Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

here's how it went. Make sure your car is on the transport Canada approved list (link below), and that there are no big $$$ safety modifications that need done. Then when you buy...

1. fax title to US headquarters of the manufacturer requesting RECALL CLEARANCE LETTER (received next day from Audi USA)

2. fax title to your chosen US border crossing 72 hrs before you get there

3. get dealer to install temp plate for trip home and so you can drive the car while you're getting it registered here (30 days on mine...s/b free or $10)

4. cross US border with title, bill of sale and identification - 2 mins...all they do is stamp your title

5. cross Canadian border with same docs, and stamped title - 10 mins...they fill in FORM 1 for you and give you a copy. Then they levy the following charges based on purchase price converted to CDN$ at previous day's BankofCanada.com USD/CAD rate
a) 6.1% duty on total car value if built outside of North America (link below for a good list of qualifying 'imports' that are built in N.A...I'm importing a Lexus RX350 next year, and happily its made in Cambridge ON.)
b) 5% GST on total amount including the duty
c) $100+gst for Air Conditioner

you now have 45 days to complete the rest of the steps (or until your temp plate expires)

6. fax FORM 1 to Registrar of Imported Vehicles RIV: How to import a U.S made vehicle into Canada and while you're at it, pay your RIV fee online ($195+tax)

7. fax RECALL CLEARANCE LETTER to RIV.ca. RIV will then email or fax you FORM 2 (INSPECTION FORM)

8. take car to RIV approved locations for Federal Inspection (free - part of RIV fee). Takes 10 minutes.

9. take car to MTO approved location for Emissions test ($40) and Provincial Safety Inspection ($90-110)...issued certificate if you pass

10. take ALL your docs to an MTO office to get your plates/register the car in your name. They will levy the following fees
a) 8% GST on C$ value of car
b) $74 for license
c) $10 for paperwork

questions? fire away...

references:

Transport Canada Admissibility List
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/impor...list/VAFUS.pdf

List of Duty Free 'Imports'

Duty Free Cars | BORDER DEALS

Re: Imported 2007 S4 - Here's my experience
 

EXCELLENT post, Ian! This will help eliminate a lot of fears people have in importing cars.

This should be made into a "sticky."

:thumb:

Re: Imported 2007 S4 - Here's my experience
 

So after everything was said and done, how much extra fees were incured ontop of the selling price of the S4?

Re: Imported 2007 S4 - Here's my experience
 

Short answer in red in the middle of this longwinded post.

The deal I got was kind of ridiculous, so I'll temper this fee calculation with that. They listed it at $42,000, a good price for the car. I bought from a BMW dealer where the internet sales manager confessed they were about to wholesale the car. I gave them a very low offer, and after a day, they accepted ($38,000 USD). Buying from an offmake dealer may not be as re-assuring as buying a certified preowned Audi, but this was a new car basically...and they didn't know a frigging thing about it and wanted it off the lot. They took it as a trade in for a guy who bought a new M3 (zoom). They didn't own an Audi dealer, so had few options. When I was talking to them, they said things like "This thing fast man? That engine sounds serious." Ask them anything about Bimmers and they're brilliant. Ask them what Vorsprung Durch Technik means and their eyes glaze over.

Now that this is out of the way, here are the fees, in summary, from memory (I'm away from home and don't have the receipts etc.). First, here's the car summary, including options and their original USD pricing...

