Canada - Credit on US import

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 24 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]449364[/snapback]</div>

Yup, all on the credit card. Its actually a good deal (rewards and stuff on credit).

 

It seems all we can do now is speculate, since its the Feds that are taking their time with the paperwork.
Canada EcoAuto Program

The requirements listed so far, as I quoted before, are:
1) Sales/Lease receipt and VIN (I don't see why it would matter where the sales receipt is from).
2) Proof of Provincial registration.

Maybe i'm being optimistic, but I think we'll be eligible.
I would think the argument is similar for the PST rebate - eligible.

I don't see how the GST rebate is done at the dealer level - Since the Feds don't have their paperwork in place, how can the dealer offer it? Also, on toyota.ca, the "price your toyota" thingy (in BC) includes the PST rebate, but not the Federal.

Any Canadian out there buy a Prius recently (post March 20, 2007) and get the Fed rebate?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(arbitrage @ May 28 2007, 10:06 PM) [snapback]451323[/snapback]</div>

When I bought my used 2004 I thought I would use my credit card which pays me up to 2% back. Well a few days before I was told that I could only do $5000 that way. Ooops.. I argued a bit and they let me do $12K of the $28K total. I had no idea that dealers don't like people using a credit card to buy a car, but I can understand why. I think they relented a bit because I hinted I was going to get an expensive extended warranty but I ended up not bothering. They were a bit deflated after that.

 

mrnice: The warranty will be honoured by Toyota. They told me that the paperwork process might take longer but the Canadian dealer will honour the US warranty.

Where did you purchase your Prius and how did you get around the fact that they are cracking down on dealers so they can't sell to Canadians?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrnice @ Jun 14 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]461665[/snapback]</div>

mrnice: I left my reply on the DRL with the posting where you left your question on it. Basically I went the conventional route of using the headlamps not thinking that the turn signal solutions is either acceptable in Canada or that it provides adequate illumination. Having now seen picture of it I would mostly worry about if it will pass in Canada as DRL. Good luck.

P.S. I went through a similar experience finding a dealer (had one deal pulled off the table after a deposit was charged).

 

Update:

I had my DRL installed this week at Skyline Motors in Woodbridge (recommended by RIV). They did the RIV and safety inspections at the same time and next day got my plates no problem. The DRL cost me $250 installed and the safety inspection was $75. Skyline was very efficient had the harness made by the time I got there for quick installation. They also knew how to deal with the HID lamps that I have.

Now that I have the car plated the next step is to apply for the tax rebates. Will keep you posted.
BTW: Total savings by buying in the US = $11,579

 

EcoAuto rebate program for Canadians is not available on cars imported from USA, according to a new Q&A on their website.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/e...AUTO-QandAs.htm

I have written a lettter complaining of that but doubt it will make any difference.


Jeff

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jharris @ Jul 16 2007, 04:29 PM) [snapback]479905[/snapback]</div>

well, that stinks. I'll be writing to complain also.
I don't see how my car is less green (the supposed purpose of this rebate) than a Canadian Prius. Wth?

Jeff, do you know when that point (question #15) was added? I don't remember seeing it the first time I looked at the site.

 

Jeff, do you know when that point (question #15) was added? I don't remember seeing it the first time I looked at the site.
[/quote]

On July 11th it was not there - FAQ went up to #13 only, therefore it must have been added after

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 18 2007, 03:12 AM) [snapback]480774[/snapback]</div>

I see a hand of Toyota (and perhaps other car manufacturers) in this. They've been making it very hard to buy from the US and probably lobbied the government to have cars bought in the US excluded from this program. Is the PST rebate next??? I just applied for the Ontario RST rebate this week - anyone in Ontario receive it for a car bought in the US?

I also plan to write the Feds that this makes no sense and encourage everyone interested to do the same. I think the following points are relevant:


1. The purpose behind the rebate is to encourage people to buy "green" vehicles so we use less gas and have cleaner emissions. This applies to vehicles DRIVEN in Canada (no matter where they were sourced from).
2. The Prius is not readily available in Canada, therefore the more people buying (from US and Canada) the better for our environment.
3. When the program was announced in March it was effective from cars purchased from that date on and this exclusion was not there. We were encouraged to buy these type of vehicles with the rebates coming in the fall.

Any other ideas / comments?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jharris @ Jul 16 2007, 07:29 PM) [snapback]479905[/snapback]</div>

Hi Jeff,

Can you share who you sent the letter to and where?

