Dread Pirate Jimbo and I want to get a Subaru Legacy 5 speed sedan, and we’re finding them kind of hard to come by in Calgary, so we thought we might try our luck on ebay when we’re ready to buy. My question is to Canadian Dopers - bought a car from the U.S. on ebay? Did you have any problems with the sale and/or delivery? Any border problems? Bottom line - would you recommend it for us, or advise us to stay the heck away from buying a car from the U.S. on ebay?
You may want to take a look at this:
The Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Looks like it’s a bit more complicated than I thought. If the same model is sold in Canada and the US, it wouldn’t be too hard.
Don’t forget to install a block heater after you get it. 
Personally, I wouldn’t buy any vehicle on ebay, regardless of where it was being sold, but that may be just me.
It can be a hassle. A big hassle. It used to be next to impossible to import a car that was less than 15 years old and not considered a ‘collector’ car.
Plus, little things can bite you. For example, Canada requires that all newer cars be equipped with daytime running lights. A friend of mine just moved back to Canada and brought his Mazda Tribute with him. He had to drop a pretty good chunk of change to get the daytime running lights installed.
Plus, there’s the travel costs involved in checking out the vehicle, driving it back, etc.
Not even all Canadian cars have block heaters. I was quite old before I learned that cars don’t come with them, however, being raised in Saskatchewan. My friend from Toronto was told that the cars here are electric when she came to Calgary and asked about all the plugs hanging off the front of the cars. 
Why would the government care where I buy my car, and whether it’s a collector’s item or not?
They do it to protect Canadian car sellers. Cars are often significantly cheaper in the U.S. than they are in Canada, even when taking into account our exchange rates. For example, the Canadian dollar is at about 85 cents American. In the U.S., a Subaru WRX is $24,500. In Canada, that same car is $34,500. And yet, considering only exchange rates you could buy it for $29,000.
So if there was free exchange of automobiles, dealers along the border would all go out of business. Of course, the rest of us would get cheaper cars, which is a good thing. But that’s not as easy an election sell.
I get it; there’s a reason, just not a good one. No offense to you, Sam - thanks for the info.
Thanks for the link, Sunspace. It does indeed sound complicated. Maybe I’ll just try to get the Subaru we want within Canada. Importing from Ontario or Quebec would be a pain in the tushy, but at least it wouldn’t be crossing any international borders.
… and a tow hitch for the husky team!