Import a pre-owned, used Subaru into Canada
If you live in Canada and want to get
a pre-owned US spec Subaru, this site should help with the process.
This unofficial site
is by Joe Spitz and not authorized, sponsored, or supported in by Subaru
of America or any dealership.
.
***
Outback, Legacy, Forester,
Impreza, Tribeca available from Joe Spitz, 206.769.7821
****
Please
read- this unofficial independent Subaru research
site by Joe Spitz is designed to help you learn about Subarus. It is not
sponsored, authorized, supported or approved of by Subaru or any
dealer and is not connected to, or affiliated with, any dealer. Always
contact your local dealer.
Inspect any vehicle prior to purchasing. Information subject to change,
correction, updating.
Buying a lightly used
Subaru? I have a selection of late model, low mile, pre-owned Subarus
- a variety of Outback, Tribeca, Forester, Impreza. Contact Joe Spitz,
internet sales manager at a major Seattle, Washington area Subaru dealer.
Contact
and
price information is below.
all text, photos © Joe
Spitz, unauthorized reproduction prohibited. you are here http://www.cars101.com/canada.html.
updated 10.5.14
all info subject to change,
correction, updating
|
Yes, I sell used (not
new) Subarus into Canada.
If you are interested in
one in the Seattle area, please call me (Joe Spitz) at 206 769-7821
VIN plate - all US
and Canadian cars have a VIN plate with build date on either the driver
door or door jam.
EIS - Electronic Immobilizer
System. An Immobilizer Key is required in Canada.
Effective September 1, 2007,
every Canadian passenger vehicle, multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck
and 3 wheeled vehicle manufactured after September 1, 2007 and with a Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs), except an
emergency vehicle or a walk-in van, must be equipped with an immobilization
system (EIS) as per the requirements of CMVSS 114.
Admmissable vehicles to
import into Canada
updated June, 2011
1997 to 2007- All models
built before September 1, 2007
2007 and 2008 Impreza. If
built after September 1, 2007 [EIS ]
2007 and 2008 Impreza STI.
If built after September 1, 2007 [EIS]
2008 Legacy
2008 Outback
2008 Tribeca
2009 All models
2010 all models [EIS]
2011 all models [EIS}
2012 all models [EIS}
2013 all models [EIS}
2014 all models [EIS}
2015 all models [EIS}
EIS - electronic immobilizer
system.
All cars brought into
Canada built after Sept 1, 2007 are required to have an EIS.
All US spec cars built
after 2007 do have an EIS but it may not meet Canadian standard CMVSS 114
Vehicles with an EIS that
doesn't meets CMVSS 114 will require confirmation of the presence of an
immobilizer at the time of the RIV inspection.
Demonstration of the presence
of an electronic immobilizer can be done through one of the following means:
- Presentation of the completed
vehicle purchase agreement showing the vehicle identification number and
indicating the presence of an electronic immobilizer
- Presentation of the vehicle
window sticker (Monroney label) showing the vehicle identification number
and indicating the presence of an electronic immobilizer
- A letter from the manufacturer
showing the vehicle identification number and indicating the presence of
an electronic immobilizer.
- Other type of information
present on the vehicle or on the ignition key or fob allowing the positive
identification of such a system.
Jan 3, 2008 The deadline
arrives. SoA stops all rebates for Canadian customers and all dealer incentives
or bonuses on cross border sales but some (very few) dealers continue selling
cross border."
Dec 19, 2007: "The
Government of Canada has amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to
make it easier for Canadians to import vehicles from the United States
built on or after September 1, 2007, that are already equipped with an
electronic immobilization system or that can be fitted with one.... Final
notice of adoption will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on
December 26, 2007, at www.canadagazette.gc.ca."
Dec 4, 2007: Effective
January 3, 2008, there will be no US rebates for Canadian buyers, or
bonuses or any incentives paid to dealers or salespeople on cross border
Canadian sales.
The statement says
'..vehicle sales made by US dealers outside of the continental US, are
discouraged. This includes exports or sales to Canada... (these)
will no longer be eligible for any SoA incentive payment programs such
as vehicle incentives (rebates), dealer sales volume bonuses, salesperson
payouts..'.
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WARRANTY
STATEMENT, June 21, 2007
from
Subaru or America (SoA) and Subaru Canada Inc (SCI).
this is still current in 2014
The
US warranty on new US spec cars is NOT honored by Subaru of Canada. It
is honored and backed by Subaru of America.
