Make my Honda legal, eh?
August 3, 2006 11:01 AM Subscribe
I am moving back to Canada, and want to take my car. Problem: it needs daytime running lights installed to be legal, and the Honda dealership said they can't do it.
I need to find someplace that will make this modification. I am now in Cambridge, Mass. so anywhere within the Boston area is ideal. The car is a 2001 Honda Civic LX sedan. I'd rather bring it with me than deal with the hassle of selling it (I listed it on Craigslist, no bites).
I need to find someplace that will make this modification. I am now in Cambridge, Mass. so anywhere within the Boston area is ideal. The car is a 2001 Honda Civic LX sedan. I'd rather bring it with me than deal with the hassle of selling it (I listed it on Craigslist, no bites).
when you 'visit' Canada you may be able to find a Honda dealer or Canadian Tire store that can do it. Then when your 'visit' is over you can cancel the Mass. Registration and register it in Canada...
The key here is you are not initially taking the car to Canada permanently, But you can 'change your mind' later.
posted by Gungho at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2006
The key here is you are not initially taking the car to Canada permanently, But you can 'change your mind' later.
posted by Gungho at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2006
Do it yourself. It's not that hard and will be much cheaper. See here.
posted by white_devil at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2006
posted by white_devil at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2006
Best answer: You're getting ahead of yourself. Importing a vehicle is a multi-step process. There are several paperwork hurdles:
--Customs (import vehicle, pay applicable duties)
--Federal Registrar of Imported Vehicles (make sure vehicle is allowed to be imported)
--provincal registration (safety/emissions inspection and registration)
You bring the car across the border, and enter into the RIV program. You then get some time (30 days or so) to make the modifications to your vehicle while you're living in Canada. Canadian Tire is the RIV's official agent for this - just take it to them, installing daytime running lights is less than $100. Canadian Tire submits paperwork to the RIV saying you made the modifications, and then you can proceed with provincial inspections and registration.
Read the RIV website, it describes the process. Actually, your main hurdle (though you may not have known it) is not the DRLs, which are very easy, but making sure you don't have to pay duty on your vehicle. You need to read the Customs website very closely and try hard to fall into one of the exceptions where you don't have to pay GST and duty on your car. You also need to read the Customs website for the initial step, importation - you need a recall clearance letter, permission from the bank to take the car (if there's a lien on the car), etc.
If you can't fit into one of the Customs duty exceptions, you might want to reconsider bringing the car. As someone who has done this importation recently, take my word for it that the "hassle of selling it" is significantly less than the "hassle of importing it".
posted by jellicle at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2006
--Customs (import vehicle, pay applicable duties)
--Federal Registrar of Imported Vehicles (make sure vehicle is allowed to be imported)
--provincal registration (safety/emissions inspection and registration)
You bring the car across the border, and enter into the RIV program. You then get some time (30 days or so) to make the modifications to your vehicle while you're living in Canada. Canadian Tire is the RIV's official agent for this - just take it to them, installing daytime running lights is less than $100. Canadian Tire submits paperwork to the RIV saying you made the modifications, and then you can proceed with provincial inspections and registration.
Read the RIV website, it describes the process. Actually, your main hurdle (though you may not have known it) is not the DRLs, which are very easy, but making sure you don't have to pay duty on your vehicle. You need to read the Customs website very closely and try hard to fall into one of the exceptions where you don't have to pay GST and duty on your car. You also need to read the Customs website for the initial step, importation - you need a recall clearance letter, permission from the bank to take the car (if there's a lien on the car), etc.
If you can't fit into one of the Customs duty exceptions, you might want to reconsider bringing the car. As someone who has done this importation recently, take my word for it that the "hassle of selling it" is significantly less than the "hassle of importing it".
posted by jellicle at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2006
Response by poster: Thanks, Jellicle. I have spent some time at that website... I was taken aback when both my mechanic and the local Honda dealer claimed this was not possible.
I do not believe I have to pay GST or duty on this car, but I will make sure.
