Selling/Delivering a car from the U.S to Canada

[cosgig]

Howdy all, I'm looking for a little information if anybody knows it about selling and delivering an old car from the U.S. to Canada.

I sold the 67 Coronet to a gentleman in Canada and he wants me to deliver it for him for extra $$$. I called the border customs office on the Canadian side to see just what was entailed in this procedure and heres what they told me...

Since it is a 1967 and it is not a parts car but restorable, all I need is a clear title and a bill of sale with both our addresses and the details of the transaction. The buyer is going to meet at the border and pay the taxes due, which I'm told is 5% of the sale amount.

I am not going to deliver it although the car is in my name because I don't have an enhanced license, but my brother is going to deliver it because his license is. We both have the same last name and live in the same town. I have been told that this will pose no problem and other than the fee to actually cross the bridge, this is the only details of the procedure that I will be dealing with.

Does anybody have any experience with a transaction such as this, and is there more paperwork needed than I have been informed of. I was told by the buyer that there may be papers to fill out that needed to be filed 3 days in advance of the border crossing??

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm looking to make this happen the weekend of the 26-27th of Feb. Thanks all for any input you can give!!! Geof

 

[moparwedden]

You Will Need To Send The US Side A Copy Of The Title 3 Days Before You Bring It Across. That Is All I Had To Do, Plus All The Paperwork Once It's In Canada. Very Easy.

 

[OneOfMany]

As above.. getting in Canada is painless. They will "determine the value of the vehicle" regardless of agreed purchasing price (if price is deemed to low) to charge the taxes to the purchaser. US customs must have clear title and as moparwedden said, they must have it 72 hours prior to crossing. Just call to get and confirm fax receipt.

Grant

 

[cosgig]

Thanks guys, I'm on it!!! Geof

 

[pettybludart]

Dang,I forgot about your Coronet being up for sale.Somebody in Canada is a lucky dog.Yes as long as paperwork is sent/faxed 3 days in advance,it should be smooth sailing.Good Luck.

 

[4spdragtop]

Yep, she is ez pz, as oneofmany said, be sure to get a fax confirmation from whatever fax machine you use to fax copy of title.

 

[Coyote Jack]

Also Geoff, don't show up at the U.S. customs office early. They will make you wait. I was 9 minutes early one time and they made me wait. You would think they would have something better to do than watch me for 9 minutes. LOL

Jack

 

[Riddler]

Cdn buyer has to meet you at the border anyway so the paperwork can be completed.

When you coming through?

Riddler

 

[67Dart273]

I guess I don't understand why 'we' are worried about U.S. Customs. What do they have to do with bringing a car into Canada?

Seems to me you could meet on the US side, do the business, and then worry about what Canada requires?

What does the US care?

 

[needsaresto]

I guess I don't understand why 'we' are worried about U.S. Customs. What do they have to do with bringing a car into Canada?

Seems to me you could meet on the US side, do the business, and then worry about what Canada requires?

What does the US care?

Must be a tax grab in it for them?

 

[Coyote Jack]

I guess I don't understand why 'we' are worried about U.S. Customs. What do they have to do with bringing a car into Canada?

Seems to me you could meet on the US side, do the business, and then worry about what Canada requires?

What does the US care?

The U.S. side checks the history on the car and then takes the V.I.N out of the U.S. database.

Jack

 

[Kernel Sanders]

I guess I don't understand why 'we' are worried about U.S. Customs. What do they have to do with bringing a car into Canada?

Seems to me you could meet on the US side, do the business, and then worry about what Canada requires?

What does the US care?

My guess would be to perhaps a check to ensure your not exporting a stolen vehicle from the US? The only reason why I say that is we in Canada would not be able to check with the US to see if it was stolen as thats not our business. Like I said only a guess

 

[65Val]

Cosig, et al....Everyone's nailed it...exactly what I did when I brought my Dart to Canada 4 years ago. 72 hours is important!

Come to think of it....you guys in provinces with "HST"....do you pay the whole HST at the border when you come through, or, do you pay a portion at the border and the rest when you transfer ownership to you?

("Duels" are in 2 hours....YEEHAW!!)

 

[cosgig]

The Canadian buyer is trying to make sure that the crossing will go smooth and we are not inconvienienced in any way while delivering it to him. The U.S. side wants a copy of the clear title to verify that it is not stolen, and is clear to transfer to the buyer. The Canadian side wants their $$$ based on ??? I don't know!!! Thats why the buyer is meeting at the border to pay whatever taxes are due for bringing this in.

My 2 biggest concerns were that some form of paperwork was needed and was required to be filed beforehand, causing a delay in delivering, which there is!! And, that my brother can take a car over that is not in his name and sell it to a Canadian citizen with a clear title thats in my name. I don't want any snags at the border for my brother, I just want to get the car delivered hiccup free. We aren't getting a lot for it, and any snag may delay our transaction or possibly cancel the deal, and I would like to get this car to somebody who wants to do something with it. Thanks for all your replies, I think I can get this done.

Riddler, it is scheduled to be delivered on 2-27-11, giving me about 9 days to get everything straight!! Geof

 

[chryslerfat]

My only thought would be to check under the new regulations if your brother may need a passport to cross out and back in. The others have the car things down.

 

[65Val]

Geof...I would get your buyer to meet you on your side of the border, if possible, and have him take it to US Customs for paperwork ,to avoid any different name hassles. Your buyer will need a passport,though. They dont need to know that its your brother delivering the car. As long as there's a signed bill of sale, title, etc in your name, it should go smooth.
I met my seller in Port Angeles, WA, gave him the cheque, he gave me all the paperwork, and split. I didn't go to Customs until about 2 hours after he left for home (ferry schedules).

Good luck.

