FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Duty Free, 48hrs in US. Want to buy car tires
Old Apr 19, 2011 | 2:19 pm
  #11  
B1
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Originally Posted by alexb133
I was meaning to ask about buying a car in the US..

Is the RIV process difficult or fairly straight forward?

I would consider buying a car down in the States, but if the import bureaucracy is a long, and expensive process then I won't do it.
I did it and it was not much trouble - just a series of steps that are outlined on the RIV site (Livingston Border Brokers). The salesperson you deal with should be one who is familiar with the process or there will be some confusion. You need to get approval from the US for export (and fax them the bill of sale) and allow the right number of business days and have a letter showing that there are no recalls outstanding. Then you cross the border and report at customs and pay the RIV fee and taxes and duties. You have to pay HST and a fee to the RIV that includes inspection at Canadian Tire. Look at the Cars Without Borders web site. The current problem is to find a dealer that will sell to you and a manufacturer's distributor that allows it in the US. Used cars are easier. There are dealers in Canada who sell new cars from the US, such as Peninsula Imports.
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