So how much does it cost to import a PARTS-ONLY or SALVAGE CAR into Canada from the USA?

Salvage vehicles or parts cars are vehicles that have been damaged beyond feasible financial repair due to collision, natural disaster, accident, trespass or other occurrence as determined by a licensing authority or a licensed insurance provider.

All American brand information on imported vehicles is acquired by RIV as part of the registration process. Vehicles in this category will have American titles indicating the salvage status or brand. This information is verified by the Registrar for Imported Vehicles through American databases. The salvage brand will be made available to all provincial and territorial licensing jurisdictions in Canada through the Interprovincial Records Exchange. A salvage status on a vehicle may severely limit your ability to get the vehicle licensed and insured in Canada. You should contact your local licensing authority for more information.

Salvage or rebuilt salvage vehicles can be licensed in Canada provided the original damage was not flood-related and the vehicle is admissible under List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States of America. All licensing jurisdictions in Canada require a 2nd structural integrity inspection for American parts vehicles to verify that the necessary repairs have been done to make the vehicle road safe.

Salvage or rebuilt salvage vehicles can also be imported into Canada as parts-only vehicles through a Vehicle Imported for Parts Form Form 3 regardless of the source of the damage.

Once a vehicle has entered Canada on Form 3, it can never be licensed in Canada.

Fees for salvage vehicles

$195.00 + GST and QST for vehicles entering through a border crossing in Quebec

$195.00 + GST for vehicles entering through a border crossing in any other province

Parts vehicles – Form 3

Parts vehicles are imported into Canada for the sole purpose of being disassembled and used for parts. The “disassembly for parts” or “to be dismantled for parts” designation as it appears on the Vehicle Imported for Parts Form – Form 3, is established either by the existing branding on the vehicle’s U.S. title or it is voluntarily declared by the importer when the vehicle is brought into Canada.

U.S. vehicles that are imported for parts enter Canada using a Vehicle Imported for Parts Form Form 3 at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office where they cross the border.

All U.S. brand information on imported vehicles is acquired by RIV as part of the registration process. Once a vehicle is declared for parts on a Form 3 or designated as a parts-only vehicle through a vehicle title history search, it is given a non-repairable status. That status cannot be reversed and the vehicle can never be licensed in Canada. The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) makes all vehicle status and brands available to every licensing jurisdiction in Canada through the Interprovincial Records Exchange (IRE).

Fees for parts-only vehicles

Current fees are:

$70.00 + GST and QST for vehicles entering through a border crossing in Quebec

$70.00 + GST for vehicles entering through a border crossing in any other province

The Registrar for Imported Vehicles has made some minor updates. Please feel free to follow along. All should be linked appropriately.

If you are thinking about importing a vehicle from the United States, you should understand the following three main steps of the process:

1. Before you Import

• Before purchasing and importing a vehicle, find out about the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program, vehicle admissibility, RIV exemptions, recall clearance documentation, vehicle modification requirements and vehicle branding history.

2. At the Border

• Understand your obligations for reporting to U.S. Customs, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and registration into the RIV program.

3. After Vehicle Entry

• Complete vehicle modifications, the RIV inspection process and contact your provincial/territorial licensing jurisdictions for information about licensing your vehicle.

Use the Importer Checklist tool to help you build and print a checklist for reference throughout the importing process.

Once the vehicle has entered Canada, it is the importer’s responsibility to have required modifications, if any, completed and the vehicle inspected at an authorized Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) inspection centre.

You must meet the following conditions:

• The vehicle has crossed the border and a Vehicle Import Form – Form 1 has been completed and submitted to RIV through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
• The RIV Registration Fee has been paid.
• RIV has received confirmation that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle. Find out more aboutRecall Clearance.

RIV will then issue an RIV inspection form which identifies modification and inspection requirements specific to your vehicle. The vehicle must pass the RIV inspection process before being licensed through a provincial/territorial licensing jurisdiction.

For more information:

Vehicle Modifications

• It is important that you do not proceed with any modifications on your vehicle until you receive the RIV inspection form.

RIV Inspection

• The RIV inspection can only be completed by an authorized RIV inspection centre.

Provincial Licensing

• When your vehicle has passed the RIV inspection, contact your provincial or territorial licensing authority to find out how to license your vehicle.

The secondary market has become a lot more accessible with the ever-increasing popularity of eBay Motors and eBay Motors Canada.

eBay Motors and it’s Canadian counterpart aren’t just for complete vehicles, they also provide a wonderful arena for buying both aftermarket and previously loved parts.

