MichaelRyerson Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Sent for the customs forms already. Any advice would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacrat Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Maybe off topic but what are you taking out of Cananada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 If the car was originally manufactured in the U.S. then there is little to no issue. Generally, you will get better help if you put more effort into the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelRyerson Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 If the car was originally manufactured in the U.S. then there is little to no issue. Generally, you will get better help if you put more effort into the question.Thought the question was sufficiently stated. I'm buying a car that is presently in Canada. It is a '41 Buick. It was manufactured in Flint, Michigan. I'm asking for any advice which might be helpful in satisfying the customs officials. I've never done it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Actually, your question was completely vague. However your follow up provides the necessary info. Since the car was manufactured in the U.S. there are no vats or taxes. Since this question has been asked quite a bit between here and the HAMB if you do a search you will get lots of details on which crossings are more of an issue, how long it takes to get the paperwork, etc. But to summarize, if you show up at the border with the car and paperwork you will get through in about 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Is it a convertible sedan by any chance?Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 (edited) I just brought a car in from Canada and recommend that you bring it yourself rather than trusting a truck driver to do it for you. We used a broker, who charged us $150 and handled the whole process and yes, when the car showed up, Customs looked at the papers, glanced at the car, and waved him through. Get the Canadian registration and make sure you fill out the proper forms, which should be available at the US Customs website, and make sure all the papers are there at least 72 hours before you try to cross. We have used both the Niagara/Buffalo crossing and the Detroit/Sarnia crossings with equal success. The big thing is that you get the paperwork there ahead of time. We had one car going to Canada, and one form was missing (which is new and not even on the Customs web page for some reason). Even though we filled it out and faxed it to them and they were physically holding it in their hands and standing next to the car, they nevertheless reset the 72 hour clock. The car had to go into storage for 3 days and the Canadian buyer had to come back for it. Stupid. I suspect he copped an attitude with them, and that's all they needed to turn the bureaucracy up to 11 on him. Follow the rules, don't expect to be able to talk your way out of a problem, get the papers there ahead of time, and if in doubt, call and ask CUSTOMS what you need well ahead of time. Call the border where you will be crossing, tell them what you have, what you're doing, when you'll be doing it, and ask for help. They'll help. Just be polite and considerate, because they don't really have to care and the minute you start to hassle them, they can make your life difficult. Good luck! PS: Imperial62, I've been following your story and that sounds really lousy all around--I'd probably be suing everyone in sight if I were you. But I am 100% in favor of buying cars (not trucks, though) in Canada. At $0.80 on the dollar exchange, Canadian cars are VERY inexpensive right now. I'm grabbing a lot of new inventory from our friends up north, including the incredible L72 Impala I just listed. Getting them across the border is no big deal if you follow the rules. Edited July 5, 2015 by Matt Harwood (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott12180 Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 For what it's worth, I think Matt's experience is more like what you'd expect. For me, it's not worth the hassle. The car would need to be a super desirable car that's reasonably priced and just about impossible to find in the States in my lifetime. Because of the border issues these days, I won't even drive into Canada as a shortcut from Buffalo to Detroit like I used to --- I go around through Cleveland. I may be too negative on this, but I've heard too many bad experiences. Form your own opinion based on others stories, and please let us know what you decide and especially how it went if you do bring the car home. I'd like to hear a happy ending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superbuick Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 It should be very EZ, I have done this myself three times , most recently less than one year ago with a 35 Buick. The most effort was getting information ahead of time. But none was needed. Get the car YOURSELF. I drive back into the states at the border crossing, tell them I am importing a car. Then directed to park and go into the customs office. Wait in line, they fill out the paperwork, do an inspection of the car. Only thing needed is sales receipt and original registration as they don't have titles. Then I am on my way. Could not be easier !A later model car is much more work with safety and emissions to deal with. Go get it your self !Steve in Seattle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) If you are considering buying a car from Canada .... As has been pointed out - make sure the car