Tips for getting a BC Deli back to AB...??

[snelson]

Hi guys,
My name is Steve and I'm in Calgary, Alberta. I've been lurking on this site for a month or so now - ever since I saw my first Delica in early January at Burstall Pass in Kananaskis country. I've been thinking about these vans so much lately, I swear I've actually lost sleep thinking about all the awesome trips I'd like to take one on here in AB and BC.
Anyhow, my plan is to fly into Vanouver sometime in late April and pick up a 92, crystal-lite, with around 80-90K kms. But my question is this - if I'm not sure of the exact Delica I plan to buy (VIN # etc..) before I leave Calgary, how can I get plates to drive her back to AB? I've read on this site mention of 'in-transit' licenceing, but I'm not sure how many days these are good for? Are they purchased in AB or BC?
Can someone who's already done this give me some pointers/suggestions on the best way to proceed?
I'm also keeping a hopeful eye out on this site to see when a Calgary deli meet will turn up - if you guys don't mind, hoping to stop by and ask some questions.

Thanks very much guys,
Steve

[Green1]

If you currently have a vehicle with valid plates that you are planning on no longer using, you can take the plates with you to BC and put them on the Delica, from that point you have 2 weeks to get the vehicle home, inspected, and registered. (this is the easy way)

If you do not currently have plates that you plan to move to the Delica you will need "in transit" registration, your best bet will be to go to an auto-plan agent in BC once you purchase the vehicle and they will set you up. (this is the hard way)

Note however that there is no grace period for insurance, you must talk to your insurance agent before you move the vehicle, most insurance companies will be happy to fax you a copy of your new pink slip if you fax them a bill of sale (I arranged all my insurance while sitting in the importer's office in BC when I picked up the vehicle.)

[JMK]

The following applies to vehicles that have not previously been registered in Alberta:

Alberta transit stickers are good for 6 days and can be post dated at the time of application to co-incide with your date of departure from Vancouver (E.G. the first day you plan to commence driving the vehicle). An Alberta registry agent must see proof of insurance before they will give you a transit permit, so your first point of contact in this process is your Insurance Agent who will issue you a temporary 30 day policy. He will require your VIN (and other info), which will be the chassis number from the vehicle which the registry will transpose to a VIN for you.

When you return to ALberta you must complete your OPI within that six day window, or get another transit permit. If the vehicle was brought into compliance by the BC dealer you may be ready to proceed directly to the OPI. Some dealers do not install DOT compliant tires, and while it may pass without them, you may as well have them as well. You have 14 days to complete the registration of the vehicle upon completion of a successful OPI. When you present your successful OPI to the the registry agent, you will also be required to present both parts of Form 1 stamped by Canada Customs to prove the vehicle entered Canada legally, all the taxes and duties were paid, and that it is exempt from RIV provisions, which it is. You may also be required to present your bill of sale, driver's license, proof of insurance, and an official translation of the Japanese deregistration certificate so you should have them all at the ready. Pro Active Auto in Calgary does OPI's for about $139.00, be sure to book it at least 3 weeks in advance of going to Vancouver so you can get in within your 6 day window on your transit sticker.

[Green1]

if you don't know what vehicle you are getting, then getting an Alberta transit permit is probably out of the question, get a BC transit permit instead, both will get you back to Alberta.

Though as I said earlier, the easiest way is if you already have plates from a previous vehicle, just take them with you, and you then have 14 days to get the registration changed over.

[snelson]

Thanks for the quick replys - some great info!

Green1 - I do have a toyota truck that I'll be leaving here when I go to Vancouver.
So are you saying that I can just remove the plates from my truck when I fly to Van, put them on the Deli, drive the Deli to Caglary, put the plates back on the truck, then go get new plates for the Deli once I'm here in Calgary?? If so, that sounds like the ticket.
Steve

[JMK]

That would be illegal. If you take the plates off the truck, it is because you are never putting them back on again, they must be on the Deli from that point on (You are transferring the plates, not 'borrowing' them). The fine if you are caught is pretty hefty.

My insurance agent metioned something about the fact I would have minimal coverage upon transferring from one vehicle to another. I'm going to ask him what he was talking about on Tuesday.

[snelson]

OK - I think I understand now.

Sounds like the best thing to do is:

Let my insurance company here know what I plan on doing.
Make the puchase
Call my Insurance company and have them fax me my temp pink slip in Van.
Get an in-transit ticket from BC insurance company (I can get one being an Alberta resident??)
Drive to Calgary, have my prearranged OPI done within 6 days
Register the Deli in Alberta showing all my documents.

[Green1]

Get an in-transit ticket from BC insurance company (I can get one being an Alberta resident??)

According to CAA you can (I haven't tried it myself)

Drive to Calgary, have my prearranged OPI done within 6 days

The time period may vary depending on the permit that you get from the AutoPlan agent, they can issue varying lengths, but it will have the expiry date on it. Once in Alberta if you are out of time you can get a new "in-transit" permit from any Alberta registry to get your inspection done.

[JMK]

As noted above, I asked my insurance agent for clarification on the Insurance Act (Alberta I presume). It is not a very conclusive answer, it would seem you would have coverage, but without that fax from your agent showing the specific vehicle is covered, I interepret the following to mean the registry agent would probably not give you plates anyway even though you apparently legally would have some limited coverage. Here is what he said:

Due to liability issues, I would suggest that this person contact his insurance agent to discuss any of his coverages and/or requirements.

Under the 'Insurance Act', there is temporary limited coverage for a newly acquired vehicle. The registry would have to advise you whether or not, you would be able to transfer the plates.

Again, this person should discuss these issues with his insurance company or agent prior to picking up his vehicle.

It sounds however that if you were in the other situation where you did not need to get a transit permit because you were transferring your old plates across, you would also be transferring some form of limited insurance coverage across at the same time.

It makes me wonder as well, if you sell a vehicle, take the plates off it, then a month or two later get another vehicle, can you stick those plates on your new vehicle for 14 days before you go in to register it?

Sounds like life would be much simpler if you narrowed it down to one vehicle of interest before you left Alberta, and got a transit permit for it before you left as well.

[Green1]

Although it sounds like there MAY be limited coverage without talking to your insurance agent, it's quite risky, and easy to solve by phone/fax, so just get the new vehicle covered, it's not worth the risk and you should be able to do the whole thing over the phone/fax in less than half an hour.

It makes me wonder as well, if you sell a vehicle, take the plates off it, then a month or two later get another vehicle, can you stick those plates on your new vehicle for 14 days before you go in to register it?

That is correct. as long as the plates are still valid (based on the expiry sticker on the plates) you have 14 days from the time they are put on the new vehicle (when they came off the old vehicle is irrelevant)