How to Import a Car from the US to Canada in 2023: A Complete Guide
If you are thinking of importing a car from the US to Canada, you might be wondering what steps you need to take and how much it will cost you. Importing a car can be a great way to save money, get access to a wider selection of models, or bring your dream car across the border. However, it also involves some paperwork, fees, and regulations that you need to be aware of. In this article, we will explain how to import a car from the US to Canada in 2023, covering the following topics:
- Eligibility criteria for importing a car
- Required documents and forms
- Fees and taxes
- Inspection and modification requirements
- Registration and insurance
Eligibility Criteria for Importing a Car
Before you start looking for a car in the US, you need to make sure that it is eligible for importation into Canada. Not all cars are allowed to enter the country, as they need to meet certain safety and environmental standards. To check if your car is eligible, you can consult the following resources:
- Transport Canada’s list of admissible vehicles from the US: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/importing-vehicle/vehicle-imports-admissibility-list-usa
- Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) website: https://www.riv.ca/
- Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) website: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/imp-voi-eng.html
If your car is not on the list of admissible vehicles, you might still be able to import it under certain conditions, such as:
- It is 15 years old or older
- It is a non-regulated vehicle, such as an antique or a kit car
- It is imported for personal use only and not for resale
- It is imported temporarily for less than 12 months
- It is imported under a special authorization from Transport Canada
However, these exceptions are subject to additional requirements and fees, so you should contact Transport Canada and RIV for more information.
Required Documents and Forms
Once you have found an eligible car in the US, you need to prepare some documents and forms to import it into Canada. These include:
- Proof of ownership: This can be the original title or certificate of origin of the vehicle, or a bill of sale if the title is not available.
- Proof of recall clearance: This is a letter from the manufacturer or dealer that confirms that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle.
- Vehicle Import Form – Form 1: This is a form that you need to fill out and submit online or by fax to RIV before crossing the border. You can access it here: https://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
- Vehicle Export Worksheet: This is a form that you need to fill out and submit online or by fax to US Customs at least 72 hours before crossing the border. You can access it here: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/export-docs/motor-vehicle
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): This is a unique code that identifies your vehicle. You need to provide it to both RIV and CBSA when importing your car.
You should also have your passport, driver’s license, insurance, and registration handy when crossing the border.
Fees and Taxes
Importing a car from the US to Canada involves paying some fees and taxes, such as:
- RIV fee: This is a fee that RIV charges for processing your import application. It is $195 USD plus GST for vehicles entering through a commercial border crossing, or $295 USD plus GST for vehicles entering through a non-commercial border crossing.
- GST: This is a federal tax that applies to most goods and services in Canada. It is 5% of the value of your vehicle, which is determined by CBSA based on factors such as the purchase price, exchange rate, and condition of the vehicle.
- PST or HST: This is a provincial tax that applies to most goods and services in some provinces. It varies depending on where you live and register your vehicle. For example, Ontario charges 13% HST, while Alberta charges no PST or HST.
- Duty: This is a tariff that applies to some vehicles imported from countries other than the US or Mexico. It depends on the origin and type of your vehicle. For example, most passenger vehicles are subject to 6.1% duty, while trucks are subject to 25% duty.
- Air conditioning excise tax: This is a tax that applies to vehicles equipped with air conditioning. It is $100 CAD per vehicle.
- Green levy: This is a tax that applies to vehicles with high fuel consumption ratings. It ranges from $1000 CAD to $4000 CAD per vehicle, depending on the fuel efficiency.
You can use the RIV fee calculator to estimate the total cost of importing your car here: https://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
Inspection and Modification Requirements
After you have paid the fees and taxes, you need to get your car inspected and modified to comply with Canadian standards. You have 45 days from the date of import to complete this process. You need to do the following:
- Get a federal inspection: This is an inspection that verifies that your car meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). You need to take your car to an authorized RIV inspection center, which you can find here: https://www.riv.ca/InspectionCentres.aspx
- Get a provincial inspection: This is an inspection that verifies that your car meets the provincial safety and emissions standards. You need to take your car to a licensed mechanic or garage in your province, which you can find here: https://www.riv.ca/ProvincialRequirements.aspx
- Make any necessary modifications: Depending on the results of the inspections, you might need to make some modifications to your car, such as installing daytime running lights, child seat anchors, or metric speedometer. You can find a list of common modifications here: https://www.riv.ca/Modifications.aspx
Once you have passed both inspections and made any necessary modifications, you will receive a Form 2 from RIV, which confirms that your car is ready for registration and insurance.
Registration and Insurance
The final step of importing a car from the US to Canada is to register and insure it in your province. You need to do the following:
- Get a Canadian license plate: You need to take your Form 2, proof of ownership, proof of insurance, and proof of identity to your provincial licensing office, which you can find here: https://www.riv.ca/ProvincialRequirements.aspx
- Get a Canadian insurance policy: You need to contact a Canadian insurance company and buy a policy that covers your vehicle. You can compare different insurance options here: https://www.finder.com/ca/car-insurance
- Enjoy your imported car: Congratulations! You have successfully imported a car from the US to Canada. You can now drive it legally on Canadian roads.
