Importing From Canada to US

[Vintage Racer]

This probably has been covered, and if so, please steer me to the posting, but my efforts in the search function were fruitless.

I'm interested in buying a 1999 Viper and the classified section list some cars that are for sale in Canada. How difficult is it to buy a car in Canada, import it into the US and register it at a state (Ohio) BMV? Is this something two individuals (buyer/seller) can accomplish or is a customs broker needed? Are their customs duties owed? Any other tricks I should be aware of.

Thanks.

Dan

 

[RedGTS]

You will need to go through an authorized importer, whom one of the dealers along the border should be able to direct you to, and you will likely want to have a dealer convert the speedo to US specs (and possibly the temp gauge as well). I think the import fees are usually in the neighborhood of $500, and the gauge conversion would of course be extra. The only other mechanical difference is the presence of daytime running lights, which you can easily disable if you don't like them. So to answer your question, there is certainly more hassle involved, but nothing incredibly difficult. If you can get a sweet deal on a Canadian car it's definitely doable.

 

[XLR8]

I have imported 2 Vipers from Canada and it is a pain. The 96 RT was a nightmare because it didnt have air bags but the 97 does and it was much easier. You dont have to change the gauges, both of mine have the metric stuff and you get used to it, plus the spedo goes to 360 kph. When people see it they think it is mph. Get a good importer or you will have a nightmare on your hands.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

I imported a '94, so the seatbelts had to be changed from on-the-floor (Canadian) to roll-up-in-the-door (US.) This is pre-airbag days. The seller had a dealer do the work, I paid for the importing - might be $500 by now, I did this in 1998. The immediate hassle is leaving the car in impound for a week or so (two trips to the border) and then later having the paperwork to get a US title and registration. I strongly suggest getting to your local motor vehicles and finding out what you need, since my experience was that they didn't know what to do and in frustration gave me the registration and title even though I don't think they should have (I hadn't brought the EPA approval form.)

When you buy the car in Canada, you'll have to pay taxes. When you get to the border, get the form to get the taxes reimbursed. You can't fill out the form until the car is registered in the US. Therefore by the time you purchase, wait, import, register the car, send in the form - it'll be weeks and weeks before you get the tax back. Meanwhile, you have to probably pay tax in Ohio? So build a little cushion in the economics.

Speedo and gauge changes are plug and play; if you can get the dash off (scary to do, but not hard) you can change them.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

you only have to pay taxes in Canada if you buy it from a dealer. If it is a private sale the seller pays the taxes on the sale.