better to buy a car in US or Canada

F

fromEast

Registered Users (C)
Hi, this might be an interesting discussion: is it better to buy a car in US and import it to Canada (assume the car is importable according to RIV) or buy it in Canada?

Also, I already finished my goods to follow list, does anyone know if I can change my goods to follow list to include this new car?

Thanks.
 
If you buy a car in US and import it in canada you will have to pay 7% GST at the border and then all importation charges etc. Will be cheaper to buy it in Canada
 
Is there a website I check the real car selling price in Canada? I did some research and found it's much expensive to buy the same vehicle in Canada(probably 20% higher considering the current exchange ratio). This is unbelievable. I understand I need to pay 7% GST, but even if I buy in Canada, I still need to pay, am I missing something?
 
Actually, It was cheaper to buy a car in Canada before when the exchange rate was 1.5 but since it is only 1.19 today , things have changed. You would be required to import the car in canada and make all the required modifications (daytime running lights etc) when you import the car + 182 Import fee + Provincial inspections etc.

Do you Math and see what works for you.
 
Hi,

Thanks for replying. Does anyone know if I can modify my goods to follow list(or get another list) to include the new car purchased in US and bring to Canada?
 
Nope

That is not allowed as far as I know and also you will have to pay full payment for the car in US to get the title in your name before you can import it in Canada.
 
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I imported my car from the US to Canada amnd now feel it would have been better to buy in Canada. Usually Cars are cheaper in Canada than in the US - also Canadian cars come with some additional features which the same car/ model in the US does not offer - eg. my car is sold in the US without heated wing mirrors, in Canada the same model is available with heated mirrors which definitely makes a difference in the cold weather. Also the coins holder in my car does not hold the Canadian coins. Small points but they do make a difference when you are driving day in and day out.

You dont need to pay 7% tax for importing - not if you have owned your vehicle in the US for a some time (forget the exact no of months). If you have just bought a car in the US and imported to Canada, you do need to pay the tax. Also you need the title at the time of import - if you have financed the car, your bank will probably retain the title.

List of Goods to Follow cannot be changed once you have landed in Canada.
 
I agree

If u already have a car in US and fully own it , it is okay to import it provided it meets import requirements , but never heard before of some one buying it and then importing it. If you do not own for > 1 year , you have to put import fee , GST and make modifications and sometimes come to US to get some parts for it .

Not very convenient eh!
 
I bought brand new honda civic in Canada when I was a PR .
Then I got a job in US.
I drove my car into US and did not have to pay any import fees
or taxes, since it was for personal use.
 
how can someone get a loan in Canada to pay off the car in the US since u would be going fresh to Canada and wud not have any credit history there. I have heard that they do refer or pull your US credit history to give u a loan is that true. Any further insights would be greatly appreciated
 
do u know of any banks that let u carry over the financing to Canada. Like some back which is there in US and Canada?
 
Thanks for replying. I owned the car for more than 1 year, but what I listed in the goods to follow list are some other cars which I sold bacause they are considered inadmissible by RIV.

I agree if buying a new car, it's better to do it in Canada.
 
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