importing a viper rt from US to Canada and Insurance

[gen2lover]

hi guys.I sold my 2000 rt but might get another 1 with lower miles. I know this has been posted before.

I want opinions only from ONTARIO guys bringing their car across the Ambassador Bridge (Windsor/Detriot). How easy are they on you when you drive it across? I know the dealer has to fax them the title and recall letter 72 hours prior to bringing it over (US SIDE). I plan on picking it up and driving it home.

I KNOW THE TAXES ETC.. BUT iM WONDERING WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DRIVE IT THROUGH.. THEY GIVE YOU A HARD TIME? Do they search/tear the car up looking around etc..? plmk asap. thanks! Kevin in Windsor.

AND FOR CAR INSURANCE.... I KNOW YOU CANT GET A TRIP PERMIT,BUT CAN YOU GET INSURANCE ON THE CAR before BUYING IT/BRINGING IT OVER? CAN I USE MY OLD VIPER PLATES ON THE NEW ONE IF ITS INSURED?

 

[gen2lover]

bump.. please.. need help! buying the car maybe as early as Friday.

 

[rt/10stew]

Hi gen2lover, I purchased my 01 rt/10 out of La. in Oct. of last year and I drove it back and crossed over at the Ambassador bridge, I had my info in hand (ownership signed over, bill of sale) I arrived there at around 11pm and left within 30-40 mins. I did not have to get any thing faxed or give any notice to the border. It was the same thing when I crossed over in Dec. of last year when I purchased my 07 Dodge Ram from a dealership Pittsburgh. People seem to make a big deal over this but it is really very simple and straight forward. If you have any other questions just ask and I should be able to help out.
Stew

 

[gen2lover]

thanks,but do I need plates on it? like my plates off my 1st viper I sold? In Ontario you keep your plates when you sell your car.I have to pick it up in Illinois and drive it back to Windsor,Ontario.I have to go through Ohio and Michigan I believe.
I need SOMETHING on the car I heard you need seperate trip permits in EACH STATE you go through?

 

[gen2lover]

What I'm hoping is to just insure it before picking it up? And putiing my Ontario plate on it from my old viper?

 

[rt/10stew]

You just get a trip permit from the state you are getting the car from (it costs about $15)they will also need proof of insurance. My insurance broker gave me my slip before I left to pick up the car. You do not need a separate permit for each state.
Stew

 

[rt/10stew]

You can not put your Ontario plate on it until the car is registered in Ontario.
Stew

 

[gen2lover]

will my insurance give me a slip before I go though? I heard stories?? that they do not.I know though you can get one before you get the car (just need the VIN) but thats WITHIN ONT. I heard a car from US to Ontario they will not insure it?

 

[rt/10stew]

I am from Cambridge, Ontario and there was no issues with the insurance. just give your broker the vin# and details of the car and they will print you up a temporary insurance slip. When I was getting my RIV inspection I ask them how many inspections they do and they told me on average of 25 per week. So it is very common to bring cars across, I think you are listening to the wrong people.
Stew

 

[gen2lover]

I heard that the USA BORDER SHOULD GET 3 COPIES of the vehicle title?

I think the RECALL CLEARANCE letter has to be with an official original seal and signature...is this correct?

And are there 2 forms to fill out or just one?

The ODOMETER.....bECAUSE IT HAS km on the inside of the face,is it ok in CANADA or will Canadian Tire make me change it? IF SO... how much money does that cost? Do they do it or the DEALERSHIP? Thanks! Kevin.

So the only things you need at the border are the title,bill of sale,your insurance slip and ownership slip (same thing?) and ID of course. ( and your TRIP permit)? Then you fill out the paperwork,pay and be on your way to the Ministry?

