Buying from an Auto Auction

So you’re thinking of purchasing a vehicle at an auto auction and bringing it to Canada! Here are some details you should know…

Is the vehicle admissible for import to Canada?
To find out if the vehicle you are looking to purchase is admissible for import to Canada, check out our online calculator http://www.borderbuddy.com.

Vehicles that are 15 years old and older and have not been modified from their original state are admissible. For specific details regarding vehicles that have been modified from their original state, other than regular maintenance, you can contact Transport Canada by phone at 1.800.333.0371 or by email to roadsafetywebmail@tc.gc.ca

What documents do I need?
You need the following:

• Bill of Sale
• Certificate of Title
• Recall clearance letter (If less than 15 years old) to notify if the vehicle has any recalls.

What charges do I need to pay when importing the vehicle to Canada?
To find out the charges you will need to pay when importing the vehicle to Canada, check out our online calculator at http://www.borderbuddy.com.

• 5% GST
• 6.1% duty on vehicles manufactured outside of North America and newer than 25 years old.
• $100 excise tax for air condition
• $195.00 Registrar of Imported Vehicles fee for vehicles new than 15 years old
• Green Levy tax depending on fuel consumption
• Provincial sales tax where applicable.

Once I purchase the vehicle, how can I get it back to Canada?
To get a rate on having your new vehicle transported directly from the auction to your home in Canada either by open or enclosed transport, please see our online calculator at http://www.aacb.com/quote/vehicle/.

Or, you can drive the vehicle back to Canada by contacting your insurance agent in Canada for your required insurance, and also the department of transportation in the state you are purchasing the vehicle from for the necessary trip permits.

From Arizona: If you buy the vehicle from a licensed dealer in Arizona, the dealer will give you a temporary registration plate that allows you to operate the vehicle for any purpose. If you purchased the vehicle from a private sale, you may obtain a Restricted Use 3-Day Permit which is valid only for the purposes of vehicle inspection, emission testing, repairs needed to comply with inspection or emission rules, or to otherwise complete the registration process. The permit can be purchased online at www.servicearizona.com, or at any DMV or authorized third party office. In order to operate the vehicle for any other purpose, you must first complete the registration process. For more information, see the Arizona Department of Transportation at www.azdot.gov/mvd

From Nevada: The Nevada DMV issues several types of permits depending on the customer's needs, including a 15-day "drive away" permit for vehicles being driven out of state. To operate a vehicle on Nevada streets, you must have liability insurance and either a full registration or a valid movement permits.

According to the DMV website Nevada auto dealers are required to issue a placard upon the sale of a vehicle, and in private party sales, the seller is required to keep the license plates. For more information, visit the State of Nevada’s department of motor vehicle’s website at www.dmvnv.com. If purchasing a vehicle for use in Canada, please also inform the dealership that you are sales tax exempt.

From Florida: When purchasing a vehicle in Florida the new owner of the vehicle should go immediately to the local tax collector’s office to register the vehicle, or purchase temporary tags if transporting the vehicle outside Florida. For locations and contact numbers for the Florida Tax collectors offices by city, visit the Florida Department of Highways Safety and Motor Vehicles at www.flhsmv.gov/offices.