Question on importing a car from Canada to US

[Sabbot]

Can anybody advise on required documentation for successful importation of a pre-owned car from Canada into the US?

I assume a bill of sale is vital, does the vehicle need the equivalent of a title or registration document proving ownership or previous history? Given that the car in question is a "kit", would I need to get reciepts for all of the major parts etc.?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[lucky dawg]

Aside from any federal regulations, each state has their own requirements. Best to start off by checking with the licensing agency where you live. They can probably give you some idea of what to expect and what you'll need. And try to get it in writing.

[mrmustang]

Can anybody advise on required documentation for successful importation of a pre-owned car from Canada into the US?

I assume a bill of sale is vital, does the vehicle need the equivalent of a title or registration document proving ownership or previous history? Given that the car in question is a "kit", would I need to get reciepts for all of the major parts etc.?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Thankfully you are headed in the right direction (Canada does not allow the importation of finished or unfinished kit cars unless they are documented as being 15+ years old (not just titled as such). Easiest way is to call the special titles division (State Street, Trenton) and ask for their "kit car packet", within you will find all of the items that you need to address in order to get the car to pass the "enhanced inspection" (currently being done in Asbury Park only as the Morristown specialty station got 12 feet of water during Hurricane Irene last year and has not been opened since). Since you are importing a "kit car", I suggest you make plans to meet the tri-state Cobra group at the Chester Hills Diner, RT206N in Chester, NJ at 9am Sunday February 12th (our next monthly breakfast), you'll find some of us quite helpful in regards to dealing with the NJ DMV

 

Bill S.

 

PS: My brother lives in Warren, NJ

[Alaskossie]

In addition to the state requirements for whatever state you will be registering the car in, you have to consider the US Customs, US DOT, and US EPA requirements to get the car across the border, from Canada to USA, in the first place. That may not be an easy task, unless the Canadian car meets US federal requirements applicable to its year of manufacture. (You're home free if the car is 25 years old or older).

 

If it is a car assembled in Canada from a kit, it will likely not be on any federal agency list of approved cars that will be used to decide the issue at the Canada/US border.

 

Juist a word of caution.....

[Croc]

Hi Stewart :seeya:

 

I just went down this road with my race car. I think Alaskossie has identified your biggest issue. If assembled then better be over 25 years unless it is on the approved list. And it will not be on that unless it was sold in the US at some point in the past.

 

If an unassembled kit then you need to get it through the low volume import rules. Unassembled means more than just taking the wheels off....shortcuts here could be problematic.

 

As for the NJ DMV, nothing warmed my heart more than to hear from MrMustang that Morristown Speciality inspection was sunk under 12 feet of water! You have my DMV playbook notes from the first time you went through. Nothing has changed. The real catch is whether you have a pre-OBDII engine. If you do then you will still have the speciality inspection colonoscopy but it will not be fatal since they do not hook your car to the computer. If it is post OBDII then that is more complicated and probably worth talking by phone.

 

So what are you buying?

[mrmustang]

Hi Stewart :seeya:

 

 

As for the NJ DMV, nothing warmed my heart more than to hear from MrMustang that Morristown Speciality inspection was sunk under 12 feet of water!

 

You would not be saying that if you have dealt with the manager at Asbury Park who seems to rewrite the rule book as it suits him on that particular day :banghead:

 

At least Morristown plays by the rules as written by Trenton.

 

2 identical cars through Morristown, no problem.

 

Next car rejected through Asbury Park.

 

All 3 were built identical (100% identical) for a movie filmed in Newark and Staten Island (not yet released)

 

 

 

Bill S.

Edited January 28, 2012 by mrmustang

[Croc]

You would not be saying that if you have dealt with the manager at Asbury Park who seems to rewrite the rule book as it suits him on that particular day :banghead:

 

At least Morristown plays by the rules as written by Trenton.

 

2 identical cars through Morristown, no problem.

 

Next car rejected through Asbury Park.

 

All 3 were built identical (100% identical) for a movie filmed in Newark and Staten Island (not yet released)

 

 

 

Bill S.

 

I am very sorry to hear about your misfortune. Having dealt with these guys too many times, I know the frustration. However, there have been a few seveners over the years who ran into similar unique interpretations of the rules at Morristown - you can search them on this forum. It also does not help that NJ DMV does not follow Federal laws and regs on low volume cars and emission matters.

 

anyway....

 

Back to Stewart to tell us what he is buying - pics?

[mrmustang]

I am very sorry to hear about your misfortune. Having dealt with these guys too many times, I know the frustration. However, there have been a few seveners over the years who ran into similar unique interpretations of the rules at Morristown - you can search them on this forum. It also does not help that NJ DMV does not follow Federal laws and regs on low volume cars and emission matters.

 

anyway....

 

Back to Stewart to tell us what he is buying - pics?

 

Asbury Park did approved the 3rd car a month later.......Oh yeah, I did nothing to change it's build, just made another appointment and brought it back for a reinspection. :rofl:

 

Yes, pictures of what was purchased by the OP should be required :cheers:

[Sabbot]

Thanks to everybody for the advice, it's very much appreciated. The car is registered as older than 25 years and allegedly comes with receipts so it looks like this might be possible.

Now for the next question; does anybody have any suggestions on shipping companies that would provide reasonably priced covered transport from the west coast Canada to NJ?

 

I’m not too bothered about how long it might take to ship.

Thanks again

[MHKflyer52]

Here is a link that you should check out as they do what you need and they are good and will cross from Canada to the USA.

http://www.reliablecarriers.com/default.cfm

 

Hope this helps.

[Guest Terry]

Can anybody advise on required documentation for successful importation of a pre-owned car from Canada into the US?

I assume a bill of sale is vital, does the vehicle need the equivalent of a title or registration document proving ownership or previous history? Given that the car in question is a "kit", would I need to get reciepts for all of the major parts etc.?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Where is the car coming from?

[Sabbot]

Terry,

The car is currently in Calgary. I've had a few quotes from shipping companies which indicate that it is almost more expensive to ship from Calgary to NK than from the UK to the US.

I'm also considering having it shipped from Calgary to Montreal and then collecting myself from Montreal as a day trip.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Stewart

[Guest Terry]

Is this Bruce Midlands car? If it is it has a very expensive say nav system and HID head lamps. My partner built it. in 2007.

[Sabbot]

I have a confession to make - it is not a seven but rather an S4 elan "project" with spyder bits that was recently on Ebay... I figured that you can never have too many lotuses (depite what my wife thinks......)