Hey Guys, if a classic car buyer (or broker) brings a car from Texas into Ontario, and offers it for sale, what does he have to provide the buyer (me) to provide for a legal transfer? Advice would be so appreciated because I want this particular car ...but a newly landed US car makes me nervous. This just can't be easy.

 

Does it have Ontario title yet? If it does, no problem, it's the same as any other used car (with the same caveats - PPI, etc). If it doesn't, forget about it. If an importer is trying to sell you a car with a US title, there's a problem, a BIG one.

 

As far as I'm concerned it should have all the documents of any other regular car for sale in Ontario. If it was imported he would have got an Ontario ownership, which will then just be signed over to you and also a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). I've imported several cars from the USA and later sold them and all I needed to provide the buyer was the above 2 documents (plus a safety test if he is willing to provide that)

 

Exactly, its illegal to sell a USA vehicle in Canada that has not been imported

 

Just a guess but your motor vehicle registration office might be the most authoritative source.

 

Delete. Others answered the same while I was typing.

Go to the MTO and buy a UVIP. $20 then do a carfax.

If no UVIP, it was not imported.

 

Of coarse I'm heading to the MTO, I just wanted a little pre advice from the guys who know first hand. If my fellow Rennlisters advise me to stay clear of a car that has just landed in Canada, then they have saved me from trying to be polite (for what will seem like hours) to an inevitably bitchy teller tomorrow. Cheers

 

^ I lost it on one 2 weeks ago and I never ever lose my temper. As stupid as a bag of rocks with the personality of a toad. Knew nothing about what I was trying to do and made me run in circles as a result

 

One of the few experiences in life when you're so exited about something ...yet you feel like you're standing in front of a judge.

 

A hot judge?
Where is the photo of the judge?
Or the new potential car?

 

Ask the seller for all the documentation he has on the car, including the letter from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (if applicable). A former U.S. title, or copy, would be nice.

You can't have too much paper on these cars.

 

What Rinty said. Just ask him to email you a pic of the Ontario title. If it's there, you're fine, if it's not, run away, and call OMVIC, if he's a registered dealer.

 

USA carfax. Should show you what has been registered.
Canadian carfax may not tranfer, or catch up for a while.
It may mean nothing.

 

Be careful...a dealer in Orangeville brought his personal cars into Canada (dual citizen) and did not declare them at the border. The car has to be brought back into the states and properly imported! He tried to tell me that I didn't have to do that and that is incorrect. Also, the title and bill of sale must be in the same name to transfer to you...ask me how I know that one