Moving to Canada From the U.S. With Your Car

1. How Can I Personally Move My Car To Canada From The U.s?
2. What Makes Itn Numbers Important When Moving My Car From The U.s To Canada?
3. How Do I Find The Correct U.s Export Office And Pay Taxes?
4. What Different Types Of Auto Transport Delivery Methods Are Available When Moving From The U.s To Canada?
5. How Are Household Goods Moved From The U.s To Canada?
6. What Delivery Services Are Available For Shipping Cars And Household Items?
7. How Can I Move My Pets From The U.s To Canada?
8. What Is Some Additional Information To Consider When Moving To Canada From The U.s With Your Car?

There's an extensive list of reasons why Canada is one of the world's most popular destinations for ex-pats. Suppose you're someone who loves living a life surrounded by beautiful nature. In that case, Canada offers people opportunities to live in stunning countryside areas that feature pristine lakes, vast forests, and unique wildlife such as polar bears. If you're more of an urban type, you'll find several Canadian cities ranging in sizes from large to small with economic stability, strong culinary culture, and stylish designs.

Approaching the process of moving to Canada from the U.S. with some pre-established knowledge will do wonders in mitigating the stress that this move can present. We're here to disclose important information regarding moving to Canada from the U.S. with your car so your transition can be as seamless as possible.

A-1 Auto Transport understands the essential role that your vehicle plays in your life. Let's begin by examining how you can legally, safely, and efficiently get your car to Canada from the U.S.

How Can I Personally Move My Car to Canada From the U.S.?

Importing a car into Canada yourself from the U.S. consists of six general steps. The first three steps are checking if your car is eligible to be admitted into Canada, proving ownership through the presentation of a car title, and following the 72-hour export rule. The last three general steps you have to follow when importing a car into Canada from the U.S. are preparing Internal Transit Number (ITN) paperwork, finding out exactly where the export office is located at the designated border crossing, and paying required taxes.

The Registrar of Imported Vehicles and Transport Canada have the power to judge whether or not your car is eligible for importation. If you're looking to read up on specific details explaining what does or does not make a car eligible for importation, please head over to the Canadian government's online transport page. If your car more than 15 years of age, you'll have an easier time meeting standards for importation as vehicles older than 15 are exempt from many of the outlined rules and regulations.

You must be able to present a car title when importing your vehicle into Canada! A car title proves your ownership of the vehicle. Without a car title, you do not own the vehicle from the perspective of the law. If you want to verify that your car title is clean, head over to your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office and ask that they confirm your car title's validity.

The 72-export rule that Canada has in place stipulates that people importing a car into Canada must export the vehicle from the United States. To correctly export your vehicle from the United States, contact the specific U.S. border you'll be crossing by phone 72-hours before arrival to give advanced notice of your plans. If you want to successfully export your car from the U.S.—you'll have to have the front and back of your car title scanned and provide your ITN number.

So, what is an ITN number?

What Makes ITN Numbers Important When Moving My Car From the U.S. to Canada?

Think of an ITN number as being a passport for the vehicle you're importing into Canada. To acquire an ITN number, you'll need to send the importer a digital front and back scan of your car title, your Canadian address, your phone number, your Canadian passport number, and disclose the value of your vehicle. A-1 Auto Transport has the ability to help you in acquiring an ITN number for the vehicle you're importing into Canada.

Let's wrap up by explaining what the last two steps of this six-step importation process consist of.

How Do I Find the Correct U.S. Export Office and Pay Taxes?

You must make sure the U.S. border you're crossing has an export office. The good news is that most major crossing points contain export offices. You can call the crossings to verify whether or not an export office will be present. Once you export your vehicle from the U.S. and drive through the designated Canadian customs gate, you'll have to park your vehicle, walk into the customs office, and pay the required taxes for importing the vehicle.

Expect to pay Goods and Services Tax along with Harmonized Sales Tax that will be based upon the bill of the sale value of your vehicle. We recommend that you bring a document that proves the price you paid for the vehicle for accurate tax estimates.

If you don't wish to personally import the vehicle you're moving to Canada with, you can hire A-1 Auto Transport for assistance with your vehicle transport needs. We'll provide you with an all-inclusive rate that covers everything involved with transporting your vehicle to Canada, including documentation, fuel costs, insurance, and more.

