Shipping a Vehicle to the U.S.
from Canada
When a Canadian sells an antique vehicle to a person who resides in the U.S. and that U.S. buyer is not physically with the Canadian seller when entering the U.S., the rules, as laid out by Homeland Security are much changed.
To make a long story short, the Canadian seller cannot bring the sold vehicle into the U.S. for delivery to the new American buyer unless the vehicle has been pre-cleared by U.S. Customs.
This process can only be done now by using a customs broker.
The broker needs a copy of the bill of sale and a copy of the ownership.
With that the broker follows the rules that eventually leads to a form 7501 being generated. It may take from 3 to 5 weeks to obtain.
The seller will be mailed or faxed the form with the import number shown.
The vehicle cannot be titled in the state of the American buyer until this 7501 form is presented.
Some U.S. states may even require that the 7501 be a certified copy and not just a carbon copy.
The DMV of the buyer’s state should be asked if this requirement applies to them.
As a Canadian seller not accompanied by the U.S. buyer when entering the U.S., you cannot drive the vehicle across the border.
It MUST be trailered. If however, the U.S. buyer brings the vehicle into the U.S. he or she is allowed to make an informal declaration at the border and there is no need to use a broker and the vehicle can be driven.
Also note that the rules are fluid and may change. So always check with your local customs broker first when selling a vehicle to a U.S. buyer.
The approximate costs to use a customs broker are as follows:
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$ 125.00 entry fee
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$3.00 bond fee per $1,000 of selling price (varies by border crossing point)
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$20.00 EPA fee
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$15.00 electronic manifest fee
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There is also a “one time cost” of establishing a SCAC code (can be used ongoing for future shipments) of $65 and a “one time cost” of $65 to purchase PAP Bar Code Labels that also can be used for future shipments.
Note: If a trucking company is hauling the vehicle they will already have these items.
If a private third party is hauling the sold vehicle for you they may use your SCAC code and Bar Code Labels. It generally takes 2 to 3 weeks to obtain a SCAC code.
Mickey Moulder
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