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Advice on importing

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by beckajean, Jun 1, 2019.

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  1. beckajean

    beckajean Junior Member

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    Hey all! I’m looking for some updated/recent info on importing a Canadian Prius to the states. Pennsylvania, specifically. I’m a proud owner of a 2012 V but as most of us know, they were discontinued in 2017 US and 2018 in Canada. I’ve called a bunch of dealerships and I know there’s only 1 in all of Ontario but a bunch in Quebec.

    I know I need to register it in Canada, I need a letter stating it meets US emissions, the forms I have to fill out with customs. What I don’t know is taxes and financing. How do I figure all of that out? Who can I call to tell me? Before I actually do this I need to know how to finance it since I don’t have $22,000 cash. Any help would be super appreciated.
     
    #1 beckajean, Jun 1, 2019
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Not sure what you're implying about needing $22K in cash or why dealerships have anything to do with it if you're already the owner? Can you be more clear?

    Or to get to the point:

    If you own a car in Canada get it legal on the roads in Canada and then drive it across the border to Pennsylvania and forget about it until the date that penalties under Pennsylvania laws will start to apply and then deal with it. The cost&hassle will be nominal in the long run...
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Jun 2, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2019
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    #3 Prodigyplace, Jun 2, 2019
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  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    The border paperwork is one thing. Financing it?! That's something else altogether.

    Nobody's going to write an auto loan that straddles the border, so you'd have to either collateralize the loan with something other than the car itself, or talk somebody into an unsecured personal loan. Not going to be cheap or easy.

    You would have to pay Canadian VAT on the purchase, and you can apply to have it refunded once you prove that the vehicle was subsequently imported into the USA.

    You would probably also have to pay 2.5% duty to US Customs at the border (you'd pay something; I think it's still 2.5% for Japanese-built cars) in addition to the flat paperwork fees.
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jun 2, 2019
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  5. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Exactly what I was thinking. Plus it’s gonna be more than 22,000 once you pay all the taxes and fees in 2 countries.
     
    #5 Skibob, Jun 3, 2019
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  6. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Oh man you're killing my dreams of driving an R34 back over the border in a few years.
     
    #6 a_gray_prius, Jun 4, 2019
  7. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    25 years and over so at least 4 years to go. ;)

    You could get an R33 now.
     
    #7 Skibob, Jun 4, 2019
  8. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Yeah, I know a couple people with R32s (one is a rare Nismo too). There's also supposedly a number of R34s sitting in warehouses at the Canada/US border waiting for that deadline.
     
    #8 a_gray_prius, Jun 4, 2019
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  9. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Start saving. You got at least 4 years.
     
    #9 Skibob, Jun 4, 2019
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