I imported my truck last November.
I did my research before importing my truck.
Registrar of Imported Vehicles has lots of info.
Basically, when it's over 20 years old, no restrictions.
I took my paperwork to the US Customs in Port Huron MI and got it all cleared before my son left Washington State for Sarnia Ontario. On the day the truck crossed, we had trouble when I drove into Michigan to meet my son. Had to do some 'random' security screening process. Had to have my van inspected. US Border folks were going nuts about why I had some cardboad in my van. I told them I had to help my son do an oil change on his Chevy Express after the long tow from Washington, and my Dad wouldn't look too kindly to making a mess on his driveway in Sarnia. They also thought it was unusual that the young lad crossing into Michigan with me happened to have the same last name. Strange that he could be my other son! The strange questions they ask you at the border, trying to trip you up and prove you are a 57 year old, white hair, caucasion terrorist! Well, maybe they didn't like my son's pony tail.
On the Canadian side, the biggest problem was that I didn't have a receipt to establish the value of the truck being imported. My son had to give the receipt to the Washington DOT folks when he bought
Wild Bill from the last owner. Eventually, I paid the GST on 500 US value.
Now all legaly here.
I do have one outstanding problem.
Washington DOT Title had an extra 0 in the VIN. "Like it's a 58 truck Ma'am." So the VIN reads 508, instead of 58.
Canadian folks took it as is, and would NOT change it on registration, even when computer system warned them of a faulty VIN. So when I'm finished my restoration, I'll have to take it up again, and see if I can get the paperwork to match the VIN plate.
This spring, I went through the RIV process again to legally import the trailer into Canada that my son used to bring Wild Bill to Ontario. We left it in Sarnia over the winter. They made a big fuss on the Canadian side about why we didn't 'declare' the fact that my son's Washington licensed truck sat in Sarnia for 5 months. I was begining to feel like we were going to jail for this oversight. Eventually, I got all the paperwork in order. The trailer is now legally registered in Ontario. According to the Canadian Tire store in Sarnia, they see about 10-15 cases a day for Canadians importing vehicles into the Sarnia Ontario area alone. So it's a very common thing indeed.
John.
