Importing vehicles from abroad (large list of exceptions)

[atarijedi]

Greetings folks,

I've been looking into importing a Delica from abroad, specifically an LHD version, among other diesel vehicles we can't get in Canada like L200 Tritons, Toyota Hiluxes, Ford Rangers, and Jeep Wranglers, and I came upon a Memorandum listing a bunch of exceptions, among them the typical "Older than 15 years", but there are quite a few others that I have never seen anyone mention before. Although I guess I could simply be reading it all wrong.

These specific exceptions seem to hinge on the vehicle being able to pass Canadian or US safety standards, and having a certificate from the manufacturer stating it is so, but the age of the vehicle doesn't matter, 20 years old, 15 years old, 1 year old, some of the exceptions are as follows:

1. Receiving the vehicle as a gift, with no compensation in any form, used for personal purposes.
2. Foreign defence staff working in Canada. (I think this would work if you had a friend working in an embassy but as part of their countries military)
3. Continuously absent from Canada for more than 12 consecutive months, and returning.
4. Continuously absent from Canada for at least 6 months and owned the vehicle for at least 6 months.
5. Working outside of Canada and having to return because of "illness, unemployment, educational needs or on account of other personal reasons of a similar nature"
6. is manufactured before January 1st of the model year of the vehicle but imported after that date and before December 31st of that year
7. is imported by a resident of Canada who acquired the vehicle outside of Canada as a replacement for another motor vehicle owned by the resident that was damaged, in an accident that occurred outside of Canada, to such an extent that repair was impracticable
8. is imported by its original purchaser and, the vehicle is imported for the personal use of the original purchaser or the original purchaser's household, the vehicle is not imported for use in a business, in a manufacturing establishment or as equipment to be used by a contractor, and the bill of sale for the vehicle does not specify that the vehicle has been used as a demonstration vehicle or by a car rental agency.

So it seems to me that with these exceptions you can pretty much figure out a way to import any year Delica you want. Like maybe find an expat living somewhere who is willing to buy a whole bunch of vehicles and import them, obviously all fees paid for by the intended owners.

Here is the Memorandum: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications ... 1-eng.html

I found it at the bottom of this bit of information on importing vehicles into Canada: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications ... ng.html#s4

Wondering what you guys think?

[Nukes25]

with the exceptions you put: 1,3-7- the only way to bring one in is if it meets canadian safety standards and has a manufacturers plate on the vehicle stating so ( none made outside of North America will have this) or if you can get a letter from the manufacturer stating that it does comply to canadian standards ( in 10 years of researching, studying and following importing, I have not heard of this being accomplished)

8-this is for foreign residents coming to canada (student/work visas), and the vehicle can only stay in the country for the duration of their stay, and they cannot sell it to a canadian resident


This is just my understanding from what I've come across over the last 10 years

[atarijedi]

with the exceptions you put: 1,3-7- the only way to bring one in is if it meets canadian safety standards and has a manufacturers plate on the vehicle stating so ( none made outside of North America will have this) or if you can get a letter from the manufacturer stating that it does comply to canadian standards ( in 10 years of researching, studying and following importing, I have not heard of this being accomplished)

8-this is for foreign residents coming to canada (student/work visas), and the vehicle can only stay in the country for the duration of their stay, and they cannot sell it to a canadian resident


This is just my understanding from what I've come across over the last 10 years

#8 applies to anyone. There are other exceptions at the link I posted that have to do with foreign residents, or temporary residents. It also states nothing about being able to sell it or not.

As for the exceptions, all vehicles used under those exceptions them have to meet Canadian Safety Standards or US Safety Standards, as I previously noted, and as stated on the links I provided.

[dah_hunter]

The list might be large of Exceptions, however its still no walk in the park..

If it was as easy as say having an Expat buy up Tons of cars and bringing them into the Country im sure that would have been done many times now.

Also i dont think customs is going to let someone bring a bunch of Newer cars in for "Personal" use..

and if it was declared a business use then i doubt that Customs would let that fly either..

Its like going into the USA and buying a 100 Tee shirts for "Personal" use..

anyways.. best of luck with this.

[psilosin]

If #8 was easy people like Crushers or Dah_Hunter would have already pulled it off. I've been around the scene since '04 and haven't heard of a single person pulling that one off. I'd love someone to try though because it would make a great story regardless how it ends up.

