Importing a bike from the States to Canada

[Pine Sol]

just to make sure..



i send the title and bill of sale to us custom 72hrs before i arrive. just these two things?

send the originals or copies? fax? or snail mail?



i will be crossing coutts/ sweet grass in the next few days

thank you

ed

[MacNoob]

Just a faxed or emailed copy of the title to US customs at the port where you are leaving the US, at least 72 hours in advance (and less than 60 days in advance) - so that they can do the title search before you arrive - thats all they've ever wanted from me.

[JayDee24ca]

I just brought my newly purchased old bike across at Sumas yesterday. I followed the instructions of the US Customs and Border people on their website, and emailed them the Title, the bill of Sale, and the Export Worksheet (3 items) 72 hours prior to showing up at their crossing. I was through the US side in about 5 minutes as they had received the things they asked for All they did was look at the original Title I had in my hand, checked against the worksheet I had sent in, and looked at the ID place on the bike.
On the Canadian side it took maybe 20 minutes, as they needed to go out to the bike and find the serial number and the date of manufacture, and helped me fill out the RIV form. And collected some money from me.
JD

Originally Posted by Pine Sol

just to make sure..



i send the title and bill of sale to us custom 72hrs before i arrive. just these two things?

send the originals or copies? fax? or snail mail?



i will be crossing coutts/ sweet grass in the next few days

thank you

ed

[Pine Sol]

just found this, while searching for an email address.

http://www.ucanimport.com/Border_Crossing_Info.aspx

[gumbellion]

When I did mine I called in advnace to check at the border I was crossing
They also wanted a photo copy of the persons ID that was bringing it across (me)

[Jick Magger]

Originally Posted by LVGS

I have never been asked by US Customs. However, I was asked once coming home (out of approximately 20 trips) by the Canadian Customs Officer where I bought the bike? After telling him it was imported from the States, he came out to look at the plates and the speedo. I then pointed to the RIV sticker; he waved me through.

I would just put it on...not worth the hassle.

I haven't put my sticker on my GS but I think I should. Not exactly sure where it should go. Anyone have any insight on this?

[H e a d N o r t h]

Originally Posted by Jick Magger

I haven't put my sticker on my GS but I think I should. Not exactly sure where it should go. Anyone have any insight on this?

I was told that it needs to go on the frame, close to the forks. I think that's roughly where most VIN plates are.
However, my wife imported one a couple fo years ago, and never bothered to put it on. No on has asked, even after the sale to another inmate.

.

[gumbellion]

They say on the frame and somewhere that it is fully visible. So its kinda the shits,
Ill put mine on somwhere that it isnt too noticeable

[Pine Sol]

ok, i keep meaning to post this info... (this is from my bad memory last month)

importing a BMW

the bike that i bought, the previous seller said that all the recalls were done, i dropped by the dealership that he had the bike serviced at and asked if i could have a copy of vehicle history. and the pic bellow is what her gave me. second sheet listed what was actually done to it. i scanned this copy and sent it in to RIV. even thou it says on the top of this sheet, it says not to be relied on for import. the information in the two red boxes is/was what RIV needed. date can not be older then 30 days, and "No Open Campaigns"


it really was a straight forward process.
- faxed the title, bill of sale, copy of my passport, and lien release to coutts 3 days prior.
- parked the bike at the little marked parking lot, just before the entry point for canada.
- went upstairs to the american customs office, informed them that i had sent the info three days ago, they stamped my paper, that was it.
- back to the bike, drove up to entry for canada
- answered a bunch of his questions, he instructed me to park the bike and enter the building
- approached the officer, he asked first time? then very easily walked me through the process of what info they needed
- paid the customs and left

got home, with the paper that he had gave me, went to RIV website, entered the 4 (different) numbers that the cdn customs guy noted on my white papers that he had given me, paid the RIV price. printed out the form and headed to canadian tire. walked in and they did a test there and then, paid cdn$9.65. took the signed paper home, scanned it and sent it back to RIV. think it was a day later they replied that it was accepted, again, another paper was printed out and off to the registry office...

i was impressed how easy it really was.... and would be doing it again...

hope this helps someone else out

[pelvis_98]

Looking at a bike that is "salvaged" in the USA. But i never plan on registering it, putting it on the road, or otherwise. I just want it for the parts.

Problems bringing this across?

[RED CAT]

Put mine on the back of the tank under the seat. Had to show it to the Canadian Border guard while hauling it back on my trailer after some warranty work. Make sure to get Dealer paperwork when coming back to Canada after getting work done.

[Fishizl]

Originally Posted by pelvis_98

Looking at a bike that is "salvaged" in the USA. But i never plan on registering it, putting it on the road, or otherwise. I just want it for the parts.

Problems bringing this across?

RIV Link

[Fishizl]

Originally Posted by MacNoob

Correct - Canada customs might not check (but they might!). Why skip that simple, free step of stopping at US Customs on the way out? They ensure that your purchase is actually clear title (not stolen etc) and who knows now whether you or some subsequent owner might later want to sell back to an American? I recently sold a car back to the US - even though I originally planned to keep it forever.

I've asked Canada customs this several times and each time they said they don't check. It's just one more simple free step that can potentially cause me a lot of hassle.

[haileypooch]

Just a heads up, when I imported my 09 f800gs 2 months ago I though to be smart and under declare the value of the bike and save some tax. I paid $8500 and claimed it was 6000 with the false ad the previous owner helped me out with, they called bullshit, searched my iphone, found the original craigslist add and made me fess up. Providing false documents ( faked ad) was the highest degree of infraction, and was susbsequently fined $1200 plus the HST I still had to pay. Other option was to fight it but that means having the bike impounded.

Otherwise the importation process is easy peasy

[G-Mac]

I'm ASSuming its all the same if you are actually riding it across, not trailering it right?