Importing a trailer from the US into Canada

[lars]

Anyone done this before? Is the process the same as for a vehicle, or are trailers (eg: camping trailers) handled differently?

...lars

[500grhollowpoint]

We have friends thet do it every two years. They buy one in arizona or somewhere, off ebay usually, live in it for the winter and then bring it home and re sell it. My understanding is that it's the same process as a car. Minus the inspection here when you register it.

[lars]

We have friends thet do it every two years. They buy one in arizona or somewhere, off ebay usually, live in it for the winter and then bring it home and re sell it. My understanding is that it's the same process as a car. Minus the inspection here when you register it.

Thx for the info.

...lars

[Road Dog]

A friend buys an US RV trailer in the spring and sells it in the fall. The main difference with any trailer is there's no US export paperwork. You just drive up to the border, pay your taxes, and carry on.

[lars]

A friend buys an US RV trailer in the spring and sells it in the fall. The main difference with any trailer is there's no US export paperwork. You just drive up to the border, pay your taxes, and carry on.

Thx for the info. What about licensing it to get it to the border? Just a temporary permit?

...lars

[canucksfan1]

actually i believe they have to go thru a federal inspection, i have done a lot of them on trailers being brought up from the states, it is free (well it is part of what you pay at the border) and if it is beinge registered commercially will need a proper inspection

Now i am not 100% sure on this i have just done then alot over the past few months so i would assume it has to be done

[Road Dog]

Thx for the info. What about licensing it to get it to the border? Just a temporary permit?

...lars

Don't know. I assume he gets an ICBC permit.

[hammer]

I bought a car trailer in the states and brought it up. The guy left this plates on it so i just drove it home with his plates. Got to the border, the vin on the trailer didn't match the vin on the papers. They didn't even care. Just told me to do the homework on it when i got it home and get the papers changed. Couldn't believe it. I just got it home and insured it as a u-built.

[d0ubledown]

what kind of trailer lars? travel trailer or lil utility camp trailer? i think the RIV still covers vehicles/trailers newer than 15 years old. older ones, are exempt from the program and should be easier to import.

have a look at this link i bookmarked when i was looking for a military trailer. its from ontario though, but should be somewhat relevant.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f343...ada-27563.html

oh and for the permit, you'll need one for every state the trailer is being driven in. as long as you've got registration papers, you should be good. if it can qualify as a ubuilt or similar, you may be able to get a permit without registration. bill of sale might help if you dont have one...

[canucksafari]

oh and for the permit, you'll need one for every state the trailer is being driven in. as long as you've got registration papers, you should be good. if it can qualify as a ubuilt or similar, you may be able to get a permit without registration. bill of sale might help if you dont have one...

I remember reading on IVOAC that you can get a vehicle permit from ICBC that will get you through all the US states. You'd think that the same would follow for a trailer.

[zeke]

I bought a travel trailer a few years ago from the states. It was pretty easy. From what I remember, you just need to have title to the trailer and a bill of sale. Go straight to Canada Customs and pay the tax. The trailer will need valid plates to be on the road and for BC, I got a binder of insurance which I think covers liabilty.

[mhr900ss]

Hi Lars:

This may help:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...=import+canada

Good luck!

[d0ubledown]

I remember reading on IVOAC that you can get a vehicle permit from ICBC that will get you through all the US states. You'd think that the same would follow for a trailer.

I bought a travel trailer a few years ago from the states. It was pretty easy. From what I remember, you just need to have title to the trailer and a bill of sale. Go straight to Canada Customs and pay the tax. The trailer will need valid plates to be on the road and for BC, I got a binder of insurance which I think covers liabilty.

thats what it was called. a binder. i think that just covers liability, but in the states, you still need a permit to have it on the road. at least thats what i was told. when i brought my truck back, the 'binder' lets you bring the vehicle from the border, to inspection. you can however, get temp operating permits but ONLY to get it to and from inspection/mechanic to make necessary repairs.

but that was for vehicles. if its a trailer, and you have title/regi, then it shouldnt be an issue. if its a homebuilt, then you should just be able to register as a ubuilt here..i would think anyway.

[steve604]

i believe you are only suposed to register a trailer you actually built yourself as a u-built.

if it was me i would just throw a u-built plate on it and bring it back with me across the border. if you need a story to tell the canadian guards just tell them you camped somewhere for a day or two and bring some camping stuff with you.

canadian and u.s. customs do not comunicate in any way. they have no way of knowing when you crossed the border into the u.s. or why you went down. so you can tell the u.s. border guard that you are going camping on the way down.

[canucksafari]

canadian and u.s. customs do not comunicate in any way. they have no way of knowing when you crossed the border into the u.s. or why you went down. so you can tell the u.s. border guard that you are going camping on the way down.

Sorry, but in this day and age I find that very hard to believe. And if you are caught making a false declaration, things can get very expensive and nasty if you get caught.

IMO, it's not worth the risk.