Vehicle Import Guide for Canada

Before You Buy a Vehicle to Import Into Canada

The best time to identify an import problem is before purchasing the vehicle. A low purchase price or desirable vehicle does not necessarily mean the vehicle can legally enter Canada or be registered after importation.

Before completing a purchase, importers should investigate:

• Vehicle Identification Number
• Original market for the vehicle
• Vehicle admissibility
• Manufacturer certification
• Vehicle age
• Title status
• Salvage or rebuilt history
• Modifications
• Outstanding recalls
• Ownership documentation
• Purchase price
• Country of origin
• Expected duties and taxes
• U.S. export requirements where applicable
• Transport Canada requirements
• Provincial registration requirements

This review is particularly important when purchasing expensive, unusual, modified, or specialty vehicles. A vehicle being physically located in the United States does not automatically mean it is eligible to enter Canada.

How a Vehicle Import Moves Through the Process

The exact requirements vary by vehicle, but a typical permanent vehicle import may involve:

1. Vehicle research
2. Admissibility
3. Purchase & ownership documents
4. Export requirements
5. Canadian customs clearance
6. RIV / federal compliance where applicable
7. Provincial registration

Each stage serves a different purpose. Admissibility determines whether the vehicle can legally enter Canada. Export requirements may need to be completed with the country the vehicle is leaving. Customs clearance deals with the vehicle's entry into Canada, declaration information, duties, taxes, and applicable regulatory requirements. Federal compliance deals with applicable vehicle safety requirements after importation. Provincial registration determines whether the vehicle can ultimately be licensed for road use within the province.

Successfully clearing customs does not necessarily guarantee that a vehicle can ultimately be registered for road use.

Vehicle Admissibility Comes First

One of the most important parts of vehicle importing is determining whether the vehicle is admissible before it begins moving toward Canada. Depending on the vehicle, admissibility can be affected by:

• Original safety certification
• Vehicle age
• Vehicle class
• Country or market where the vehicle was originally sold
• Modifications
• Salvage or title status
• Manufacturer requirements
• Canadian safety standards
• Recall status

Many vehicles manufactured for the U.S. market may qualify for importation through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles program, but eligibility should never be assumed. Vehicles manufactured for other international markets can present substantially different admissibility issues.

Importers considering a purchase should review Vehicle Admissibility Requirements in Canada before committing to the transaction.

Importing Vehicles From the United States

Canada–U.S. vehicle imports involve requirements on both sides of the border. Before the vehicle enters Canada, the importer may need to complete applicable U.S. export procedures and provide ownership information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. When the vehicle reaches Canada, the import must then satisfy Canadian customs and vehicle requirements. The process can involve:

1. U.S. ownership & export
2. Canadian customs
3. Duties & taxes
4. Vehicle compliance
5. Registration

The exact requirements depend on the vehicle and how it is being imported. Because U.S. export procedures can vary by port, importers should confirm the requirements of the U.S. port of export before arranging transportation to the border.

See How to Import a Car From the U.S. to Canada for the complete process.

Commercial Vehicle Imports Into Canada

Commercial vehicle imports can involve a different operational process from a one-time personal vehicle purchase. Commercial vehicle imports may include vehicles being imported:

• For resale
• By dealerships
• For company fleets
• For business operations
• For industrial or professional use
• As part of recurring vehicle movements
• By manufacturers or distributors

Businesses importing vehicles commercially may also need:

• Business Number
• RM import account
• CARM registration
• Customs broker delegation
• Commercial documentation
• Electronic customs declaration
• Tariff classification
• Customs valuation
• Origin information
• Duties and taxes
• Transport Canada compliance
• RIV processing where applicable

Garden City primarily focuses on these commercial vehicle movements. Businesses that are not yet established to import commercially should review Do You Need a Business Number to Import Into Canada?

