be legally imported to the United states and registered for road use under the provisions of the 25 Twelvemonth Dominion. If a car is less than 25 years former but has historical significance and was never sold in the United States, it could be eligible for import and limited route use under the provisions of the Show and Brandish Rule.

This guide describes how to import and register cars from Canada that are less than 25 years erstwhile and are ineligible for Bear witness and Display.

Why Not Just Drive 1 Over?

Why go through all this nonsense instead of just bringing the car over and crossing your fingers? If you lot drive back and forth across the Canadian border on a regular basis, it'south of import to notation that your Canadian-registered vehicle is but legal in the United States for one year. After that, regime can seize it for myriad reasons and either deport or crush your dearest car without a second thought.

To avoid the auto being confiscated, finalize the import process of your vehicle within 365 days after the car's arrival in the U.Due south from Canada.

Ane Matter Makes Importation Much Easier

If the kind of vehicle you desire to import was also sold in the Us, you take a leg up.

Take a moment to expect at the automobile's manufacturer label. GM, Chrysler and Ford all have plants in Canada that produce vehicles which are later sold in the United states of america. For case, Ford produces the Flex and Edge vehicles in Ontario. In addition, GM produces their Camaro and Impala likewise in Ontario every bit well.

Fifty-fifty though American automakers take Canadian facilities building cars for the U.Southward. market, that doesn't hateful all these cars are conformed to the The states market. The manufacturer'southward characterization needs to be inspected if you want to determine whether the vehicle is valid for U.S. distribution.

Yous'll find this label in one of a few spots. Look in the door latch post, near the door's edge, or at the hinge pillar. If the label says it's made for U.s. sale, you're going to have a slightly easier go of things. Slightly.

The Standard for Federalizing a Used Car from Canada

Not all Canadian vehicles meet the standard of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Condom Act or the Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards. Thankfully, the rules aren't overly strict, and the procedure of meeting them is called federalization.

Canada'south motor vehicle prophylactic standards closely resemble our Federal requirements. That'southward why the NHTSA issues blanket eligibility roofing many Canadian-certified vehicles bound for the U.South. market. Earlier you go your hopes up, there are some discrepancies between the two. If the Canadian-certified car or truck was manufactured before the FMVSS requirements changed, for example, then the vehicle must be updated to come across U.South. standards.

Often this simply involves making basic adjustments or adding basic things, but since this chat is specific to each model, we aren't going to become into item here. Wait into forums and groups for importing your model of car – it's unlikely that you are the kickoff to exercise information technology.

Equally a little extra peace of mind, you might be happy to know that many of the vehicles north of the edge are going to run across our government's standards, just you should still research the specific vehicle at the kickoff of the importation process to salvage yourself fourth dimension and headaches.

Can I Legally Import a Vehicle from Canada?

Absolutely! Importing vehicles from Canada is permitted past any person looking to utilise the vehicle for personal apply. It must comply with the Federal Department of Transportation safe standards and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. If it doesn't meet those already, then a DOT Registered Importer needs to import the vehicle instead. You lot can observe these in many major cities.

Another thing you'll want to do in the beginning is check to brand sure the motorcar has no liens, no title issues, and isn't stolen. Just imagine the headache of paying for a used car and then not existence able to get information technology across the border!

Thankfully, we can help with this process. But utilize our handy Vehicle History Report to brand certain the automobile is in order earlier yous buy it.