had final assembly in the US and there was a title/registration first issued in the US if possible If you choose to go get it yourself - you may not be able to import it for a variety of reasons Take delivery in the US - make that a condition of the sale - leave it to the Seller to make sure it can be imported I have met sellers of Canadian cars in Blaine & Oroville, WA to transport for new owners here in the states Jim Edited July 7, 2015 by Trulyvintage (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I will give you a tip on saving the clock starting over again with the car in storage for the 72 Hr. Do not use the motel fax to send the paper work to customs. Go to Staples who has a good quality fax machine so customs is able to read what you send. Also make sure you get a confirmation on your fax. They lost one of my faxes but I had my confirmation and sent on my way through with a 68 GTO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigersdad Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) I've been looking at purchasing a car in Ontario Provence. Here is the response I got back from the dealer. You still get nailed on taxes due to the exchange rate. Since their dollar is less, they cut you a check for the amount of taxes paid in Canadian dollars and who knows how long this takes? Cash the check here and you lose 33% of the taxes you pay in Canada: The process will go like this:We come to final terms on payment for the vehicle and I can write you a bill of sale once payment has been made. Partial payment is requested before writing the bill of sale but I can offer you one if you should need that will simply state the full amount owing still.As we are a dealership we have to charge the sale of the vehicle with Ontario taxes but we will give you the information necessary for you to file to claim that money and you can get it back.Once the vehicle has been paid in full we can arrange to have the vehicle shipped. There are two ways that we can do this. The vehicle will need a title to accompany it across the border. I can send the signed ownership to you and you can have it transferred into your name and then return the new U.S. title to us to be with the car when it crosses the border. It is less likely for customs to hold up the car and less in brokerage fees if the car has a U.S. title when it crosses the border.The second option is that the current signed over title and a copy of the bill of sale be sent with the car to cross the border and you can handle transfer of ownership on your end when it arrives.Once the car is ready for pick up we can then contact Norman G. Jensen or another broker of your choosing and schedule the car for importation into The States. With the brokers on standby we can arrange for a shipping company to come and collect the car and give them the name of the broker we are using. It is optional that if you use TFX they can handle the brokerage and shipping all in one go. They are very good with this but again a little more expensive but it ensures the car will make the trip with no damage.We can see to it that the car is loaded properly and then it will be on its way to you. Once on your end you’ll want to finish the registering process if there is anything more that you will need to do and then simply plate it and drive it and enjoy it. This is usually a very painless operation from both ends putting most of the weight on the shoulders of the service providers. Jay Edited July 22, 2015 by tigersdad (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 A Buick friend of mine in Canada just scored a 3 car deal on the 1976 Buick Free Spirit cars and I was thinking I would PM him and see if he would sell me one and even then I caught myself and backed away. It's just too risky for me.Unloaded the second one today. Looking to go get the third in about three weeks. Seller didn't have registration / title for any of them. I should be able to get something official but it will take time. My experience is with bringing cars North and in person is easiest. Make both sets of border officials happy and all is well. That said, the easiest is a car that is local to you. It would be nice if all y'all stopped thinning the Canadian fleet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigersdad Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 After the long dance back and forth, I ended up buying a 1930 Packard here in the U.S. Not worth the headache, added costs, etc...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Cash the check here and you lose 33% of the taxes you pay in Canada: Did you consider it is dollar exchange and not a loss seeing you payed the tax in Canadian dollars that is worth 33% less than US dollars if that is the exchange rate you are using. So actually you are braking out even if you do the math??? Another thing your looking for a deal like me and everyone else so do not go to a dealer who will jack the price up knowing you are American. Go to the web site KIJIJI where you will find over 8,000 classic cars for sale in the classic car section in Ontario. Kijiji is owned by EBay so you have to watch for the same scammers as any other site. Craigslist is not very popular in Ontario and the west coast it is Craigslist that is more popular. If it was not worth the effort to buy in Canada all the one year old extended cab trucks would not be shipped to the US by dealers. By the way I like that car you bought. Edited August 7, 2015 by Joe in Canada (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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