Canadian Vehicle Import Rules Explained

Canadian vehicle import rules decide whether a US car can come into Canada, what you’ll pay at the border, and what has to happen before you can put Canadian plates on it. Whether you’re buying a car in the US or moving north with your own, the rules are the same, and most of them have to be dealt with before the car is shipped. This guide explains each rule in plain terms and what it means for getting your car across the border, so you can plan the shipment, the paperwork and the budget together.

Looking for the step-by-step process instead? Read how to import a car from the US to Canada, or see our US-Canada car import guide.

The Canadian vehicle import rules at a glance

• Admissibility: the car must be on Transport Canada’s list of admissible vehicles, or be more than 15 years old
• US export: the original title must reach US Customs at least 72 hours before the car crosses
• CBSA clearance: duty or surtax, if any, plus 5% GST and the RIV fee are paid at the border
• RIV inspection: vehicles under 15 years old must pass within 45 days
• Provincial registration: provincial tax and a provincial safety inspection before you get plates

Which US vehicles are admissible in Canada?

Not every car sold in the United States can be legally imported into Canada. Before you buy or book a shipment, check that the vehicle is admissible. This is governed by Transport Canada and the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV).

Transport Canada’s list of admissible vehicles

Transport Canada publishes a list of US-market vehicles that can be imported, along with any modifications they need to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Most mainstream sedans, SUVs and trucks are on it. Always check the list for your exact make, model and year before you buy or ship.

Restrictions to watch for

• The 15-year rule: vehicles more than 15 years old (based on the month and year of manufacture) are exempt from RIV and don’t need to meet CMVSS.
• Modified vehicles: heavy changes from factory specifications, such as raised suspensions or altered emissions systems, can make a vehicle inadmissible.
• Salvage vehicles: vehicles branded flood, junk, scrap or non-repairable can’t be imported. Other salvage vehicles face extra scrutiny. See our salvage vehicle transport guide.
• Non-US-market vehicles: a car originally built for Europe or Asia and later brought into the US is very hard to import into Canada unless it’s more than 15 years old.

What it means for shipping: confirm admissibility before you book. A carrier can’t get an inadmissible car into Canada, and you’d pay to ship it back.

US export rules come first

Before a car can enter Canada, it has to be formally exported from the US. The export is filed in the Automated Export System (AES), and the original title must reach US Customs at least 72 hours before the car arrives at the border. This lets US Customs check for liens and theft reports. Some ports count business days only, and some only process exports on weekdays, so the crossing you choose matters.

What it means for shipping: a cross-border carrier files the export and times the crossing around these rules. See shipping a car to Canada through Blaine for an example of port-specific rules.

Documents you need

Missing paperwork is the most common reason a car gets turned back. Have these ready before the car is picked up:

• Original title: not a photocopy. If there’s a lien, you need a formal letter from the lienholder authorizing the export.
• Bill of sale: showing the VIN, purchase price and date of sale.
• Recall clearance letter: from the manufacturer or a dealer, showing no outstanding safety recalls. RIV won’t issue your inspection form without it.
• Compliance label: the sticker on the driver’s door jamb must be intact. It proves the car was built to US federal safety standards.
• RIV Form 1: completed at the Canadian border.

See our US-Canada customs documents guide for the full list.

Duties, surtax and taxes at the Canadian border

What you pay depends on where the vehicle was built, not where you bought it. The first character of the VIN shows the country of manufacture.

• US-built, under 25 years old: Canada’s 25% surtax applies. CUSMA-compliant vehicles pay it only on the share of value that isn’t Canadian or Mexican content.
• Canadian- or Mexican-built: generally no duty and no surtax when the vehicle qualifies under CUSMA.
• Built outside North America, under 25 years old: 6.1% customs duty, no surtax.
• More than 25 years old, in original condition: duty- and surtax-free.
• GST: 5% of the vehicle’s value in Canadian dollars, paid at the border.
• Excise taxes: $100 if the vehicle has air conditioning, plus the Green Levy ($1,000 to $4,000) on vehicles with high fuel consumption.
• Provincial sales tax (PST/HST): not paid at the border, but charged when you register the vehicle.

Rates change, so check our tariffs page for current figures before you buy. Shipping costs are separate. See our guide to the cost to ship a car from the US to Canada.

