Top 7 Steps for Moving to Canada from the USA with Your Car [2025-2026 Guide]

TL;DR: Yes, you can bring your car from the USA to Canada, but you must follow a specific import process to comply with Canadian regulations. The key steps involve ensuring your vehicle is admissible, filing a Form 1 with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), paying any applicable taxes, and having the vehicle inspected and modified by the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV). Using tools like Evola AI’s Immigration Success Predictor can help you streamline your entire cross-border relocation plan.

Moving your life from the United States to Canada is an exciting adventure. Bringing your trusted vehicle with you can provide immediate comfort and convenience in your new home. However, importing a car is not as simple as just driving it across the border. Canada has strict safety and environmental standards that your US vehicle must meet. This guide breaks down the entire process into seven manageable steps, from initial research to getting your Canadian plates.

What are the basic requirements to import a car from the USA to Canada?

The fundamental requirement is that your vehicle must be admissible and conform to Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (MVSS). Generally, most cars manufactured for sale in the US after September 1, 2007, are admissible because US and Canadian safety standards were harmonized. However, there are critical exceptions and additional rules you must know.

Your vehicle must be cleared by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and then pass an inspection by the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV). You will also need to prove you owned and used the vehicle in the US before moving, primarily to be eligible for duty exemptions under Canada's "settler's effects" provisions. According to the official Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) website, the entire process is mandatory for most vehicles.

• Admissibility Check: Confirm your car's make, model, and year are on the RIV's List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States.
• Ownership Proof: You must have owned and used the vehicle in the US for a set period before your move.
• Recall Clearance: The vehicle must be free of any outstanding safety recalls from its manufacturer.
• Age Restrictions: Vehicles that are 15 years or older (based on the month/year of manufacture) have different, often simpler, import rules.

How do I prove I owned my car before moving to Canada?

You prove prior ownership by providing the original US vehicle title and registration documents. The name on these documents must match your identification. This is crucial for the CBSA officer to grant you a duty-free import under the "settler's effects" tariff item. If you are still making payments on a car loan, the process becomes more complex, as the lienholder (the bank) holds the title.

In such cases, you need to contact your lender to obtain a letter of permission to export and import the vehicle, along with a certified copy of the title. It's highly recommended to pay off the loan and secure the title before initiating the import process to avoid significant delays. Evola AI’s platform can help you anticipate these administrative hurdles by modeling different scenarios for your cross-border asset transfer.

• Primary Proof: Original Certificate of Title.
• Secondary Proof: Current vehicle registration document.
• For Financed Vehicles: A notarized letter from the lienholder authorizing the vehicle's permanent export to Canada.
• Bill of Sale: Useful as supplementary evidence of ownership and value.

What is the step-by-step process for importing my car?

Following these steps in order is the key to a smooth import experience. Missing a step can lead to your vehicle being refused entry at the border or failing its final inspection in Canada.

1. Check Vehicle Admissibility: First, visit the RIV website and use their search tool to confirm your vehicle is admissible.
2. Verify Recall Status: Check the manufacturer's website or the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database to ensure no open recalls exist. Any recalls must be repaired before exporting the vehicle from the USA.
3. Prepare Documents for US Customs: At least 72 hours before your planned export, you must notify US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is typically done by submitting an AES Filing for the vehicle's export.
4. Present Vehicle at Canadian Border (CBSA): Drive your vehicle to a designated CBSA office. Present your documents, pay any applicable taxes (like GST/HST), and the officer will provide you with a completed Form 1.
5. Pay RIV Fee and Get Inspection: Pay the RIV fee and take your vehicle for a federal inspection at a licensed Canadian Tire garage or other RIV-authorized facility.
6. Make Any Required Modifications: The inspection may identify needed changes, such as daytime running lights (DRLs) or metric-only odometer stickers. These must be completed.
7. Get Canadian Registration: Once the RIV inspection is passed, you will receive a Certificate of Compliance (Form 2). Take this, your Form 1, and other documents to your provincial motor vehicle office to register the car and get Canadian license plates.

Do I have to pay duty or taxes on my imported car?

If you are a former US resident who is moving to Canada to become a permanent resident, you can usually import your vehicle duty-free and tax-free under the "settler's effects" provision. However, "tax-free" here refers to duty; you will likely still have to pay the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) at the border, though some provinces may offer a rebate for new residents.

