TheSamba.com :: View topic - Importing Vehicle TO Canada with engine conversion...

Wed May 08, 2013 6:26 pm

i set up insurance thru mpic (gov insurance)beforehand
when i got the bike i faxed bill, title,d licence
they faxed back paperwork
i signed them and faxed back
and called in cc number
they faxed temp insurance
i signed and kept as proof
and the guy at the bike place gave me a dealer temp paper permit to put on back

Wed May 08, 2013 6:37 pm

and 20 minutes later
I was on the coast hwy heading north to bc
traveling legally in between stopped rush hour traffic
F%^&n amazing!

Wed May 08, 2013 7:35 pm

Hey Matt:

Glad to hear you are in BC. I have imported a couple Westies into BC and here's the drill:
1. Nobody at the border cares about the engine unless it is constructed out of contraband. No one will look at the engine and no one will care.

2. On the US side, you need to arrange in advance to "export" the car from the US. This can be done to a vehicle you are driving or to a vehicle you are towing or trailering. Again, nobody cares.

3. Here a the link to a PDF form which the US customs and border protection service uses. You need to fill out and submit it by fax, details appear below:
https://www.pdffiller.com/edit.php?id=4821800
4. Complete the worksheet;
5. Photocopy the Washington State vehicle title;
6. Photocopy your bill of sale. (If you neglected to get one, prepare one and get the seller to sign it.)
7. FAX the worksheet, the copy of the title to the vehicle and the bill of sale to the fax number set out in my model fax cover sheet (but use your own name - - duh)
******************************************
HOWESIGHT
1234 West 5TH Avenue
Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 4D9
Tel: (604) 234-5678
Fax: (604) 456-7890

FACSIMILE COVER SHEET

Date: November 22, 2011

To: United States Customs and Border Protection, Blaine

Attention: Vehicle/Equipment Outbound Team
9901 Pacific Highway
Blaine, Washington 98230-9299

Fax Number: (360) 332-2639

From: HOWESIGHT

Transmitted
by: HOWESIGHT

TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING THIS COVER PAGE:_____

Re: Planned export of 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

Please see enclosed documents for export of 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon as follows:

A. U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION/NICB VEHICLE /EQUIPMENT EXPORT WORKSHEET (REVISED VERSION OF WORKSHEET)
B. Washington State title to above vehicle; and
C. Bill of Sale for above vehicle.
*********************************************************

8. Email the Blaine Vehicle/Equipment Outboard Team the next day to ensure that they received your fax. Believe it or not, they will email you back to say they have received your FAX(!). The email address is:

[email protected]

Here was my email to them:
************************************************
To: United States Customs and Border Protection, Blaine
Attention: Vehicle/Equipment Outbound Team
9901 Pacific Highway
Blaine, Washington 98230-9299

Dear Sirs:

I faxed your offices my worksheet and related documents yesterday. I attach a copy of what was sent to you then. Would you please confirm that the fax and enclosures were received in your offices.

Yours truly,

Howesight
1234 West 5TH Avenue
Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 4D9

Tel: (604) 234-5678
Fax: (604) 456-7890
*************************************************

9. The Blaine Vehicle/Equipment Outbound Team at CPB will then email you back to advise yes or no that your vehicle has been "cleared for export". It's
a cute email that looks like this:
*********************************************
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Export Office

Blaine, Washington

This is your confirmation/receipt for your vehicle export worksheet and documents.

Once you have received this notice, there is no need to re-check or follow up the status of your export.

Please bring a copy of this confirmation with you on the day of export.

The paper work for the vehicle/s that you are inquiring about has been received; you will be able to export it on November 29, 2011 or thereafter. Bring the vehicle and original title/certificate of ownership to our office during hours of operation and we will export your vehicle.

