Author Topic: Question about avg cost to import (Read 5157 times)

siwash · « **on:** September 29, 2007, 11:51:16 am »

Ok, I know the answer is probably found somewhere in the multiple threads on this board, but a short aswer to a simple Q: what is the rough cost to import a car that would retail for roughly 20 to 25 K in the U.S. (like a subaru for instance?)

are we talking over 3 or 4 K?

sailor723 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2007, 01:24:25 pm »

Not really sure what you mean by "cost to import". Other than the fee paid to the Registrar of Importer Vehicles (about $206) there really is no cost. Of course everybody will have some incidental expenses connected with going to the US to buy a car and then getting it back to Canada (gas,meals,maybe hotel etc). Other than that costs such as air tax,HST or GST+PST (depending on where you are) are the same whether you buy in Canada or import.

safristi · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2007, 08:25:17 pm »

Cars fer nuffing and CHIX fer free I tell ya........The US of A is in DIRE STRAITS...

siwash · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2007, 11:25:21 pm »

Quote from: sailor723 on September 29, 2007, 01:24:25 pm

Not really sure what you mean by "cost to import". Other than the fee paid to the Registrar of Importer Vehicles (about $206) there really is no cost. Of course everybody will have some incidental expenses connected with going to the US to buy a car and then getting it back to Canada (gas,meals,maybe hotel etc). Other than that costs such as air tax,HST or GST+PST (depending on where you are) are the same whether you buy in Canada or import.

ok, so $206 - that's it?! why would anyone buy a cdn retailed car? most of us live within a 60 min drive of the good ol us of a... what hotels, air tax...??

sounds great - so as long as i pay alertan cowboy in ottawa his 'lets rip of toronto' tax (aka gst) i'll be good to go eeeeeh haaaaa

FMJ · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2007, 04:35:27 pm »

$206 plus the air tax ($100), which you have to pay here anyways.
then you will have to pay both GST & PST if you are from Ontario, and have the car license.
~6% for duty if they car is not mad in NA.

what i did is, i use the MSRP in US, x 1.2. thats the rough number you will be paying in CAD$

somebody correct me if i am wrong.

siwash · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2007, 05:46:08 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on October 01, 2007, 04:35:27 pm

$206 plus the air tax ($100), which you have to pay here anyways.
then you will have to pay both GST & PST if you are from Ontario, and have the car license.
~6% for duty if they car is not mad in NA.

what i did is, i use the MSRP in US, x 1.2. thats the rough number you will be paying in CAD$

somebody correct me if i am wro

I'm assuming they also charge frieght/PDI, right?

I am actually thinking of buying a 1 to 2 old vehicle (suby forester) so i'd avoid applicable freight..and air tax, for that matter
you can pick up a 2007 forester with about 20 to 30K for about $17000. They're in the mid-$20's same vintage up here

I wonder if a LOT more people will be doing this...

sailor723 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:33:51 pm »

Quote from: siwash on October 01, 2007, 05:46:08 pm

Quote from: FMJ on October 01, 2007, 04:35:27 pm
$

I'm assuming they also charge frieght/PDI, right?

I

Freight is not that big of a deal in the US. From what I've seen they only charge about 1/2 or less of what the Canadian manufacturers do.

FMJ · « **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2007, 10:02:40 am »

yeah, i never thought of that...

so beside the cheaper frieght and PDI, what other charges does US dealer have?

like we have freight, PDI, air tax, gas tax, etc....

any other minor cost when buying from US?

sailor723 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2007, 11:25:20 am »

When we started talking price on the Tribeca the dealer had a $249 "Documentation Fee" on the table. Didn't really get into it with them as we soon started talking "sitting outside with a temp plate on it ready to drive away" price

I do recall that the fee was shown on the final contract though. Might have to do with their internal accounting and putting some of the income into the business office.

Cord · « **Reply #9 on:** October 02, 2007, 01:46:50 pm »

Quote from: sailor723 on October 02, 2007, 11:25:20 am

When we started talking price on the Tribeca the dealer had a $249 "Documentation Fee" on the table. Didn't really get into it with them as we soon started talking "sitting outside with a temp plate on it ready to drive away" price I do recall that the fee was shown on the final contract though. Might have to do with their internal accounting and putting some of the income into the business office.

That, of course, is the correct way to handle it.

siwash · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2007, 07:38:36 pm »

what about individual state sales tax? Some States don;t have em, like New Hamshire. Others have around 5%

so there's:

RIV fee: roughly $200

GST/PST: varies

Air tax: $100

Freight (if new): varies but probably less than $750

Modifications (e.g. running lights): $$?? have no idea what it'd cost to do this

If you buy private, gst/pst can be fudged as most people here in Ontario

But if you're buying used, why would they charge both taxes?

1.2 seems about right...

sailor723 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2007, 07:12:27 am »

I don't think most states (at least Maine doesn't) charge tax if the new owner is not from the state and is not registering the car instate

Large numbers of new US spec vehicle already have DRL's

Don't know about Ont but HST(6% federal+8% provincial)applies to both new and used in NB as well as cars being imported....no difference

Unless you have to modify the car the only additional expense (that doesn't also apply to buying in Canada) when buying stateside is the $206 RIV fee plus whatever travel expenses you incur

carcrazy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:08:18 pm »

The speedo/odo in metric system is required as well when you register the car in Canada IIRC. How much would that cost?

jcon · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:09:50 pm »

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 12:08:18 pm

The oddometer in km/h is required as well when you register the car in Canada IIRC. How much would that cost?

Why? I've never heard of that.

carcrazy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:12:23 pm »

Quote from: jcon on October 03, 2007, 12:09:50 pm

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 12:08:18 pm
The oddometer in km/h is required as well when you register the car in Canada IIRC. How much would that cost?
Why? I've never heard of that.

I'm pretty sure it's a requirement from the RIV web site.

carcrazy · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:14:59 pm »

Quote from: jcon on October 03, 2007, 12:09:50 pm

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 12:08:18 pm
The oddometer in km/h is required as well when you register the car in Canada IIRC. How much would that cost?
Why? I've never heard of that.

Here it is:
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/mod_inspect_requirements.html

sailor723 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:13:04 pm »

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 12:14:59 pm

Quote from: jcon on October 03, 2007, 12:09:50 pm
Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 12:08:18 pm
The oddometer in km/h is required as well when you register the car in Canada IIRC. How much would that cost?
Why? I've never heard of that.

Here it is:
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/mod_inspect_requirements.html

Says..."labels (provided by inspection centre)"

carcrazy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:44:18 pm »

Yep. What's this all about? Could you shed some light?

airbalancer · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:56:27 pm »

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 01:44:18 pm

Yep. What's this all about? Could you shed some light?

Way back in the '70's, when Canada switch over , you could buy stickers to put on your speedo, to show you where 50 km/hr etc was
It probably a sticker to indicate mileage is in kms

jcon · « **Reply #19 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:59:42 pm »

Quote from: airbalancer on October 03, 2007, 01:56:27 pm

Quote from: carcrazy on October 03, 2007, 01:44:18 pm
Yep. What's this all about? Could you shed some light?

Way back in the '70's, when Canada switch over , you could buy stickers to put on your speedo, to show you where 50 km/hr etc was
It probably a sticker to indicate mileage is in kms

But most, if not all, vehicles now show both on the speedo. In Canada MPH is smaller.