importing parts to the U.S.

[Steyn]

This is kind of a follow-up to my previous post on selling the Webers, but since it concerns more than just the carbs, I felt I should start fresh.

As a result of my initial enquiry, I've gotten into discussion with someone regarding selling some other parts, and that person is in the U.S. As you can see, I'm located north of the razorwire, so this would be a trans-border transaction. The last time I imported parts to Canada, they were duty-free, since they were going on an antique auto. I'm curious to find out what the situation is going the other way, i.e. bringing parts into the U.S. from Canada. Are there any exemptions for personal sales, or for parts for antique cars? Neither of us knows, and when I attempted to look it up online, I ended up more confused than when I started. We don't want to negotiate a price, then have him wind up paying double because of punitive fees at the border. Can anyone who's brought used parts in from Canada in recent years weigh in on this for us?

 

[mezy]

Your not wrong, from what i can gather you first have find a HTS code for the catagory of the item you want to import, this will determine the % of duty to be paid, plus there is VAT to pay also. I found the website for HTS codes in the US but when i search nothing is loading for me, but then i am on a works intranet which is firewalled to death.

Here in the UK I bought a second hand camera lense from Germany, I still had to pay duty and vat at what i paid for it, I even had to vat on the postage cost,

 

[Steyn]

You're like us with our GST: If you buy a 10-year-old TV from your neighbour, you're supposed to remit the appropriate cut to them on the hill (as if!). Americans don't like that sort of thing (qv. "Boston Tea Party") and don't tend to have any type of VAT, but it's the duties and potential miscellaneous fees that I worry about. These are the things that keep sleazy middle men (a.k.a. "brokers" and "agents") in shiny cars at our expense, and some types of importation demand the involvement of such third parties. I just don't want to sell something in good faith to a fellow enthusiast and then have it turn into a money pit for him. I know anything to do with cars is a whole separate can of snakes over here, where we have specific trade agreements with respect to cars and parts between the three countries. I'm hoping the Americans have exemptions for parts for "antique" vehicles, but I'd like to hear some real-world experiences before we commit to a deal..

 

[Bayless]

I can't really answer your question properly. I have bought parts from England several times over the years with no import fees. A couple of years ago I got a bumper from Ireland, no fees. More recently I have bought rubber parts from MacGregor in Canada with no fees. None of these were as expensive as your Webbers should be though.

 

[Steyn]

I can't really answer your question properly. I have bought parts from England several times over the years with no import fees. A couple of years ago I got a bumper from Ireland, no fees. More recently I have bought rubber parts from MacGregor in Canada with no fees. None of these were as expensive as your Webbers should be though.

Actually, that's most helpful, since it wasn't the Webers I was concerned about. I haven't actually posted them anywhere yet. It's something rather cheaper (non-British) that we're negotiating. Concerning the parts from Canada, did U.S. customs ask anything about the vehicle involved, or did they just pass through without comment?

 

[Bayless]

Don't know since I was not involved at all in that part. I think MacGregor just indicated car parts or something on the package.

 

[Steyn]

Don't know since I was not involved at all in that part. I think MacGregor just indicated car parts or something on the package.

Sounds good, thanks.