Warranty work on 2008 and
newer US cars has to be done either at a US dealer or if at a Canadian
Subaru dealer, paid for by the customer and then reimbursement comes to
the customer from SoA. I
The reimbursement is for
the amount normally paid to a US dealer for the warranty work as if it
had been done at a US dealership.
This is not retroactive and
2007s and previous years may be billed by the Canadian dealer and the customer
may not pay, but some dealers may request payment even on 07 or earlier
models.
Note: If you want
the ease of warranty work from a Ca dealer and don't want to have to pay
upfront and then get reimbursed, please purchase a Ca. spec car and you
will receive full benefits of a Canadian warranty. Please don't expect
Ca. dealers to help with warranty billing on a US spec car because you
didn't purchase it from them. But you saved a lot of money and that is
the trade-off.
Reimbursement:
Subaru of America warranty reimbursement comes in US dollars and
for the amount normally paid to a US dealer for the warranty work if done
at a US dealership. You Ca dealer may charge retail and the reimbursement
amount you receive will be less. Of course you can always bring your US
spec car to any US dealer for warranty work.
This is effective June 21,
2007 and applies to any year new 2008 U.S. spec Subaru purchased by a Canadian
resident and immediately registered in Canada.
It is not retroactive.
Previous models may continue to be serviced as they have been but some
dealers may request payment on previous models.
the official statement
June 21, 1007
Dear Subaru Dealer
Re: change of warranty reimbursement
for Canadian citizens purchasing a Subaru
Subaru of America (SoA)
has formalized a reciprocal warranty agreement with Subaru Canada Inc (SCI).
There are important elements to this agreement which have changed that
will impact the procedure for certain warranty claim reimbursements.
Procedure Change
If a Canadian citizen purchases
a Subaru vehicle in the US with the intention of immediately registering
the vehicle in Canada, they must be notified by the selling dealer that
the Subaru Limited warranty specifically states, "Any and all repairs must
be performed by an authorized Subaru Dealer in the United States." Therefore,
Canadian residents who purchase a Subaru in the US, then registers the
vehicle in Canada, will have 2 viable options for obtaining warranty repairs.
1. return the car to the
US for all warranty repairs at an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge,
or
2. Have the car repaired
at an authorized Canadian Subaru dealer, pay for the repairs, then submit
a copy of the repair order marked "Paid" for reimbursement to SoA through
the CDS (customer dealer services), address Subaru of America, Inc, Subaru
Plaza, PO Box 6000, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 08034-6000, USA, phone 800
SUBARU3.
In the interest of full disclosure
to the Canadian purchaser, please ensure that all sales personnel and aware
of this warranty limitation and the requirement to notify the customer.
please read - warranty
work on any US spec Subaru temporarily driven or permanently imported into
Canada will have to be paid by the owner with reimbursement from SoA.
Same is true for a Canadian
car temporarily driven or permanently imported into the US, all warranty
work has to be paid by the owner with reimbursement from Subaru Canada.
Subaru owners with
a permanent US residence (address) who are owners visiting Canada or Canadian
owners visiting the US will mutually be able to obtain warrantable repair
in the country they are visiting under the terms of the respective warranty.
This element is unchanged from previous agreements and has been in practice
by both SoA and SCI for some time.
It is important
to note that a Canadian citizen repatriating to Canada after purchasing
a Subaru in the US and registering it at a US address may obtain warranty
repairs at an authorized Subaru dealer in the US or Canada without having
to pay for the repairs first. This also holds true for a US citizen relocating
to Canada after having registered their Subaru in the US. SoA has
agreed to perform warranty repairs on all Canadian Subaru vehicles under
terms of the Canadian warranty regardless of the customer's residency without
requesting payment directly from the customer.
all information
always subject to change and correction
|
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Take
your used Subaru into Canada from the US
How to import a used
car into Canada
all info subject to change,
correction
FAQ
Q: Do US spec models
meet Canadian standards?
A: Yes, they meet most specs
and it's easy to show the US cars have an EIS (electronic immobilizer system)
Q Daytime Running lights?
A: Yes, all recent US models
have daytime running lights.
Q: Is the Subaru of
America warranty good in Canada (warranty
info page)
A: YES the US warranty is
honored and backed by Subaru of America (SoA). It is NOT honored by Canadian
dealers.
