How to Import a FF from the US to Canada - Just did it
Folks,
Just did this yesterday. I know its been talked about before, but I went thru the "learning" in real time since last week, thought it may help someone:
- In the last 5 years, all the rules have changed. Now, if you are importing ANY vehicle capable of transporting a person in any way, that is worth over $C2,500, you have to properly export it from the US and import it into Canada
- The first step is filing an AES form. It is difficult to find online, but easy to fill out. It gets filed with US CBP, and they need that to give you an ITN number. An ITN number is the key to making all of this happen
- The AES site has a database of thousands of codes, one of which is supposed to be the correct code for bringing in your FF. To be honest, I found dozens that seemed so similar I couldn't really tell which one made the most sense. Its important, as the code determines the duty payable to the Cdn government
- At this point, I engaged a brokerage company to help. For all of C$350, they sent me all the forms I needed, filed my AES, got my ITN, filed my paperwork with US CBP no less than 72 hours before I was to cross the US border to go back to Canada (this is important - if you arrive earlier than that you will wait. But you can arrive anytime after that), and gave me a set of instructions as to which border gets which paperwork. They also calculated the correct duty and HST, and remitted it in advance to the Cdn government. (Edit note - just received the duty back from the broker - as the car was more than 25 years old, only PST was due. WOO HOO!)
- I was told by my broker that I could select my crossing - the Peace Bridge was easiest for me. When we got to the Peace Bridge (US side), things went a little pear-shaped. My broker was in fact incorrect - they do NOT allow for the export of vehicles at the Peace Bridge, only cargo - all vehicles get exported at Queenston/Lewiston. A super nice US CBP fellow actually let me U-turn around before going over the US line, and sent me down the I190
- Finally at US Customs, you are directed through a rabbit warren to Room 116, where you are instructed to drop your papers and passport in a tray and leave the room until called back in - nothing gets processed in the entire process (on either side of the border) with you in the room
- They don't care about your logbooks. They really really want the car's VIN. As has been stated on this subject before, make damn sure you have the chassis tag, or have attached a replica/stamped the proper number on the car. After being called back in to confirm the VIN, I was told to go outside and wait again
- Called back in again, and told to go wait by the car for an inspection. Once she got there, saw the chassis plate, she handed me my *stamped* bill of sale and passport, and sent me to Canada. The stamped bill of sale is a critical document if the car is ever to be sold into the US again - it shows that it has been validly exported from the US to Canada, and therefore could be exported to the US again in the future
- Interestingly, the US side cost me no money - everything payable goes the the Cdn government, which may explain the less-than-enthusiastic reception I got at US CBP
- Off to Canada we go. As this was a *personal* import, not a commercial one, I line up at the regular *Cars" queue. Super nice Cdn Customs fellow, but I should have mentioned to him that this was a personal import and I didn't. He called for backup, and we received a police escort with lights flashing around the back of the facility to where the big rigs go (so that was pretty cool!). We get to the Cdn customs booth, guy goes through our paperwork, and asks WTF we are doing on the commercial side. I tell him that's where they took us, and he's miffed at them. But again, super nice dude, tells me where to go next (me and the truckers!).
- I get to the Cdn Customs commercial import building, and go to the counter where I am asked why I am there. I explain, a lady takes my papers to her desk and sends me out of the office to wait in the holding pen. I get called back in, and she says she can't
process my transaction because the printed bar codes on my waybill are too blurry for her scanner to read. I need to get new codes sent from the broker (who is in Winnipeg). And, my broker recently changed company names, she has no knowledge of the current name but I happen to recall in the docs that there had been mention of a change from teh old "Rutherford" to a new name. Ah ha! They have an office upstairs, go see them.....
- Rutherford, and 30 other brokers, have offices in the Cdn Customs building. This Rutherford, however, is a William Rutherford - my broker was AJ Rutherford, so I am SOL. The super nice lady emails a request for new bar codes to AJ Rutherford and we wait! But, another lady there thinks they have paperwork for the other Rutherford! As it turns out, lots of brokers that don't have an office in the building/at the border jitney transactions through brokers that do. And, as I have the barcodes on my phone, I send them to her, she enlarges and prints them, and off I go back downstairs
- Drop the paperwork in the tray, wait outside until called, and we're done!
Having done it once and figured out how to do it, I would still use a broker to ensure docs were filed when and where needed. Yeah, my broker screwed up on the bridge location, but it only cost me 25 minutes. I would never attempt, in the new regime, to do it the way it was done in the old days (just drive across) - its not worth it for the cost and effort of doing it properly. And I would ensure that my broker had a physical presence at the Cdn border, OR had a partner that I could go to for help. And, the letter I had from the CASC stating that this particular car was purpose-made for closed course competition and not licensable was pretty helpful
And here's the shout-out to everyone who helped (because, you never really get through this crap on your own, do you?)
- David Clubine
- Glenn Taylor
- Michael Bulzcachelli
- Mike Lee
- Steve Bodrug
- Deb Johnson
Thanks folks!
cheers,
BT
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. Not that its a bad car by any means, but it is an RF 84 and many seem to bash that model. I have always liked the look of them, but admittedly originally intended on parting it out and keeping the MK 9 for the Lola project. However, both daughters have expressed a desire to try their hand at autocross, so.....................
Originally Posted by JLind
