To our neighbours up North, we at Gran Prix Imports would like to invite you to experience the easiest way of purchasing a vehicle from the US for importation into Canada. Check out this article as to why it's become a lot more exciting and cost effective for Canadians to purchase a vehicle from a US dealer.

The list of admissable vehicles into Canada is pretty extensive. We do however have to mention that, unfortunately, Lamborghini and Spyker are not admissable and we can't aid in the importation of those vehicles into Canada. 

The Canadian Dollar (loonie) is on fire and is making purchasing goods and products from the US like shopping in the world's largest mall with huge discounts. We've recognized that we're getting a lot of inquiries and questions from Canadian buyers who are interested in purchasing some of our vehicles and we've broken down the process into very simple steps. You can choose to either fly down and pick up your newly purchased vehicle or have us help arrange one of two shipping scenarios, either to the crossing border where you will pick up the vehicle, or across the border into a Canadian Customs Bonded Warehouse.

We're sure you'll have many questions and we're prepared to answer them all. We have set up a Calculator to help determine all the fees, taxes (GST, PST, HST), Import Duties (if any), RIV Fees, Gas Guzzler Tax, A/C Tax and any other applicable fees. The great thing about purchasing a vehicle from us is that there is no Sales Tax here in Oregon and the only fee we have is a $50 documentation Fee.

If you do decide to purchase a vehicle from us, and fly down to Portland to pick up the vehicle, we will be happy to provide complimentary shuttle service from the airport to our dealership.

Steps for self-importing a vehicle into Canada

To help alleviate some of the anxiety or purchasing a vehicle and dealing with both US and Canadian Customs, here is a break down of the process that you will go through when importing a vehicle from the US to Canada if you choose to fly down and drive it back. We will provide you and customs with all necessary paperwork to make it as simple and painless as possible.