On 2008 and newer Subarus
the Canadian buyer will have to pay for the warranty work done at a Canadian
Subaru dealer and then submit the paid bill to SoA for reimbursement, or
have the warranty work done at a US dealer. This is effective June 21,
2007 and applies to all Canadian owned and registered 2008 and newer US
spec Subarus regardless of purchase date that were immediately registered
in Canada.
Notes:
1. The warranty reimbursement
check from SoA will the sent to the owner and address of record
with SoA regardless of whose name is on the repair bill according to my
sources. This means updating current owner name and address is crucial.
Owners should update records at my.subaru.com,
or by calling 1-800 SUBARU-3.
2. US resident Canadian
citizens living in the US and registering their US spec Subaru at their
legal US address at time of purchase will receive warranty repair work
without having to pay. SCI will bill SoA.
Q: What fees and taxes do I pay?
A: No sales tax in Washington State for out of state buyers with ID and proof of out of state residency.
There is a $39 three day Wa State Trip Permit and a $150 doc fee.
Other states might charge
sales taxes and other license and doc fees, always ask the seller.
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Q: How do I get the
car?
A: Come pick it and enjoy
a road trip. Yes, it's fine to drive a car home. Or pay a shipper to come
get it. I have a small list of shippers who will pick the car up at the
dealership and take it into Canada. Either the owner or a Canadian customs
broker is usually required to be at the border to sign the documents and
pay the fees. Shipping costs varies with fuel and etc, but to BC is app
$5-600 Ca, to Calgary app $900-1300 Ca. You pay the shipper directly.
Q: Do I pay duties
or fees at the Canadian border?
A: You'll pay your normal
GST. The Canadian Border Services says, "You will have to pay import assessments
which may include duty, excise tax, and the 6% Goods and Services Tax.
Provincial or territorial sales tax may apply when you license your vehicle....
Generally, you do not have to pay duty on an imported vehicle that was
manufactured in the United States, Canada or Mexico;" from pg 9 on http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4140/rc4140-05e.pdf
So there are no duties
under NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) on US built Legacy, Outback,
Tribeca and Baja because they are built in Lafayette, Indiana. (Baja discontinued
after the 06 model)
There are Duties on
Impreza and Forester because they are built in Japan (6.1%- suject
to change). This and other fees can vary by province.
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Paperwork to cross
the US and Canadian borders
all info subject to update,
change, correction
What you need at the dealer-
might
vary by state
> current driver license
> current proof of insurance
(on any car)
> current proof of residency-
a current utility, rent, or mortgage bill with name and address, voter
registration card etc. For Washington State this proves you live out of
state and don't pay sales tax
For US Customs you'll
need
1. Title with
your name filled in. Not a copy of the title, you'll need the real one.
A new car's title is also known as the MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of
Origin) or COO (Certificate of Origin).
2. Purchase Order
(PO) from with your name and VIN on it. Price and any other fees should
be clearly marked.
3. US Border Worksheet
that
you Fax to the US border at the same time as the Title and PO.
4. These 3 documents above
need to be faxed for pre-approval to the applicable US border where
you will cross at least 3 working days prior to crossing.
Fax the front and back of
the title, the PO, and the Worksheet to the US Border you want to cross
at least 72 weekday hours in advance.
After faxing the information
to the border, please contact them to confirm it was received.
If your paperwork was correctly
sent in advance and is in order, the US customs process and any vehicle
inspection should be pretty quick.
Note: not all US customs
offices are open nights and/or weekends for vehicle export.
US Customs export
to Canada through Blaine, Washington Fax (360) 332-2639,
Monday-Friday 8-3:30
For Canadian Border Services
Summary: You get Form
1 from Canadian Border Services when you cross after paying your fees (see
below).
You Fax or mail Form 1 along
with your Recall Clearance letter to RIV.
RIV then sends you Form
2, which you take Canadian Tire for the required inspection. When Form
2 has been stamped by Canadian Tire, RIV will issue registration. This
process can take a few weeks depending on demand.
When you cross the Canadian
border
all info subject to change,
correction, updating. all info from riv.ca
The car has to be on the
authorized list
1. check the VIN plate
on the car. All Subarus have a driver's door VIN plate stating the
model year, build date, VIN and that it was built to US specifications
see
image below.