With the mid-60′s Mustang being one of the most popular lines and eras, there are parts a plenty of eBay and almost all of them at a spectacular price.

What better place to start this series than the iconic pony that leads the way.

Shipping is affordable to both Canada and the United States for a Ford Mustang Grille Ornament: In Canada, you’re looking at between $12-$15 to get it shipped to you from the United States. Americans are even luckier as there’s generally a low-cost $5-$7 option.

Obviously, I would opt for the Original Ford Mustang Grille Ornament, but there are plenty of Chromed and beautiful reproductions. After you’ve decided how you’ll approach it, whether for your mantle or for a restoration job, the prices vary wildly. In auctions, you can find magnificent steals on Ford Mustang Grille Ornaments whether 1964, 1965, or 1966. Buy-It-Nows are a bit pricier, but you’ll be able to find very good deals if you have to have it now.

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Yikes.

Wheels.ca is reporting that a man in Singapore had a bit of a problem as flash-floods swept the country:

Torrential rains sparked flash floods in the Orchard Road area, a high-end shopping and entertainment district. But it was a parking garage filled to the brim with posh cars that arguably sustained the highest amount in dollar damages.

Among the vehicles drowned in the carnage were a Lamborghini Gallardo (which sells around $270,000 US), Ferrari 458 Italia ($240,000), Rolls-Royce Phantom ($380,000), several BMWs, and a Maserati GranTurismo ($160,000).

Here’s hoping the wealthy owners of these beauties have flood coverage.

Hop over to http://www.nissan.ca/buying/specialoffers/en/default.aspx

The models that will receive employee pricing are the 2011 Versa Hatchback, Sentra, Altima Sedan (excluding Hybrid), Xterra, Frontier, and Titan.
To give you some example though the 2011 Altima Sedan 2.5 S CVT Luxury Package is $23,795, an employee discount of $6,332. The 2011 Versa Hatch 1.8 S Value Option Package is $14,825, a $3,654 employee discount. Moving to the trucks, the 2011 Titan 4×4 Crew Cab SV is $35,746, a $9,566 employee discount. The prices quoted above already include freight, PDE, and air conditioning taxes.

Wheels reports that despite increased gas prices, Canadians are still lining up to buy imported luxury cars.

Compared to the first four months of 2010, luxury car sales are up 3.5 per cent in 2010. That’s 38,579 vehicles sold through the end of April and luxury cars from the ten leading imported brands have kept pace with the overall market.

It’s the German luxury brands that’ve lead the way: Mercedes-Benz is up 3.8% after selling 9378 vehicles in the first four months of the year. BMW isn’t too far behind, up 7 per cent, after selling 8129 vehicles. Audi ended up in third with 5924 vehicles sold, up a staggering 19.4 per cent compared to this period last year.

Toyota’s Lexus brand saw an increase of 1.6 percent just head of Acura. The Honda luxury brand’s sales are off over 17% so far in 2011.

Nissan’s Infinity brand is down 8.5 percent while Volvo is up slightly. Jaguar/Land Rover barely broke 1000 vehicles sold, but that’s still an increase of almost 12% compared to the first quarter of 2010. Porsche sales are up a crazy 40+% but they’re still sub-1000. Finally, the few remaining Saab dealers in the country managed to sell 41 cars.

