Date:         Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:29:35 -0500
Reply-To:     ZedEE Scooby <gtadaizee@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ZedEE Scooby <gtadaizee@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon Digest - 9 Mar 2012 to 10 Mar 2012 - Special issue
              (#2012-144)
In-Reply-To:  <SNT0-MC2-F33q1jp6fP00083aee@SNT0-MC2-F33.Snt0.hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Buying US Vanagon and bringing it into Canada
 
I bought my Westy in Niagara Falls, NY.  Had a typed up bill of sale, the PA Title and didn't have to do anything exiting US.  Stopped at Canada Border Services, produced all my documentation, got the appropriate Forms filled out, was very lightly inspected, had to pay exise duty as had A/C system except for the compressor but I still had to pay it at the Border.  All the other paper work and Sales Tax done at Ontario Motor Vehicles,  got temporary license plate, Safety Inspection, did not need Clean Air.  Previously arranged insurance with my insurance based on VIN and subsequent submission of all paper work.
 
I had a sink et al but Ontario Motor Vehicles data base said it was a Stationwagon and THAT couldn't be changed.  Anyhow it was all easy as long as one is prepared with all the paper work and fills the proper form out at Canada Border Services.  All other taxes were paid at Ontario Motor Vehicles.  No problems and no problems when I sold it to another Canadian.
 
I bought my Riviera from a Canadian but it was still registered in WA state and I just had to take, original ownership (WA State), import papers as non functional (had been flat bedded), Safety Check, pay Sales Tax, temporary plate, had arranged Insurance, did not need Clean Air.  No problems.
 
 