Thanks,
Gabe

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius 07 @ Jul 18 2007, 07:29 AM) [snapback]480869[/snapback]</div>

I think #1 and #3 are sufficient arguments in our favour.
I've been googling for a gov't Canada ombudsperson, but havnt really found a suitable category to complain to.

Just talking out of my nice person: This could also be a free trade issue, as US imports not getting the rebate could be seen as a duty/tariff. Now, where's my member of congress... haha.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius 07 @ Jul 18 2007, 10:29 AM) [snapback]480869[/snapback]</div>

First off, I sure hope they don't rid the Ontario RST Rebate as I'm looking to import a Prius within the next 2 weeks.

I may be able to start an online petition, although i would need to work on wording petition. We could definitely work on the 3 listed arguments. In addition to your first point, the supposed green transportation initiative has brought about a green levy on gus-guzzling vehicles. This policy has transfered over to the importation of vehicles to Canada, yet the rebate has not. Also as mentioned in earlier posts (about the questions and answers page for the ecoAuto program), the page has changed with additions to rules on USA imports. Luckily enough, Google does a great job of keeping history of pages before changes were made. I have attached that snapshot (from July 5th) for you guys.
[attachmentid=9880]

Question #5 for the Q&A still hasn't been updated as it states "Any person or business can have access to a rebate provided that the person or business purchases or leases an eligible vehicle that appears on the list on this website and registers the vehicle in Canada." This conflicts with the new Q&A #15

I was pretty upset to see that ecoAuto rebate does not apply to imported vehicles, so I decided to call Transport Canada for clarification. There is another interesting hole that I found that doesn't match up with their Questions and Answers. The question I had for Transport Canada was, "if I had unknowingly bought a new Prius from a dealer that had imported the car to sell... would this car be able to qualify?". Their answer was No. This directly conflicts with their (new) Q&A which states any car bought in Canada, qualifies for the program.

It becomes quite obvious that the program has not been thought out very well and is just a platform to boost government ratings. However, all this could be in vain as the ecoAuto program states, "The rebate program will be put in place in the coming months." That could be a scapegoat for anything they publish until then. In any case, this has been a good rant.

btw: It may be beneficial if we all approach our local MP's to bring forth this issue, rather than trying to find someone high up who can easily ignore your requests.

 

It seems that the ecoAuto program is nothing more than a subsidy to offset the high costs of buying a car in Canada. "green transportation" is nothing more than the criteria for allocating the subsidy.

I'm going to save my receipts and send them in (if and when the program goes live), and see what happens. Knowing Ottawa, they are just as likely to pay out anyhow.

Still saving ~$8,000 even without the rebate

Oren

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jasingjo @ Jul 18 2007, 09:16 PM) [snapback]481349[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius 07 @ Jul 18 2007, 08:07 AM) [snapback]480886[/snapback]</div>

On July 16th, 2007, I wrote the following letter to my MP, Stockwell Day ( [email protected] ).

"Dear Stockwell,

I just purchased a new 2007 Toyota Prius on the basis that it is an approved vehicle under our Federal Government’s ecoAuto Rebate Program. Under your announced rules this is for new vehicles only.

I purchased this vehicle new on June 27, 2007 in Portland, Oregon as this was the cheapest place to buy the car and it was not in stock at our local dealer.

I imported this new vehicle and paid GST of $1637.47 and the $100 Air Conditioning Tax and registered this previously un-registered vehicle here in B.C.

I have now come across an area of your website where it claims that cars imported from the USA are not eligible for the ecoAuto Rebate. Surely this must be for used vehicles, not new vehicles. I have read many of your press releases on the ecoAuto Rebate and this limitation was never mentioned.

Furthermore, such a limitation doesn’t make any sense from the perspective of your program. You want people to buy efficient, low-emission vehicles. I bought such a vehicle and expect to receive the ecoRebate.

Please advise."

I have had no response. I will send another note to him.

Good luck!
I recieved the Provincial Sales Tax rebate with no problems (of course B.C. has no automobile plants here so the lobby wouldn't be big to exclude New U.S. cars).

Great car. Great car.

Jeff

 

I've been procrastinating about writing letters of complaint to my mps/reps/various gov'ts - but did any of you that wrote get replies?

Anyone want to take this up with the CTV ombudsman (Goldhawk fight's back)?