# Buying a car in the USA (and bringing it to Canada)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-car-in-the-usa-and-bringing-it-to-canada/233964>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 12, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-car-in-the-usa-and-bringing-it-to-canada/233964 "2004-03-12T21:00:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-car-in-the-usa-and-bringing-it-to-canada/233964/1 "2004-03-12T21:00:38Z")

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I’m looking to buy a car from the US and bringing back to Canada (where I live).

Am I right in thinking that the cars in the states, especially southern states are cheaper (recent good exchange rates), have less rust (warmer winters?) and are overall better value?

If I decide to buy one from down south, would my best bet be e-bay, other internet auctions or auto-trader magasines / newspapers? And which car makes would be the cheapest ones compared to canadian prices?

Also,what kind of trouble should I expect at the border? ( i.e. taxes, insurance, safety check, etc.)

thanks

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**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-car-in-the-usa-and-bringing-it-to-canada/233964/2 "2004-03-12T21:03:52Z")

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I forgot to mention, I’m looking on spending between $3000 and $5000 USD (or under 8,000 CAD).

And I’d rather have a sports car but would settle for a family one.

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-car-in-the-usa-and-bringing-it-to-canada/233964/3 "2004-03-12T21:33:02Z")

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You’ll have to Canadianize it.

The instruments need to be in metric. You’ll need daytime running lights. You’ll need 8-km/h (5-mph) bumpers, rather thn the wimpy 2.5-mph bumpers required for US cars.

The bumper requirement has blocked a number of models popular in the States or Europe from coming to Canada, such as the Lancer Evo VII and the Mercedes A-class.

The [Registrar of Imported Vehicles](http://www.riv.ca/) gives details on importation requirements. For instance, ‘passenger vehicles’ must have:

> [@](#):
>
> [ul][li]Recall clearance letter [_]The vehicle must bear a manufacturer’s valid statement of compliance label at the time of importation, otherwise a manufacturer’s latter of compliance will be required. [_]The Registrar of Imported Vehicles will mail a Canadian statement of compliance label to you after passing the federal inspection.[_]Valid alpha-numeric 17-digit VIN[_]Metric speedometer and odometer labels (provided by inspection centre)[_]Daytime running lights, if manufactured after November 1989[_]Infant restraint kit, if manufactured after 1988[_]Child tether anchorage, for most passenger cars manufactured after 1988 (refer to Admissibility List) [_]8 km/hour bumpers (refer to Admissibility List)French supplementary restraint system label for airbags that require periodic maintenance.[/ul][/li]

Looks like your best bet would be with a ‘classic’ car, older than the mid eighties. And even then, if the seatbelts don’t meet the standards, you can’t bring it in and license it for use on public roads.