Zee aka Zedee aka gtadaizee
 


> Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:12:49 -0500
> From: LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: vanagon Digest - 9 Mar 2012 to 10 Mar 2012 - Special issue (#2012-144)
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> 
> Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:15:47 -0500
> From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Canadian Importing Vanagon Westfalia to Canada: insurance while in US?
> 
> Hi all.
> 
> Importing a Vanagon Westy seems relatively easy, as the Vanagons have all
> been RIV exempt for a while, but.....
> 
> My far fetched plan would be to finish work in US, purchase a Westy in the
> US (likely CA), camp in it for a week or so, drive it (import it) home to
> Canada.
> 
> Obviously insurance companies and laws vary from state to state, but for a
> foreigner driving a vehicle in the US, can that person get sufficient
> insurance for short term use? Like do I get the vehicle in my name, then
> simply buy insurance for the term required?
> 
> e.g. if the mileage is truly original and vehicle is rust free (or nearly
> so), this one might be nice:
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1248521
> 
> Thinking out loud,
> 
> Neil.
> 
> --
> 
> Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:28:42 -0800
> From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: [WetWesties] Canadian Importing Vanagon Westfalia to Canada:
> insurance while in US?
> 
> dear importer
> 
> you will need to have your permission to export documents sent to USA
> border at least 3 days before you arrive with vehicle
> these documents include a copy of original title + other documents as
> required from list available on line at USA Border Services
> you must arrive at the border crossing you sent your permission to export
> documents to ...
> you must arrive beteen 8 30 am and 3 pm at the USA customs office with the
> original of the title in your hands
> Enter USA office and offer your documents at the window ... then you wait
> .. tic tic tic ... they call your name and may ask questions
> stamp stamp you are on your way now to Canada Border Services where you
> will fill out a F1 form permission to import to canada (they will not
> accept if you do not have a permission to export stamp) ... welcome to
> canada .. now you must seek your insurance office ... oh but wait there is
> more
> in bc you will have to submit vehicle to a thorough and complete inspection
> to get insurance from icbc
> 
> to insure in usa ... i would imagine they would want to see a fixed address
> 
> simply insure your usa vehicle as a snow bird temporarily in usa and then
> ask the question.... if i have to go to canada in this vehicle will i be
> insured ...
> they may tack on a few dollars extra ... they may ask when you are going ..
> they may ask how long you will stay ...
> 
> that part is all up to you sir ... it is hard to say if they will insure
> just to make the trip over the border ... there may be a temporary 1 month
> insurance
> 
> i would suggest you read the policy to ensure what ever you bought fits
> your needs and do not simply go to progressive or what ever ... go to your
> AAA insurance agent and speak with them directly
> 
> the big deal is when you purchase insurance of any sort is that you be
> clear about what you are purchasing ... you do not want to be in a wreck
> and found to be uninsured and face millions in law suits ...
> 
> and there is one other item ... check the vehicle completely for past
> usages ... if there is even a flake of past use being associated with
> nefarious purpose ... that vehicle may cause you untold hardship at the
> border when next you desire to re enter usa ... or even as you are at the
> permission to export stage or as you try to come into canada ...
> 
> 
> and one other thing ... depending on the model of westy .... if there is no
> sink on the unit you are importing into cananda ... then you have there a
> Station Wagon .... not an RV
> and that changes things a little when you are standing at the insurance
> wicket in canada ....
> 
> good luck
> regards
> 
> 
> On Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 10:15 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > **
> >
> >
> > Hi all.
> >
> > Importing a Vanagon Westy seems relatively easy, as the Vanagons have all
> > been RIV exempt for a while, but.....
> >
> > My far fetched plan would be to finish work in US, purchase a Westy in th=
> e
> > US (likely CA), camp in it for a week or so, drive it (import it) home to
> > Canada.
> >
> > Obviously insurance companies and laws vary from state to state, but for =
> a
> > foreigner driving a vehicle in the US, can that person get sufficient
> > insurance for short term use? Like do I get the vehicle in my name, then
> > simply buy insurance for the term required?
> >
 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:47:11 -0500
> From: Theodore Hoekman <thoekman@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: [WetWesties] Canadian Importing Vanagon Westfalia to Canada:
> insurance while in US?
> 
> Wow! Seems much more complicated than when I did a Westy from Houston =
> to Newfoundland. However that was 21 years ago, and think border =
> regulations have become more stringent in the meantime. I live very =
> close to the Michigan border now and have done a lot of cross-border =
> shopping for building materials for my in progress house. I have seen =
> as I was passing through customs a couple guys bringing in "classic" =
> cars from the US sweating bullets as the Canadian officials were =
> "reading them the regs". The guys I dealt with long ago where much =
> friendlier and went out of their way to help me get the paperwork done. =
> In those days the Canadian border guards did not wear sidearms, a =
> condition which only changed very recently a few years after 911. I =
> have the feeling that packing heat also seems to make them more =
> pugnacious, or maybe just the current hyper security consciousness.
> 
> My journey was also a classic of things going wrong with the 82 diesel =
> , first a thrown rod, followed by a seemingly competent mechanic who =
> had things disintegrate again on the test drive, and then a salvage =
> crank from an automatic jetta which had no hole for the pilot bearing. =
> Found that out in Boston when the front seal on the transmission went =
> out ruining the clutch disc, and more money. My friends back in NL =
> were referring to the Odyssey in relation to my tale of woe.
> 
> Ted
> 
> Theodore Hoekman
> thoekman@gmail.com
> 19 York St.
> Newbury, ON N0L 1Z0
> (519)719-0342
> Blog:http://Tedspassivesolarhouse.wordpress.com
> 
> On 2012-03-10, at 11:28 AM, Roger Whittaker wrote:
> 
> > dear importer
> >=20
> > you will need to have your permission to export documents sent to USA
> > border at least 3 days before you arrive with vehicle
> > these documents include a copy of original title + other documents as
> > required from list available on line at USA Border Services
> > you must arrive at the border crossing you sent your permission to =
> export
> > documents to ...
> > you must arrive beteen 8 30 am and 3 pm at the USA customs office with =
> the
> > original of the title in your hands
> > Enter USA office and offer your documents at the window ... then you =
> wait
> > .. tic tic tic ... they call your name and may ask questions
> > stamp stamp you are on your way now to Canada Border Services where =
> you
> > will fill out a F1 form permission to import to canada (they will not
> > accept if you do not have a permission to export stamp) ... welcome =
> to
> > canada .. now you must seek your insurance office ... oh but wait =
> there is
> > more
> > in bc you will have to submit vehicle to a thorough and complete =
> inspection
> > to get insurance from icbc
> >=20
> > to insure in usa ... i would imagine they would want to see a fixed =
> address
> >=20
> > simply insure your usa vehicle as a snow bird temporarily in usa and =
> then
> > ask the question.... if i have to go to canada in this vehicle will i =
> be
> > insured ...
> > they may tack on a few dollars extra ... they may ask when you are =
> going ..
> > they may ask how long you will stay ...
> >=20
> > that part is all up to you sir ... it is hard to say if they will =
> insure
> > just to make the trip over the border ... there may be a temporary 1 =
> month
> > insurance
> >=20
> > i would suggest you read the policy to ensure what ever you bought =
> fits
> > your needs and do not simply go to progressive or what ever ... go to =
> your
> > AAA insurance agent and speak with them directly
> >=20
> > the big deal is when you purchase insurance of any sort is that you be
> > clear about what you are purchasing ... you do not want to be in a =
> wreck
> > and found to be uninsured and face millions in law suits ...
> >=20
> > and there is one other item ... check the vehicle completely for past
> > usages ... if there is even a flake of past use being associated with
> > nefarious purpose ... that vehicle may cause you untold hardship at =
> the
> > border when next you desire to re enter usa ... or even as you are at =
> the
> > permission to export stage or as you try to come into canada ...
> >=20
> >=20
> > and one other thing ... depending on the model of westy .... if there =
> is no
> > sink on the unit you are importing into cananda ... then you have =
> there a
> > Station Wagon .... not an RV
> > and that changes things a little when you are standing at the =
> insurance
> > wicket in canada ....