Importing
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,936
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver B.C.
Importing
I'm just about to close a deal on a FRC in California from a private seller. This forum has been a great source of info...Can anyone recommend a broker for me. I will be bringing the car up from California to Vancouver BC ?? Any suggestions re Shipping or is that usually handled by the broker ? And finally...the recall clearance letter..should I get the seller to handle that (i would reimbuse any cost) or can I do that from Canada?
Once I know for sure that I have the car I will being looking for tuners and mechanics in the lower mainland area
Thanks
Paul
Once I know for sure that I have the car I will being looking for tuners and mechanics in the lower mainland area
Thanks
Paul
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
Go on the RIV site. It gives you a link to getting the Recall Clearance letter. Just a phonecall and $250 on your credit card.
I did not use a broker when I imported from Cali. Searail.ca will bring it right to Vancouver for you. Check out their site.
The only complication I found was the cash for key exchange. I bought a Viper a couple of years ago and because of the cost I used Escrow.com but for the 4 Vettes I have purchased since then I simply wired the money direct to the seller. It depends on how much you trust them I guess.
Or fly down and bring her up yourself. If I lived in the lower mainland that is what I would do. I am actually driving my newly purchased 02 from Phoenix in March and I will be clearing custioms in Vancouver and trucking the rest of the way to Edmonton. It looks to be pretty simple.
I did not use a broker when I imported from Cali. Searail.ca will bring it right to Vancouver for you. Check out their site.
The only complication I found was the cash for key exchange. I bought a Viper a couple of years ago and because of the cost I used Escrow.com but for the 4 Vettes I have purchased since then I simply wired the money direct to the seller. It depends on how much you trust them I guess.
Or fly down and bring her up yourself. If I lived in the lower mainland that is what I would do. I am actually driving my newly purchased 02 from Phoenix in March and I will be clearing custioms in Vancouver and trucking the rest of the way to Edmonton. It looks to be pretty simple.
Last edited by nuck; Feb 2, 2008 at 07:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,936
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver B.C.
Go on the RIV site. It gives you a link to getting the Recall Clearance letter. Just a phonecall and $250 on your credit card.
I did not use a broker when I imported from Cali. Searail.ca will bring it right to Vancouver for you. Check out their site.
The only complication I found was the cash for key exchange. I bought a Viper a couple of years ago and because of the cost I used Escrow.com but for the 4 Vettes I have purchsed since then I simply wired the money direct to the seller. It depends on how much you trust them I guess.
Or fly down and bring her up yourself. If I lived in the lowed mainland that is what I would do. I am actually driving my newly purchased 02 from Phoenix in March and I will be clearing custioms in Vancouver and trucking the rest of the way to Edmonton. It looks to be pretty simple.
I did not use a broker when I imported from Cali. Searail.ca will bring it right to Vancouver for you. Check out their site.
The only complication I found was the cash for key exchange. I bought a Viper a couple of years ago and because of the cost I used Escrow.com but for the 4 Vettes I have purchsed since then I simply wired the money direct to the seller. It depends on how much you trust them I guess.
Or fly down and bring her up yourself. If I lived in the lowed mainland that is what I would do. I am actually driving my newly purchased 02 from Phoenix in March and I will be clearing custioms in Vancouver and trucking the rest of the way to Edmonton. It looks to be pretty simple.
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
You have your BOS and title faxed or scanned and emailed to you and you fax these to the US customs location you are crossing at.
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolb...ts/wa/3004.xml
But yes, air fair, a hotel, gas plus your own time all have value. That is the biggest reason i never went down for any of my other US cars. Searail will give you a quote by email so you can do the comparison math.
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolb...ts/wa/3004.xml
But yes, air fair, a hotel, gas plus your own time all have value. That is the biggest reason i never went down for any of my other US cars. Searail will give you a quote by email so you can do the comparison math.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,548
Likes: 36
From: Location, Location QC,NY
I wonder if the Canadian GM dealerships that are importing thousands of used US cars pay GM Canada $250 on each car?