1. Check if the car that you are planning to purchase is admissible for importing into Canada. The list is available by following this link. List of admissable vehicles from RIV. Chances are that the vehicle will need some sort of modification done to it to make it conform to Canadian standards. Those typically involve re-programming or modifying the vehicle to have Daytime Running Lights, the installation of child safety anchorage, changing the odometer from miles to kilometers. Some vehicles require Bumper modifications as well. We can do that work unless specified that it has to be done at an authorized Canadian Dealership.
2. Give us a call, let's discuss the vehicle. We'll provide you with a Copy of the Title, Carfax Report and any other documentation about the vehicle we have available.
3. After making an agreement on price with us for the vehicle, we can put the vehicle on hold for you by taking a Credit Card Deposit over the phone. This will lock in the vehicle for you and guarantee its availability. The rest of the balance of the vehicle price should be wire transferred to us at your earliest convenience. Typically this takes a few days to get processed by both banks. We will provide you with all the banking information to give to your bank.
4. Get your vehicle insured by your Canadian insurance company. Make sure that they will cover you while you are here in the States and make sure the coverage starts when you plan to pick up the vehicle.
5. Let us know which Border you will be crossing at. We will need that information so we can fax the Certificate of Title to U.S. Customs at the border. They will need that 3 days before you cross the border so take that into consideration when scheduling your drive. The U.S. Customs Border will Stamp the Certificate of Title that you will need when you cross the border.
6. We will have the following paperwork ready for you when you arrive to pick up the vehicle. a) "Certificate of Title". b) "Proof of Recall Clearance" document from the cars manufacturer. c) "Bill of Sale", all sales documents and all legal paperwork. d) "Temporary Trip/License Plate Permit".
7. Drive to Canada. Make sure you cross at the border that we faxed the paperwork to and go to the U.S. Customs office first. They should be ready for you and will stamp the "Certificate of Title" stating the vehicle was exported from the US on that certain date. They might do a quick VIN inspection on the vehicle as well. 
8. Drive to the Canadian Customs Office. Provide to them a) "Bill of Sale". and b) "Certificate of Title" that was stamped by the U.S. Customs office.
9. Pay your applicable taxes and fees at the Canadian Customs Office. You will need to pay with a Credit Card. There could be up to 5 taxes and fees depending on the province you're at and the vehicle you're importing. They are as follows:
   • GST Tax: Whether it's a used or new, all vehicles imported into Canada will be charged the GST Tax. Currently it's at 6%. Canadian Customs will calculate the tax by converting the US Sales Price to Canadian Dollars. Their rates are generally better than what you get at the bank.
   • Import Duty: Import duty depends on where the vehicle was manufactured or assembled. If the vehicle was put together or has more than 55% of it's content built by a "NAFTA" country, then there is no Import Duty. All other vehicles have a 6.1% import Duty as well. Canadian Customs will calculate the tax by converting the US Sales Price to Canadian Dollars. Their rates are generally better than what you get at the bank.
   • RIV Fee: The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) collects a fee of $195 CDN right after the vehicle crosses over the border.
   • Air Conditioning Tax: $100 CDN will be collected on all vehicles that have an air conditioning system installed.
   • Gas Guzzler Tax (Excise Tax on Fuel-inefficient Vehicles): Introduced on March 19, 2007, a new tax for vehicles sold after that date was imposed. It's on a sliding scale and is between $1,000 to $4,000 CDN. To determine if the vehicle falls into that category, check out this list which gives you a break down of which vehicle has what sort of tax associated with it. Click here for the list.
10. You will receive "Form 1" from the Canadian Customs Office and "Form 2" will be mailed to you within 5-7 business days. "Form 2" outlines what needs to be done to the vehicle to pass the "federal inspection". After getting done with Canadian Customs, drive home, get some rest and wait for Form 2 to arrive in the mail.
11. After you get "Form 2" in the mail, proceed to the closest "Federal Inspection" authority. Canadian Tire has been given permission to perform the Federal Inspection. The closest one to you can be found by going to Canadiantire.ca. Take "Form 1", "Form 2", "Proof of Recall Cleareance", "Bill of Sale" and "Certificate of Title" with you. Be sure to have your insurance certificate on hand as well for the next step. (If you are in Ontario, you will need to also go get a Safety Inspection and a Vehicle Emission Inspection complete as well).
12. When the vehicle passes inspection, the inspector will stamp "Form 1". Take "Form 1", "Form 2", "Certificate of Title", "Proof of Recall Clearance", "Bill of Sale" and "Insurance Certificate" to your local Licensing Issuing Office. Depending in which province you're in, you might have to pay a PST Tax. The following provinces have the following taxes:
    • British Columbia: 7%
    • Alberta: none
    • Saskatchewan: 5%
    • Manitoba: 5%
    • Ontario: 8%
    • Québec: 7.5%
    • Newfoundland and Labrador: 14% HST (GST and PST Combined)
    • Nova Scotia: 14% HST (GST and PST Combined)
    • New Brunswick: 14% HST (GST and PST Combined)
    • Prince Edward Island: 10%
    • Northwest Territories: none
    • Nunavut: none
    • Yukon: none
13. You will finally receive in the mail a letter from RIV stating that your vehicle was successfully imported and registered in Canada. Affix the provided sticker on the drivers door and enjoy your new car.

Let us help you figure out all Shipping

If you do decide to have the vehicle shipped, we can provide a shipping company that will import the vehicle for you and have it dropped off at a Canadian Customs Bonded warehouse. You will then have to go through the same process from Step 8, as you will have all the necessary paperwork mailed to you before you pick up the vehicle at the warehouse.

Give us a call for a break down of all costs including Canadian Taxes

It may seem like a daunting task but overall, everyone who's gone through the process of importing a vehicle from the US has been happy with the outcome. A quick look around all the Canadian Auto Listings reveals that vehicles in Canada cost on average about 20%-30% higher than in the US. Even if you buy from a Private Party in Canada, you save the PST and that's approximately an 8% discount. All in all, you come out ahead if you purchase a vehicle from us. Give us a call and we'll do our best to make this a pleasant and easy experience!