2. You'll want to have
with you the Title and Purchase order when you cross the Canadian border.
Canada Border Services Agency
will collect a nonrefundable RIV fee of $204.75 + applicable Canadian taxes.
Ways to pay: Online
payment at www.riv.ca may be fastest, or mail a check and your Form
1 to Registrar of Imported Vehicles, 405 The West Mall, Ste 500,
Toronto, On, M9C 5K7. Checks held for ten business days. Debit or
cash may be used at the RIV office. There may be a $100 air conditioning
fee.
3. You'll get a Form 1
from the Border services. After payment, Form 1 and the Recall
Clearance letter have been received by the RIV, an Inspection
Form (Form 2) will be mailed.
RIV has contracted with Canadian Tire to perform federal inspections. There
are 430 locations.
4. When you pass
the inspection, the inspection center will stamp your Form 1 that you
will have to present to the provincial or territorial licensing authority.
Within approximately one
week of passing the federal inspection, you should recieve a Canadian Certification
label with instructions on where to affix it to your vehicle.
'How to do it' from RIV
(Canada Registar of Imported Vehicles)
click http://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html
RIV Phones 888-848-8240,
Fax 888-346-8235; Hours Mon to Fri: 7:00am - 12:00 midnight (EST), Sat,
Sun: 7:00am to 5:00pm (EST)
Canadian Customs and
Fees from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4140/rc4140-05e.pdf,
800-461-9999
Q: How do I get the
the Certificate of Recall Clearance letter from Subaru?
A: The letter comes from
Subaru of America (SoA). SoA will require proof the car is in your name,
usually a Faxed copy of the title (front and back) and/or purchase order.
It can take from 1-5 days to get the recall letter. Call 1-800-SUBARU-3
(800-782-2783), the same folks you call to warranty reimbursement.
RIV Recall Clearance
statement
RIV says "... we are unable
to release the Inspection Form until such time as we receive a confirmation
that there are no Outstanding recalls for your vehicle...
A recall clearance letter
is a document issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of your
vehicle that states whether or not there are any outstanding recalls on
your vehicle...
The letter must come from
the OEM's head office and be written on official company letterhead, duly
signed with the name and position of the official at the OEM clearly visible.
If the manufacturer's logo is not on the letter it will not be accepted....
In some cases, we will also
accept a printout from an authorized American dealer"
To get this letter, please
contact SoA at 800 782-2783 (800 SUBARU3) once the vehicle has been reported
sold in your name which your dealer will do. SoA will mail, fax or email
these documents to your house, this can take 1-4 days. BC residents will
need an inspection, AB residents don't.
FAX the recall clearance
letter to 888-642-9899.
> Note. RIV
says "To facilitate the timely release of your vehicle's RIV inspection
form and to avoid any unforeseen delays or additional expenses, we recommend
that you obtain your recall clearance documentation and submit it to RIV
before you import, as soon as you purchase the vehicle.
Recall clearance documentation
can be submitted to RIV: fax 1-888-642-9899, e-mail recall@support.riv.ca,
or in person or by mail to an RIV office location."
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Driver Door VIN plate
from 2006 Outback 2.5i built at SIA in Lafayette, Indiana. All cars will
have a very similar plate
Build Date is in the upper
right corner. The vehicle 'conforming to applicable standards' statement
is in the center.
Border Crossing Wait
Times
Washington
State Traffic Camera (Blaine)
US
Crossing Times
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letters
March 2011 "Took it in for
the inspection at 3 pm today, and had it all legal with the license plates
on it by 5 pm. Surprised me, as I thought it would take a couple of days
for RIV to ok the licensing. Anyway, I'm a happy camper. Thanks
again, Alan" March 2011
Joe,
Just wanted to send a note
to say thanks for all the help in procuring our new Tribeca. Through the
use of your extensive web site and personal instructions things have gone
very smoothly and our vehicle is registered, licensed and driving us around.
At the border and insurance agent I met a couple of people who were not
as fortunate in receiving accurate and detailed instructions from their
vendors and who were having troubles or delays with the rigmarole of importing.
I was able to offer a friendly hint based on your advice to us.
Love the vehicle and
look forward to many years of care free driving. Love comments like ‘it’s
gorgeous! I want one’ – referred to you of course.
Have a great Christmas!
Chuck and Jennifer B, BC, Ca (Dec. 4, 07) |
Dear Joe
Just to let you know that
I have my car and it looks really good. I drove back from Toronto yesterday.