2007 S4 6MT ($49,000ish USD)
23,000km

• NAVI package w. CD changer and SD Media slots ($2000)
• Convenience package ($1000)
• Bluetooth Phone Prep ($500)
• Premium Audio with BOSE system and SIRIUS Satellite Radio SDARS ($1000)
• Silver Paint (stll makes me laugh that this costs $750)
• Gas Guzzler Tax, Predelivery etc. (no idea what this cost)

Price to me - $38,000 USD (I converted my cash at 0.998, and customs used a rate of 0.992 to calculate car's value here. Both rates mean C$ was slightly stronger than US$)

1. duty $2301 CDN
2. AC Tax $105 CDN
3. RIV fee $204.75 CDN
4. Shipping $760 CDN
__________________
Total 'USA vs Canada' Import Fees $3370.75

Therefore I bought a 2007 loaded S4 for $41,294.75 CDN+ PST+GST etc. Best deal I could find here was in the $54,000+tax range and the car was the wrong colour without the NAV or Bluetooth or SatelliteRadio. The selection in Canada sucks. There are 3 Audi Certified Pre-Owned 2007 S4 cars in CANADA ...total!

There are about 30 in the US, and another 30 that are not at Audi dealers. A HUGE factor in pushing me south...too hard to find the right car here.

Anyway, those are the 'import' fees. The other fees below, you'd have to pay if you bought it in Ontario anyway, so can't really count them here on the subject of imports.

5. MTO safety Inspection (CDNTIRE) $80+$10 + gst = $94.50
5a MTO Emissions inspection (CDNTIRE) $40 or so
6. PST $3199 CDN
7. GST $2001 CDN
8. License and docs at MTO $84

Total Savings = $10,000-15,000 depending on what you can find up here.

CAVEATS - Bear in mind you lose the ability to offset PST with your trade in (if you have a car to sell) since you have to sell it in Canada seperately. That may factor into your decision (I was coming off a lease, so I didn't). You may also like to know that dealers in Canada are offering amazing financing rates (if applicable). Your bank may finance the car at 7%, whereas Audi dealers might offer 2% on a preowned. Doesn't sound like much, but on a $50,000 car, that's about $6500 savings over 5 years. Do your math first, and check all angles.

That being said, on a 2007 S4, you'll still come out ahead, and you can't put a price on getting the exact car you want vs. buying a horrible colour without the options you wanted. IMO buying a 2007 S4 in Canada is like looking for palm trees at the North Pole.

Re: Imported 2007 S4 - Here's my experience
 

Thanks. What's a sticky?

p.s. can I have her number? (girl in Audi trunks)

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

riv.ca admissability list updated. clicky. Now we can import all the 4.2L V8 powered C5 variants we want. Yay! Now to find the Allroad I want.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

there's a V8 Allroad? didn't know that. Maybe in Europe?

The other beautiful thing is that Transport Canada has relaxed the bumper requirements. Anything that's good for the US is good for Canada now.

i.e. RS4 (my next overpowered little sedan!)

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Yup there is - sold new in US market. Here is one is Seattle that I am going to take a look at next week.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Hi all,

I Just wanted to share my website I created after I bought my Audi A4 in the states back in April. It includes the process, math formula to calculate your import costs and a good dealer recommendation in New Jersey - which is a 5 hour drive to Brockville (who I bought my car from).

How to import a vehicle from US to Ontario - Free Information - KARma Import Services BUY a USED vehicle in the USA and SAVE MONEY <!-- google_ad_client = "p

Enjoy!

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Just got back from my trip to pick up our 'new' 2001 Allroad. This is the THIRD U.S. vehicle (all Audis) that we've bought, but we had the other two shipped. This one was particularly appealing because it was in an adjacent state (Montana) to our province (Alberta), so it made more sense to get there and drive it back.

I was at the Piegan, MT crossing, and while the process was smooth, it was more like 8-10 minutes while the U.S. official worked through the paperwork. Maybe at a busier port they have it more down to a science and it goes quicker. And I had heard some horror stories about the U.S. office not getting the documents in enough time (the 72-hour thing) & being turned back at the border, but it all went smoothly.

At the Canadian crossing (Carway), it took probably 20 minutes total, with several officers doing different parts of the process. Again, not a particularly high-volume crossing station. Also, contrary to the RIV web site, they did NOT facilitate me paying the RIV fee there (and faxing in the Recall Clearance letter) - the officer at the end said I had to do that from the RIV web site. I had heard of other border stations being more helpful and offering an Internet terminal to use right on the spot, but not this one.