How to Import a Vehicle from Canada in 7 Steps

Later on conducting the research we discussed and verifying your vehicle is eligible for importation, become to Canada and buy the vehicle. Make sure you become a Nib of Sale showing the VIN with your proper noun as the purchaser. You can coordinate with a person or company in Canada to practise these steps for you lot if traveling there is an inconvenience.
You will also need the Manufacturer'southward Statement/Certificate of Origin or the title and registration.
Get ahead and obtain a temporary license plate and an insurance card from the Province in which you make the purchase. You can often extend your U.S. insurance coverage to comprehend you in Canada besides.
Y'all will have to pay a Goods and Services Taxation (GST) on the car, but you should exist exempt from Provincial Sales Taxation (PST) if you aren't a Canadian resident.
Accept the auto thoroughly cleaned and steam-sprayed prior to heading to the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants the undercarriage completely free of whatsoever foreign soil, and yous never know what the previous possessor did inside.
Get your documents in order before attempting to cross the border. Yous'll take to make full out form CBP 7501 and some other community paperwork declaring your possessions, including the car. During that time, the community officials volition take time to audit your machine and match it upwards with your paperwork. Wait to be there for at to the lowest degree xxx minutes.
Pay all associated fees. When importing a car from Canada, you volition be required to pay fees you may not accept encountered before. The total toll volition vary depending on the model of vehicle you lot are importing.

What is the Total Cost to Import a Vehicle from Canada?

With all this talk of taxes, fees, and duties, it's clear that this isn't a cheap process. Thankfully, importing a vehicle from Canada is similar cost-wise to buying one in the States. A detailed breakdown of these fees tin be found on the Us Customs and Border Protection website.

Exemptions: There are two main sources of financial relief that come into play.

Every bit a U.S. citizen, you can apply a $400 Customs Exemption at the time of border crossing, so long equally you're driving a auto back that you bought during that specific trip. Each family member riding in your auto can, too, providing they are also U.S. citizens.
As a U.S. resident, yous will receive a $10,000 Value Exemption on the vehicle. That ways if the car is worth $xv,000, you'll just pay Canadian taxes on $v,000.

Import Duties: Vehicles made in Canada or the U.S., or ones imported for personal use, are usually non field of study to duties (international trade taxes). However, strange-made cars and those imported for sale sometimes are. For these you will probable pay the following upon importing a vehicle from Canada:

Autos: ii.5%
Trucks: 25%
Motorcycles: up to two.4%

Gas Guzzler Tax: Some imports volition be striking with the infamous "gas-guzzler" tax. This tax may be required based on the vehicle's combined EPA fuel-economic system rating.

Other Fees and Taxes: There will exist other vehicle-specific fees, such as the Air Conditioning Taxation for cars with A/C (yes, that'south a real matter) that can add together substantial price to importing a car from Canada.

If you import from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Labrador or Ontario, you'll too accept to pay the provincial sales tax when yous cross the border.

Other fees may apply based on the model of vehicle in question.

Once Y'all Get Home

You have some farther steps to take once you become back to the United states.

Insure the vehicle in the U.S.
Take your paperwork to the State DOT to register your vehicle. Prepare to pay the land taxes and applicable fees. You may also demand to go an emissions exam earlier registration.
In a few weeks, the tags and plates for the vehicle should arrive.

Too Much Piece of work?

If all of this sounds similar too much to bargain with, you lot have 2 other options. The beginning is to simply purchase a car that's already been imported into the United States. You know that these cars run across our country'south legal standards and you won't have to travel over the Canadian border or bargain with customs, duties, and fees.

The other option is to use an importing specialist to walk you through step by step. These businesses understand how to import a vehicle from Canada, and they can aid you research the safety standards needed for a motor vehicle and enable you lot to work with the National Highway Safety Administration to smoothly import a vehicle from Canada or anywhere else. Their services are non cheap, but they may be worthwhile.

Importing a auto from Canada is something you can admittedly do yourself without professional help, simply information technology never hurts to have a friend on your side.

You Even so Need a Title and License Plates

Our team of title specialists can acquire a title and license plates for cars, motorcycles, and just about anything with wheels. We also offer on VIN Checks and Vehicle Blow Reports to requite you peace of heed whether you're importing a auto or just buying one down the street. Follow the links to see if your motorcar qualifies for our services.

** We do non provide import/export services. This guide is for information just. **