Getting A Truck From Canada To USA?

Bryce Frazier · Feb 24, 2016

Anyone know how complicated this can be? I am looking at a 2004 K2500 Chevy / Duramax Diesel. Price is right, nice truck, but I am not sure what needs to be done to legally get it into the USA? Anyone know? Is it costly? Time consuming?

I am hoping that the guy will meet me at the border with it, as I can not get into Canada, nor can my dad! :/

markct · Feb 24, 2016

Why can't you get into Canada? Your a bit young to be in trouble with the law already! As for the truck I kinda doubt it would be worth the hassle unless it's a dealer who knows the procedure etc. I know at work sometimes even getting parts out of Canada can be a headache.

Hank ABAB · Feb 24, 2016

There are probably sites with better information, but this should help you decide.
A bit of reading here.

Bryce Frazier · Feb 24, 2016

Well, I am only 17, and we really don't know what needs to be done for me to get over there?

casenut1 · Feb 24, 2016

First thing you need is a PassPort.That will get you both ways.

JD Seller · Feb 24, 2016

Hank you need a passport to get back from Canada with no border problems.

JD Seller · Feb 24, 2016

Bryce Here is site that gives you step by step information on how the process works on importing a car from Canada. There is extra cost and paper work that takes up to 2-3 weeks for you to receive it.

The easiest way is to use a firm that does all the steps for you. I do not know the names of any doing cars/pickups. I do deal with several that handle Large trucks and farm equipment. The cost for a car or pickup is higher than for farm equipment.
Importing from Canada

Brendon-KS · Feb 25, 2016

This isn't what you're asking about but something to keep in mind - on a Canadian vehicle the speedometer will have km/hr as the "big numbers" and mi/hr as the hard-to-read "little numbers". The odometer will also read in kilometers.

Dick2 · Feb 25, 2016

And you have to be aware of the exchange rate. If it priced in Canadian dollars, you will have to add quite a few U.S. dollars to equalize the money. I don't know the current exchange rate in Canada, but our U.S. dollar is only worth 70 cents in Australian money.

centash · Feb 25, 2016

The other way around.$20,000 CAN is equal to about $15,000 US

Ben

MarkB_MI · Feb 25, 2016

"but our U.S. dollar is only worth 70 cents in Australian money."

Surprisingly, Canada uses the Canadian dollar as its currency. One greenback will get you 1.36 Loonies.

MarkB_MI · Feb 25, 2016

OK, you can't enter Canada and it doesn't sound like you have any close friends or relatives who are willing to import the vehicle for you. What would motivate the seller to import the truck? Money. If you sweeten the deal enough to make it worth the seller's time to import and deliver the vehicle, it will end up costing you as much as or more than an equivalent vehicle in the US. Save yourself some aggravation and look for something closer to home.

Steamboat · Feb 25, 2016

Bryce,
As close as you live to the border, I am really surprised that there are no friends, neighbors or relatives who have border crossing experience. And also that you don't know about having the necessary passport. It is getting rather expensive and time-consuming to get one, but it is good for 10 years, as I recall.

2underage · Feb 25, 2016

We do not need a passport to cross into and out of Canada but instead use an enhanced drivers license. You can get into Canada without a passport and you can reenter the US but they will delay you some at the US customs when coming back.
The big hold-up on importing motor vehicles from Canada is the smog equipment that the US requires and Canada does not. It can be a big hassle and I would not recommend it. Buy one in the US it will be better in many ways including much less likely of getting a piece of junk because you can not sue or get legal help from Canada.

Mike M · Feb 25, 2016

How do you know if it is a nice truck if you can't go over there and look at it in person ?

Blackhole49 · Feb 25, 2016

I have been to: Canada, Mexico, Grand Cayman Island and the Bahamas and have never possessed a passport. I've done it all with my enhanced MI drivers license. Will be back to Mexico and Grand Cayman next week.

Russ from MN · Feb 25, 2016

Dick, you must not have any Canadian neighbors in AZ, we did and I felt sorry for them as their dollar was only worth about $.70 most of the winter.

ss55 · Feb 25, 2016

Check into things before you put any money down. There may be some controls markings, safety equipment or emissions equipment that are different between the two countries. Some may need to be updated, some won't matter and some may hurt your resale value. It may be harder to register the vehicle in the US or harder to resell it in the US. I would check with a car dealer that has some imported Canadian vehicles on its lot. They may be able to import the truck for you, or tell you what it would cost.

There are two prices on passports, I think they are around $110 and $160. Check online or at your post office to be sure of all the requirements. Allow at least several months to get a passport.

Myself, I would keep looking for a truck already registered in the US. You might enjoy the challenge and the surprises.

cuby · Feb 25, 2016

Do the Canadians have to have a passport to come into the US.

Their sure are plenty of them in Arizona this time of the year.

Tramway Guy · Feb 25, 2016

We bought a U.S. made Subaru in Quebec, and drove it back to New York. A broker handled everything. No problems except the idiots in US customs did not believe that Subarus were made in Indiana and kept acting like it was from Japan. Even when I pointed put how to read VIN codes.

Yes it has KPH in big numbers and MPH in little numbers. Yes the thermometer reads only in Celsius. So what.

And when you go to the dealer for parts, they mysteriously cannot find the exact part for 'a Canadian vehicle'. But in truth they are the same car as the American version.

Enhanced drivers license is good for getting to and from Canada. But if you have a DWI, you will not be allowed in (usually).

CDN 400 · Feb 25, 2016

Good grief you guys,you make it sound like he is trying to send a man to mars. Just call a brokerage firm at the border and they will walk you through it easy as pie. As for Canadian trucks being different in the smog department no, we have some of the strictest laws on the planet atleast in this province. Here is a good example of how many of our trucks are coming your way...we have a very large Dodge dealer close that is allowing crazy high trade in values on diesels just so they can sell to US dealers. They have been shipping 3 car carrier loads a month and that's only 1 dealer. We can't buy decent used pick ups here reasonable they are all going stateside.

Dick2 · Feb 25, 2016

I knew there was a difference, but didn't know which way on Canadian funds. Son in AU said U.S. dollar in AU is only worth 70 cents.

Tech 7 · Feb 25, 2016

Get a broker. Don't even think about bringing a firearm with you. US drivers license will get you home. Difficult to buy used vehicles here as the strong US verses Canadian $ (about 35-40% advantage US of late). 1 kilometer=6/10 mile. Example; odometer reads 100,000 km = 60,000 miles.

coshoo · Feb 25, 2016

I'd sure get a passport- would sure ruin your trip if you get to the border and can't get in. And no way to get a passport on the spot.

newfarmer9 · Feb 25, 2016

You can travel by land or water between Canada and the US with an enhanced driver's license, however expect both sides to ask for further ID and expect extra hassle. Flying between the two countries requires a passport. I don't know why anyone in this day and age wouldn't fill out the few forms and pay the $100 or whatever and get a passport. Easy and you will require it to fly to most other countries as well.

Call the border services at the border crossing where you will be bringing the truck across and they will walk you through the import process. Or spend some extra $$ but save yourself some hassle and hire a trucking company/broker to do it.

The Canadian dollar is weak compared to the US dollar right now, $1 US will buy $1.34 to $1.36 Canadian depending what percentage your bank skims for switching currency.

Getting A Truck From Canada To USA?

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