Summer Maintenance Tips For Your Car

1. Check The Tires – Air expands as the temperature rises. approximately one to two PSI (pounds per square inch) for every 10-degree increase in outside air temperature. Check the wear patterns and the pressure!
2. Change Oil and Oil Filter — If you’re doing a lot of heavy driving during the summer, make sure to complete this step. To check your oil, let your car run for a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and shut off the engine. Open the hood and locate the oil dipstick. You’re looking for two things here: the level of oil and how the oil looks [source: CBS News]. If you’re low on oil, you can either add another quart or simply change the oil completely. The oil should look brownish yellow and clean on the stick. If the oil is a dark color or there’s a lot of dirt and grime in it, then you definitely need an oil change and oil filter replacement.
3. De-Winterize Your Car — Check the fluid levels! Coolant, Transmission, Differential, Power Steering & Brake Fluid shouldn’t have any leaks. If you haven’t used your battery in a while, you might need a replacement. It’s also very important to clean the undercarriage of the car after a long winter! You can clean it using water or a high-pressure cleaning system.
4. Check Hoses and Belts — The Key to summer driving is to keep the engine cool. Check all the hoses and belts connected to the rad help pump coolant to and from the engine block. Hoses should be firm, never soft or malleable. Belts should be visually checked for cracks and damage. Take note of belts that appear slick or smooth. Remove the belt to make sure the layers haven’t begun separating.
5. Check The Air Filter — Over the winter, your car’s air filter can get clogged with salt and other debris. Nothing lows fuel efficiency like a dirty and clogged air filter. Recommended change is every 12000 miles, but if you do a lot of dirty/dusty driving, you’ll have to do it more often than that. Air filters are relatively cheap…
6. Replace the Windshield Wipers – It rains in the summer, eh?
7. Check Your Breaks — Brakes are the most important safety feature in your car. Don’t put yourself at risk. The brakes need to be replaced when the lining on the pad or shoe is worn down to minimum thickness specified by the manufacturer. If your pedal becomes soft and mushy, or hard and resistant, sits too high or too low, you should get ‘em checked. Any warning lights or the painful scraping and grinding or the click-clack the manufacturer builds in means it’s time to get ‘em checked.
8. Check the Coolant and Radiator – Car’s engine is most efficient at 200 degrees F. Summer driving can raise the heat in a hurry, especially if you’re idling. Check your coolant levels and rad!
9. Clean your Battery – The best way to keep your battery running smoothly is to keep it clean. Regularly detach the battery cables and wipe off the terminals. Make sure the battery is strapped down tightly and that all connections are secure.
10. Maintain Air Conditioning – If your car was built before 1994, then you need to have your refrigerant checked out by a licensed professional who knows how to dispose of or recycle the material. In some states, it’s illegal to refill a leaky system with R-12. However, even older cars can be easily retrofitted to use the newer, safer type of refrigerant called R-134a.

Courtesy of MSN Money:

1. Premium Gas Instead of Regular Gas – Buy the cheapest gasoline that doesn’t make your car engine knock.
2. 3,000 Mile Oil Changes – Most manufacturers suggest somewhere between five and seven thousand miles
3. Not Replacing On Schedule — Timing belts and snow tires are a lot cheaper to replace when they’re not breaking and causing other problems
4. Using The Dealer’s Maintenance Schedule – Of course they want you in there as often as possible. Follow the Manufacturers guidelines.
5. Using the Car Dealer for Major Service – Independent shops almost always do a better job at a cheaper cost.
6. Using a Dealer For Oil Changes — sometimes dealers run cheap specials, but most times it’s better to look around.
7. Not Replacing Your Air Filter and Wiper Blades Yourself — Buy them when they go on sale and do it in five minutes. Every other oil change is a good schedule for air filter replacement.
8. Going To Any Old Repair Shop — Look for a well kept and certified shop. Save yourself the trouble.
9. Changing Your AntiFreeze Every Winter – Every two years is about right. Run your air conditionary every few weeks in the winter to keep it lubricated.
10. Replacing Tires When You Should be Replacing Shocks -- If your tires are wearing unevenly, it’s the alignment or shocks, not the tires.
11. Letting A Break Squeal Turn Into A Brake Job – Squeal isn’t always expensive. If left untreated, it always becomes expensive.
12. Not Causing A Fuss When Your Warranty Claim Is Rejected — Manufacturers will often repair defects outside the warranty period if there’s been a technical service bulletin issued.
13. Not Keeping Records — Keep a log book of every major instance of work done on your car. You’ll know if a dealer/repair shop is trying to screw you.
14. Buying an Extended Warranty – Most Manufacturers allow you to wait until just before the original warranty expires to decide. By then, you should know if your car’s causing you serious issues.
15. Overinsuring – Never skimp on liability but why buy collision and comprehensive insurance on an old junker you can probably afford to replace. Add your deductible to your yearly bill for collision & comprehensive coverage, then compare that total with the wholesale value of your car. If it’s more than half… think about reconsidering.
16. Assuming The Problem Is Major — Sometimes it’s just the $15 thermostat and not the radiator.
17. Not Changing The Fuel Filter — Have it replaced as part of your maintenance every two years or according to manufacturers schedule.
18. Not Knowing How To Change A Tire – Make sure your jack and spare are in good working condition unless you like overpaying the nearest garage
19. Not Keeping Your Tires Properly Inflated — Check ‘em once a month; otherwise you’ll be wasting gas and risk wearing them out too quickly.
20. Car Washes -- You’re paying for water.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/20waysYouWasteMoneyOnYourCar.aspx

Eclipse AVN726E DVD/GPS

General

• Product TypeNavigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio
• Width7.1 in
• Depth6.5 in
• Height3.9 in
• Weight5.5 lbs

