It is TOTALLY LEGAL to import a Candian R to the states

<U>Documents that you'll need to get the car registered:</U>
1. ICBC Insurace Slip
2. Bill of sales
3. Complience letter from Acura
3. Smog certificate
4. Custom tax certificate

Since your bring the car from another country, this process will involve both the federal and state government.

State Government
This is basically the DMV. As we all know, to register the car with DMV, you'll need a copy of the bill of sales, pink slip, proof of insurance, and smog certificate if necessary.

Well, registering a Candian R is pretty much the same as registering a in-state vehicel. Instead of pink slip, u'll need the ICBC insurance slip. If the owner lost their ICBC insurance slip, have them contact ICBC and it only cost them about $12 for another copy.

Smog certificate is required when registering a Candian R so get your car smog.

One other thing that's required is the custom tax certificate. I don't think its call the custom tax certificate, but its the papers you get after you pay your custom tax.

Once you have all these information, you should be able to pass DMV no problem.

Federal Government
Unlike the state government, the only thing that the Federal cares about is the custom tax. Yep...afterall, all the govenment want is $$$. Now, to pass the US Custom's requirement, you'll need the following documents: Complience letter and smog certificate. The us custom tax is about 2.7% if I remember correctly and it'll base on your purchase price.

You paid your custom tax at the custom office nearest you. They're usually located close to the harbor.

That's it...once you've paid the custom tax, the federal will leave you free.

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There are basically two way you can import a typeR from BC. One is to have it shipped here by a import company, and two is do it yourself.

Shipping:

To have it shipped here, you need to do the following
1. Locate a broker (importer)
examples

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov...r.htm

http://www.aa-auto.com

2. Get a complience letter from Acura (for custom tax purpose). THe seller should get this for the buyer since he's the current owner of the vehicle.
3. Get a bill of sales
4. Get the ICBC insurance slip (this is like the pink slip in BC). You need this to legally register your car in US. This is very very IMPORTANT.
5. Others (anything that the importer requires). This veries from companies.

The broker will basically take care of everything for you...all you need to do is provide the above paper work and pay them like $100 - $120 broker fees.

DIY

1. Get all the documents you need.
2. Contact ur insurance company to you'll be covered on your trip home. (Have them fax you the new insurance slip asap. You'll need this for the DMV.)
3. Pay the custom tax (If you're driving it across the boarder)
4. Drive safe home.
5. Smog check.
6. Go to DMV and have the car registered.

NOTE: If you didn't drive the car across the border as in my case, you'll need to visit the custom's office too. Do this prior your visit to the DMV so you won't have to make two trips.

Here are some pointers for those who wants to pick up their car before they received all the documentation:

Your insurance usually covers you for 30 days without DMV registration slip. After that, you have to submit a copy of the DMV registration slip to your insurance company. (Check w/ your insurance company)

You have a 10 days grace period from our friendly DMV office. After the 10 days grace period, you car HAVE to be fully registered.

Additional Info:

<U>Complience Letter</U> - This is basically a letter from Acura/Honda of North America stating that the vehicle meets all US requirments except some minor labling issues. Only the buyer can get this letter and he/she will have to tell them that she's relocating. Acura will not issue this letter otherwise.

<U>ICBC Insurance Slip</U> - This is just like the pink slip in US.

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Fees
Ship it: $850 - $1100
Do it yourself: $500 - $900 depends on how far the drive is.

Conclusion
If you want to save time and money...DIY. If you don't care about time and money, get a broker.

Hope this help guys.

Wayne


Modified by Xia0w0ng at 5:20 PM 11/7/2003


Modified by Xia0w0ng at 5:21 PM 11/7/2003

 

everyone interested in buying an R from canada
ITS simple and worth it for RED SEATS HEEHEHEE

save this post

great post

 

excellent

 

Awesomeee post.

 

up up

 

Good, now buy my '01 Canadian R.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=302836

-Paul

 

Lol...C-Mugen got frustrated becaues I IM him so much.

yeah, and it's about your car, Paul!

But....

What is the Bill of sales?
The price I agree with the seller or the orginal from the dealer?
To lower the price meaning...to have a low price put on the Bill of Sales and deal the differences in cash?

Also, can you please explain further what ICBC is?


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 10:19 AM 10/10/2002]

 

Man, and how come I didn't know this when I bought my 98 CW? If I woulda known I coulda done it so easily! I really wanted a CW 2001 Canuck Type R!

 

That's called "tax fraud" and if it's discovered, you could get fined and go to jail. NOT a good idea.

 

...don't know if its important here, but i've read on HT in the past that US acura dealers don't cover imported cdm cars under warranty... not too bad i guess if you can wrench your own car straight, but how 'bout parts replacement?

 

I don't think they'll cover it. If you really want the warranty, you can have the seller tell Acura of Canada that he's relocating...moving from Canada to US. They might still cover the car this way. But not sure.

ICBC is Insurance Company of British Columbia. Here we have tons of insurance company and then the DMV. In BC, they have only one insurance company...and it is also their DMV.

Bill of sales is just a type out of the agreement between both parties. Basically...I...buy this car from X...blah blah.

 

If you don't lower the price TOO much, you wont' get discovered. I wouldn't call it tax fraud...I would call it a smart way to avoid some tax.

 

BUT if you plan on getting the vehicle FINANCED.. most banks really don't like the idea of tax fraud

My bank made sure that the selling price was PUT on the papers

 

That's a total different story then...

I paid off my car...so

 

Very good info..... I wouldn't mind having a 00-01 CW ITR from Canada....

 

Don't you yanks have enough ITRs, why do you have to take the ones from the great white north

 

It's us American's first approach to invade Canada...muhahahahahah!


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 3:12 PM 10/10/2002]

 

haha

 

I don't know if this also applies but my aunt inherited a Toyota Camry from a relative in Canada and she had a hell of time getting it registered here due to the fact that she had to have the dealership convert it from MPH, etc....

I'm not sure if this would be a problem but I thought it would be worth mentioning.


[Modified by jstock107, 5:12 PM 10/10/2002]

 

OK, the Conclusion confused me....

So if the Canadian seller drives the car over the border, then there is no Customs Taxes right? And you said that proof of paid Custom Taxes is not required for registering it here in the US... Right??? So if you aren't paying Custom Taxes, is it still necessary to get the Compliance Letter???

BTW, thanks for posting all this info!!!

 

Canuck-R's pawn US-Rs!!!!

 

You HAVE to pay custom tax. If you have the seller drive across the boarder, you don't have to pay the custom tax right at the moment. But you need to pay later. However, custom tax does not affect you in regsitering the car here in state.

The issue with converting to MPH...no worries, All canadian R has big KM small miles on the gauges...so its good still. We have big MPH and small KM.

 

Thank you VERY much for all of the info Wayne You answered a lot of questions for me as well

 

saving $800 in tax tough decision huh

 

Jut imported the an 01 CW from Quebec:

You will lose the warranty which sucks because there would be plenty left on mine.

After '93 an imported car must have dual airbags and a speedo that at least has mph/km. An ITR has both...so there are no problems.

My importer paid the tax/duty and provided the paperwork to registerin the states
....a little work, but well worth it