Just wondering if anyone here has any information or any previous experience with purchasing a car from the other side of the border...


I know theres quite a bit of paperwork thats gotta be done in order to bring it across and i was wondering how much of a hassle all of this is gonna be and even if it'll be worth it in the end.

Any useful info is appreciated.


Thanks in advance!

Be careful and use someone you know...

They have different "branding" there that won't transfer on the ownership. A lot of states have the lemon law too which you should weary of (new cars that have had excessive warranty work will be replaced).

Just be careful.....

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I think Dima got caught at the border on his way back from getting his Audi and had to pay a hefty tax.

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quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur I think Dima got caught at the border on his way back from getting his Audi and had to pay a hefty tax.

But you are Dima

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 But you are Dima

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Last edited by Moral Hazard on Apr-26-2011 at 07:48

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur I think Dima got caught at the border on his way back from getting his Audi and had to pay a hefty tax.

one of my friends got lucky and I think he saved close to 20,000 (vs what he would have paid for if he had bought it here) on a brand new infiniti he brought over earlier this summer!

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 But you are Dima

It's Katie. I was too lazy to log out of his account. I'll go do that now.

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I almost went through with one of these deals, but decided against it at the last minute because the dollar wasn't all that strong and they were offering a bunch of incentives here (like cheap financing).

Paperwork isn't difficult. The major drawbacks are:
- You still have to pay taxes when you register here;
- You might have to modify some things (i.e. if it doesn't have DRL);
- You won't be able to get warranty service here;
- You have to pay cash; if they're offering incentives you won't get them;
- Any other incentives like factory rebates, etc., you also can't get.
- Some dealers just won't do it. Some definitely will, but you might have to shop around.

None of these are insurmountable, but they add to the hassle. Back 6 months ago when the dollar was above par, the car would have had to cost $40,000 or more to make it worthwhile. With the dollar where it's at now, I'd say maybe $45K or even $50K.

Also, it's more of a hassle and less cost-effective to do this with imports than it is with American cars. If you're looking for a Mustang or a 'vette or something then go for it, definitely, but if you're looking at Honda Accords then you're wasting your time.

All the information you need is available from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles.

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Don't bother trying to get a Honda as their warranty expires when you leave the US. Also they are really cracking down on Canadian buyers especially the dealers in the bordering cities (Buffalo, Detroit, etc.) They require state driver license, do an address check, etc. The sales people barely talked to me after finding out I was Canadian. Then there are issues of getting insurance. You can try to enlist a broker who charges a fee but will coordinate the process for you. I attempted to purchase a car in US but finally gave up and got it in Canada because it was just too difficult, time consuming and too many uncertainties.

It was better when the dollar was a dime better than the US's... but now... meh...

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I bought my car here but after doing so I kicked myself when the F/X dramatically changed about a month later, but I did all the research.

Audi will transfer new car warranty to Canada. So will Porsche but not sure if you want that

BMW will charge you a $500 fee to get the paperwork to recognize and transfer the VIN.

When you get to the border they'll inspect the car, you could call ahead and make an appointment. Don't have the contact stuff anymore...also, you can look at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website (mto.gov.on.ca I think) for more info on this.

You have to get the certification, emissions test (if applicable) and pay the taxes and duties on it. For some cars, you might have to change the front bumper because the crash test standards in Canada are more strict than the US but that is changing I think and there is a site with an up-to-date list to see whether the model/year you picked needs that change.

And of course, the daytime running lights conversion has to be done, and the speedo changed from miles to kms, if that is available (but the speedo change isn't required by law).

Then you're set!