Importing a Vanagon from Canada to US

[chartert]

I found a really nice Westy across the border in Canada. Has anybody knowledge of the procedures involved with registering it in the US and getting it through customs? So far what I found sounds daunting. EPA emissions, Customs forms etc..
The van is an American version van.

[adamjjohn203]

I did this earlier this year. I had the seller under value the van so my taxes\duties were cheaper. If the vehicle is at least 25 years old you dont need to worry about DOT and EPA problems. The border agent just stamped my paperwork and let us go....he didn't even look at the van. Didn't charge us customs but I had to pay taxes when I registered it. The seller valued it at $1500 so they were cheap.
There are downloadable forms on the US customs website.
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'87 Westfalia
2000 Volvo V70 "eVOLVOd"

[yycwesty]

Purchased a 1985 westy from Portland and brought it home to Calgary in June..They will ask at the border for a bill of sale and title for the vehicle. Go to RIV.ca and you will find information about submitting info at the border crossing (PM me if you have any further questions). Depending on which province you are in you will have to do a out of province inspection, but at least in Alberta you don't need an out of country inspection. You also don't need to have DRL's or a 3rd brake light due to the age. They can be very demanding on the out of province inspection. I took mine to Cdn Tire, and they faulted me because I had 16" wheels (brand new tires) but I had a spacer in the front wheels - failed. One light on my license plate burnt out - failed, small flat pad that sits on the bottom of the rear shocks missing - failed. So I had to go around and get these fixed before taking it in and it passing. So if you have any friends who do the out of province take it to them..That being said, my westy is very road worthy now. Again PM for any other questions and good luck..

Cheers
Al

[pioneer1]

I know from personal experience that when coming into Canada with a vintage vehicle the guard looked on Ebay to find the recent sold vehicles like mine to varify the sale price was the same as what I declared. You may find the same when heading south with yours.
You have to advise the border that you are going to import a vehicle (3 days notice to check VIN for liens,etc) Search for all the info.don't just show up and expect to get across
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[adamjjohn203]

Sounds like it is much easier to bring it into the US from Canada like the op is considering.
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'87 Westfalia
2000 Volvo V70 "eVOLVOd"

[FNGRUVN]

Everything is easier to get into the US, but don't get me started.

All the Denver customs agent needed to see when I went through this was:

The sticker on the license plate door that says it conforms to EPA specs for that year.

The sticker on the drivers door jam that states it conforms to DOT standards.

I think I remember having to show them the Canadian title, signed by the previous owner.

I had to tell them when and where it crossed the border.

The girl looked at the van and the VIN#, had me fill out a couple forms and I was out the door in less than an hour.

She could have given me a hard time about the KPH speedo, but she didn't.
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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

[luVWagn]

When I did mine about ~9 years ago, i self-printed a MPH speedo and taped it in (because I wasn't sure about that part). I also worked with a customs broker to handle the duty part (for some reason), and then also had to have the van inspected for emissions purposes (in WA, which it initially failed), etc.

On the way back to Canada, they just googled comparable vans to come up with a fair price, and taxes me for it again (even though it was already a Canadian van once).

I'll likely be bringing it back to WA again in late spring, at which time i'll likely have to re-import the damned thing...
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'91 Double Door Transporter

[240Gordy]

Canadians can't read.
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Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[Petervw]

[luVWagn]

[strawhouse]

When bringing the vehicle through, make sure that you don't underestimate the value of the vehicle too much. I went the other way, US to Canada and the guy I bought my van from said it was valued at $1500 in the paper work. Customs was not happy about it compared to the value they saw online on the same year of vans. They seized it and impounded the van until I could get proper documentation on the value of the van... the original ad and receipt of the bank draft. I came clean right away! The woman was decent about the situation and never gave me any impound fines. I paid a penalty and higher taxes and I was on my way.

The following winter I went into the Caribbean with the family, when we landed into customs two armed military guys escorted me away for 2 hours where I was completely searched and interrogated about the "seizure" on my passport. In the end they were convinced I was fine and let me go, that kind of wrecked the vacation I must say! Upon returning to Canada I had the same interrogation ( much nicer I must add ) and when it was finished the border guy told me it was because of the van! The van was seized at the border... it is listed as a seizure on my passport and now where ever I go I get searched... for the next 7 years!

But on a plus side I haven't got the rubber glove treatment yet!
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Pacifist with a gun

[pRock]

Keep the ad if you have it of the actual price. Importing from USA to Canada was super easy, bill of sale just needed to hit USA customs 72 hours prior to van leaving USA so they could check for theft, etc.

However I bought a Syncro for $3000, My bill of sale said the same, and they questioned me and looked it up and said how come you got it so cheap.

These are going for XXXX online. I was shocked that they took the time to look this up. Anyways they where nice and just doing their job and said do you have any other proof like the ad. So whipped out my phone 2 seconds later I was on my way. He said next time just print out the ad. They get people all the time trying to undervalue their imports.