Date:         Mon, 13 Jan 2003 14:40:16 -0800
Reply-To:     John Tullier <elefntkpr@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Tullier <elefntkpr@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Canadian Import to the USA
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello list,

Many a moon has past since I’ve posted, but then I’ve
always been one of those seasonal acquaintances…sort
of like eggnog.  A recent event with an unexpected
outcome prompted me to post.

The Vanagon is moving along ever so slowly, yet
progress is not a measurement based solely in time.
I’ve been secretly dreading the day I would have to
endure both the mental and monetary anguish of
registering my Canadian VW in the USA.  However, today
I was directed to a nice little “Mom and Pop” title
and registration business in my local small town.  Out
of morbid curiosity, I gathered up my paper work and
headed out.  I reluctantly delivered my well rehearsed
lines for this play and awaited the anticipated
response of, “Sorry, that particular vehicle can only
be imported on a summer solstice in Nome, Alaska
unless your hair is red, then you must provide a
recently severed limb.”  Yet he made no noise save
that of his old fingers having a well-trained go at
his adding machine.  He looks at me and says, “That’ll
be $100.00 bucks.”  Sure that he has grossly
misunderstood my situation; I deliver it again with
earnest taking time to sarcastically and phonetically
elaborate on the vehicle’s country of origin.  He nods
his head and again says, “Yep, heard ya the first
time, $100.00 bucks.”  I felt it necessary to engage
this man further and wanted to know precisely how this
would be done.  He would need my original title from
Canada (provided it was in my name) and $100.00.  He
would then send off the title to the local DMV and
within 7 to 10 days, I would receive my new title and
registration.  Not one to stare a gift horse too long
in the mouth, I relented and made plans to set this up
in the next week.  This may be the ever-elusive trick
we’ve been missing when importing vehicles…at least
from Canada to the USA…an issue I’ve seen addressed
many times in the Vanagon list server.  Do not go
directly to the DMV or customs to import the vehicle,
instead find out where the poor folks handle
registration and you’ll likely find the miracle you’ve
been looking for in the unlikely setting of a trailer
and a rusty old guru with a short but sweet “matter of
fact” type personality.  The same I am sure applies to
inspection stickers, auto insurance and the Indonesian
slave trade.

Hope someone finds this useful.  A while back I was
emailed a lengthy “essay” if you will on one mans
horror show depicting his attempts to import his
Canadian VW into the USA.  I wish I still had his
email address; I’d love to tell him my remake of his
“Vehicular Shakespearian Tragedy” will only involve
delivering a piece of paper and two car trips.

By the way, I have looked into this and his operation
is entirely legitimate as is the procedure for import.
 It’s going from the USA to Canada that consistently
involves trouble…I know I’ve already done it twice.

John Tullier


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