MillieF

I have read the official link on importing cars to Canada. But I am not sure that I fully understand it. It would appear that if a car is presently manufactured and sold in Canada, then it will meet Canadian specifications, and can be imported?
I have a Fiat 500 (left hand drive, as I am in France - so no alterations needed) and three years old, these are JUST arriving in Canada, but are being assembled in Mexico, for Canada. As it is a current vehicle that is available in Canada, being marketed by Chrysler, can I therefore import it, even if mine was assembled in Europe?

Yes, I could sell it and buy another in Canada, but I LOVE this particular car, it was one of the first produced, and has Everything! It's practical, eco friendly, and wonderful in ice and snow. She was the show model and turns heads wherever I go in her.

Mostly our moving to Canada involves changes are on a positive scale, a bit scary and very life altering, but due to my Canadian husband's family needs, necessary - but leaving 'Little Lightening' is just a real wrench.

Auld Yin

Sorry but you can't import vehicles less than 15 years old.

dbd33

Unless they comply with the local standards. But it's far from clear if this one does.

MillieF

Thank you both for these replies...that's what's confusing me, I am hoping my car might apply to a local standard, as they are now being sold in Canada, and it is left hand drive anyway. I feel so pathetic really, it's just that I can cope with just our one cat going - we have two others who are very aged numbers, who won't be able to go; I can cope with being unremittingly 'jolly' about things I don't feel particularly jolly about in order that our son knows that this will all be fantastic in the end, but I really don't want to lose my car. I should perhaps contact Chrysler, does this sound a realistic idea? Perhaps they might tell me what a 'local standard' might be.

Partially discharged

I have yet to see a 'new' Fiat 500 here in Canada...others may have. IIRC they are supposed to be selling in early 2011....personally, I don't see them selling very well...Fiat has a lot of ground to cover to improve their image here in Canada and the Mini, VW Bug, Smart Car and Nissan Cube have the quirky small car market tied up.

Bill_S

From the Transport Canada page (link) it doesn't look very likely. Your car was purchased outside Canada and was probably not made to comply with US or Canadian standards. Is there a label from the manufacturer (Fiat) on the car explicitly stating that the vehicle meets Canadian or US standards?

There are contact numbers for Transport Canada on that page linked above. Contact them first.

Auld Yin

I don't intend to be unkind, only pragmatic. It's a 3 year old mechanical item with no historic value whatsoever. While you may enjoy the vehicle it can easily be replaced by a equal or better different one. The situation is not something that should get in your immigration path. And, shipping it to Canada and going through all the testing required would be a very expensive proposition.

GC44

Looks like you will have to buy a new one in Canada. The first Fiat 500 was auctioned in October at a charity ball in Toronto and someone paid CAD$85000. Chrysler should launch them in the next 6 months or so.
My wife is in the same position. She loves her POP.

4d32ftw

you'll have to buy a new one.

you cant bring it.

they will be onsale early next year here with the abarth one maybe following later.

jerry brewer

Hi
you can occasionally buy used fiat 500's in canada, try autotrader.

I have often wondered if you could import the vehicle as parts, buy an old body shell and rebuld it.
I have heard of VW beetles supposedly done this way with parts from south american ones.

As a final thought as you are in france, if you are heading to quebec,the rules might be different.

cheers
jerry

MillieF

Jerry, many thanks, that's an idea! We are heading for New Brunswick actually. It seems a good idea for 'all' the family. Our son is French born and educated, and my husband wants to be in Canada and I quite like the idea of growing old/older? in a country where English is spoken too. My husband is originally from BC, and his French is good, but come what may the French here can Never understand him because of his Canadian accent, so we have high hopes for New Brunswick. We will visit this summer, but not move until our son finishes Primary school in summer 2012. I just so sincerely wish though that it were possible to just close my eyes and arrive in Canada, without disassembling the house, cars, kids life, and heaven knows how many years of blasted clutter!

lmartin999

I'm in the UK at the moment and have the Abarth version as a rental. Pretty nice little car actually - surprisingly spacious inside and the turbo is a blast. Firm suspension which could be fun on some of the TO surface streets. Will be interesting to see what price it comes in at. I would think about buying one.

macadian

Only if they were offering two for the price of one. We have enough junk cars available here without adding more

rich07

Your husbands french if it is Canadian french will be difficult for the Europeans to understand because it is like old fashioned English. We have found this the other way round coming from the uk to Canada. Our dauhter has learnt french for the last 6 years and listening to the way they are learning it here, it sounds really strange. I did speak with the French teacher about it who hadn't realized she was struggling because of the differences in the languages.

dbd33

That depends on the school. At the school my children attended sounding like a Canadian was actively discouraged while sounding like a franco-Ontarian was thought to be disasterous.