Automobile import/export - MISTY

Amended from questioner's answer
QUESTION:
Hi David,
Many thanks for all your valuable advice offered on this site.
My question concerns importation of cars from US to Canada.  I know from
reading your site that you are something of a car nut with your latest
acquisition being the '73 Citroen.  I am a dual citizen resident in Canada.
I keep an address in Seattle, USA (friend's home) for IRA and investment
statements.  As you well know, US borrowing rates and investment rates tend
to be lower/higher, respectively, than in Canada.
I'm curious about the following short article on MoneySense.ca
http://www.moneysense.ca/spending/shopping_sense/article.jsp?content=2005050
2_134006_6384
concerning the advantage of importing expensive (not so for lower end)
vehicles from US to Canada now that the Canadian dollar is trending higher.
The exchange is even more favourable now than when the article was written.
The catch is you must have a physical address in US to buy the vehicle in
the first place.  So I guess I've cleared the first hurdle.
Would I form a Schedule C export business in the US to do this?  Can I do
that since I'm not resident there except for the mailing address?  Or would
I form a Canadian import business instead?
Do you have any experience with AA-Auto Transport?  http://aa-auto.com/
Then there's the issue of manufacturers invalidating warranties for cars
that are sold across borders...
I have a wealthy bro-in-law in BC who wants to be my first client.  We would
split the vehicle cost advantage 50/50, so it could be a nice start for such
an endevour.  Is this a pipe dream or could it be real?
Always looking for a better mousetrap,
XXXXXX in Victoria
----------------------------------------------------------
david ingram replies:
I wrote a book on importing cars from the US in 1989 and it was obsolete by
1994.
I have imported three cars since last August and have a 73 Citroen SM and an
87 Jeep Grand Wagoneer sitting at the border now and will bring them across
in the next week.
To import a car now, you have to send the information (copy of title and
bill of sale) to the US SIDE of the border 3 working days before you show up
to EXPORT if from the US. The US export office will check out the title and
hopefully stamp the title for export for you.  You then drive to the
Canadian side and pay your GST to bring the car into Canada.
If the car is over 15 years old, the car does not need a federal inspection
but in BC at least requires a BC Safety inspection which certifies the
brakes, lights, and general condition of the car. My 1988 Grand Wagoneer
required about $1,300 worth of work to get the certification.
A car that is less than 15 years old requires a federal inspection as well
which can include 5 MPH crash tests for the bumpers, daytime running lights,
Kilometres on the speedometer and proper seatbelt anchorages and emission
controls.
Watch out.  You may find a SUV that was even made in Canada and it will not
qualify.  The car has to be made for the Canadian  market to qualify or be
"federalized" to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. CMVSS.
However, if you were to buy a 2005 Cadillac Escalade in San Francisco and
drive it to the Truck Crossing at Blaine, you do NOT need a US address, US
citizenship or anything US. Forget about a company and remember that the
profits are just like a business and if you are going to do over $30,000
gross (less than one car) you need a Canadian GST number.
Good Luck!
I do not know the transport company you named.  I have had cars shipped from
Tucson Arizona,  Sarasota Florida, Inglewood California, and Cave Junction
very successfully by
Misty Creek Transport  = Misty Creek acts as a broker to find the best
hauling rate for a car.  The Citroen for instance went from Sarasota to
Chicago, from Chicago to Seattle and then on another truck to Blaine. After
all, what are the chances that a car transporters is going to have a space
from Sarasota Florida to Blaine Washington?
Every car arrived via a different trucking company.  All drivers were
courteous and even fun to talk to and with.
They charge $60.00 per car to list it on their bulletin board.
Misty
Misty Creek Transport
740-773-1790
knightbj at adelphia.net
I think that Misty's name is Bev Knight.
------------------------------------------
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