Importing a bike from the States to Canada

[LVGS]

Just a brief post to let you know that RIV WILL accept a Recall Clearance Letter from an American BMW dealership. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY BMW CANADA or any of their dealerships, $500 to produce it you i.e. in spite of what they tell you.

Ride West in Seattle provided me, without charge, a recall letter for the bike that I just imported several weeks ago. Note, I did not buy the bike from them.

Overall, the experience was relatively straight forward and everyone was extremely polite and professional including US and Canada Border/Customs, RIV and ICBC. Canadian Tire was the only exception.

I would definitely do it again and love my (new) R1150GS.

And, before I forget, thanks to everyone participating on this thread. Its been extremely helpful.

[IKIGAI]

Originally Posted by LVGS

Just a brief post to let you know that RIV WILL accept a Recall Clearance Letter from an American BMW dealership. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY BMW CANADA or any of their dealerships, $500 to produce it you i.e. in spite of what they tell you.

Ride West in Seattle provided me, without charge, a recall letter for the bike that I just imported several weeks ago. Note, I did not buy the bike from them.

Overall, the experience was relatively straight forward and everyone was extremely polite and professional including US and Canada Border/Customs, RIV and ICBC. Canadian Tire was the only exception.

I would definitely do it again and love my (new) R1150GS.

And, before I forget, thanks to everyone participating on this thread. Its been extremely helpful.

Thinking of importing a vehicle from Washington State and would have to go through much the same procedures. Since the vehicle is less than 15 years from date of manufacture, I would have to have a Crappy Tire do the 'inspection'.
Please let us know what was exceptional about the CDN Tire experience and which outlet you used -- just so we know which one to avoid.

[FINNDIAN]

Looks like BC is a lot easier than ontario to ride a bike into.

As stated earlier in this thread you can't get an ontario trip permit without having the bike safety checked and registered (well why would I need a friggin permit then??)
I've tried to ride a bike home legally in ontario before and had no choice but to just throw whatever plate I have on it.
I guess depending on the rules of the state you buy out of a state trip permit might get you home if your insurance company with cover you.

[fullmetalscooter]

On another twist that no one talk is don't some states take 2 or more weeks to get you everything you need ? Am I missing a brain cell here ??? There are times I thought of flying to Las vegus and buying down there. The honda helix I want just don't show up in Canada often.

[canuckAME]

I bought a truck in Minnesota. I don't think the state had anything to do with the sale. The US border port where you will export the vehicle thru to Canada requires at least a copy of the title 72 hours before you plan to take the vehicle over the border.

They do some kind of searches of the VIN before you can export the vehicle. When you take the vehicle over the border the US customs will require the actual title certificate and will stamp it cleared for export.

If you deal with a dealer get it written into the sales contract that if you can't export the bike for any reason that they take it back. Covers your ass if sometime in the past the bike was stolen or something.

Make sure it's on the R.I.V list as admissable to Canada.

Good luck.

[adiablolex]

does anyone know the details of importing a bike that's not on the admissibility list?
Case in point: 09 990 ADV, the list stops at 07.
Trying to contact KTM NA but it's like pulling teeth.
Any help would be appreciated.

[adiablolex]

Originally Posted by adiablolex

does anyone know the details of importing a bike that's not on the admissibility list?
Case in point: 09 990 ADV, the list stops at 07.
Trying to contact KTM NA but it's like pulling teeth.
Any help would be appreciated.

Soooo to answer my own question

the only way to bring an inadmissible bike from the US to Canada is to import it through a registered importer such as MIAC.
Paper work usually runs between $500-1K additionally but they handle everything, you just pick up the bike and show up at the border.

[adiablolex]

Originally Posted by adiablolex

Soooo to answer my own question

the only way to bring an inadmissible bike from the US to Canada is to import it through a registered importer such as MIAC.
Paper work usually runs between $500-1K additionally but they handle everything, you just pick up the bike and show up at the border.

here is some further info:

www.miacinc.ca

Motorcycle Importers Association of Canada

$500 Transport Canada letter
$175 brokerage fee

anybike, from practicaly anywhere...

[EmmEff]

Make that miacinc.ca :)

[adiablolex]

Originally Posted by EmmEff

Make that miacinc.ca :)

did I mention I was dislexic?

edited my last post, thanks emmeff

[kahoon]

Originally Posted by adiablolex

here is some further info:

www.miacinc.ca

Motorcycle Importers Association of Canada

$500 Transport Canada letter
$175 brokerage fee

anybike, from practicaly anywhere...

wow thats fantastic info, diablo!! maybe there'll be an 1190ADV-R in my future

[NORTH RIDER]

do you guys really think it's that easy? don't you think that many of us in canada have tried ? i would very much like to see someone really do it. let us know how you did it and how much it costs. there are a lot of bikes in europe i would love to have
YAMAHA SUPER TENERE 1200, HERE I COME

NORTH RIDER

[speedracer]

Yea, they told me they needed that at the crossing into Manitoba too but when I asked the Canadian guys they said they didn't care about it. I've stopped bothering with that step since and have imported many vehicles without incident.

Originally Posted by canuckAME

I bought a truck in Minnesota. I don't think the state had anything to do with the sale. The US border port where you will export the vehicle thru to Canada requires at least a copy of the title 72 hours before you plan to take the vehicle over the border.

They do some kind of searches of the VIN before you can export the vehicle. When you take the vehicle over the border the US customs will require the actual title certificate and will stamp it cleared for export.

If you deal with a dealer get it written into the sales contract that if you can't export the bike for any reason that they take it back. Covers your ass if sometime in the past the bike was stolen or something.

Make sure it's on the R.I.V list as admissable to Canada.

Good luck.

[Patrol]

I have imported a Range Rover, exported Corvettes, and imported several bikes. I've had (and won) several wars with Customs and Ministry of Transportation when they tried to gauge me for fees I didn't owe, etc. PM me if I can be of assistance.

[CGH]

Originally Posted by speedracer

Yea, they told me they needed that at the crossing into Manitoba too but when I asked the Canadian guys they said they didn't care about it. I've stopped bothering with that step since and have imported many vehicles without incident.

If you're talking about the export clearance provided by the U.S. CBP, you're right, the Canadian guys don't care as it has nothing to do with the import of a vehicle into Canada. The U.S. guys might have a problem with it if that vehicle ever tries to re-enter the U.S. though.