The RIV inspection

After the car enters Canada, you pay the RIV fee ($325 plus GST/HST) at the border, and RIV sends you an inspection form once your recall clearance is on file. Within 45 days of import, take the car to an authorized inspection center, often a Canadian Tire location. The inspector checks items such as:

• Daytime running lights: must work automatically
• Speedometer: must show km/h; analog dials may need a metric overlay
• Child tether anchors: required in passenger vehicles
• Immobilizer: an approved immobilizer is required on most passenger vehicles
• Bilingual labels: some components, like airbag warnings, may need French labeling

Once the car passes, you can register it at a provincial licensing office.

How long the import process takes

• Before shipping (1–2 weeks): check admissibility, get the recall clearance letter, and file the export with US Customs at least 72 hours ahead.
• Shipping: depends on distance. Washington to BC can take 1 to 3 days; Texas or Florida to Ontario usually 5 to 14 days.
• At the border (1–3 hours): CBSA processes the import and calculates duty and taxes.
• After the border (10–14 days): receive your RIV inspection form, make any required modifications, and pass the inspection.
• Registration (1–2 days): provincial safety inspection, insurance and plates.

Budget about three to four weeks, plus shipping time, from the day you decide to import to the day you have Canadian plates.

Common mistakes that delay a Canadian import

• Ignoring the surtax: “duty-free under CUSMA” doesn’t mean tax-free. A 25% surtax on a US-built car can turn a good deal into an expensive one.
• Relying on a verbal recall check: get the official printout from a dealer or the manufacturer.
• Missing the 72-hour window: without the AES filing and title submitted in time, the car will be turned back at the US exit.
• Buying before checking admissibility: confirm the car is on Transport Canada’s list first.
• A dirty undercarriage: vehicles must be free of soil and plant material, or you may be ordered to have them cleaned.
• Leaving personal items in the car: remove everything before it’s shipped.

Shipping your car to Canada

Most people who import a US car have it shipped rather than driving it to the border themselves. A cross-border carrier picks the car up anywhere in the US, files the export, times the crossing, and delivers to your address in Canada. You then complete the RIV inspection and registration. For route guides, see California to Canada, Texas to Canada, and Florida to Canada. Bringing a car in only for a season? Read about temporary vehicle import between Canada and the US.

Ready to plan your import? Get a cross-border car shipping quote for your route.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main Canadian vehicle import rules?

The vehicle must be admissible (on Transport Canada’s list or more than 15 years old), be formally exported from the US with the title filed 72 hours ahead, clear CBSA with duty and GST paid, and, if it’s under 15 years old, pass an RIV inspection within 45 days before you register it.

Can I import a car that is still under a US lease or loan?

Only with a formal, notarized letter of permission from the finance company. Many US lenders don’t allow their collateral to be permanently exported, so ask early.

Do I pay duty on a US car imported into Canada?

It depends on where it was built. US-built vehicles under 25 years old face Canada’s 25% surtax, reduced for CUSMA-compliant vehicles. Vehicles built outside North America pay 6.1% duty. Vehicles more than 25 years old in original condition are duty- and surtax-free. You’ll also pay 5% GST. See our tariffs page.

Are electric vehicles treated differently?

US-made EVs follow the same import rules as other vehicles. EVs built in China face a separate special surtax, even if they were sold in the US, so check our tariffs page before buying one to import.

Do I pay duty if I’m moving to Canada as a new or returning resident?

You may qualify for the settlers’ effects exemption if you owned and used the vehicle before moving. Settlers’ effects aren’t subject to the surtax, but RIV fees and safety compliance still apply.

What happens if my car fails the RIV inspection?

You have 45 days from import to fix the issues and pass. If the vehicle can’t be brought up to Canadian standards, it must be exported back to the US or destroyed under CBSA supervision.

How much is the RIV fee?

The RIV registration fee is a flat $325 plus GST/HST, paid at the border, regardless of the vehicle’s value.

Do I need to be there when my car crosses the border?

No, if you ship it. A cross-border carrier can handle the US export, the border crossing, and delivery, and you complete the RIV inspection and registration once the car arrives.

Do I need a Canadian insurance policy before the car crosses?

Make sure the car is covered during transit, either by your US policy or the carrier’s cargo insurance. You’ll need a Canadian policy to register the car in your province.