System

• Form FactorIn-dash
• Enclosure TypeDouble-DIN
• Supported DevicesSatellite radio receiver
• High Voltage Preamp OutputYes
• ControlsBalance,
  Loudness,
  Volume,
  Fader
• Control FeaturesTouch panel
• Security FeaturesSecurity code
• FeaturesID3 tags support,
  Bluetooth hands-free for cellular phone,
  Rear-facing camera capability,
  Bluetooth audio streaming,
  iPod compatible

Monitor

• TypeLCD monitor
• TechnologyTFT active matrix
• Diagonal Size7 in
• Total Pixels391,680
• Image Aspect Ratio16:9
• Resolution480 x 272
• FeaturesTouch screen

Digital Player (Recorder)

• Digital player device typeDigital player
• Digital player supported digital audio standardsMP3,
  WMA
• Digital player additional featuresUSB flash drive playback

Radio

• RadioRadio tuner – AM/FM
• Total Preset Station Qty24
• AM Preset Station Qty6
• FM Preset Station Qty18
• FeaturesSirius satellite radio ready,
  XM satellite radio ready

Remote Control

• Remote control typeRemote control
• Remote control technologyInfrared

DVD

• TypeDVD player
• Media TypeDVD+R,
  CD-R,
  DVD,
  CD,
  DVD+RW,
  DVD-R,
  CD-RW,
  DVD-RW
• Media FormatPAL,
  NTSC
• Dynamic Range87 dB
• Signal-To-Noise Ratio90 dB
• Response Bandwidth20 – 20000 Hz
• MP3 PlaybackYes
• FeaturesDivX compatible,
  WMA playback

Amplifier

• Max Output Power / Channel Qty50 Watts x 4
• Continuous Power / Channel Qty15 Watts x 4

Equalizer

• TypeDigital graphic
• Equalizer Band Qty3 bands
• Equalizer Center Frequencies10000 Hz,
  80 Hz,
  700 Hz

GPS System

• TypeGPS receiver
• VoiceStreet name announcement,
  Navigation instructions
• AntennaExternal
• Trip ComputerAvoid freeways,
  Avoid ferrys,
  Fast/short route,
  Avoid toll roads,
  Street address search
• Maps IncludedAlaska,
  Hawaii,
  Puerto Rico,
  Canada,
  USA

Miscellaneous

• Included AccessoriesGPS antenna,
  Microphone

Slot(s)

• Type1 x SD Memory Card

Connections

• Connector Type3 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ),
  1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ),
  1 x Composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ),
  1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A )

Sony XPLOD CDX-GT920U

General

• Product TypeRadio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player
• SeriesXplod
• Recommended UseCar
• Form FactorFull-DIN – In-dash unit
• Enclosure ColorDark titanium
• Faceplate TypeDetachable

Equalizer

• Equalizer typeParametric
• Equalizer band qty3 bands
• Equalizer factory preset qty6
• Equalizer user preset qty1

Audio System

• Sound Output ModeStereo
• Sound EffectsDynamic Soundstage Organizer II (DSO II)
• EqualizerYes
• ControlsVolume,
  Fader,
  Balance
• Max Output Power / Channel Qty52 Watts x 4
• Amplifier Output Details23.2 Watt – 4 Ohm – THD 5 % – 14.4V DC – 4 channel(s),
  17 Watt – 4 Ohm – THD 1.0 % – 14.4V DC – 4 channel(s)
• ClockYes (digital)
• Additional FeaturesID3 tags support ,
  HD radio ready ,
  Satellite radio tuner control ,
  Motorized front panel ,
  Telephone mute ,
  CD Text capable

Radio

• TypeRadio tuner – AM/FM
• Preset Station Qty30
• AM Preset Station Qty12
• FM Preset Station Qty18
• Additional FeaturesSSIR-EXA,
  Best stations memory

CD System

• CD system typeCD / MP3 player
• Digital audio standards supportedWMA,
  MP3,
  AAC
• CD-R compatibleYes
• CD-RW compatibleYes

Digital Player (Recorder)

• Digital player device typeDigital player
• Digital player supported digital audio standardsMP3,
  ATRAC3,
  WMA,
  AAC
• Digital player additional featuresUSB flash drive playback

Connections

• Connector Type1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ),
  1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ),
  1 x Rear channel output ( RCA phono x 2 ),
  1 x Front channel output ( RCA phono x 2 ),
  2 x Subwoofer output ( RCA phono ),
  1 x System components control bus,
  1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 )

Remote Control

• Remote control typeRemote control
• Remote control technologyInfrared