Car Shipping from Canada to the U.S.

How Canada-to-U.S. car shipping works

Canadian Car Shipping moves vehicles from Canada into the United States for seasonal travel, U.S. vehicles coming home, relocations, and permanent imports. Pickup, transport, border filing, and delivery are coordinated by an Account Executive, with a customs specialist reviewing the entry type that matches your title and how long the vehicle will stay.

A U.S.-registered vehicle returning from a Canadian visit is not the same file as a Canadian-titled vehicle entering for the winter, and neither is the same as a permanent import. We sort that out on the quote so the carrier and the customs filing match.

Request a quote with Canadian pickup, U.S. delivery, vehicle details, running condition, and timing. We confirm whether the shipment is a returning U.S. vehicle, a temporary entry, or a formal import, then arrange a carrier and the customs process. The vehicle is inspected at pickup and delivery.

You do not always have to meet the vehicle at the border. The specialist will say whether a broker files the entry or you need additional documents for CBP, EPA, or NHTSA.

Returning a U.S. vehicle

If the vehicle is still U.S.-titled and registered, and it is coming back from Canada without having been registered in Canada, it is usually a returning U.S. vehicle. Identification, the current U.S. registration, and the U.S. title are the core documents. If the vehicle entered Canada on a specific CBP form, keep a copy of the stamped form for the return trip.

This is common for Americans who visited Canada and for vehicles sent north for a short project or repair. Once it is home, you generally continue U.S. registration as usual rather than completing a first-time import.

Temporary travel with a Canadian vehicle

A Canadian-registered vehicle shipped to the United States for a limited stay—snowbirds, visitors, short-term work or study—is typically a temporary importation. CBP and NHTSA treat temporary entry differently from a permanent import. Time limits apply; many temporary entries are intended to leave the United States within a set period, often discussed as up to 12 months, depending on the box used on the DOT declaration and your status.

You usually cannot title the vehicle in the United States on a temporary entry. Some states still expect visitors who stay for an extended period to contact the local DMV about a visitor registration. See snowbird car shipping for the seasonal pattern, and NHTSA’s temporary importation information for the federal declaration.

Permanent imports into the United States

Keeping a Canadian-titled vehicle in the United States—because you bought it in Canada, you are relocating, or a visa will last longer than a temporary stay—requires a formal import. Eligibility should be checked before the car is shipped. CBP, NHTSA, and the EPA each have rules. They are not identical: a vehicle that is old enough for one agency’s age exemption may still need a declaration for another.

Vehicles less than 25 years old generally must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or be imported through a NHTSA-registered importer. EPA has a separate emissions process, including Form 3520-1. Manufacturer labels, a manufacturer compliance letter, photos of labels, and prior Canadian import documents may be requested. Duty and fees, when they apply, depend on origin, value, and the importer’s circumstances—not a single published “Canada-to-U.S.” rate.

Corporate-owned vehicles and vehicles imported for resale can require a registered-importer process, which is more involved than a personal move. Read the practical walkthrough on importing a car from Canada to the U.S..

What to send with your quote

• Canadian pickup location and U.S. delivery location
• Year, make, model, and running condition
• Preferred timing
• Current Canadian or U.S. registration and title
• Whether the vehicle is returning to the U.S., visiting temporarily, or being imported to keep

For forms and broker coordination, see customs and cross-border car shipping.