Hello Everyone,

I just got my PR approval. I'm planning to move to Vancouver from Los Angeles and would like to take my car with me. It's a 1997 Saturn SL2. I found the List of Admissible US vehicles on the Transport Canada's website.

Does anyone have an experience with importing vehicles into Canada? Any tips and advice? Any hiden expenses to expect, etc? Will my US driving experience help me get cheaper insurance rates in Canada?

Thank you!!

Lulu

Hi

You have to send the proof of ownership to the US Customs office where you intend to leave the US 72 hours prior to exiting the US. You will need a list from the the dealer that all recalls have been been done. You will have to pay the RIV fee at the border at the time of inporting. Your car will then have to have the modifications done at a authorized service station dealer and then have the car inspected. As you are coming to BC you will require an Air Care certificate before you can license the car in BC. You should bring a letter from your insurance company showing the number of accident/claim free years of driving. Manditory insurance is run by ICBC and your rate is base on the number of accident free years of driving.

PMM

The only knowledge I have about importing cars was when my friend's son brought his Mitsubishi Eclipse (I think that was the model) into Canada but it could not be licenced because it had some kind of seat belts that came across automatically - not sure how they worked except they are illegal in Canada and he had to come back before the plates ran out in the States - drive the car to the States and sell it there.

My son also told me that its difficult to import a car as there are so many rules and regulations and things that are allowed in the States and not allowed here.

This may not apply to your car - I just thought I would warn you.

Hi

It would appear that he checked www.riv.ca and found that the car was importable.

PMM