If you’re importing a vehicle into Canada for personal use rather than resale, there are a few exemptions that you should know about.
[ad code=2 align=center]
Vehicle Is 15 Years Old (or more.)
The age of the vehicle is determined by the month and year it was manufactured. Do not under any circumstances assume the model year to be correct if you’re dealing with a 15-16 year old vehicle. You can often find the manufacturing date on the inside of the Driver’s Door on the manufacturer’s compliance label.
Buses Must Be Manufactured Before 1971 To Qualify
Pretty simple. Canadian Border Services doesn’t give a specific age limitation, just the year, 1971.
The Vehicle Was Originally Manufactured To Meet Canadian Safety Standards
If you’re an importer authorized by Transport Canada, or if you’re a Canadian Resident that’s re-importing a car that you recently exported; you qualify for a RIV exemption.
The Vehicle Is Entering Canada On A Temporary Basis
The vehicle must also have a specific purpose, such as:
You’re importing it for under 12 Months as a temporary resident (a student) at one of our lovely education institutions.
You are currently in Canada for employment or contract work not exceeding 36 months.
Vehicles Imported By Diplomats. Get a letter from Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada.
Vehicles Imported by Military Personnel for the duration of their stay in Canada.
Vehicles imported by United States pre-clearance personnel and their dependents for the duration of the posting in Canada;
Vehicles imported for exhibition, demonstration, evaluation, testing or other special purposes. You must submit written authorization from Transport Canada, in the form of a Transport Canada endorsed Schedule VII for temporary importations of this nature.
Vehicles traveling in-transit through Canada
vehicles designed primarily for the performance of work in civil engineering construction projects and in maintenance and that are not constructed on a truck chassis or truck-type chassis.
If you have any questions, contact the CBSA’s Border Information Service (BIS) line. This is a 24-hour telephone service that automatically answers all incoming calls and provides general border services information.
Toll-free in Canada: 1-800-461-9999
Outside Canada: 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064
(long-distance charges will apply)
If you call during regular business hours Monday to Friday (except holidays), from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (local time), you can speak directly with an agent by pressing “0″ at any time.
For more recent policy and technical information about excise tax on vehicles and their air conditioners, call the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-866-330-3304.
Importing a vehicle into Canada can be a headache, especially if you find yourself at the wrong border crossing — or even the correct border crossing, but at the wrong time.
ALBERTA
Border Crossing: Sweet Grass Area Port & Coutts
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
Interstate 15 N @ Canadian Border
Sweetgrass, Montana. USA. 59484.
Phone #: 406 335-9610 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
British Columbia
Border Crossing: Blaine & Pacific Highway
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
9901 Pacific Highway
Blaine, Washington. USA. 98230.
Phone #: 360-332-5771 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Eastport & Kingsgate
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
Highway 95 N. @ Canadian Border
Eastport, Idaho. USA. 83826
Phone #: 208-267-3966 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Oroville Area Port & Osoyoos
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
33643 Highway 97
Oroville, Washington. USA. 98844
Phone #: 509-476-2955 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Sumas & Huntingdon
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
103 Cherry Street
Sumas, Washington. USA. 98295
Phone #: 360-988-2971 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Manitoba
Border Crossing: Pembina & Emerson
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
10980 Highway 29
Pembina, North Dakota, USA. 58271.
Phone #: 701-825-6551 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
New Brunswick
Border Crossing: Calais / Milltown
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
3 Customs Street
Calais, Maine, USA. 04619
Phone #:207-454-3621 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Calais / St. Stephen
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
3 Customs Street
Calais, Maine, USA. 04619
Phone #:207-454-3621 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Houlton / Woodstock
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
Route 95 @ The Border
Houlton, Maine. USA. 04730
Phone #: 207-532-2131 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Madawaska & Edmundston
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
63 Bridge Avenue
Madawaska, Maine. USA. 04756
Phone #: 207-728-4376 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Ontario
Border Crossing: Alexandria Bay / Lansdowne Bridge
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
46735 Interstate Route 81
Alexandria Bay, New York. USA. 13607
Phone #: 315 482-2261 Border Hours: Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7)
Car Inspection Hours:
Border Crossing: Buffalo / Fort Erie
US CUSTOMS OFFICE:
726 Exchange Street
Suite 400, Buffalo, New York. USA. 14210
Phone #: 716-843-8300 Border Hours: Call to Confirm
The age of the vehicle is determined by the month and year it was manufactured. Do not under any circumstances assume the model year to be correct if you’re dealing with a 15-16 year old vehicle. You can often find the manufacturing date on the inside of the Driver’s Door on the manufacturer’s compliance label.