I would add to the list above that before step 8 you do need to have had the required modifications done before getting the federal RIV inspection done - kinda obvious, but might be worth sneaking in there as a 'step 7a' or something.

Oh, also, I did have the (private) seller get me a temporary permit - affixed to the inside back window - to be able to drive it to the border, but my understanding was that it was NOT valid in Canada, so I had an Alberta "In Transit" permit ready to go (affixed to inside front right windshield). $8 for the U.S. permit, good for 40 days (!), $24 for the Alberta one, good for 7 days!! Hmmm...

Anyway, just a few more thoughts on the process. This will have saved us probably $4-$5K from buying locally, and as others have mentioned, it's just plain hard to find some of these models locally anyway.

Bart

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

excellent post. I selfishly left out your suggested 7a because my 2007 S4 had no modifications required, but it should be noted for all that this can be an expensive step. With the bumpers out of the way (for the most part) there are far fewer mods needed on the newer models.

MTO told me a temp Georgia permit would be ok, but double checking would be wise as you never know. I can say that I was stopped in the car once for speeding with the Georgia permit on, and the cop thought it was fine. I was also eyeballed by at least 2 or 3 other cops (i think for having no front license plate) and none stopped me for the (lack of) tag.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

So am I reading the RIV list right? The 2000-2002 S4 Avants are in now? They weren't a year ago. They're weren't listed as inadmissable but it was common knowledge that was a no-go.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I guess you mean the Transport Canada list?

I think that sounds right. The list changed pretty dramatically over the past 6 months. US bumper standards being honored were a big part of it too. Many Audis had bumpers that couldn't be modified to meet stricter Canadian standards, thus were inadmissable. Now many of those are straight up admissable with no mods (to the bumpers anyway). The inadmissable list is pretty short now.

****INADMISSABLE*****
1993 AND 1994 100CS Quattro Wagon

1994 100S Wagon

1995 S6 Wagon, Wagon Quattro

1995 TO 1997 A6 Wagon

1996 AND 1997 A6 wagon Quattro

1998 A6 Wagon & Wagon Quattro

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Sorry - yes - I meant the admissibility list. I brought in my Allroad last year; the S4 Avant wasn't admissable at the time. It looks like the S4 Sedan is off so I guess that includes the wagon too. Nice!!! That's what I wanted. Maybe it's next. Now do we need a second car? :D

I would add one thing to your list:

During the pre-purchase phase, if you're buying used, pay the the few hundred bucks to have a mechanic go over the car and supply a report. There are several companies that do this with prices ranging from $99 to $500+. New is not an issue but if we're talking used I would consider it a must.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I've been looking at cars the past couple of days and looking at importing -

Few questions-

1) Say I fly down, and pick up the car in Dallas. To drive it back to Alberta, will I need a "In-Transit" license for every state back to Alberta? A co-worker told me I did.

2) Insurance. Assuming I buy a car down there, and get the VIN, do I simply call the insurance company up in Canada and get it on it? Won't I need it registered in Canada first?

3) Once the car is in Canada, is it possible to drive the car to Canadian tire etc to get it tested or to a mechanic to get any alternations done?

4) Lastly - isn't it a big strange not being able to go sit in the car and try it out first? How the heck do you know if it doesn't smell like the the "Beast" from Seinfeld.



Thanks
Sean

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I was surprised to see my previously-admissible 1998 A6 Wagon Quattro now listed as NOT admissible! We brought it in a few years ago & got it all certified nice & proper, but now I noticed it couldn't be brought in... weird. No bumper mods were needed at all, then, just DRLs and the child tether anchor (the latter of which USED to be a free retrofit in the States from Audi).

<shrug>

Oh, and I would also second the excellent suggestion to get the vehicle inspected somehow before purchasing (or bidding, in the case of eBay & the like). Our first two Audis we had good luck finding someone on the quattro mailing list (audifans.com) who looked at & drove the cars for us prior to purchasing. This last one, in Whitefish MT, didn't work out that way, but the sellers agreed to take it to a local auto shop for an inspection, so we had some assurances of the Allroad's condition before agreeing to buy.

