Are you interested in importing a vehicle from Canada to the United States.? It’s not as simple as just getting behind the wheel of the car and driving it across the border. There are a series of steps that you’ll need to take to bring a car from Canada to the U.S. for good. Here are the things you’ll need to do in order to stay within the limits of the law while importing a vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle meets U.S. environmental standards.
Before you can even think about bringing a car into the U.S. from Canada, you’ll be required to check to see if the vehicle meets the U.S. environmental standards. The Clean Air Act is in place to prevent vehicles that don’t meet these standards from entering the U.S. You’ll have to fill out an EPA Form 3520-1 to show that your vehicle meets or exceeds the standards that are in place. Additionally, you’ll be asked to prove that the vehicle meets U.S. safety standards as well.
Prepare to prove that you’re the rightful owner of the vehicle.
You won’t be able to bring a car across the Canada/U.S. border if you’re not able to show that you’re the owner of the vehicle. You’ll need to be equipped with the original title for the car, a foreign registration for the car, or something else that shows you own the vehicle that is being imported.
Clean the vehicle while paying special attention to its undercarriage.
This might seem like a silly suggestion at first, but you should stop by a car wash and have your car cleaned before importing it into the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has strict rules and regulations that forbid people from bringing vehicles into the U.S. that have foreign soil on them. These rules are designed to stop the spread of pests, so don’t forget to clean your car before you bring it to the U.S.
Take your vehicle through customs.
Once your vehicle is ready to be imported, it’ll be time for you to take it through customs. Show up with a Customs and Border Protection Form 7501 filled out, and if it’s approved, ask a customs officer to provide you with a copy of it. You may also need to pay an import tax on your vehicle in some situations.
Importing a vehicle from Canada to the U.S. can be a lot harder than you might think. Car Couriers can help you simplify the process. Call us at 888-637-2770 today if you need a hand getting a car from Canada to the U.S. safely.