 

[rt/10stew]

I was told by the lady at the dealership where I purchased my Ram truck that I needed three copies (I did not need these when I brought my viper across one month earlier) so she gave me three extra photocopies anyhow. When I was at the border they did not take any of the photocopies. As for the recall letter you go to the Dodge Canada web site then select OWNER TOOLS, then select VEHICLE RECALLS and follow the steps. You do not need this documentation until you start the RIV process. As for Canadian Tire it is a joke, I went and got my daytime running lights installed at my local dealer as that should be the only thing required for you to do, I then took it to Canadian Tire expecting a bunch of B.S. and stickers installed on my car stating it was in MPH and not KM's. All they did was tell me to drive it into the bay I stayed in the car they checked the running lights and then wrote down some info off of the build sticker. That was it I pulled out of the bay went back inside to get my paperwork stamped, so while I was in there I asked about the stickers and they told me there was no point putting them on as I would just pull them off once I left anyway. Check out the RIV.ca web site it will help you out a little. If you like I can pm you my phone number and you can give me a call to explain things a little more clearly. It is a very simple process.
Stew

 

[gen2lover]

ONE last ? Dino is at the border inside Customs.The paperwork? Is there only 1 form they ask you to fill out or 2 different ones? What do they ask you besides the car info and your ID info etc.?Anything I should be aware of?

One time I did not declare some hockey cards at the PEACE BRIDGE coming home and they put me on an automatic "pull in" list to inspect my car.But they said I could still buy a car stateside. plmk. thx!

 

[RTTTTed]

Registrar of Imported Vehicles RIV: How to import a U.S made vehicle into Canada is the link to what you need for Canada. For the US go to their link at Registrar of Imported Vehicles RIV: How to import a U.S made vehicle into Canada and print off the purchase/buyers worksheet that YOU NEED to export the car from the US. Gen 1 cars are not allowed to be improrted to Canada so don't waste your money (front bumper does not pass impact requirements for Canada). You need a CLEAR title (or certified copy), buyers worksheet and any letters required at the US export station before entering into Canada. You HAVE to fax all required documents to the US crossing you intend to enter Canada AT LEAST 3 days before you get there so that they can search the title for liens and theft reports, before they will allow you to export the car to Canada (law). For Canada you need the stamped US export documents and you credit card to pay your GST, excise tax, a/c tax, etc. Then you need to fax the recall letter and the Canada Tax/Import form to Registrar of Import Vehicles (RIV) and pay them the $250+ for the Federal Inspection. Later, they'll mail you another form to take your car to Canadian Tire for the Federal Inspection. You have to instal Daytime Running Lights before the inspection (see my Illustrated Upgrade for FREE DRL instructions). I've imported 2 Vipers and a Stealth R/T TT from the US. Once I faxed the US paperwork to the wrong border crossing and had to wait at the border for 3 days for the paperwork to clear. Another time I made the mistake of registering the car in California (where they took my tax money and my CLEAR title). Since I couldn't produce the title I was not allowed across the border. Thanks to the understanding of an Export Officer I did manage to cross the border with the paperwork stamped after a day. The california DMV wouldn't help at all and they refused to refund my "illegally obtained tax dollars".

If you follow the US and RIV rules perfectly, you should have NO problem.

I would buy another car from the US if I wrecked this one.

I had insurance on my NEW Viper because the insurance on my wrecked Viper was still valid and obtained a Registration Permit to drive the car home from the State where I bought my second Viper. I also paid off the lien of the car, at the bank, obtained a letter and the Ohio (where I bought the car) DMV printed me a NEW CLEAR title right away. Check the state laws where you are buying the car.

dinobuster is in error, you cannot just show up at the border whenever you want and export a car. There's a $5,000 fine and they seize the car (law) if they want to (haven't heard of that happening, but they CAN do that).

When I did everything right, there was NO problem. Do it wrong and it could be a bad experience. Send me a PM if you have any questions.

Ted

 

[rt/10stew]

Gen2lover there was only the one form that was filled out when I imported my viper (Oct. 2007), my truck (Dec 2007) and my boat (June 2006) all three times this form was filled out by the customs agent. As for what RTTTTed said about giving notice I have not heard of this and the three times I imported vehicles I was not told of this and or warned of this fact. I am not saying RTTTTed is wrong I am just saying it was not an issue when I imported my vehicles. As for crossing at the Ambassador bridge you will be told where you have to park the car and where you have to to get your paperwork completed. I would suggest trying to time it as late as possible as it would not be as busy.
Good Luck Stew

 

[RTTTTed]

Don't guess. All the 'problems' you heard about were because people didn't follow the import/export laws for the US and Canada. Registrar of Imported Vehicles RIV: How to import a U.S made vehicle into Canada tells you how to import the car and has links for the US export laws.

