Hi guys

i am wondering if any of you have an experience with bringing a car from US to Canada.

I purchased a 993 and want to bring it to Toronto from Indiana, and looking into options. I did search on this forum and had few questions. If anyone can chime in, pls do help me!

1. transportation company : seems like TFX is recommended, any other companies for this service?

2. driving back: I read some ppl get temporary plates and just drive it back, how about insurance? I don’t want to get in trouble with police both in US and Canada but this is probably what I want to do, drive my new car back home!

3. border: If I email them the title 72hrs beforehand, I can cross at any time? Or do I have to cross the day of 72hrs?


thanks a lot for reading, if anyone with experience can help me, that would be much appreciated

 

I used TFX to bring a car from the US early 2021. It was great and paid them a little extra to handle the brokerage stuff.

I insured my car while it sat in the US waiting for pickup. Which took some weeks due to COVID issues at the time.

RIV site provides good info on what to do - https://www.riv.ca/Home.aspx

I've driven across a travel trailer last year and imported myself, fairly easy process end to end. Just make a checklist for yourself and don't miss anything.

Another company is Thorsons. I think Reliable in the States may come across, not sure though or whether they transfer to somebody else.

 

It's been many, many years since I last imported a vehicle from the US, but the 72 hour rule is very strict. You email US CBP your details, and you MUST wait 72 hours before driving it across the border into Canada. Anytime after that is fine. The last vehicle I imported, I want to say in 2011? I showed up literally on the 72nd hour, and the customs agent gave me a verbal beating and put my patience to the test. Having said that, if you show up 56 hours before, or anything literally before 72 hours, they won't be very pleasant at all. Completely up to you if you want to take the risk to find out for scientific purposes for the Rennlist community.

I have heard anecdotal evidence that you technically could just drive across the border, and the Canadian folks don't care, but when you pay your taxes and duties etc, that's another story. Full disclaimer of my sources: various internet forums and random Porsche cars and coffee members who have never imported a vehicle before.

Re: Import / Transport - The only company off the top of my head is TFX. I'm sure there are others. You could do the paperwork yourself, but for convenience, I would let them take care of it. Way back when, you could easily do it yourself, but the rules have since changed. I'm sure the other guys here can chime in with more recent experience.

 

here for pics of the 993...

 

I accidentally missed the US customs office at the Detroit/Windsor bridge when bringing a car into Canada. There was no way to turn around so I just kept going to Canada Customs. I went in to pay my entrance fees etc. and told them that I didn't get the title stamped by US Customs and they told me point blank that they didn't care. That process is for the US only and has nothing to do with registering/importing a car into Canada. Now, I wouldn't suggest that anyone skip the process since it is very simple, but I can attest from first hand experience that you can skip it if you care to.

I've brought at least 20 cars into Canada from the US. If you drive, get insurance from your carrier and a temp tag from the local US DMV. Fax the title at least 72 hours in advance and then go into US Customs at the border crossing of your choice. Have them stamp the title and then cross and declare the car with Canada Customs just like you would declare anything else. They will direct you to pull over and they will inspect the car and your paperwork. Do not lie about how much you paid as they are very thorough trying to determine if you are trying to avoid taxes/duties. I was held for over an hour once as they checked with ebay, the seller and my bank.

The easiest way is to just hire TFX and have them handle everything for your for $295 brokerage.

 

Drive it back!!! No better way to bond with your new car. Congrats!
Great memories driving my former 964 back from Minnesota over two days! Will never forget coming up on a ridge going a little too fast as usual, dark thunderstorm approaching and AC/DC hells bells came on the radio. Glorious 16 hour drive to Toronto.
For a small fee I had a customs broker give the 72hrs notice and make sure I had everything square. Picked up the car and the original title and checked in with with the US customs side to officially export the car at the border. They take a quick look and you are on your way. Then the unfortunate communist taxes on the Canadian side and you are set. Just a safety when you get home. At least you won't pay duty on a 993. Seller should help with a temp permit and a quick call to Hagerty took car of insurance.
Pic at the dealer when I picked up.

 

wow stunning!

just curious about the duty part. I heard that even if it’s 25-30 years old, we still have to pay duty? The 6.1% for it being from Germany (Non NAFTA) am I correct?

 

No duty on a 25 year + old car. Now lets see some pics of the 993!

 

that’s so nice. Someone told me there is no RIV but duty for non-NAFTA car. I would love to not pay that 6.1% lol

this is the 993 cab I got, probably needs fixes here and there but I am excited to have my first air cooled Porsche.

 

Nice! No duty of a 25 year old car. I didn't pay duty on my 1996 993 that I imported from Texas.

 

did you drive back? Or used a company?

 

drive it back!
no duty for over 15 years but a/c fee, and maybe an admin fee.
you may have to tell/remind border person that this is duty free since over 25 years. I had to do this on my last import.

ask seller to lend plates for drive home or see if his state has temp plates. I got some online from Virginia last time.
Insurance binder covers you for 2 weeks.

 

I used TFX for that one.

 

I can’t think of too many sellers in a dozen that would lend out their plates - I certainly wouldn’t.

 

I asked my dealer and he said it’s easy to give out a temp plate. They are in Indiana

i just need to make sure documents to export is correct. I got a title to send to them. I am going to speak to TFX I think, because I dunno how ITN etc works. 😝 thanks everyone!!!