Moving to Canada for Work? How to Bring Your Car From the US

If you need to move to Canada for work, deciding what to do with your car is one of the first practical steps. A US vehicle can come with you, but the rules depend on whether you’re arriving on a work permit or as a permanent resident. They also decide whether you’ll pay duty and tax, whether the car needs Canadian modifications, and whether you have to clear it in person at customs. US Canada Auto Transport ships cars to Canada for work relocations all the time, and this guide walks you through the options, the import rules, and the timing, along with the other essentials of the move.

First, confirm how you’ll work in Canada

Your immigration status shapes what you can do with your car. The main routes include:

• Employer-specific work permit: tied to one employer for a set period
• Open work permit: lets you work for most employers
• CUSMA professional work permit: for US citizens in listed professions
• Permanent residence: through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

An immigration consultant or lawyer can confirm which applies to you. Once you know whether you’re a temporary or permanent resident, you can plan the car.

Your options for the car

• Bring it as a temporary resident: on a work permit, you can bring your car into Canada for as long as your permit allows. Declaring it is optional, but Transport Canada recommends it for stays of more than three months, because you’ll need the Vehicle Import Form (Form 1) to license it in your province. You can’t sell it in Canada.
• Import it permanently: if you’re immigrating, the car must be admissible and go through the RIV program if it’s under 15 years old. If you owned and used it before moving, it may qualify as settlers’ effects.
• Sell it in the US: if the car isn’t on Transport Canada’s admissible list, or the costs outweigh its value, selling before you move may be simpler.

For short stays, see temporary vehicle import between Canada and the US.

Importing your car permanently to Canada

Admissibility and RIV

Vehicles under 15 years old must be on Transport Canada’s list of admissible vehicles. At the border, you complete RIV Form 1 and pay the RIV fee ($325 plus GST/HST), then have the car inspected within 45 days. Common requirements include daytime running lights, a km/h speedometer, child tether anchors and an approved immobilizer. You’ll also need a recall clearance letter from the manufacturer. See Canadian vehicle import rules explained.

Duty, surtax and taxes

• Settlers’ effects: if you’re immigrating and you owned and used the car before moving, it’s generally free of duty, GST and the surtax. You must declare it in person, with a list of the goods you’re bringing.
• Not settlers’ effects: a US-built vehicle under 25 years old faces 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.
• Other charges: 5% GST (unless exempt), the $100 air-conditioning excise tax, the Green Levy on high-fuel-consumption vehicles, and provincial sales tax at registration.

See our tariffs page for current rates.

Clearing customs in person

Because you’re relocating, a customs broker can’t clear the car for you. You must declare it in person to a CBSA officer. If you’re shipping the car rather than driving it, it’s usually sent in bond to the inland bonded warehouse nearest your new home, where you clear it. See Canadian customs broker vs inland bonded warehouse.

US export comes first

Before the car can enter Canada, it must be 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 crosses. If the car is financed, you’ll need a notarized letter from your lender permitting export, and many US lenders won’t allow it. See US-Canada border vehicle export hours.

Documents you’ll need

• Original US title
• Bill of sale, if you bought the car recently
• Notarized lienholder letter, if the car is financed
• Recall clearance letter
• Your work permit or confirmation of permanent residence
• A list of goods, if claiming settlers’ effects
• RIV Form 1, completed at the border

See our US-Canada customs documents guide and how to import a car from the US to Canada.

Shipping your car to Canada

Shipping saves you a long drive during a busy move. We pick the car up at your US home, file the export, take it across the border, and deliver it to your new address or the bonded warehouse nearest you.

• Timing: start the recall letter and export paperwork as soon as your move date is set. Shipping usually takes 5 to 14 days, depending on distance.
• Plan around your arrival: if you’re clearing the car in person, it should arrive after you do, so you can declare it promptly and avoid storage fees.
• Open or enclosed: open transport suits most cars; enclosed is best for luxury or classic vehicles.
• Personal items: remove everything from the car and ship household goods separately.

For route details, see California to Canada, Texas to Canada, and Illinois to Canada, or our guide to the cost to ship a car from the US to Canada.

After the car arrives

• RIV inspection: within 45 days, for vehicles under 15 years old
• Provincial safety inspection and registration: required before you get plates
• Insurance: arrange a Canadian policy to register the car
• Driver’s licence: most provinces require you to switch to a provincial licence within a few months of becoming a resident

Other things to plan for the move

• Budget: permit and immigration fees, car import costs, and cost-of-living differences by province
• Health coverage: apply for your provincial health card, and arrange private coverage for any waiting period
• Job search: tailor your resume to Canadian standards and build your network
• Language: English and French are official languages; French matters especially in Quebec
• Settling in: join local and professional groups to build a support network

How we help with work relocations

US Canada Auto Transport has shipped vehicles across the border since 1985. We know the compliance requirements, use restrictions, timing, and Canadian customs formalities that apply to work relocations, and we coordinate the export, the crossing, and delivery. Moving the other way? Read our guide to moving to the USA for work. See what customers say on our reviews page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my US car when I move to Canada for work?

Yes. On a work permit, you can bring it in as a temporary resident for the length of your permit. If you’re immigrating, you import it permanently, often as settlers’ effects. Either way, the car must be exported from the US first, with the title at US Customs 72 hours ahead.

Do I pay duty and tax on my car if I move to Canada?

If you’re immigrating and the car qualifies as settlers’ effects (you owned and used it before you moved), it’s generally free of duty, GST, and Canada’s 25% surtax. Otherwise, a US-built car under 25 years old faces the 25% surtax (reduced for CUSMA-compliant vehicles), plus 5% GST. See our tariffs page.

Does my car need to go through RIV?

Yes, if you’re importing it permanently and it’s under 15 years old, even as settlers’ effects. It must be on Transport Canada’s list of admissible vehicles and pass an RIV inspection within 45 days. Temporary residents can choose to declare the car, which Transport Canada recommends for stays of more than three months.

Can a customs broker clear my car if I’m relocating?

No. People bringing a vehicle as part of a personal relocation have to declare it in person to a CBSA officer. If you’re shipping the car, it’s usually sent in bond to an inland bonded warehouse near your new home. See customs broker vs bonded warehouse.

Can I sell my US car in Canada while on a work permit?

No. A vehicle brought in by a temporary resident can’t be sold or given away in Canada, and it can’t stay longer than your work permit allows.

What documents do I need to ship my car to Canada?

The original title, a bill of sale if you bought it recently, a lien release or lender’s permission if it’s financed, a recall clearance letter, your work permit or immigration documents, and a list of goods if you’re claiming settlers’ effects.

How long does it take to ship a car from the US to Canada?

Usually 5 to 14 days, depending on distance, plus at least three days for the US export filing. If you’re clearing in person at a bonded warehouse, allow a few more days.

Should I bring my car or sell it in the US?

It depends on the car’s value, whether it’s on Transport Canada’s admissible list, and the import costs. If you qualify for settlers’ effects, bringing your car is often worth it. If not, compare the surtax and modification costs with buying in Canada.