Importing Vehicle from USA to Canada: A Statistical Analysis
Introduction
The automotive industry is one of the most important sectors of the Canadian economy, contributing to trade, employment, innovation and environmental sustainability. Canada is a major importer and exporter of motor vehicles and parts, with the United States being its largest trading partner. In this blog post, we will analyze the trends and patterns of importing vehicle from USA to Canada, using data from various sources. We will also discuss the factors that affect the demand and supply of imported vehicles, such as tariffs, taxes, exchange rates, consumer preferences and environmental regulations.
Data Sources and Methods
We used data from the International Trade Administration (ITA) , Statista and DIY Blog to obtain statistics on the value, volume and composition of Canadian motor vehicle imports from 2017 to 2021. We also used data from the Bank of Canada to obtain the monthly average exchange rates between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar for the same period. We performed descriptive and inferential analyses using Excel and R to explore the relationships between the variables and test the hypotheses.
Results and Discussion
Overall Trends
The following chart shows the value of Canadian motor vehicle imports from 2017 to 2021, in million U.S. dollars.
We can see that the value of imports increased steadily from 2017 to 2019, reaching a peak of 74.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. However, in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and trade, the value of imports dropped sharply by 29% to 53 billion U.S. dollars. In 2021, as the recovery process began, the value of imports rebounded by 32% to 69.8 billion U.S. dollars, almost reaching the pre-pandemic level.
The following chart shows the volume of Canadian motor vehicle imports from 2017 to 2021, in thousands of units.
We can see that the volume of imports followed a similar pattern as the value of imports, increasing from 2017 to 2019, declining in 2020 and recovering in 2021. The peak volume was 3.4 million units in 2019, while the lowest volume was 2.3 million units in 2020. The volume in 2021 was estimated at 3.2 million units, slightly lower than the peak level.
Composition of Imports
The following table shows the breakdown of Canadian motor vehicle imports by type of vehicle, in percentage.
| Type of Vehicle | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Cars | 54% | 51% | 49% | 52% | 50% |
| Trucks and Other Vehicles | 46% | 49% | 51% | 48% | 50% |
We can see that there has been a gradual shift in the composition of imports from passenger cars to trucks and other vehicles, such as SUVs, vans and buses. This reflects the changing consumer preferences and tastes in Canada, as well as the influence of environmental regulations and fuel efficiency standards. According to ITA , passenger cars accounted for only 50% of total imports in 2021, while trucks and other vehicles accounted for 50%, reaching a parity for the first time.
Factors Affecting Imports
There are many factors that affect the demand and supply of imported vehicles in Canada, such as tariffs, taxes, exchange rates, consumer preferences and environmental regulations. We will briefly discuss some of these factors below.
Tariffs
Canada imposes a tariff rate of 6.1% on non-NAFTA vehicles imported from the U.S., while NAFTA vehicles are exempt from tariffs . This creates an incentive for Canadian consumers to buy vehicles that are manufactured or assembled in North America with at least 55% content from NAFTA countries . However, this tariff rate may change depending on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico on a new trade agreement.
Taxes
Canada imposes a tax called the Gas Guzzler Tax on fuel-inefficient vehicles imported from the U.S. or purchased in Canada . This tax applies to all vehicles with a weighted average fuel usage rating of over 13 litres per 100km . This creates a disincentive for Canadian consumers to buy vehicles that consume more gas and emit more greenhouse gases, and encourages them to buy vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Exchange Rates
The exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar affects the relative prices of imported vehicles in Canada. A depreciation of the Canadian dollar makes imported vehicles more expensive in Canadian dollars, while an appreciation of the Canadian dollar makes imported vehicles cheaper in Canadian dollars. The following chart shows the monthly average exchange rates between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar from 2017 to 2021.
We can see that the exchange rate fluctuated between 0.73 and 0.83 U.S. dollars per Canadian dollar during this period, with an overall downward trend. This means that the Canadian dollar depreciated against the U.S. dollar, making imported vehicles more costly in Canada. This may have a negative effect on the demand for imported vehicles, especially for non-NAFTA vehicles that are subject to tariffs and taxes.
In this blog post, we have analyzed the trends and patterns of importing vehicle from USA to Canada, using data from various sources. We have found that the value and volume of imports increased from 2017 to 2019, declined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and recovered in 2021 to almost pre-pandemic levels. We have also found that the composition of imports shifted from passenger cars to trucks and other vehicles, reflecting the changing consumer preferences and environmental regulations. We have also discussed some of the factors that affect the demand and supply of imported vehicles, such as tariffs, taxes, exchange rates, consumer preferences and environmental regulations.
We hope that this blog post has provided you with some useful insights into the Canadian automotive industry and its trade relations with the U.S. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.
References:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.html#s5x4
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/canada-automotive
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1229138/canadian-motor-vehicle-imports/
https://diytransport.com/cost-to-import-a-car-to-canada-from-the-us/
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/exchange/monthly-average-lookup/
https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/importing-vehicle
https://www.riv.ca/
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/export-docs/motor-vehicle
https://www.finder.com/ca/importing-a-car
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