Question for Canadians

I have a few questions that I was hoping someone in the forums could answer. I will be moving my family to BC, Canada within the year. My question relates to buying cars in Canada vs. America. We will be buying more than one new car and I wanted to know what is better: buying the cars in America and taking them to Canada or just buying the cars in Canada. I have checked the Registrar of Imported Vehicles and the cars we are interested in buying are on the list of admissible cars. Does the fact that we are US / Mexican citizens moving to Canada prevent us from buying a car in Canada? Which scenario is more cost effective?

Any info you share with me would be greatly apriciated! ONE LOVE.

i have never heard a complaint about registering american bought cars in canada from anyone i know that has moved here.

i think the most important thing to consider in your case is where is the car cheaper. there are might be some rules you'll need to check up on because of this but usually the protectionism is on the american side. for example, SUV prices are higher in the states because of greater demand. for this reason, there are regulations making it more difficult for americans to buy SUVs in canada and import them to states.

Whoah! Very cool. Will you be in the Vancouver area, Darko?

To answer your question, there's some red tape to deal with when you bring a car into the country from the US. A friend of mine moved to Washington state from BC and took her car with her. She insured it in the US and got Washinton plates.

Then, a year or so later, when she moved back to BC, she wasn't allowed to insure and drive it in Canada without getting someone to inspect and certify it, even though it was originally bought in Canada. Because it once had Washington plates, they treated it like it was a US-bought car, and made her pay hundreds for an inspection. It's a real scam.

Anyway, it's not impossible to bring a car into Canada... you just have to pay for it in time and money.

Wow Darko - I have to say that BC was the most awesome place that I have ever lived. I hope you and your family love it there as much as I did.

As I recall, if you are an American citizen and get landed immigrant status in Canada then there is no duty on the house hold items and vehicles that you bring into Canada. However as Cubey says you will need to have it inspected and licensed and that is pricey. Anything that you bring in after you have "landed" will be taxed with a duty however.

When I lived there (in the late 1980's), they had socialized auto insurance run by the province but I'm not sure if that is still the case. I got a real price shock when the price for insurance tripled from what I was paying in BC when I moved to California, so for me, BC was better.

You don't say if you are moving to the coast or the interior, but if you are moving to the interior let me know. I used to live in Kamloops and I also lived in Prince George.

We are moving to the Pacific Rim exact location Tofino. When we moved to Mexico it was a bitch. My advice to ppl who want to move to Mexico, just sell all your shit and buy new. I am so excited about moving to Canada. OMG...Tofino is absolutely beautiful.

Oh btw...thank you so much for the information. It is very helpful.

Thank you for your help!

I would call or write the Canadian Embassy or your local Canadian Consulate. They have been wonderful about assisting me with several issues over the past few years and would certainly be happy to give you the most accurate information on laws and regulations.

Thank you so much Callan! Darko and I will definetly do that. It is good to know that the Canadian Consulate is very helpful because the Mexican Consulate sucks!!!

YAY BC (wishes she lived in Vancouver area, Cubey. Better Gardening there.)

My advice? wait till you come to Canada and buy the car in Alberta, not BC. I can't remember the details of why, but when my ex and I bought a truck, it worked out much cheaper that way.

Welcome, in advance, Darko, to the fine province of BC!

I have checked the Registrar of Imported Vehicles and the cars we are interested in buying are on the list of admissible cars. Does the fact that we are US / Mexican citizens moving to Canada prevent us from buying a car in Canada? Which scenario is more cost effective?

Any info you share with me would be greatly apriciated! ONE LOVE.[/QUOTE]

http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

Just be careful on the fine print as you have to modify you vehicles to Canada spec, ie running lights. Bumbers are costly changes. Some seat belt parts have long delays etc. So even if the car is on the list ensure that the conversion costs and hassle are worth it. IMHO

Also have everything like paperwork all straight also and a set time to resolve the issues. Not insurmountable but difficult if moving house and job at same time.

Good luck

Tofino is fantastic, I spent 22 years there It's really a beautiful place.

When your car breaks down in Canada, do you call AAA ay?

Thx for making me miss Vancouver Island.

Oh, and though this is not related to the general topic and I personally do not partake, two words for you from some old friends of mine: Gabriola Gold.

Texada Time Warp, Lasquetti Green, it's all good

"Does the fact that we are US / Mexican citizens moving to Canada prevent us from buying a car in Canada?" - Let me get this straight, you are moving to Canada and you want to know if you can buy something there? Duh!

If you will be a Landed Immigrant you will probably be able to bring in autos as Settler's Effects. My advice is if you are contemplating buying an american car (Ford, GM ,etc) buy it in the US because it is cheaper there and the tax is way less. If you are buying a 'foreign" car (Japanese, European, etc) buy it in Canada because prices in the US are higher due to greater demand. Buy in BC and you will pay BC tax (PST) and Federal tax (GST). Get price quotes from both countries on the web.

Advice to contact Canadian Consulate is sound. Here is web site for Canada customs which might be of help.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/menu-e.html

IM me in-game if you like.

Bob

You better send me some shrooms Darko..... I still have my Aussie passport that lets me walk across the border and squat for 6months, don't think I won't go up there and break my foot off in your ass!

I stayed a short while in Vancouver several years ago... and apart from the panhandlers at the skytrain stations, it was a beautiful and friendly city (with great shrooms) - I had a blast there, and would LOVE to go back again to visit... Hope you and the family have the same experience that I did.

Oh, and I meant it about snapping my foot off in your ass.

Siggy.

Dude what made you assume I do shroooms?

Bob, brilliant! Thank you.

except for SUVs

Welcome to Canada in advance Darko and Paris!

Good choice with Tofino, it's a lovely place, I'm hoping to get away from Vancouver and spend some time there myself this summer.

Jauani, are you sure? Domestic SUVs are plentiful and have good deals in the Pacific Northwest. I know that people are going to Canada to shop for Foreign SUVs because they are in high demand, esp. the Honda SUVs.

Bob

i read an article a few months ago that noted that the US is putting restrictions on people from purchasing american made SUVs in Canada and then bringing them back to the US. the reason is because there is such a great demand for SUVs in the states that the same SUV sells for more than in the US despite higher shipping costs.

the americans government has a strange interpretation of free trade agreement. apparently it doesn't apply to lumber, steel, and SUVs.

hardy har har.

Darko, from what ive heard, it's a pain in the butt getting all the papers and regsitration sorted out if you buy in the US and then drive home to Canada in your new car. I would buy in Canada just to save the hassle. WELCOME TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH DARKO!