Important Documents Required for Cross-Border Shipping

Shipping your car across the country can be relatively seamless when you are relocating, say from Toronto to Calgary or Montreal to Halifax. There is a selection of reputable and experienced vehicle transport companies that use their fleet of multi-level open air carriers to get the job done. With easy and convenient drop-off and pickup, once your car is ready and on its way to your new destination, it is mostly smooth sailing without any administrative checkpoints or unforeseen complications.

It’s a bit more complicated for cross border shipping, as there are requirements and processes that must be followed to ensure that your vehicle crosses the border successfully.

Ensure Your Vehicle is Eligible for Cross-Border Shipping

Do your homework by making certain your vehicle is eligible to import or export across the border. The following are some quick tips on what you should know and do if you are looking to have your vehicle shipped across the border:

1. Eligibility: Check this list which specifies which cars you can import into Canada from the US. Some makes and models are not admissible due to manufacturing guidelines and sales restrictions and allowances. These regulations are typically retroactive for 15 years exempting classic cars, as an example.
2. Recalls and Taxes: Your car must not have any recalls and any import taxes must be paid.
3. Inspection: Your vehicle then needs to pass an inspection by the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) in Canada before it can be officially considered imported. Failure to pass this inspection will hinder the import even if duties have been paid.
4. Modifications: If you have modified or retrofitted your van, car or motorcycle from its original form, you will not likely be able to import your car from the US to Canada. Ensure your documentation is compliant as, for example, you cannot import a car with a salvage or rebuilt title.
5. Environmental and Local Requirements: If your car does not meet Canadian metric requirements, you may be required to install metric odometers and add daytime running lights.
6. Multiple Manufacturers: Vehicles assembled by more than one manufacturer, like vocational vans, motorhomes, buses or limousines, may also be impeded pending review.

Forms Required for Cross-Border Shipping

When shipping a vehicle across the Canada and US border, you will want an experienced vehicle transport company to handle the processing part which will involve a series of forms that you will need to fill out. Some shipping companies have brokers on both sides of the border to effectively make crossing over less onerous and time consuming. Let’s take a closer look at some of these forms which may or not apply depending on the direction you are going and your circumstances:

1. Form-1: This is a Vehicle Import Form that needs to be completed followed by a declaration at the border. This requirement by Transport Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will then permit your vehicle to be imported across the border.
2. Canada Customs invoice: This is a Canadian Customs document.
3. Declaration of Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles: This is a Canadian Customs document (non-import).
4. Short Form Power of Attorney During Transport: This is a Customs document.
5. Declaration of Importation: This is required when importing your vehicle into the US.
6. EPA Declaration: Upon importing your car into the US.
7. Electronic Export Information: US title import into Canada or Canadian goods return.

Once all documents are completed and provided by the cross-border shipping company to the Canadian Border Services Agency at the point of entry, they hold the authority to process the import of your vehicle into Canada. The CBSA assists Transport Canada by executing the required documents in compliance with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, CBSA officers will check compliance with:

1. Admissibility
2. Documentation – examples are title documents, registration, or proof of ownership.
3. Form-1
4. RIV-Fee – this is a non-refundable payment.

Crossing over to Canada also requires you to advise the exact US border crossing you will be using at least 72 hours before you show up with a car to be exported. You will need to send them two things:

1. A digital scan of the front and back of the title
2. Your Internal Transit Number (ITN)

Trust the Professionals at SAC for Your Cross-Border Shipping

Snowbirds Auto Connection (SAC) can help you ship your vehicle from the United States to Canada or vice versa by helping you navigate cross-border documentation to meet clearance and complex compliance requirements. Contact SAC today to find out more about cross-border shipping and to receive your personalized quote.