It is a comfortable car to drive and it is the right size: it corners very
well and has lots of pick up and go. In short a happy customer. The shipping
and customs stuff went without a hitch and was relatively inexpensive.
Regards, Tom H., Forester
X (Oct 2007) |
July 1,
2007
"I just got through with
importing a new 2007 Subaru Forester into Canada and I was really happy
with the results so I thought I would share my experience. Granted, I think
I got somewhat lucky and hit it at the right time (the 2008 Forester's
are being sold in the US now so they are clearing out 2007's plus I hit
on a $2000 factory rebate).
In the end, after every last
expense I had to pay to get the car imported, inspected and insured, I
saved literally 25% (everything converted to Cdn) off the price of buying
the same new vehicle from a dealership here in Vancouver. Ridiculous but
true. Of course, this percentage hinges a lot on the current strength of
the Cdn dollar so keep that in mind.
I was quite skeptical going
in but ended up very happy with the result. My starting point was a website
I found at http://www.cars101.com/, which has an entire section on how
to import to Canada that is quite up-to-date and accurate. The site is
run by a guy named Joe Spitz, who works at Carter Subaru in Seattle. He's
the guy I dealt with directly.
Joe was quite a breath of
fresh air to deal with. If you look around on the website he has a ton
of detailed information about all Subaru vehicles including the invoice
prices that the dealer themselves pay. I called him up on the phone, he
told me which 2007 Forester's he had available and gave me a price that,
having looked around, was lower than anything else I'd seen. And that was
it. No negotiating or back and forth or "let me talk to my manager" or
anything like that. It was just "here's what I have and here's what it
costs", period. The way it should be.
Joe's website has a lot of
details but it doesn't talk about things like insurance and the specifics
of the taxes. Here is a line by line break down of every expense I incurred
during this process:
Price of vehicle plus a 3
day test-drive permit for about $23 provided by dealership all converted
from US to Cdn at the going rate.
Cost of wiring the money
from my account to Carter Subaru was about $20 but this depends on your
bank.
Duty of 6.1% on the total
price (including cost of permit) in Cdn dollars. With Subaru this is on
the Impreza and Forester as they are manufactured in Japan. Other Subarus
are built in NA and are not subject to this duty.
$100 Cdn for air-conditioner
excise tax
GST of 6% calculated on
the final number *after* the duty and the A/C excise tax.
PST of 7% (in British Columbia)
when you insure the car. This is on the import amount only (the amount
you paid duty on above, but not including duty like with GST).
Registrar fee of $206.70
to RIV at Cdn border for the paperwork and forms and such.
In addition to the driving
permit you also need an "insurance binder" which is expensive ($77 for
10 days even though you only probably need 1 day) because you are insuring
a vehicle not registered in BC. This gets you home from the dealership
and that's it.
You need separate insurance
to get to the inspection centre (I used Canadian Tire). If you buy a day
permit before your insurance binder runs out you can save some money as
it will only cost you $12 for the basic coverage.
Inspection centre takes
a cool $120 for doing who-knows-what on your brand new vehicle and giving
you the stamp of approval.
And, yes, after all of that
I still ended up saving 25% over the best price I could find in Canada
(even having talked to an auto-broker who did a search for me).
Joe was great. I highly recommend
dealing directly with him if you're in Western Canada. He even picked me
up from the bus station in Everett himself. I was super-skeptical buying
something I'd never seen but the car is perfect -- brand new and even came
with some extras I would have had to pay for in Canada. Everything Joe
told me was 100% accurate and true. There were no surprises or hidden costs
or anything like that.
As for what you need to do,
the RIV website itself is pretty good. It covers all of the instructions
except for the insurance you need (which I describe above). When you talk
to Joe he also faxes a package to you telling you exactly what you need
to do to import that car. You need to give 72 hours notice to the US border
that you're coming, for example. The whole process from my first phone
call until the time I picked up the car took me exactly 7 days (although
technically it could have been done in less).
You'll need to talk to Subaru
of America for a "recall clearance letter" and you can confirm for yourself
that the warranty is transferable to Canada. When I talked to them they
assured me that it was. Subaru is one of the very few that is this flexible
with their warranty across the border. So that's a big advantage also.
