Import Customs

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Cross Border Customs

Canadian Car Shipping has effectively integrated everything into an all-inclusive service to make importing and exporting simple, informative, and stress free for all of our clients. Vehicle transport in and out of Canada and the U.S. can sometimes be more intricate than you might think. Even though the United States and Canada are on good terms, there are still a lot of things that affect the reason, process, and way in which someone can legally import a vehicle across the border.

In today’s political atmosphere the logistics of importation seem to be an ever-evolving endeavor for importers, brokers, and even carriers on both sides of the border. Here at Canadian Car Shipping, we work closely with our partnered brokers and carriers on both sides of the border to stay up to date on policy changes, facility updates, and route adjustments that can impact your import in various ways. This allows us to provide each of our customers with the most accurate information and be able to provide the most current updates regarding their vehicle’s physical transport across the border.

So, what sets us apart from other transport companies? The fact that we utilize a customs specialist to consult and review every import coming across the border on either side. For us this is a critical component in making your vehicle’s importation across country lines as smooth and flawless as possible.

Exporting from USA to Canada With Canadian Car Shipping

Temporary Import

Temporary imports are for cars that are being transported to a location for customers that are temporarily residing in a specific location. Some examples would be students, people who have Visas and people who are relocating for a temporary job position. There are specific rules and regulations that must be followed in scenarios such as this. These cars are not authorized to be sold within the Canadian border. The car must change ownership within the United States border before it can be transported back to Canada. Canadian Car Shipping can easily help with this process, with minimal fees being applied. These vehicles are permitted to temporarily apply for and claim insurance within Canada’s border to help ensure your car has proper protection during your time there.

Permanent Entry

Permanent entry is a requirement for any and all cars that enter Canada’s border permanently. Clearance must be obtained before the vehicle crosses between borders. Canadian Car Shipping can ensure delivery another way, though. They can ship the car to a warehouse that is bonded for self-clearance. The payment of the goods and services tax is a requirement, as well as the paperwork from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles for cars that are up to fifteen years old or newer. Depending on the nature surrounding the transport, exemptions can apply that can lower the number of tax dollars paid. If you would like more information, you can view the Registrar of Imported Vehicles website at www.riv.ca.

Canadian Vehicle Returning

Cars originally from Canada may be imported into Canada one of two ways. They are as follows:

In-bond

The following kinds of in-bond transport must be self-cleared:

  • All items that are personal in a Canadian car coming back to Canada
  • All Canadian born citizens coming back to Canada with a United States vehicle
  • All Canadian born citizens coming back to Canada with a United States vehicle that qualifies for a $10,000 exemption value
  • All people going to Canada with a work Visa
  • Immigrants moving to Canada that will qualify for a sales tax exemption
Formal Entry

This form of entry is for a car that is able to be cleared at the Canadian border and transported to an address within Canada. There can be no personal items within the car.

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Exporting from Canada to USA with Canadian Car Shipping

Informal Import

This form of import is known as a 3299 ENTRY and it includes the steps listed below:
  1. A vehicle from Canada that is going to be in the U.S. for equal to or less than 12 months, such as snowbirds or those with short term Visas. Cars like this are not allowed to be traded or sold within the United States border. They can only be sold or traded while on Canadian land.
  2. A United States vehicle that can prove and provide registration of that vehicle within the United States.

Formal Import

This kind of import is known as a 7501 Entry and it includes the steps listed below:
  1. Vehicles originating from Canada that are being brought into the border of the United States for over a year and will be registered as a United States vehicle.
  2. A car from the United States that is transported to Canada and the title from the United States was given up during the transport process into Canada. The car will have to be re-titled and re-registered within the United States.
  3. A vehicle titled in the United States that switched owners in Canada and the new owner of the car is transporting the car back to the United States with proof of the original United States title.
Requirements for Import

In order to transport a vehicle into the United States, it has to be compliant to the standards of the US Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. Despite the year of the car, the US Department of Transportation form HS-7 and the Environmental Protection Agency form 3520 have to be finished upon entry. You also have to finish and file the entry papers required for commercial entries by a commercial carrier when moving across the border.

Formal Entry

It can take up to three to four weeks for the United States Customs to process a formal import form. The finished form will be sent to the address of the transporter. If you switch addresses that vary from your customs forms before you receive the formal import form, please make sure you contact your transport specialist as quickly as possible to give them your new address for delivery. Note: United States Customs are not going to research inquiries before the three weeks prior to the transport crossing the border.

Registering

You won’t be allowed to register the car with the Department of Motor Vehicles until you are able to receive the formal import form. As soon as you get the formal import form, bring it along with the title from Canada and the bill-of-sale to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The transporter will be in charge of all the registration fees and all applicable taxes, as well as the title.

Ship A Car To Canada

Are you shipping your vehicle to Canada from the US? Canadian Car Shipping is your one stop shop for importing a vehicle to Canada. We will arrange your transport for crossing Canadian border by car, file any necessary paperwork for you, and answer any questions you may have along the way.

For your free online quote to ship a car to Canada, fill out our Quote Request Form. You can also email us at [email protected] or give us a call at (330) 984-4354.

