7-10 Business days before pickup:
· Pick your new vehicle, hopefully from Chris @ executivecars.com
· MOST IMPORTANT...
Check the vehicle on the Canadian admissible list here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf
You may find your vehicle will need costly part changes to become Canadianized! We found this with the American Audi TT model, it required $5,000 worth of parts thus creating no value to buy in the US.
· Check with the Canadian manufacturer for any known issues with the vehicle and potential parts required to Canadianize
· Obtain a Car Fax report using the VIN of the car to ensure it is a quality, well maintained vehicle at www.carfax.com
· Make an offer on the vehicle with the dealer
· Try to pay for the vechicle using a TD Gold Travel Visa if possible, you get all the travel points and the buyer protection features for no show, theft, etc. Your Visa/Mastercard help line can provide you with all the information on this topic
NOTE: The additional 2.5% charge on credit card purchases can be negotiated down with the Dealer!
· Arrange for vehicle insurance with your insurance agency
· Have all the vehicle ownership/bill of sale paperwork signed by the dealer and sent via UPS Express to you
· Sign all the paperwork, then send pink copies back and keep original and yellow copies
· Send the originals of the Title, Bill of Sale and Odometer readings (plus 2 additional photocopies) to the US Border by traceable courier. You must find the address for the exact border you wish to cross at, I used the Alexandria Bay crossing by Kingston, ON
· Call the US boarder to ensure receipt of original documents and ask if early passage is possible
· Fax a copy of the title and bill of sale to the vehicle manufacturer to obtain the recall clearance letter
· You will receive the recall clearance letter by fax from the manufacturer
· Fax the recall clearance letter to RIV 1-888-642-9899
· You will then receive Form 2 by fax
At Dealer
· Show proof of Insurance
· Get state temp license plate
· Get keys to vehicle
At US Customs
· The buyer must be present
· Present vehicle for inspection
· Receive original documentation back
At Canadian Customs
· The buyer must be present
· US Customs notifies Canada Customs (part of 72 hour process)
· Present original documents plus the Recall Clearance Letter to Canadian Agent
· You pay the Duty at Canadian Customs
· You pay the PST at Canadian Customs
· You pay the RIV Fees at Canadian Customs
· Form 1 is given at Canadian Customs
At Home
· Take the vehicle to a mechanic, have them Canadianize the vehicle
· Take Form 1 and Form 2 to Canadian Tire
· Canadian Tire inspects the vehicle and stamps Canadian Certified on Form 1/Form 2
· Take stamped Form 1 + Form 2 + Safety and Emissions tests to Provincial Licensing Office
· Get plates transferred to vehicle
· Canadian Sticker arrives from RIV to attach over the US sticker on the vehicle door