Bart

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

It was my understanding that a 'temp plate' (in Montana, it was just a piece of paper stuck to the inside of the rear window) is valid across the U.S., but I can't say for sure. Best to check with the state it's coming from.
For sure in Alberta, and probably most other provinces, you must show proof of insurance before you can register a car, so you CAN'T register first. This last time, yeah, I just called my insurance broker with the VIN & make/model and she faxed me (and mailed) the insurance slip to use. Luckily I didn't have to show it, but with my Alberta "In Transit" permit and valid insurance, I was covered.

That's how you need to get the In Transit permit done - as a "service" permit. I initially was going to be given a "point a to point b only" permit, but a different employee at the west end AMA suggested doing it as a 'service' permit, which essentially gives you a week to drive it around ONLY to get work done on it.
Just answered in a previous post - HIGHLY recommend getting an inspection done on any used vehicle prior to purchase. And if you can, try to test-drive a local car of the same general make/model/year so you know what it's like inside, etc.

Couldn't do that for our latest (Allroad), so it was kinda fun to be 'surprised' by all the new things inside & out, compared to our '98 A6 QW.

Having owned an Audi of some kind since '88, I had a fairly good feeling that I'd like it even without having driven one like it, but also got it inspected so I'd get some kind of feedback on any potential major issues (like BEAST smell). :D

Bart
Edmonton

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

@ seanwg:

1) Correct. You need a plate. If you're buying from a dealership of any kind they can issue a temporary permit for you.

2) Yes. Once you have a VIN and you're ready to buy, you get the insurance up here and fly down with your slip. They'll register you with insurance knowing you're importing. Actually getting an AB plate on it occurs at the end of the import process.

3) Yes. You have that temp plate from the US. It's legit to drive it. If it expires you have to pick up another temp plate here.

4) See my previous post. I would absolutely pay a mechanic to go and check it all out first. Also - if the car is actually available here, I'd test drive them up here so you know what it feels like. I think I drove 6 different Allroads before I actually bought mine, right down the particular year with various options.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Answers
1. that's what I did, but I used the ATLANTA temp all the way home. Even used it in Ontario for a month.

2. Get the VIN, get the documents (title) and call your insurance company. You should call them first in case you're buying something insane...you might get a shock. My S4 for example was way more than my old A4 Avant to insure, and it also had a $1000 minimum deductible .

3. You can take it wherever you want for stuff like that...just make sure your TEMP plate is good for 30 days so you have a few weeks to get the steps done to register the car after your 2-3 day drive home.

4. Good point. That's why I bought a nearly new car from a dealership...Audi's don't tend to lose much of their newness in the first few years, let alone months. Further, the dealership detailed the heck out of the car so it was perfect when they met me at the airport with the car and tossed me the keys. If you've ever ordered a new car, you didn't get to sit in it first either...same idea. As for the potential stink...cross your fingers! Actually if you hire someone to do an inspection of the car before you buy it (I didn't, but if I were buying a 3 year old car I would have) you can get them to check. Just make sure they're not 'hard of smell'

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

interesting side note on importing...

a car that was $50,000 USD in May (dollar at par
or 1.00 USD) would be quite a bit more expensive with the recent move in the USD/CAD relationship towards a weaker Canadian dollar

based on today's exchange rate your cost would be up considerably. Consider...

DOLLAR AT PAR (MAY 2008)
$50,000 USD + 6.1% duty tax + PST/GST on total = $59,946

DOLLAR AT 1.17 (OCT 2008)
$50,000 USD + 6.1% duty tax + PST/GST on total = $70,137

$10,000 difference!

