JAYMEZ' Importing from the States thread.

[The Rider]

This thread is exactly what I needed.

However, could someone clarify the process for getting a 15yr or older car back across? I know that they don't have to go through the RIV, but does that mean the process is the same, you just don't pay the RIV fee or do a federal inspection on it?

[Kobe]

I forget who the user is, but you should PM the guy that imported the red NSX, he should be able to answer your questions...

I think its all the same other then the recall later tho...

[Sacred]

Someone should do one of these guides on how to import a car from Japan.

[JAYMEZ]

Importing a car from Japan is pretty easy .. Maybe ill add one when I have some extra time. Im also going to make this thread more tidy!

[Sacred]

Can you also do one on how to import blondes from Cali and Australia? Lets just say theres a huge grey market in my pants! hahaha Thanks Jaymez!

[jjjheimer]

Thanks for the info. I just got back from Seattle with a 2007 STI. I convinced a buddy to do the same and he imported a 2007 STI Limited.

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

I know that Whitlash Montana is a point of exit for leaving the states, but is there a point of entry that you have to cross of comming into Canada where you have to do similar things that you did with Whitlash? (like contact them 3 days in advance)

Thanks yall.

[JAYMEZ]

I PMed you back LUCKYSTRIKE. THat should answer your questions.

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Sorry still a little confused. Do you have to get all this done at a certain place in the states? Jaymez I saw that you had this done at Whitlash, Montana which is a little while before the border.

Could I also do the 3 day in advance contacting to the Sweet grass border as it is closer to Alberta?


Just for clarification, for the US border I need to contact them 3 days in advance with:

Bill of Sale
Title
Recall letter


I talked to RIV and the guy told me that I don't need anything at the Canadian border and that they will give me an import form and I have to pay a fee.

[xrayvsn]

You need the documentation to show the car has been exported from the US. You need the exported stamp from US customs on your original Title or you can't start the RIV process.

[Altezza]

^^ That's not entirely correct. From the Canadian Customs side, they don't really care if you have the export stamp on your title or not. It's a US law to have the title stamped as exported and it's up to you whether you want to comply. However, there are consequences for not complying if the vehicle is ever in the USA again.

[xrayvsn]

I brought my unstamped MSO to the Canadian border customs and immigration and they refused to process my RIV documentation until it was stamped exported. What is funny is that I was told 2 minutes before by a different customs and immigration officer who was manning the booth that I did not need the stamp, and that I could get it stamped after the fact.

My feeling is that your experience will vary depending on who is doing your paperwork at the border. I don't really think the customs people always know what to do.

Originally posted by Altezza
^^ That's not entirely correct. From the Canadian Customs side, they don't really care if you have the export stamp on your title or not. It's a US law to have the title stamped as exported and it's up to you whether you want to comply. However, there are consequences for not complying if the vehicle is ever in the USA again.

[Kobe]

Originally posted by xrayvsn
I brought my unstamped MSO to the Canadian border customs and immigration and they refused to process my RIV documentation until it was stamped exported. What is funny is that I was told 2 minutes before by a different customs and immigration officer who was manning the booth that I did not need the stamp, and that I could get it stamped after the fact.

My feeling is that your experience will vary depending on who is doing your paperwork at the border. I don't really think the customs people always know what to do.

Ya thats why you go into the US customs side first, and get it stamped and then go to the canadian boarder

[Kobe]

Originally posted by LUCKYSTRIKE
Sorry still a little confused. Do you have to get all this done at a certain place in the states? Jaymez I saw that you had this done at Whitlash, Montana which is a little while before the border.

Could I also do the 3 day in advance contacting to the Sweet grass border as it is closer to Alberta?


Just for clarification, for the US border I need to contact them 3 days in advance with:

Bill of Sale
Title
Recall letter


I talked to RIV and the guy told me that I don't need anything at the Canadian border and that they will give me an import form and I have to pay a fee.

Bill of sale
US Title (The owner wont have this if there is a lien)
Customs Worksheet

The recall later is required later in the process when you take it in for the inspection..

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Am I able to do this at Sweet grass Montana or just Whitlash Montana?

[nonlinear]

[yellowsnow]

I'm not sure if this has been covered.. but if i buy a car from a dealership in the US, do I need to pay any taxes to the dealership (GST, excise, tire levies, etc), or do I just pay this at the border?

thanks!

[xrayvsn]

No you should not have to pay sales tax to the dealer - none.

The Canadian governmanet will get you for duty (if any) and GST at the border. If you are registering the car in a province that has sales tax, you will pay the provincial sales tax when you register the car.

[AlbertaMS3]

Thanks so much Jaymez, xray and the others who contributed to this thread! I just got back last week with my 2007 Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed3 thanks in big part to this thread. Everything went real smoothly at the border. Tomorrow the DRL's get installed and then the Federal Inspection.

And I did not pay sales tax in the U.S., just GST, duty, RIV fee and a/c tax at the border.

If you're interested I've provided more details here:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=66834.0

and more photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93859076@N00/

Dwayne

[Kobe]

Good job man, how much did u save? if u dont mind telling us