The hassle is huge, by the way. I am defending my PhD in a week, and moving two days later to start a job. These are busy and stressful times, and I don't have a lot of time on my hands. Also, the car is a great car but has cosmetic damage (its been keyed, yay Boston) that makes it hard to sell for what I believe its actually worth.
posted by bumpkin at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2006
I do not believe I have to pay GST or duty on this car, but I will make sure.
The hassle is huge, by the way. I am defending my PhD in a week, and moving two days later to start a job. These are busy and stressful times, and I don't have a lot of time on my hands. Also, the car is a great car but has cosmetic damage (its been keyed, yay Boston) that makes it hard to sell for what I believe its actually worth.
posted by bumpkin at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2006
The Toyota dealer wouldn't do the DRLs for me either. Dealers won't do any sort of aftermarket stuff like that. But Canadian Tire was happy to.
Importing a car into Canada.
Moving back to Canada.
posted by jellicle at 12:05 PM on August 3, 2006
Importing a car into Canada.
Moving back to Canada.
posted by jellicle at 12:05 PM on August 3, 2006
Any Honda dealer in Canada should be able to make the modification for you. You have a certain amount of time (30 days?) after importing the vehicle to make the modification.
posted by winston at 12:16 PM on August 3, 2006
posted by winston at 12:16 PM on August 3, 2006
Hi bumpkin, I moved to Canada to take a job 3 days after defending, so you've got one up on me! I agree, it's a pain in the ass, especially since you're supposed to get blind drunk the night you defend, which makes spending the next day packing unpleasant.
Jellicle's post above is good advice. However, there is one other very important thing to note: the US Government also has an export rule. You have to tell them 72 hours before leaving the US that you are exporting the car to Canada. Neither the RIV site nor the Canada Customs sites tell you about this, since they aren't the US Government. But Uncle Sam's very particular about this and there's a fine for not telling them in advance, which is something like $500. (Note that informing the of the exportation involves going to US Customs as you cross the border, which is weird since you will probably have to enter Canada, turn around, go to US Customs, then turn around again to go back into Canada. Welcome to the world's longest unprotected border).
There's an excellent explanation of the Federal, Provincial and US Government hoops to jump through this site. Ignore the discussion of Porsche stuff - the rules are the same for all cars.
Concerning how to get DRLs taken care of: skip the Honda dealership - you can find a shop here in Canada to do the work when you arrive. Also be aware that it is your right to get a recall letter from them, so don't let them give you a runaround (call Honda USA, not the dealership).
Canadian Tire has the contract to do all inspections for RIV and they will know how to add the DRLs. You can probably also DIY - look around some Honda forums, it probably just involves replacing a $15 relay.
posted by drmarcj at 6:40 PM on August 3, 2006
Jellicle's post above is good advice. However, there is one other very important thing to note: the US Government also has an export rule. You have to tell them 72 hours before leaving the US that you are exporting the car to Canada. Neither the RIV site nor the Canada Customs sites tell you about this, since they aren't the US Government. But Uncle Sam's very particular about this and there's a fine for not telling them in advance, which is something like $500. (Note that informing the of the exportation involves going to US Customs as you cross the border, which is weird since you will probably have to enter Canada, turn around, go to US Customs, then turn around again to go back into Canada. Welcome to the world's longest unprotected border).
There's an excellent explanation of the Federal, Provincial and US Government hoops to jump through this site. Ignore the discussion of Porsche stuff - the rules are the same for all cars.
Concerning how to get DRLs taken care of: skip the Honda dealership - you can find a shop here in Canada to do the work when you arrive. Also be aware that it is your right to get a recall letter from them, so don't let them give you a runaround (call Honda USA, not the dealership).
Canadian Tire has the contract to do all inspections for RIV and they will know how to add the DRLs. You can probably also DIY - look around some Honda forums, it probably just involves replacing a $15 relay.
posted by drmarcj at 6:40 PM on August 3, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by 517 at 11:04 AM on August 3, 2006