All in all the only downside
I can see is that I'm left with a speedometer that has km/h as a secondary
reading and an odometer in mi/h. But for a 25% savings on a purchase of
this size, I think I can learn to love converting.
Good luck and hope you have
as good an experience as I did.
Scott"
read the original posting
on redflagdeals |
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| May 2007
"I've got a lot of Private
Messages regarding where I bought my new 2007 Outback, so I'm going to
post here to help all those considering a Subaru that are living in Alberta
and BC.
I bought my car from Carter
Subaru in Seattle. I dealt with the internet sales manager Joe Spitz, he
has a website that is the most comprehensive Subaru information website
that I know... www.cars101.com Here he provides all invoice prices, rebates
etc... and all features and changes of each model, if you are considering
a Subaru, definitely check that site out. Joe evens gives you a step by
step guide on importing a vehicle to Canada. Joe was super easy to deal
with and he is a straight shooter, you do not get any BS from him. Carter
Subaru also have a one price no haggle policy. But believe me, their price
is more than fair. When I call Joe to get a quote on my car, the price
that I got beat my expectation by more than $700, this was without any
negotiation or haggling. I did all my pricing research on www.edmunds.com
and www.kbb.com. Joe Spitz and Carter Subaru definitely has lots of experiences
in selling to Canadians so it was a zero hassle experience for me. It was
definitely the easiest new car purchase I've ever made. The importation
process is super easy as long as you follow the instructions and have all
your paperwork ready when crossing the border....." read
the full posting on redflagdeals.com, message #2196 |
********************************************
.
One person's experience
importing to Canada
December 2005
"Hi, everybody,
We have the license plates
on our car and here's how it all worked. Yes, we saved A LOT of money by
doing it. I suggest you at least think about it when you start purchasing
a subie.
Disclaimer: I am not offering
a legal or any kind of professional advice in this post -- described below
is my PERSONAL experience. Please make your own due diligence if you decide
to import a car yourself. I have no relationship with any dealerships either.
I would like to thank
Joe Spitz from Carter Subaru in Seattle (see http://www.cars101.com) for
his assistance. Joe made this experience enjoyable -- no playing games
-- it was pure business.
We have decided to import
our new 2006 OB VDC because the BC dealers did not really want to negotiate
much -- it was mostly take it or leave it option. We have sensed that the
US dealers are more flexible and we could save some major $$$.
The first step was to contact
the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (http://www.riv.ca). They have a web
page with a step by step process what you have to do. The 2006 models are
NOT listed as importable, however after several phone calls we have received
a letter from the RIV which we were to present on the border and they certified
the 2006 Outbacks as importable. An interesting note: don't get discouraged
if you speak with the first rep at RIV and they tell you a car is not importable.
I learned by experience that there are some better and worse reps there.
If you can't get anywhere, ask to leave a voicemail to Natasha (I can't
remember her last name) or Gary Moriarty.
Make sure you phone Canada
Customs and verify the import duty you will have to pay for the car. If
the car is made in the US and it contains at least 50% of US/Canadian parts,
then there is NO duty. It must also have a sticker MADE IN US and it must
comply with all applicable US federal standards. THIS IS THE MOST CRUCIAL
STEP in the whole process. DO YOUR DUE DILLIGENCE ON THIS (sorry for screaming,
but you must do it). Based on my experience there's no duty on legacy/outbacks.
It might be on other subaru cars if they don't fall under NAFTA.
With the RIV letter in hand
I emailed a request for a quote to 4 or 5 dealerships in Washington state.
We knew the exact model, colour, etc. we wanted. They all responded with
quotes. After some haggling back and forth for about a week we have chosen
to deal with Joe from Carter Subaru. He prepared all paperwork and faxed
it over for us to check it. I acknowledged the order by email.
Our car was a factory order
and the car arrived on time as promised by Joe. Joe is a straight shooter
and he never over-promised anything. Again, the paperwork was faxed to
us, we wired the money after it was delivered to the dealership.
US Customs: the US Vehicle
Export Team requires the title and invoice to be faxed at least 3 business
days before the car is exported. Phone them and they will fax you an information
package that has all instructions. You have to phone them after you faxed
the documents again to make sure all paperwork is legible and OK before
you show up on the border. They responded in precisely 74 hours (3 days
and 2 hours ) after we faxed the papers.
Car pickup: The car was ready
for us when we showed up at the dealership. Also, all paperwork was ready.
