Buying a car out of Canada

[Digger]

I am close to buying a car out of Canada, with Canadian title. I have a great person here at home in CA that helps me with the titling, but can anyone recommend a firm that handles the transport & customs piece? Any first hand referrals would be great. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[FrankWest]

Are you shipping it down to the usa. Because the shipping companies know the customs paperwork and can assign a firm that handles that.

[Angledrive]

We just bought a car from Legendary Motor Cars and Reliable Transport handled the shipment to a holding warehouse in Michigan and then shipped it to Florida.

[supereal]

Have you personally inspected the car you plan to buy, or have someone you trust do it? Without it, you should not proceed. Getting redress on a vehicle sold in the US can be complicated if problems arise. Out of the country compounds the process.

[Krylon32]

supereal is right.I bought a 40 coupe out of Canada based on the pictures and not a personal inspection. A very amateur move on my part. I trusted the seller and it turned out to be the biggest piece of s--t I ever owned. I went to Michigan and picked it up. Not Canada's fault but mine. Always spend the money and time to inspect.

[Ziggster]

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I agree with having it inspected. A friend purchased two large ticket items on eBay, and both were not as advertised. One was a WWII BMW Germany Army motorcycle with sidecar, and the other was an original Fiat 500. Once delivered, he really was screwed trying any recourse.

[Olskul Larry]

Hello. I bought a Canadian 1934 coupe in 2016. My car came out of Ontario. I used TSX Transport for the shipping. They handled all of the customs paperwork for me. There was 13 pages of customs declarations that I had to sign. Some we faxed back and forth, a couple had to be shipped overnight between us. I received one form from U.S. customs when I received the car. TSX was very easy to work with and very well priced.

[Tinker]

Having a broker at the border is good. $500. (put is on the Canada seller) Then have a US customs come by and check vin. Free. Did this 6yrs ago. So things may have changed.


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[DavidG]

Or just DIY and pick up the car and show up at the U.S. border with a proper bill of sale and title/registration. The Canadian paperwork isn't required for U.S. purposes and is basically a make-work exercise that export companies have to go through to make sure that Ottawa gets its cut.


This advice applies to southbound transactions only. The red tape is unavoidable on northbound transactions.

[Digger]

Yes I have heard to use TSX, was recommended by the seller as well. My challenge is the great state of California, with emissions, etc. I have been scowering their web site for specifics, but get a lot of circular references. I usually use a titling person (for the CA title piece) here in my home town to handle, but she is out with a serious illness.

Also, Canada does not have “titles” for these old cars, just annual registrations.

So, on Monday I will just call in to DMV and see what answers I can get before buying. Will report back either way once all is settled.

[51504bat]

You might try to get in touch with gimpyshotrods over on the HAMB. He is in San Francisco which isn't all that close to Pacific Grove but he is a licensed and bonded title guy and from what I've read in his posts he seems to know his stuff. He provided some heads up info when I bought a car without a CA title only a bill of Sale. Just a thought.

[1936 ford pickup]

[QUOTE=Digger;1837897] I usually use a titling person (for the CA title piece) here in my home town to handle, but she is out with a serious illness.



HELLO Digger....I used Peninsula Registration Services (out of the Bay Area) and KEN LEEK there is awesome. His telephone number is (650) 270-6178 and his e-mail address is [email protected]. Ken Leek is the son of Donna Leek and took over his Mom's business due to her illness.


I hope this information helps you some.


Bruce Smith
California

[Bob NH]

I can certainly agree with getting a vehicle inspected. My own fault for looking at great pictures, Top was beautiful, bottom, not so good. Still spending to make it nice. Also paid many $$$ too much from beginning. TFX was the transport Co. Had to get Canadian "heritage" permit because of age leaving country etc.

[trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by Digger

I am close to buying a car out of Canada, with Canadian title. I have a great person here at home in CA that helps me with the titling, but can anyone recommend a firm that handles the transport & customs piece? Any first hand referrals would be great. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

If you are buying a car in Canada - make sure it can be imported into
the states - once you pay the Seller you own a car in Canada.

The Seller can assure you there will be no issues importing the car ....

But that really carries no weight.

