Importing Cars to Canada?

[Evan]

I was wondering how much it would cost to import a car here to Canada. I heard it's cheaper to import in parts rather than the whole car as one. Also, how much would it cost to make the car street legal (What is involved in making one street legal?). Anyone? Rage?

[Ferio_vti]

What did you have in mind?

I'm assuming you mean importing a car from Japan. Basically, you can't. Namely the strick emission laws. In otherwords forget that dream of driving a Skyline. The US you can, but the car would be classified as a collector or something. And the insurance would be insane.

There are 'ways' around some laws. Ie shipping a car in parts. I've heard stories of people cutting a car in half and shipping them seperately and assembling it back together.
Far as making a car street legal, I've heard basically if its not made for Canadian market, its illegal... There's a lot of paperwork and redtape to deal with. You need a ton of money and time to ship a car over...

[GT2NV]

what do you drive evan>?

[Evan]

I saw a post on ClubRSX that a guy imported an RSX Type-R into California and was just wondering how much it would cost. It looks so nice, but I also heard about emission laws.

[T5_X]

you always hear about cars not being allowed here because of emissions. Japan is so damn crowded, I would expect they'd have more strict emission laws there, so what gives?

[Ferio_vti]

Here's another funny things with Japan, they can only keep their cars for about 40-50,000kms. After that, the engine isn't as efficient or something stupid... Hence, why we get lots of engines from them for swaps.

Shippping cars to US is way easier.
The whole emission and Kyoto thing is really messed.

[Evan]

I saw a Supra TT engine on Ebay for about 2K with 40 000km on it from Japan.

How about importing a vehicle from Australia? Same thing?

[2000impreza]

Originally posted by Ferio_vti
Here's another funny things with Japan, they can only keep their cars for about 40-50,000kms. After that, the engine isn't as efficient or something stupid... Hence, why we get lots of engines from them for swaps.

Shippping cars to US is way easier.
The whole emission and Kyoto thing is really messed.

i think it is just a myth that they can only keep their engine for X amount of km's. i've known a few people who's been to japan... they all say its some myth someone started probably to sell stolen engines or something.

[legendboy]

vehicles that have been imported into the us from japan cannot be imported again into canada and be regestred with the transportation regestar.

[Ferio_vti]

Originally posted by legendboy
vehicles that have been imported into the us from japan cannot be imported again into canada and be regestred with the transportation regestar.

I've heard about that too.

Damn, and I was just looking at this Civic on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1846048298

[Evan]

I remember reading about a Cosworth being in Calgary and a few other cars. How? Hehe, I heard they arent even registered.

[2000impreza]

there was a thread about this not too long ago. i think it was rage2 that siad there are loop holes but tightly kept secrets.

[Ferio_vti]

Maybe this will help:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/rsimp_e.htm

(actually, its pretty vague)

[Evan]

Bah! These regulations need to be revised!

[legendboy]

Originally posted by Evan
I remember reading about a Cosworth being in Calgary and a few other cars. How? Hehe, I heard they arent even registered.

If u can get the car here u can run a D plate on it instead.

[Evan]

What's a D plate?

[eludeu]

Originally posted by Evan
What's a D plate?

Dealer plate

[rage2]

Originally posted by legendboy
If u can get the car here u can run a D plate on it instead.

Secret #1 revealed... =)

This option is for high rollers only, insurance on a D plate is crazy.

[Evan]

How much we talking about here?

[rage2]

Originally posted by Ranger_X31
you always hear about cars not being allowed here because of emissions. Japan is so damn crowded, I would expect they'd have more strict emission laws there, so what gives?

It's got nothing to do with emissions. It's got to do with different laws in the different countries. Laws such as 5mph bumpers, daytime running lights, stupid stuff like that. Also, the cost of federalizing a car for US/Canada is quite expensive for the manufacturer, not worth it for low volume vehicles.

For every question answered about importing a car to Canada, http://www.riv.ca is the official site for what can and can not be imported/registered in Canada.