Paul
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
I did not get my recall clearance letter from GM Canada, the US dealer where I bought my car gave it to me no charge. They just did a screen print, and then stamped it with their dealer stamp. That was in October '07, passed with the RIV no problem. Check with the RIV to see if this method is still acceptable.
Paul
Paul
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,548
Likes: 36
From: Location, Location QC,NY
it used to be acceptable but it hasn't been for over a year or more. letter to come from the manufactuer, not a dealer. you either got lucky or the RIV person didn't know the difference. getting the letter from GM vintage vehicle services is no big deal. the main guy there is George Zapora, 1-888-467-6853 in Canada or 1-905-440-7697 outside Canada.
The policy may have changed in the last two or three months, but I'd call the RIV first to see if you can save being raped by GM Canada for something that takes seconds to print at any dealer. I'd also check www.carswithoutborders.com
Paul
Last edited by Fawndeuce; Feb 2, 2008 at 06:52 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
if the policy changed it changed back to the dealer letter being acceptable. a dealer letter was acceptable a couple years ago then went to being only the manufacturer. the last car i had done was in June 2007 & they wanted a manufacturer letter for sure at that time, but the dealer letter was o.k. the previous time for me, that would have been Oct.2006. the guy was nice enough to come to my house both times to check out my cars as it's close to they're shop. his name is Les Coombes & his shop is Trailmobile in Edmonton. they're on the acceptable shops lists. he's an ex-military guy that was stationed in either Wawa or Batawa Ont., something like that, nice enough guy though. last time he was here he was very specific about how the policy had changed from the dealer to manuf. letter, very specific. so if it has since changed back, i dunno? i'm not trying to argue here i'm just saying my experiance. i do know FOR SURE the less i have to do with the RIV the better off i am. BTW the clearance letter i got from George at vintage vehicles was i think only 20-30-40 bucks, something like that. was nothing like $250.00, i know that for sure.
Last edited by flyin ryan; Feb 2, 2008 at 07:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,548
Likes: 36
From: Location, Location QC,NY
Originally Posted by flyin ryan;
i do know FOR SURE the less i have to do with the RIV the better off i am. BTW the clearance letter i got from George at vintage vehicles was i think only 20-30-40 bucks, something like that. was nothing like $250.00, i know that for sure.
GM literally increased the charge for the recall letter from $25~$26 to $250 over night! The date was back at the end of October, literally from one day to the next it went up to $250! I was glad I didn't have to pay it, hopefully he won't either...
Another quick note, not all US border crossings allow you to fax the title, some will only accept the original.
I know for a fact that Champlain NY and the one on Interstate 81 (Hill Island?) in NY won't (or wouldn't in Oct 07). Some also have specific hours when you are allowed to bring a car over. I crossed at Port Huron MI specifically because I could fax the title, and cross with the car at any time.
Paul
Last edited by Fawndeuce; Feb 2, 2008 at 08:07 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
I agree with you on the RIV. All the people that I've spoken with have been very nice, but it is chaotic over there! I always make sure to get the persons name when I call or visit.
GM literally increased the charge for the recall letter from $25~$26 to $250 over night! The date was back at the end of October, literally from one day to the next it went up to $250! I was glad I didn't have to pay it, hopefully he won't either...
Another quick note, not all US border crossings allow you to fax the title, some will only accept the original.
I know for a fact that Champlain NY and the one on Interstate 81 (Hill Island?) in NY won't (or wouldn't in Oct 07). Some also have specific hours when you are allowed to bring a car over. I crossed at Port Huron MI specifically because I could fax the title, and cross with the car at any time.
Paul
GM literally increased the charge for the recall letter from $25~$26 to $250 over night! The date was back at the end of October, literally from one day to the next it went up to $250! I was glad I didn't have to pay it, hopefully he won't either...
Another quick note, not all US border crossings allow you to fax the title, some will only accept the original.
