A Guide To Purchasing a Canadian Vehicle From The United States

Because of our proximity to the Canada – U.S. border, our Fort MacLeod, Alberta, dealership receives many inquiries from U.S. buyers every month! Our dealership is located just one hour North of the Montana border, making it easy for U.S. citizens to purchase a vehicle from us. Because of the high value of the U.S. dollar, on the Canadian dollar, purchasing a vehicle from Canada can be very appealing. The U.S./Canada conversion rate, at the time of writing, has been hovering around $0.74 USD on the Canadian dollar. This means $50,000 USD is worth approximately $68,000 CAD! With an exchange rate as appealing as this, American buyers can score themselves an amazing deal on a Canadian vehicle and bring it back across the border.

We get two types of American buyers at House of Cars Fort MacLeod:

1. In-person buyers driving back across the U.S. border
2. Remote buyers looking to broker/import a vehicle from Canada into the United States.

Regardless of which buyer you are, you’ll want to speak with a member of our team to ensure the vehicle you’re looking at can be imported to the United States, and have them walk through the importation process with you.

In-person buyers

These buyers cross the border and visit our dealership to see and drive the vehicle in-person, before completing the paperwork and intend on driving their vehicle back across the U.S. border. Here’s a look at an importing overview:

1. At the dealership, you’ll get a Bill of Sale showing the VIN with your name as the purchaser.

2. You will obtain the Manufacturer’s Statement/Certificate of Origin or the title and registration.

3. We’ll help you obtain a temporary license plate and an insurance card from Alberta. You can often extend your U.S. insurance coverage to cover you in Canada as well.

4. You will have to pay a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the car, but you should be exempt from Provincial Sales Tax (PST) if you aren’t a Canadian resident.

5. We’ll ensure the vehicle is thoroughly cleaned and steam-sprayed prior to heading to the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants the undercarriage completely free of any foreign soil.

6. Get your documents in order before attempting to cross the border. You’ll have to fill out form CBP 7501 and some other customs paperwork declaring your possessions, including the vehicle. During that time, the customs officials will take time to inspect your car and match it up with your paperwork.

7. Pay all associated fees. When importing a car from Canada, you will be required to pay fees you may not have encountered before. The total cost will vary depending on the model of vehicle you are importing.

Don’t let any of this feel daunting. Our team will help you through the entire process. We’ll make sure you get the vehicle back across the border without any issues.

Remote buyers

These buyers purchase the vehicle from within the United States, without crossing the border.

Here’s a look at an importing overview:

1. After purchasing the vehicle, we’ll send you the Bill of Sale showing the VIN with your name as the purchaser.

2. You will obtain the Manufacturer’s Statement/Certificate of Origin or the title and registration.

3. You’ll want to get in-touch with a vehicle importer/broker, who can assist you with the required import paperwork, unless you’ve done this before and understand the process.

4. You will have to pay a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the car, but you should be exempt from Provincial Sales Tax (PST) if you aren’t a Canadian resident. Your importer will handle this.

5. We’ll ensure the vehicle is thoroughly cleaned and steam-sprayed prior to heading to the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants the undercarriage completely free of any foreign soil.

6. Pay all associated fees. When importing a car from Canada, you will be required to pay fees you may not have encountered before. The total cost will vary depending on the model of vehicle you are importing. Your importer will handle the documentation and will let you know what fees you owe.

7. We can arrange for shipping to get your vehicle where it needs to go!

Can all vehicles be imported from Canada to the United States?

Not all Canadian vehicles meet the standard of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act or the Environmental Protection Agency’s emission standards. Thankfully, the rules aren’t overly strict, and the process of meeting them is called federalization. However some vehicles cannot be imported to the United States. Please inquire with our team to see if the vehicle you’re interested in can be imported.

Canada’s motor vehicle safety standards closely resemble U.S. Federal requirements. That’s why the NHTSA issues blanket eligibility covering many Canadian-certified vehicles bound for the U.S. market. If the Canadian-certified car or truck was manufactured before the FMVSS requirements changed, for example, then the vehicle must be updated to meet U.S. standards.

Often this simply involves making basic adjustments or adding basic things, but since this conversation is specific to each model. Our team can assist you with any federalization requirements.

Importing vehicles from Canada is permitted by any person looking to use the vehicle for personal use. It must comply with the Federal Department of Transportation safety standards and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. If it doesn’t meet those already, then a DOT Registered Importer needs to import the vehicle instead.

Speak with a House of Cars team member now!