When I had the problems exporting my Stealth from Calif. it was because the Cal. DMV broke the law when they allowed me to register the car there. They complicated matters for me when they asked for a US address for their registration form. The US borderguards/Export officers informed me that since the new registration (not title) had my name and a US address on it - I was guilty of fraud! Since they spoke to the California DMV person that did it, they knew it was a mistake and didn't charge me with FRAUD, but they could have. As I said a supervising officer decided to be nice to me and allowed that since the paperwork showed NO theft or debt against the registration #s of the car and she spoke to Cal. DMV - she knew exactly what the mistake wsa and SHE decided to pass the inadequate paperwork I presented. Canada was going to refuse my car entry, but the night shift supervisor of CC had told me that, "if the US export will stamp the papers, we'll allow you to import it." and I got to drive the car home to wait for RIV to send me that form for Federal inspection.

Just follow the RIV sites instructions exactly and if you have problems getting your form B from RIV, call your local MP and he'll get your form sent to you right away, like I did for my 3rd import.

Don't know what happened to dinobuster (new employee?) but I know that none of my 3 imports were "smooth or easy." I did get them all done without too much problem, but Canada gov. is trying to "discourage cross-border shopping". It just means it'll probably be a pain in the butt, but you can get it done, if you follow the law.



Ted

 

[supersnake]

Listen to RTTTed, I have imported cars to Canada from the US and if you have all your ducks in a row,the process is Very Painless, We were told to have your paperwork faxed to the border that you cross at 72 Working Hours before you come across with the originals. It never has been 72 Hours that we have crossed (maybe the latest is 48). Also when we went down to get the car, we checked into with the US customs and asked them if the paperwork was there and everything looked OK and when we got back 2 Days Later everything went like clock work. Don't Just Show UP as you will spend some time at the border. RTTTed is right on.

 

[gen2lover]

so are you saying I have to wait MORE than 72 hours or EXACTLY 72 hours or LESS than 72 hours before driving the car back over?

How do I find out if they got everything ready? call? US customs or Canada side? I'm using the Windsor/Detriot Bridge. thanks.

***will i have to get the odometer changed? the speedometer?*** If so at Canadian Tire? How much is that? how long to do that? I'm hoping since the KM per hour are on the inside it will still be ok?

 

[gen2lover]

oh and I could not find the numbers for the actual US customs and Canada customs.

Do you pay the RIV stuff at the border or after?

 

[RTTTTed]

All speedos in North America show both kph/mph. The Viper's have passenger airbag 'off' switch and special 'child seat mounting anchors' built into the car (may need owner manual to prove that if they question it. Daytime Running Lights are mandatory and the only change I made to my car. The cats are hidden inside the side sills but they're 'supposed' to check to make certain that they are installed in the car (they didn't check mine). Other than that, you need to ask your insurance about a Provincial inspection (I had to get BC gov/insur. insection as well.

The 72hrs. border crossing notification is the law. When I sent my papers to the wrong border crossing and they threw them into the garbage, I had to re-submit the paperwork when I tried to cross the border. The crossing guards (US) actually allowed me across the border and after I paid the GST and import taxes Cda Customs let me into the country with my car, even though that's against the law. I spent a couple days hanging around the border and driving back to the US Customs station each day to see if the paperwork was done. They got it done in 2 days (48hrs) and then allowed me to export the car from the US. It all depends on the individual border crossing and the rules they decide to enforce. If the crossing is a main border crossing they usually stick closer to the rules. Smaller crossing stations are more "user friendly" and exercise more leniency. 72 hrs is the rule.

The recall clearance letter I got for my first Viper from Dodge Cars Trucks Minivans SUVs in Canada - Home - dodge.ca and you need to fax that to RIV with the other papers. My last car I had to get a letter from a US Dealership stating that all safety recalls had been done on my car.

Here's a link for bordercrossings that should get you to a phone number,
Consulate General Detroit :: Border Cooperation

A lot of border crossing problems are because they change the rules every couple months. That's why you need to go according to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles RIV: How to import a U.S made vehicle into Canada guidelines.

how to import

You pay the $269 RIV fee after you get home. Phone or internet CC is how I paid when I got home (You need to fax the paperwork and Cda Customs form to RIV after crossing the border.

Ted