I know for a fact that Champlain NY and the one on Interstate 81 (Hill Island?) in NY won't (or wouldn't in Oct 07). Some also have specific hours when you are allowed to bring a car over. I crossed at Port Huron MI specifically because I could fax the title, and cross with the car at any time.
Paul
your 100% right about border crossing's & hours. you can get tripped up real quick if your not on top of it.
the one & maybe only good thing about the RIV is you can call them on Saturday's. helped me out once.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
I did one a few weeks ago and a RCL is acceptable from an AMERICAN dealer or GM Canada only and it still states this on the RIV website. It also must have the dealership stamp on it. Beats paying $250...
Also the RIV is very busy (or else they don't know what they are doing) as they lost my paperwork four times so when you send them something, phone the next day to make SURE they got it and get the name of the person you were talking with. Also, if you have to do bumper mods, buy the parts in the US as they are less than half the price for the same part number.
Grant
Also the RIV is very busy (or else they don't know what they are doing) as they lost my paperwork four times so when you send them something, phone the next day to make SURE they got it and get the name of the person you were talking with. Also, if you have to do bumper mods, buy the parts in the US as they are less than half the price for the same part number.
Grant
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,050
Likes: 7
From: Canadian Rockies
That is so ridiculous! $250 for a recall letter. Is that GM's way of sticking it to us Canadians who buy from the USA?
Is this a common trend? I know I didn't pay a cent when I asked Subaru to send me a letter.
For $250, that letter better come mounted in a mahogany frame.
Is this a common trend? I know I didn't pay a cent when I asked Subaru to send me a letter.
For $250, that letter better come mounted in a mahogany frame.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
That is so ridiculous! $250 for a recall letter. Is that GM's way of sticking it to us Canadians who buy from the USA?
Is this a common trend? I know I didn't pay a cent when I asked Subaru to send me a letter.
For $250, that letter better come mounted in a mahogany frame.
Is this a common trend? I know I didn't pay a cent when I asked Subaru to send me a letter.
For $250, that letter better come mounted in a mahogany frame.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Kingsville ON
carburner.com
Hello guys
I got my 06 vert in Dec from Mich -- I found www.carburner.com to be very helpful - and as a wiki you can edit the info if you find something to improve.
I had earlier imported a Lexus LS and added the photo map for Lewiston NY ( after I had a bit of a problem understanding where you take the title to have stamped at US customs --and a day later someone added a red line to further improve.
I also agree-- have the US dealer get the recall letter -and it is FREE (see www.carburner.com - as dealers don't know it as a recall letter )
Regards
Greg
here are some other links
http://www.carswithoutborders.com/
http://www.importcarcanada.com/main/...action=forum#1
http://www.ucanimport.blogspot.com/
and here is ONE THREAD on importing that is over 800 pages long ...I think this is a record ??
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=307601
http://www.importcartocanada.info/forum/
I got my 06 vert in Dec from Mich -- I found www.carburner.com to be very helpful - and as a wiki you can edit the info if you find something to improve.
I had earlier imported a Lexus LS and added the photo map for Lewiston NY ( after I had a bit of a problem understanding where you take the title to have stamped at US customs --and a day later someone added a red line to further improve.
I also agree-- have the US dealer get the recall letter -and it is FREE (see www.carburner.com - as dealers don't know it as a recall letter )
Regards
Greg
here are some other links
http://www.carswithoutborders.com/
http://www.importcarcanada.com/main/...action=forum#1
http://www.ucanimport.blogspot.com/
and here is ONE THREAD on importing that is over 800 pages long ...I think this is a record ??
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=307601
http://www.importcartocanada.info/forum/
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Importing to Bc
I am the owner of TFX International and we have trucks in California on a regular basis going to BC We can transport it and clear it through both US Customs and Canada Customs. We will pay your GST get your Form 1 and deliver the vehicle directly to your home in an enclosed tailgate lift trailer. www.tfxinternational.com or call Adam 1888 415 3158 x 8 Good luck