[Mr. Flibble]

Greetings folks,

I've been looking into importing a Delica from abroad, specifically an LHD version, among other diesel vehicles we can't get in Canada like L200 Tritons, Toyota Hiluxes, Ford Rangers, and Jeep Wranglers, and I came upon a Memorandum listing a bunch of exceptions, among them the typical "Older than 15 years", but there are quite a few others that I have never seen anyone mention before. Although I guess I could simply be reading it all wrong.

These specific exceptions seem to hinge on the vehicle being able to pass Canadian or US safety standards, and having a certificate from the manufacturer stating it is so, but the age of the vehicle doesn't matter, 20 years old, 15 years old, 1 year old, some of the exceptions are as follows:

1. Receiving the vehicle as a gift, with no compensation in any form, used for personal purposes.
2. Foreign defence staff working in Canada. (I think this would work if you had a friend working in an embassy but as part of their countries military)
3. Continuously absent from Canada for more than 12 consecutive months, and returning.
4. Continuously absent from Canada for at least 6 months and owned the vehicle for at least 6 months.
5. Working outside of Canada and having to return because of "illness, unemployment, educational needs or on account of other personal reasons of a similar nature"
6. is manufactured before January 1st of the model year of the vehicle but imported after that date and before December 31st of that year
7. is imported by a resident of Canada who acquired the vehicle outside of Canada as a replacement for another motor vehicle owned by the resident that was damaged, in an accident that occurred outside of Canada, to such an extent that repair was impracticable
8. is imported by its original purchaser and, the vehicle is imported for the personal use of the original purchaser or the original purchaser's household, the vehicle is not imported for use in a business, in a manufacturing establishment or as equipment to be used by a contractor, and the bill of sale for the vehicle does not specify that the vehicle has been used as a demonstration vehicle or by a car rental agency.

So it seems to me that with these exceptions you can pretty much figure out a way to import any year Delica you want. Like maybe find an expat living somewhere who is willing to buy a whole bunch of vehicles and import them, obviously all fees paid for by the intended owners.

Here is the Memorandum: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications ... 1-eng.html

I found it at the bottom of this bit of information on importing vehicles into Canada: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications ... ng.html#s4

Wondering what you guys think?

As a Canadian, and the Legal Owner of a Delica L400, I can tell you that the "Manufacturers Certification" is not something you will be able to obtain for a Delica; and most likely any JDM import. I say this after having exhausted nearly every channel I can think of to get my Legally owned L400 imported into the U.S. so that I may register it for driving. I am now stuck in a legal quagmire and can no longer drive my Delica off of my property.

This is frequently referred to as a "Letter of Compliance" and you will almost never receive one as it puts the company at a legal liability position on your vehicle, so of course they won't do that.

The most likely result of buying a brand new D5 for your own use in Japan that is not used and bringing it to Canada is that Customs will deny it and either have it crushed, seized and held for years, or if you are lucky, sent back to Japan.

[bbisset]

I can't speak to the issues that our friends south of the border have, but I know ours is one specifically concerning the RIV inspection. Cars from the US will pass with some modifications, but those from Japan will not. That's why vehicles older than the 15 years don't require the RIV, and are referred to as the "loophole".

http://www.riv.ca/rivinspection.aspx

bb

[BCDelica]

Last fall I contacted a couple custom brokerage firms, based in Vancouver, concerning import a newer than 15 year old vehicle. I called people I had dealt with before and whom I knew would give straight forward answers; if they knew the answer that is.

For several years I have been registered as a non-resident of Canada, and now that I have returned, had I particular vehicle I wanted to purchase from the Asian market (with intentions of selling to someone, whom highly desired it). The answer was that the vehicle can not be re-sold in Canada, if I mentioned import it. Was told documents must be signed to that effective, and the vehicle will be insurance coded in a way that can not be transferred to a new owner.

If I had a big chuck of surplus cash it would have been interesting to see if I could have imported myself something like a D5 or Toy Hiace with the; high-high roof, the larger wheels, and great 3L TD KD that we don't get here (if we did, it would certainly be a good seller given its power/smoothness/economy blend). Several friends had this engine in there Fortuner or the so common in northern Thailand Hilux. I'm going on excessively yes, but one day I drove my friends Hilux for 4 plus hours towing a boat to Sirkrit, a boat loaded with 2 kayak and lots of gear in the truck; this engine is far better than any NA diesel I have been riding around in northern Canada. Just saying ;)