Topic: Importing 2007 Hyundai Sonata from Buffalo...

[Mazda3guy]

Does anyone have experiences in importing Hyundai vehicles from Buffalo area?
My father-in-law is looking to purchase the car this summer and I told him that it might be easier to buy it from US. So he asked me to look into it... my big mouth.... ...

Anyways, I'm hoping to simplify the process by...
1. find a dealer who actually are willing to sell to Canadians at reasonable cost.
2. prepare the all the necessary paper work for us, since I've read (from this forum) that some dealers do them as service. I'm actually willing to pay few $$ if it means less work.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[rrocket]

You have to:

1)Send a copy of the VIN/Ownership to US customs 48 hours minumum before bringing the car across.

2) When you bring the car across, you have to bring original VIN/ownership into US customs.  They will verify it, and stamp/seal it

2a) Get Hyundai USA to give you a letter stating behicle has no outstanding recalls.

3) Take stamped ownership to canada customs.  Pay fees and duty

4) Send application to RIV.

5) Canadian Tire must do the federal inspection/safety check

6) Get stamp from Canadian tire and put on RIV papers

7) Mail/Fax RIV papers with Hyundai USA letter

Get Canadian VIN from RIV and got to license bureau to finish transaction

That's it in a nutshell

[tpl]

A couple more things for your list  Rrocket.   Only some border posts can do this transaction. Only one of the two coming from Buffalo works I think.

In step 3 I think  "fees" includes the GST and possibly 6% duty   so that is a fair chunk of change  ( Cash, Visa MC or CERTIFIED cheque )

Your post stage 7 at the provincial licence bureau nvolves another big monetary transaction with the PST

And a question.  At what point in your list can you continue into Canada with the new vehicle?
I think it is after step 3 assuming you have a transit plate from the USA and insurance... or the vehicle on a trailer.

[inco]

In many of the posts talking about doing this, or having done this, what about compliance? I don't think anyone has mentioned that.

US cars are different than ours - speedo, DRL's  etc. I thought that they had to be converted to meet our standards if they were different. Has something changed?

Used cars may have a different set of rules, but I'm not sure here either.

[tpl]

1 8km/h bumpers rather than 5 km/h
2 Daytime running lights
3 Km/h on speedometer
4 assorted things  to do with child seat and seat belt anchorages
5 bilingual labeling. French/English

Numbers 1 and 4 are usually the most difficult. Canada insists that any change to bring a US car up to Cdn spec must be done by the manufacturer as well.

#1 ruled out the Mitsu Evo as the intercooler could have been damaged in a 8km/h crash


This whole importing and warranty thing needs a sticky for sure

[carcrazy]

Santa Fe is made in the US so you may not need to pay the 6.1% duty.

[inco]

1 8km/h bumpers rather than 5 km/h
2 Daytime running lights
3 Km/h on speedometer
4 assorted things  to do with child seat and seat belt anchorages
5 bilingual labeling. French/English

These are the differences, but are people having to make these changes? I do not recall any posts about having to make these changes and the cost of same.

How about it folks, those of you out there who have gone south and bought your Subies and saved $10,000 or those who got Toyotas - what happens here?

[Allen]

Santa Fe is made in the US so you may not need to pay the 6.1% duty.

interesting but no relevant, seeing which he wants a Sonata

[inco]

Sonata is made there too I think.

[tpl]

1 8km/h bumpers rather than 5 km/h
2 Daytime running lights
3 Km/h on speedometer
4 assorted things  to do with child seat and seat belt anchorages
5 bilingual labeling. French/English

These are the differences, but are people having to make these changes? I do not recall any posts about having to make these changes and the cost of same.

How about it folks, those of you out there who have gone south and bought your Subies and saved $10,000 or those who got Toyotas - what happens here?

These are the changes that have to be made.  
AFAIK
#1  usually impossible as the stronger bumpers reflect into the body structure. I am sure that some cars can be changed but most cannot.
#2  most cars nowdays its just a computer change
#3  few cars would not have KMs  
#4  sometimes impossible without replacing the seats
#5 Only certain labels like the airbag warnings

The RIV site  shows  that a few makes ( Ferrari, Bentley for example) are allowed to be brought into compliance by the Canadian dealers.

[ggweci]

Well, if RIV.ca lists that a car can be imported, then can we assume that it meets all the requirements?

To the OP, have you checked if Hyundai's US warranty is honoured in Canada?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

[tpl]

Well, if RIV.ca lists that a car can be imported, then can we assume that it meets all the requirements?

I think so unless the listing has "*"s and ">"s around it in which case research is required.

[stodge]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

Where's this $4k listed?

[jcon]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

Are those incentives not usually 0% financing? That would be useless in this case.

I'm curious what the price difference is between the Canadian Sonata vs the US Sonata?

[quadzilla]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

Are those incentives not usually 0% financing? That would be useless in this case.

I'm curious what the price difference is between the Canadian Sonata vs the US Sonata?

Why would 0% financing be useless?  Keep your money in the bank and earn interest. 

[jcon]

Why would 0% financing be useless?  Keep your money in the bank and earn interest. 

Yes, I agree if it were in Canada. We're talking about importing from the US where we can't get credit and 0% is useless.

You did raise a good point though. If you can get 0% financing from Canada, surely you must add that into your calculations.

[Giant Dwarf]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

Isn't that $4k incentive only in Quebec?  (booo!!!!).  Maybe it's better to import a Sonata from Gatineau instead of Buffalo!

[MKII]

Is it that much cheaper? Don't think there would be that much of a difference with the $4,000+ incentives on them here, unless you go absolute full load.

Then again I guess the US runs juicy incentives too.

Are those incentives not usually 0% financing? That would be useless in this case.

I'm curious what the price difference is between the Canadian Sonata vs the US Sonata?

USA  http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/sonata/sonata.aspx
Sonata GLS MSRP $ 17,345 
Sonata SE MSRP $ 21,445
Sonata Limited MSRP $ 23,445

Canada http://www.hyundaicanada.com/
GL I4 Automatic 4 Speed $23,595
GL I4 w/ABS Automatic 4 Speed $24,995
GL V6 Automatic 5 Speed $26,295
GL V6 w/Sunroof Automatic 5 Speed $26,895 
GLS I4 Automatic $26,895
GLS V6 Automatic 5 Speed $27,895
GLS V6 Premium Automatic 5 Speed $29,295

[Guy]

All Sonatas have the same bumpers, 8 km/hr. The 6% duty do not apply as it is built in the US. You will not have any major modification to perform.