U.S. Custom Logistics

When the U.S. underwent a new administration, a lot of changes were placed into effect. One of the biggest policy changes affecting importers is the U.S. tariffs. The U.S. tariffs are frequently being adjusted and altered, which means import codes are also being adjusted and changed frequently.

However, our customs team, including our customs specialist, work diligently to help explain and maneuver the tariffs to the best of our abilities. During a customs consultation the customs specialist will run a detailed customs breakdown showing you any and all fees that may be charged to you by the U.S. government for your formal import.

Not only are their tariffs to maneuver, but their are also many strict regulations the U.S. government holds to regulate formal imports into the U.S. This includes all vehicles meeting U.S. FMVSS and EPA regulations. Our customs specialist will work 1:1 with you to help you gather all of the required supporting documents you will need to verify compliance of your vehicle for formal entry.

Canadian Car Shipping utilizes a 3 point cross checking system. Your documents are reviewed and verified by 3 different entities within our brokerage team before being submitted for filing by the brokers through the CMBA system.

Canadian Customs Logistics

Though Canada may not be experiencing rigorous policy changes, there are still quite a bit of regulations that must be upheld for formal importation. Canada may not require as much supporting documentation as the U.S., however, they are particular with what they do require.

Importing a U.S. title vehicle formally into Canada is a multi-step process. The vehicle is required to be cleared and authorized by U.S. CBP for export before CBSA will authorize the import. Our customs specialist files this prior authorization for export with U.S. CBP before your vehicle crosses the border. This process takes a total of 72 hours and our team works hard to make sure that the timeline is completed before the vehicle arrives for crossing.

Some vehicles being purchased or gifted from the U.S. to Canada also require what is called a Notice of Release (NRL). Not all U.S. states require this; however, CBP will reject export authorization without it for states that do require it. Our customs specialist works hard to keep up to date with state regulations regarding NRLs so we can notify our customers in advance and prevent delay of your import.

Canada has also implemented a surtax for U.S. manufactured vehicles. Our customs specialist works closely with our partnered Canadian brokers to complete the necessary CUSMA documentation to provide you with the best discount we can regarding the surtax.

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Skip The Line And Fly

Crossing borders when driving your car from state to state or province to province or traveling to Canada by car can be as easy as paying tolls as the border and continuing your journey. Crossing country borders are often more involved and time consuming. There’s an inevitable line to be cleared for entrance into the country, and you’ll need to have all of your documentation on hand. By choosing to ship your vehicle, you can skip this process and let us take care of the details for you. Opt for our shipping a vehicle service.

U.S. Import Considerations

Vehicles over 25 years old do not require verification of U.S. FMVSS and EPA regulations as in accordance with the USMCA. Vehicles under 25 years old are required to provide verification of U.S. FMVSS and EPA compliance. Some vehicles’ manufacturer and EPA labels will verify this themselves, making things a bit easier. However, some vehicles’ labels lack the information needed to verify compliance. In this case you will require a letter of compliance from the vehicle’s manufacturer in order to be allowed to formally import your vehicle. There are a few caveats in regards to obtaining a letter of compliance:

  • Not all manufacturers supply these letters
    • Not all manufacturers give out these letters of compliance, and if your vehicle’s labeling lacks sufficient information to prove compliance the U.S. will not accept your formal import under a commercial carrier or private importation across the border by an individual. Our customs specialist can provide you with the contact information for your vehicle’s manufacturer and can inform you if your vehicle’s manufacturer does not supply this documentation.
  • If your compliance letter states your vehicle does not meet all regulations you will need to address those issues
    • Sometimes a letter of compliance will state that your vehicle “meets all FMVSS except…” or “your vehicle meets all Canadian FMVSS.” In these two scenarios you will need to make your vehicle compliant or verify that your vehicle actually is compliant before CBP will authorize formal import of your vehicle. Our customs specialist can help explain this step by step process for you and what your options are during the import process.

Registered Broker

Sometimes a vehicle cannot easily be made compliant, or a client really wants to keep and import their vehicle but a manufacturer will not grant a letter of compliance. In this case you do still have one option; you can use a registered importer. Individuals wanting to import a vehicle into the U.S. for resale (small dealerships), or a company owned vehicle formally into the U.S. would also have to use a registered importer. Registered importers utilize their own transport carriers as the vehicle must go through a rigorous inspection. When you use a registered importer your vehicle is held at a bonded facility at the U.S. border for a minimum of 30 days. This allows very specific inspectors and mechanics to conform or verify that the importing vehicle meets all U.S. FMVSS and EPA regulations. At this time we do not partner with a registered broker.

Importation for Mechanical Repairs

Commercial brokers in the U.S. are no longer accepting import filings for mechanical work. In order to import your vehicle for temporary mechanical work into the U.S., you must contact an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). The ICI can help you complete the documents needed for this temporary bonded import and will be able to regulate and monitor the import while it is in the U.S. temporarily. The U.S. requires strict monitoring of these vehicles that commercial carriers just aren’t able to provide at this time. Currently Canadian Car Shipping does not partner with any ICI’s.