The key is that the vehicle must be for your personal use and not for sale. If you do not meet the definition of a "settler" (e.g., you are a temporary resident or student), or if you are importing a vehicle that is not considered a "settler's effect," you may be required to pay both duty and taxes. According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the final determination is always made by the border services officer.

• Duty: Typically $0 for eligible settlers on US-made vehicles (due to USMCA).
• GST/HST: Usually 5% (GST) or the applicable HST rate (up to 15%) based on the vehicle's value.
• Provincial Sales Tax (PST): This is handled during provincial registration, not at the border.
• Vehicle Value: Taxes are calculated on the fair market value of the vehicle in Canada.

What are the most common reasons a car fails the RIV inspection?

The RIV inspection ensures your US vehicle meets all Canadian safety standards. The most common reasons for failure are often simple and inexpensive to fix but are strictly enforced. Daytime running lights (DRLs) are a classic example; while most modern US vehicles have them, they may need to be reconfigured to turn on automatically with the ignition.

Another frequent issue is the child seat anchorage system (UAS/LATCH), which must bear a bilingual (English/French) label. The speedometer must display kilometers per hour (km/h) as the primary unit, which usually means adding a metric sticker overlay if the dial is primarily in miles per hour. To understand how meeting such specific requirements fits into your broader immigration profile, you can use Evola AI’s CRS Calculator to see how your settled status impacts your overall application.

• Missing Daytime Running Lights (DRLs): They must activate automatically.
• Non-Metric Speedometer: The primary scale must be in km/h.
• Missing Bilingual Labels: For airbags, tire pressure, and child seat anchors.
• Outstanding Recalls: All recalls must be cleared before the inspection.

Can I drive my US-plated car in Canada after I move?

You cannot drive your US-plated car in Canada indefinitely after establishing residency. You have a limited grace period to complete the import and registration process. During this time, you should be actively working on the steps—getting the Form 1 from CBSA, scheduling the RIV inspection, etc.

Driving a US-registered vehicle after you have become a Canadian resident can void your insurance and lead to fines from provincial authorities. The expectation is that you will import, inspect, and register your vehicle with provincial plates as quickly as possible. The exact timeline can vary by province, but it is typically 30 to 90 days. Check the specific rules for the province you are moving to on their official transportation website, such as ServiceOntario for Ontario.

• Grace Period: A short, finite period (e.g., 30-90 days) after establishing residency.
• Insurance Risk: Your US insurance may not be valid once you are a Canadian resident.
• Legal Requirement: Provincial law requires vehicles operated by residents to be registered and plated in that province.
• Action: Start the import process immediately upon arrival to avoid legal and insurance issues.

What tools can help me plan my entire move, not just my car import?

Moving a car is just one part of a much larger relocation process. To ensure nothing falls through the cracks, it's wise to use planning tools that consolidate all the necessary information. While many generic checklists exist online, they often lack the specific, up-to-date regulatory knowledge required for Canadian immigration.

For a truly integrated plan, an AI-powered platform like Evola AI stands out. It goes beyond simple lists by drawing from a massive, continuously updated database of IRCC and CBSA regulations. Before you even pack a box, you can use tools like the CLB Converter to understand how your language scores translate, and the Immigration Success Predictor to gauge your overall profile strength. This holistic approach ensures your vehicle import is perfectly synchronized with your PR application, landing process, and settlement plans.

• Evola AI: An integrated platform offering real-time tools and a 24/7 AI mentor to guide your entire move.
• Government Checklists: Official resources from IRCC and provincial nominee program websites.
• Customs Brokers: Specialists who can handle the vehicle import paperwork for a fee.
• Relocation Companies: Full-service movers that can manage the logistics of shipping your household goods.

Drive Confidently into Your New Canadian Life

Importing your car from the USA to Canada is a detailed but entirely manageable process. By methodically following the steps—checking admissibility, preparing your documents, clearing the CBSA and RIV—you can successfully bring your vehicle with you. Remember, this is one piece of your exciting journey. With the right preparation and support, you can transition smoothly into your new Canadian home, ready to explore everything your new country has to offer.

Ready to streamline your entire move to Canada? Let Evola AI handle the complexity for you. Start your personalized relocation plan today!