Thank you,

Blaine-Export
9901 Pacific Hwy.
Blaine, Washington
Mon-Fri 8:00am-3:30pm

[email protected]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Export Enforcement
Blaine, WA

Tel:(360) 332-2632
Fax:(360)332-2639
Email: [email protected]
****************************************************

10. On the day you go to fetch your new love interest, go to the Price Chopper (you read that correctly) grocery store in Blaine and go to the insurance and licencing counter and buy a one-day insurance and licence permit. It's cheap, (say $10 or $15) which will allow you to drive the vehicle in Washington and across the border, but DIRECTLY to your home. NO touring around is allowed until you get BC coverage.

11. Go to the Blaine export facility at the border. Park the van and go inside with your ORIGINAL title, bill of sale and the completed Export Worksheet. The customs officer will check the Vanagon to ensure the VIN matches the VIN on your documents and then clear you for export, unless you look like a hippie, in which case, see 12 below.

12. After the cavity search and your quick convalesence, proceed to cross the border into Canada.

13. Tell the Canada Customs officer at the kiosk that you are importing the vehicle into Canada. You will then pull over to the area where you would normally pay duty and go inside.

13. There is no applicable duty, but you will have to pay HST/GST on the sale price. You will get a receipt for that payment. Keep it. Everything else below is specific to B.C., so for those in other provinces, enquire locally.

14. After doing any repairs you want to do, take the Vanagon to an inspection station. I did a lot of digging to find a great inspection station that will not try to tell you your whole vehicle needs rebuilding (like I suspect Canadian Tire might do). PM me for the name of the garage (they are in Vancouver). The cost is (was in 2011) $75.00

15. You will get an inspection certificate that essentially proves the vehicle is fit for use on public roads in BC.

16. Take all the paper you have gathered to date, and go to an ICBC Insurance outlet. They will collect PST from you, based on the price, charge a licence fee, give your vehicle a new, BC title, insure you, and send you on your way. I do not recall whether they keep the old Washington title, so make a copy for your own records to be sure.

17. Enjoy your Vanagon and pledge allegiance to the Wolfsburg Flag.

18. Karma Klause: When anyone else asks the question on the Samba, pay this post forward.

Wed May 08, 2013 9:32 pm

Matt go to BCAA and buy a Binder Policy. This is a special insurance that covers you from the pick up in the USA (Point A and covers you to point B) Vancouver. Once you get home it is void so don't keep driving it around after you have been home. It was cheap.

Once you have been through this ordeal it is much easier the 2nd or 3rd time.

Wed May 15, 2013 3:17 pm

Made it home alive and well but with a much lighter wallet. Getting across the border was a breeze. Provincial inspection here I come.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out!

Wed May 15, 2013 3:42 pm

matt_j wrote: Made it home alive and well but with a much lighter wallet. Getting across the border was a breeze. Provincial inspection here I come.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out!

So what did you end up with? PHOTOS please! 8)

Wed May 15, 2013 4:49 pm

1986 Tin Top Syncro with a TDI is what I ended up with.

Oregon van originally, bought it in in California where it lived for a few years. Super high mileage on the body but it's really quite clean. 7 passenger with z-bed, ALH TDI install, 16" wheels with BFG AT, winch, fog lights, and a shower. Had to spend a bit of money and fix a blown outer cv on the drive home but otherwise went fine.

Wed May 15, 2013 5:24 pm

Nice going! I knew you'd find something good. 8)

Wed May 15, 2013 5:28 pm

photogdave wrote: Nice going! I knew you'd find something good. 8)

Thanks again for all the help! If you're ever interested in a drive let me know.

Wed May 15, 2013 9:22 pm

Mm, that's a nice looking van! ;)

Wed May 15, 2013 9:52 pm

Congratulations!

tam
matt_j wrote: 1986 Tin Top Syncro with a TDI is what I ended up with.

Oregon van originally, bought it in in California where it lived for a few years. Super high mileage on the body but it's really quite clean. 7 passenger with z-bed, ALH TDI install, 16" wheels with BFG AT, winch, fog lights, and a shower. Had to spend a bit of money and fix a blown outer cv on the drive home but otherwise went fine.