(there are other fees, but they're fixed or CDN$ so not relevant for this discussion)

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

interesting side note on importing...

a car that was $50,000 USD in May (dollar at par
or 1.00 USD) would be quite a bit more expensive with the recent move in the USD/CAD relationship towards a weaker Canadian dollar

based on today's exchange rate your cost would be up considerably. Consider...

DOLLAR AT PAR - MAY 2008
$50,000 USD + 6.1% duty tax + PST/GST on total = $59,946

DOLLAR AT 1.17 - OCT 2008
$50,000 USD + 6.1% duty tax + PST/GST on total = $70,137

$10,000 difference!

(there are other fees, but they're fixed or CDN$ so not relevant for this discussion)

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

sadly, with USD now costing about 1.22 to convert, this gap is even bigger...adds another $2500. Seems the opportunity to import a US car to Canada is less fruitful. Just looked at Lexus RX350 trucks and they're now CHEAPER in Canada.

Audi RS4 is still a deal though, if you're looking for one!

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

You might put the rest of the components in your formula:
Such as- Travel cost, stay, transportation - most of them in USD.
That could add easily $2500-4500.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I took that into account for my purchase at the outset. I was in and out of the US within 24 hours. I don't know where you're getting a $2.5 - 5K figure from. I spent a total of about $650 on a flight, gas, a hotel, and food & drink. Are you flying down by Concord and staying in a Four Seasons?

;)

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

exactly

I flew on points...$100 in tax. $70 hotel. $40 in food. $120 in gas.
$330 total

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I purchased a 2008 Audi A6 from the US in June. I would now like to purchase the Audi Care pack. When I enquired at a Montreal Audi dealer they told me that they would not sell me the Audi Care because I have US car. I then went back to my US dealer and they said they would sell me the Audi Care but that it was only valid in the US. Anyone figure this one out please?

Thanks

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I would call Audi North America directly and get them to clarify what is and isn't valid. They'll tell you. That way you can go back to the dealer in Montreal and have your info in hand if an issue comes up.

Outside of importing a car, people move for jobs across borders and take their cars with them. Audi carries over its warranties, etc. across the borders without a hitch so perhaps the care package is the same.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Thanks for the reply. I was planning to call Audi on Monday to get something in writing from them. I was working in the US at the time I purchased the car but regardless I based my decision to buy based on the fact that the warranty was applicable in both the US and Canada. I did find the terms and conditions for Audi Care and on it states that maintenance can be performed in the US or Canada? This alone seems to contradict the information provided by both my US and Canadian dealer.

Thanks for your help and I'll provide a response to this post once I get my official answer so that others can leverage.

-best
George

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

bumping this old thread to see if anyone who has imported recently can please review my OP and let me know if there are any changes to the process

thanks

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Still a great thread. I'm seriously thinking of bringing up an RS4 next summer (road trip!) if we stick around parity or above.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

thanks!

yeah, you could probably find an RS4 here for about the same price. Importing a cheap 2007 RS4 for example will be at best $38,000 + 6.1% tax + $1500 in shipping/transport/fees + 2.5% currency costs, so total of about $43,000 CDN...then add pst/gst. You can find the odd RS4 with high miles here for around that.

Of course it may take 6 months to find one. This is the real key: selection. There are about a dozen for sale in all of Canada...while there are a hundred for sale in the US.

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

If a US dealer charges you sales tax, is there a way to get it back?

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

Im looking at bringing in a 2001/2001 audi tt 180 quattro. Just wanting to know if Audi canada is preventing US cars from entering the country with ridiculous charges to obtain the recall clearance letter.

I brought over my boxster last year and had to pay Downtown porsche $1250 for them to pre inspect my used car out of warranty to get my recall clearance letter.
I still had to go to canadian tire afterwards...

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I had no problems in getting the recall clerance letter for Audi TT

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

any issues changing the odometer, ie the clock display messing up numbers, with a satelite sign present?

Re: Importing from US - Here's my experience
 

I had no issues with my 2009 model. Thankfully it also already had daytime running lights so I did not need to do any modifications.