If we didn't have kids with us, it would take us about an hour to go through
the car and papers and we'd be gone. No hassle whatsoever cudos to Joe
who also made sure that one minor thing got fixed on the spot.
US Border: once we showed
up on the border, it was a 2 min process to rubber stamp the title with
the border stamp in order to mark it as legally exported.
Canadian Border and Customs:
the customs agent knew exactly what to do and what forms to fill out. He
also phoned the RIV and arranged for the payment of our RIV fee so we didn't
have to do it VIP treatment all the way -- nothing to complain about.
We paid the GST and the AC tax, no customs duty because the Outbacks are
made in Indiana. We received the Form 1 (which describes the vehicle).
After that we drove home
and parked our car. Now the waiting happens -- you have to receive FORM
2 from the RIV. Phone the RIV a couple of days after you import the car
and verify that they have received a copy of the FORM 1. Our form 1 was
not legible when it came through the fax from the customs. The RIV is going
to ask you for a case number -- this is the red number on the right top
corner of your form 1. This process can take 10 days so be patient
I had to phone the SoA as
well to get the "recall clearance letter" which is required for the federal
inspection.
After we received the form
2, we have arranged the federal inspection. All Canadian Tires across the
country are contracted to perform this inspection. However, BC requires
a provincial inspection as well -- if you are not from BC verify what is
required in your province. Again, Canadian Tire did this one for us as
well.
The last step was to get
the insurance and license plates. Find a knowledgeable insurance broker
and ask him/her if he's registered imported cars before. They get a copy
of almost every paper you have, you pay the insurance and the PST, license
plate fee, etc. And you are DONE.
OK, how much did all cost:
Carter Subaru: Joe has gone
under the invoice price right off the bat, threw in the cash-back rebate
and this was our "drive off the dealership yard" price (all inclusive)
- you can check the invoice prices here http://www.cars101.com/subaru_prices.html
and compare this with Canadian subie prices)
WA state tax $0 (non-WA
residents don't pay the state tax)
GST 7% on the converted
USD price
PST 7% on the converted
USD price
Import Duty $0 (made in
the US, falls under NAFTA --> 0% duty)
RIV fee $209
AC tax $100
Federal inspection $0 (included
in the RIV fee)
Provincial inspection $128
Total - well, you have a
calculator
Did it make sense? Yes in
our case -- just be patient. The only minus are the odometer in miles (speedometer
has both miles/hr and km/hr) and the paperwork / lengthy process"
posted on http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24153
|
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Joe, For your information
I've got inspection notice ( Form 2) yesterday via e-mail, only three days
after border crossing, and I sent my wife to Canadian tire today
for inspection. My insurance
agent came to my house to do the paper work. All done and I've completed
the process. Thanks, DK, September 07 |
end of letters
Import into the US
all info subject to change,
correction
US
govt rules about importing a car from overseas
***************************************
.
Q. How
do you price your cars if I want to get one from you?
. |
A: While this is a fully
independent non-sponsored information website, I am Internet-Fleet Sales
Manager at Carter Subaru Shoreline and sell lighty used cars cross
border.
You need to know the
US spec model you want..
Not sure what you want?
This site should help you.
Everything is fully disclosed.
It's easy and completely upfront.
Contact me and please
do not involve anyone else at the dealership if you want my special pricing.
Once you decide to proceed,
I fax a complete package including Purchase Order with price details
and VIN, the Title with your name filled in, information on US borders
with hours and contact info, information on the Recall Clearance letter,
warranty, and finally the dealership's bank and account information.
References from previous
buyers are available. Contact me for prices at 206 769-7821.If you
really want to email, check my contact page.
You can either pick
the car up at the dealership or use a shipper.
If you pick up at the dealership
I can help with transportation to the dealership once you're in the Seattle
area.
I also have alist of shippers
Contact Joe Spitz
at Carter Subaru Shoreline to purchase a lightly used Subaru 206 769-7821.
Please know the US model
you want and we'll go over the colors available and price and do not involve
anyone else at the dealership if you want my special pricing.
I have everything set up
for Canadians, all the paperwork.
If you pick up at the dealership
I can help with local transportation to the dealership once you're in the
Seattle area. Or help arrange shipping the car shipping to you.
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This unofficial site is
by Joe Spitz, who is responsible for all content.
Please contact me with errors
or omissions.
Joe Spitz
the end