 

[slantsixdan]

do you pay the whole HST at the border when you come through, or, do you pay a portion at the border and the rest when you transfer ownership to you?

Ha. That's hilarious. In fact, you pay the whole HST at the border, then you pay the whole HST again when you register the car. Yeah, I know, it's not supposed to be that way, but yeah, they know there's not a thing you can do about it; your option is to not register the car. :roll:

 

[onetorun]

Ok been there before here is what you have to do- Its really is easy.

-Get the paper work (title,bill of sale doesnt hurt too and US export papers)these have to be filled out by the new owner (Canadian guy) 72 hours before car goes across,no if and or buts, you can email them during this period and they will tell you when its ready
-The day car goes thru, the new owner (Cdn guy)will have to be at the US border to sign for the car/paper work to finish the export of the vehicle from US to CDN (note double check the car before car goes thru for any funny stuff, if you know what i meen,as it is now your car !)

-NOTE-check US border export times,most export offices are only open M-F 8:00-3:00 pm,no exceptions........
-Canadian side ,you give them your US export documents (which have to be stamped,or you go back again),this is where you pay the tax (depending on province),you pay on the CDN equivalent of the US $$ that day,they will ask for a bill of sale usualy or some sort proof of the value,ie :Ebay,Craiglist ad etc
-once this is done your on your way

A good website is www.riv.ca


PS i would have the guys brother get a signed letter (from current owner) allowing him to have car,etc ,might help things if sh**t happens

 

[65Val]

Ha. That's hilarious. In fact, you pay the whole HST at the border, then you pay the whole HST again when you register the car. Yeah, I know, it's not supposed to be that way, but yeah, they know there's not a thing you can do about it; your option is to not register the car. :roll:

So that means you pay (in my case) 24% tax?????....Somehow that don't sound right. Before HST, it was 5% GST at the border, and (again, in my case) 7% PST when the you registered the car.

I don't think not registering the car is an option, not if you want to drive it someday.

 

[Coyote Jack]

So that means you pay (in my case) 24% tax?????....Somehow that don't sound right. Before HST, it was 5% GST at the border, and (again, in my case) 7% PST when the you registered the car.

I don't think not registering the car is an option, not if you want to drive it someday.

You have it right 65Val, I have done it a few times now. You pay the federal tax at the border and the provincial tax when you register it. Geof doesn't have to worry about any of the taxes though. That is the buyers responsibility. Anybody can take the car across the border as long as the paperwork is correct and it actually goes pretty smooth.

Jack

 

[65Val]

First let me say "Sorry for hyjacking the thread!"

When my province brought in the HST last year, I understood that they disbanded the PST department, so, basically, the PST ceased to exist. How can they collect a tax that doesn't exist?

When you buy a car from a private seller in BC, it is now subject to 12% HST, whereas before HST it was only 7% PST.

Hmmm....

 

[onig]

We brought a car across a few months ago, into Ontario.
You have to pay the federal tax, 5%, the remainder is paid when you register the car in Canada, 8% for Ontario.

Fax the title at least 72 hours ahead of time. Get a confirmation of the fax and bring it with you to the US border. Be nice because they are pricks.
Make sure that you fax the title to the actual border crossing you plan to cross at. Do check the times of operation, just in case. We had to go through the truck crossing which is always opened, but check and make sure. Have the original title, and bill of sale. They will give you some paperwork because you are exporting a car.

On the Canadian side, you will have to stop at the border office as you are importing the car. Just follow the instructions the guy at the gate gives you. Be nice because they are nice.
You will need US paperwork, title, bill of sale, export papers.
The value is always disputed. If you have a bill of sale and they don't believe it they will make their own value based on internet findings. Bring paperwork that show correspondence between seller and buyer that shows the negotiations, such as e-mails. This will allow you to claim the actual value that the buyer paid, but it must be well documented or your screwed.
They can and they will check internet, forums, Kijiji, Craigslist, etc. They can and they will check your bank account to see if you took out money, YES they can, regardless of what others may tell you. If you lie and get caught the fine can be quite large, or worst case scenario they seize the car and or you go to jail. Correspondence and Documentation is the key. If you have all the paperwork it is a breeze.
IMO, I would have the buyer meet you at the US border office just to make sure everything is good. Get your money, take the car to the Canadian side for him, say thank you and good luck, head south..

You mentioned that your brother is delivering the car, you should go with him.

Good Luck

onig

 

[slantsixdan]

You have it right 65Val, I have done it a few times now. You pay the federal tax at the border and the provincial tax when you register it.

Yeah, I know that's how it's supposed to work. It is not how it *did* work for me this past December when I imported a '91 Dodge Spirit from Ohio to Ontario. Procedurally, everything went as normal (I've done this before); I had all the right documents in the right condition, everything matched up, etc. But the fact remains, I was charged 13% HST on the selling price of the car at the border, and I was again charged 13% HST on the selling price of the car when I registered it in Ontario. Yes, I had complete proof of having paid 13% HST (specifically) at the border. Yes, I showed it and explained it at ServiceOntario. No, they didn't say "Oh, yeah, okeh, you already paid the 13% HST". Yes, they charged it! I am not sure if it was a genuine good old-fashioned shakedown just like grammaw used to make, or if it was a result of the HST having been only just recently enacted in Ontario.

So while yes, the process is straightforward and easy to understand, the actual results and how you get there may vary.

 

[oldkimmer]

.............I would get a broker to do the paper work...........[buyer]........then he has no worries and neither do u..........kim.........

 

[65Val]

.............I would get a broker to do the paper work...........[buyer]........then he has no worries and neither do u..........kim.........

Mostly because that is expensive, and usually not required. It can be done by the buyer, as has been stated here several times. Gubmint being gubmint, you will occasionally have a f*ckup, but by-and-large, it's a simple,smooth operation.