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Canada -> USA

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Before I do something (else) stupid ... Here's a plan, if I were to find, test drive, and purchase an older car in Canada.

Get a "30 day temporary registration tag" from my state DMV, and a BOS from the seller. Then can I just drive the car across the border into the USA? Then register it here?

Or is there some extra paperwork Canada and USA will need to allow me to bring the car across?

Thanks.
Tom
 
You'll need to do some customs forms as well. I brought an MGB in from Canada, but I paid the transport company to handle the details. Had to fill out a bill of lading with everything that was in the car.

Once here, the Canadian version of a title and the import paperwork was all I needed to get it registered here in Utah.
 
Thanks. If this happens, do you know specifically what forms I need for Canada customs, and USA customs?

I've found several forms at the link below, but I don't know if the Bill of Lading and the NAFTA Certificate of Origin forms are all that Canada and USA need (other than a Bill of Sale).

https://www.shipnorthamerica.com/htmfiles/shipdocs.html

As I'd be driving it into the USA myself, seems a "shipping" or lading document wouldn't be needed. And hiring a shipping company to bring it only a few hundred miles seems unnecessary.


:crazyeyes:
 
Rick - that is *really* helpful. I'm assuming that "importing an automobile from Canada" includes one you just bought in Canada. Car was built in UK, for Canadian standards.

I'll check out that cbp.gov site.

Thanks!
Tom
 
I bet you could get these guys to drive it in for you - probably just cost you a few beers:

 
I can't afford CABs :jester:
 
I towed a car to the USA from Canada on a trailer a few years ago (my A-35). This is my (now) long-term saloon racing project.

The engine for the car was in sitting in the back of my van so it was sort of a hodge-podge.

The A-35 was well over the 25 year limit (1958) and I basically followed the steps in your "ezbordercrossing" link above. I had all my forms and actually called that border station (near Thousand Islands) a few days before to double-check if I had everything.

At the border, one US guard was pretty chatty about the car but the other guy was very serious (good cop, bad cop?). It took less than 30 minutes and I was on my way back into the US.

You should wash the car before bringing it to the border if it's dirty (the US doesn't want any Canadian bugs come over).

And bring your long underwear.....I hear it gets cold in Canada ;)

You can read about my adventure ~HERE~
 
Nial - thanks for the personal experience.

It's obvious to many car guys, but how did you document the country of manufacture for that Austin A35?
 
I don't recall but I'm sure I had to show them the title when I came back into the US. The title is in our safety deposit box and isn't handy.

I don't recall that the place of manufacture was a big deal as long as the car was 25 years old.
 
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