High-Value Vehicle Imports

Higher-value vehicles deserve additional planning before purchase and transportation. When importing a six-figure luxury, exotic, collector, or specialty vehicle, even a relatively small documentation or compliance issue can create significant financial exposure. Before moving a high-value vehicle, importers should confirm:

• Vehicle admissibility
• Clear ownership
• Title status
• VIN accuracy
• Purchase documentation
• Customs value
• Country of origin
• Expected duties and taxes
• Export requirements
• Transportation arrangements
• Cargo insurance
• Vehicle compliance requirements
• Registration considerations

Garden City may consider select high-value personal vehicle imports on a case-by-case basis. These imports must be reviewed and accepted before clearance, and full prepayment of applicable duties, taxes, brokerage, and related charges is required.

Garden City does not generally provide customs brokerage for ordinary casual or personal imports.

Documents Used During a Vehicle Import

Vehicle documentation needs to establish several important facts: who owns the vehicle, which vehicle is being imported, how much was paid for it, where it originated, and whether it meets the applicable import requirements. Depending on the transaction, supporting documentation may include:

• Certificate of Title
• Manufacturer's Certificate or Statement of Origin
• Bill of sale
• Commercial invoice
• VIN
• Purchase records
• Vehicle compliance documentation
• Recall documentation
• U.S. export information
• Transport Canada or RIV information
• Commercial importer information

Document requirements differ depending on the vehicle. For a more detailed checklist, see Documents Required to Import a Vehicle Into Canada.

Duties, Taxes & Other Vehicle Import Costs

The purchase price is only one part of the landed cost of an imported vehicle. Depending on the vehicle and circumstances, an import may involve:

• Customs duty
• GST
• Applicable excise taxes
• RIV fees
• Brokerage
• Transportation
• Insurance
• Inspections
• Required vehicle modifications
• Provincial taxes or registration costs

The amount of customs duty is not determined simply by whether the vehicle was purchased in the United States. Origin, tariff treatment, classification, vehicle specifications, and applicable Canadian trade measures can affect the customs assessment.

For a high-value vehicle, importers should understand the likely landed cost before finalizing the purchase. For a general explanation of import charges, see Understanding Duties, Taxes & GST in Canada.

The Registrar of Imported Vehicles

The Registrar of Imported Vehicles program administers the national inspection and certification process for applicable imported vehicles on behalf of Transport Canada. Depending on the vehicle, the process may involve:

• Registering the vehicle import
• Paying applicable RIV fees
• Demonstrating recall status
• Completing required modifications
• Completing a federal inspection
• Receiving the applicable Canadian compliance documentation

Not every vehicle import follows exactly the same RIV process. Vehicle age, original certification, vehicle type, and method of importation can affect which requirements apply. Importers should therefore establish the applicable process for the specific vehicle rather than assuming every imported vehicle follows identical steps.

For each step, from recall clearance to the 45-day inspection, see The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) Process.

Common Vehicle Import Problems

Vehicle imports can become expensive when an issue is discovered after the vehicle has already been purchased or transported. Common problems include:

• Vehicle is inadmissible
• Original title is unavailable
• VIN does not match documentation
• Vehicle has been substantially modified
• Salvage history creates additional requirements
• Outstanding recalls
• U.S. export requirements were not completed
• Purchase value is poorly documented
• Unexpected duties or taxes
• Importer account is not properly established
• Required inspections are not completed
• Vehicle cannot satisfy provincial registration requirements

Researching these issues before the vehicle moves can significantly reduce the likelihood of border delays or unexpected costs.

How Garden City Supports Vehicle Imports

Garden City Customs Services Inc. provides customs brokerage and cross-border support for vehicle imports entering Canada. Our primary focus is commercial vehicle importing for:

• Dealerships
• Businesses
• Fleet operators
• Commercial vehicle purchasers
• Recurring vehicle import programs
• Companies moving vehicles across the Canada–U.S. border

Our team can assist with:

• Customs documentation review
• Commercial customs clearance
• Import declarations
• Tariff classification
• Customs valuation
• Duties and taxes
• CARM importer requirements
• CBSA coordination
• Cross-border logistics coordination

Select high-value personal vehicle imports may also be considered on a case-by-case basis with prepayment required before clearance. See our vehicle import services.