Importing a Car into Canada

Part 1: Good to Know Before Finding the Car You Want to Purchase - New or Used, Privately or From a Dealer

Remember, you do not have to pay any sales taxes on the car in the State of Washington: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2.../2158-S.SL.pdf

Sales taxes on vehicles also will not apply for you in many other US states (including New York, Oregon, etc.).

If you’re going to buy from a US dealer/seller, it's easiest to pay for the vehicle entirely in lump-sum cash. Need a loan? Check the advice here. Also, to make everything easy, I recommend not try trading-in a vehicle to a US dealer. It’s way too complicated – so sell the vehicle in Canada privately instead.

No duties at the border are paid on the vehicle purchased in the US unless it does not have have sufficient "North American content" - that is, parts/components made in North America. Most cars made in North America meet the content rule but some may not. So, if your NA made car draws Duty, you'll know why.

It’s a vehicle made in North America if it has a VIN that begins with a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

1, 4, 5=USA
2=Canada
3= Mexico
J=Japan
W=Germany
K=Korea

Vehicles manufactured outside Canada, the US or Mexico are assessed a 6.1% duty fee.

You will find that at least the following brand new vehicles can (depending on the exact one you are purchasing) or will have a North American VIN:

Acura MDX - Alliston, Ontario
Acura RDX - Marysville, Ohio
Acura TL – Marysville, Ohio
BMW X5 – Spartanburg, South Carolina
BMW Z4 – Spartanburg, South Carolina
Honda Accord – Marysville, Ohio
Honda Civic – East Liberty, Ohio
Honda CRV - East Liberty, Ohio
Honda Element – East Liberty, Ohio
Honda Odyssey – Lincoln, Alabama
Honda Pilot – Lincoln, Alabama
Honda Ridgeline - Alliston, Ontario
Mercedes-Benz M-Class – Vance, Alabama
Mercedes-Benz R-Class – Vance, Alabama
Mazda 6 – Flat Rock, Michigan
Mazda B-Series – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mazda Tribute – Kansas City, Missouri
Hyundai Sonata – Montgomery, Alabama
Hyundai Santa Fe – Montgomery, Alabama
Infiniti QX56 – Canton, Mississippi
Isuzu Ascender – Moraine, Ohio and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Isuzu i-Series Pickup – Shreveport, Louisiana
Lexus RX350 (previously known as the Lexus RX330) – Cambridge, Ontario
Mitsubishi Eclipse – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Endeavor – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Galant – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Raider – Warren, Michigan
Nissan Altima – Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Armada – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Frontier – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Maxima – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Pathfinder – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Quest – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Titan – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Xterra – Smyrna, Tennessee
Saab 9-7X – Moraine, Ohio
Subaru Baja – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru B9 Tribeca – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru Legacy – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru Outback – Lafayette, Indiana
Suzuki XL7 - Ingersoll, Ontario
Toyota Avalon – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Camry Solara – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Corolla – Fremont, California
Toyota Sequoia – Princeton, Indiana
Toyota Sienna – Princeton, Indiana
Toyota Tacoma – Fremont, California
Toyota Tundra – Princeton, Indiana