I always advise folks to withhold a portion of the final payment
until the car is on the US side of the border - the Seller or their agent
can retain physical possession but that way you know it is in the states.

Ideally - if the car runs & drives - if it would make the trip - the best
thing would be to meet the Seller or their agent at a US border crossing
to take delivery and drive it home.

You can drive up in another vehicle that can serve as support
and have that vehicle follow you in case of breakdown.

If that is not possible - the next best thing is to go get it yourself with an enclosed trailer.

If that is not possible - hire someone to haul it that drives the truck
pulling the trailer that your vehicle is in who picks it up and travels
directly to you without unloading or transferring the vehicle.

You won't get that with any transport broker or major carrier because
your vehicle is like a package in the mail - it is just cargo to keep
a trailer full.

You can contract for enclosed transport but probably have a portion
done by open trailers. ....

There is little demand to haul cars into Canada because
of the strength of the US dollar - in addition it is Winter
and responsible & experienced owner operators who are
actual insured businesses - do not jeopardize their equipment
to transport in hazardous driving conditions ....


I am on my way now to Bellevue, Washington to drop off this
1962 Buick Skylark Convertible Survivor that has been
in the same family since 1964 ...





I have 14 feet of enclosed trailer space available south
Long Beach, California ....



Jim

[A bones]

Goog solid advice, from a pro. Thanks truly vintage.

[trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by A bones

Goog solid advice, from a pro. Thanks truly vintage.

I have a good friend in Oregon that bought a Ford hot rod in Canada.

It had a Canadian title and he assumed that he would have no problem importing it into the states.

As it turns out the car was imported into Canada from the states without a title and another title that was not correct was sold with the car.

That car is still in Canada.

I am dropping off in Bellevue Washington which is about 125 miles south of the border crossing at Blaine on Wednesday.


Jim

[Tinker]

My experience with a broker. Is that I purchased a car in Canada from the US and a family member of the seller trailer-ed it down to FL to visit. They got hung up at the border with title issues,(nothing nefarious) etc. Broker got them going again. US customs inspected in FL and US title was issued pdq. Not everything is difficult dealing with gov stuff.

Like most I'm guessing lawyers and brokers are less then welcome. Me too, but all went well. They got their cut...

Good Luck!


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[Digger]

Thanks all for your advice and comments. I am going with TFX, and will report back when all is settled

[Digger]

So circling back on my OP. Bought the 1935 Roadster out of BC Canada, not too many of these beauties around anymore. and it still has not crossed the border, but hopefully will in a day or two....photo of seller saying his goodbyes...

So I hired TFX, they were great, and best of all had a patient seller who was a car guy.

Some of the delays were:

* first of all don’t pay for the car until the seller applies for and gets a document giving him permission to sell the Canadian VIN car to go out of the country. This took two weeks, and I canceled my wire payment until proof of the document
* if the seller is giving you extra parts and stuff, he has to fill out a form listing every item, it’s country of origin, description and value
* I had to send a copy of my driver’s license and passport to TFX
* then 3 times I tried to send the wire to the seller, looking back, I think he just had incorrect info about the routing number and account number. This took at least two weeks of time. It never went through. So
* overnighted a Wells Fargo Cashiers Check, and the Royal (pain) Bank of Canada put a 15 BUSINESS DAY hold on the funds.
* TFX only takes wire payment, so that took about 4 days
* then had to wait till they could schedule a pick up, and they picked it up yesterday, then I jumped out of my seat when Trump said he was closing the border, but turns out it did not effect commercial trade.

So fees to go from Kelowna BC to Monterey, CA was $4,004 US dollars. This was for duty, brokerage and transport. And then when it gets here, have all the California DMV fees to get title in my name. Several more bucks... but... look at the car, it’s awesome. Never any rust, beautiful color, drives like a champ, no better way to spend money in my opinion.

It has been a process, but can’t wait to get her home and go for a long drive. (Please don’t reply with a shortcut or advice, don’t need any, I have a full time job and not able to do a car adventure to fly or drive anywhere to see and buy a car)

The adventure continues...

[Tinker]

Holy smokes!!! What a car. Don't cut it up! hahaha! Congrats.