It's helpful to understand the different types of auto transport services offered to have a general idea of the costs associated with individual services.

What Different Types of Auto Transport Delivery Methods Are Available When Moving From the U.S. to Canada?

Americans generally have their vehicle delivered to Canada through open carrier shipping, enclosed auto shipping, or air freight shipping. Open carrier shipping is the least expensive of these three services due to a customer's vehicle being exposed to outdoor elements during transit. Enclosed auto shipping is the middle-most expensive of these three delivery options and involves your vehicle being shielded from outdoor elements within an enclosed carrier. Airfreight shipping is the most costly of these three mentioned vehicle shipping methods due to the service's expedited nature.

Most people select an open carrier shipping method for land transit routes because the service is the least expensive to choose from. Enclosed auto shipping can be worth the extra money if you want some extra peace of mind while your vehicle is in transit. People who select air freight shipping are generally moving high-value vehicles like exotic sports cars or rare vintage collectibles. An important component of working with a vehicle shipping service is booking ahead. If you take the time to book in advance, you can work to ensure that your vehicle will arrive at the desired location at your preferred time. Failing to book ahead may result in a shipping company presenting you with a lack of availability.

While getting your vehicle from the U.S. to Canada is essential, it's not the only aspect of your move. Let's examine how your household goods can be moved from the U.S. to Canada.

How Are Household Goods Moved From the U.S. to Canada?

Your household goods will be transported to Canada from the U.S. by air freight or surface freight.

Airfreight household goods shipments are generally utilized for smaller-sized shipments that need to be delivered quickly. Cost-efficient air freight shipping services are emerging as a market contender due to their ability to help people ship essentials by air and leave other additional furnishings in storage. An example of a person that would choose a cost-efficient air freight shipping service would be a customer that's making a temporary move.

Surface freight shipments can be performed through sea, rail, or road routes. You'll find that surface freight shipping is less expensive than air freight shipping but takes a longer average time to complete.

Like shipping a vehicle, you'll need to select a delivery service to finish booking your household items' transportation.

What Delivery Services Are Available for Shipping Cars and Household Items?

Door-to-door and port-to-port delivery are the two main delivery options people select when shipping their vehicle(s) and household items from the U.S. to Canada. If you're looking for convenience and willing to pay more than port-to-port shipping, door-to-door shipping is right for you. Door-to-door shipping involves a transport company picking up your household items/vehicle at your house, packing the items/vehicle in a container, delivering the items/vehicle to the port they're exiting from, and lastly, delivering the items/vehicle to the door of your new home in Canada. Port-to-port shipping consists of you delivering your vehicle or household items to the port in which they're departing from, picking up your vehicle or household items from the port of arrival in Canada, and delivering the vehicle or household goods to your new address yourself.

We've covered how you can transport essential items like vehicles and household goods to Canada from the United States. Now we're going to discuss how you'll get your pets across the border into Canada for your move.

How Can I Move My Pets From the U.S. to Canada?

If you want to ensure that your pet can enter Canada, you must meet some specific requirements. The reason why Canada has individual requirements in place that for your pet to meet is linked to the Canadian government's desire to decrease the risk of diseases being brought into their country and spread. Different animals are associated with varying types of importation rules. If you're interested in reading up on requirements for the kind of pet you own, head on over to the Canadian government's page on import rules when traveling with pets.

Let's wrap up by discussing some key points related to the process of moving to Canada from the U.S. with your car.

What Is Some Additional Information to Consider When Moving to Canada From the U.S. with Your Car?

The United States driver's license and insurance are valid in Canada for up to 60 days after your arrival. It's best to switch to acquire a Canadian driver's license, plates, and insurance. The reason you'll have to switch to a new insurance plan is that U.S. and Canadian insurance plans share similarities, but they're not identical. Please keep in mind that Canadian car insurance is more expensive on average than U.S. car insurance.

Switching from a U.S. driver's license to a Canadian driver's license is generally a relatively straightforward process. Still, it's important to note that different Canadian provinces feature various requirements for transitioning over.

Moving from the U.S. to Canada with your car can appear to be an overwhelming process, but your transition should be a smooth one with proper planning.