Importing USA Titans into Canada

[tiny]

Hi all - new to the site, just discovered it this week and it seems to be extremely helpful!

After test-driving a new Titan locally and deciding I **HAD** to have one, I've just put down a deposit on a new Blizzard White 2006 SE Crew Cab. I'm very tall (6'8" - hence the nickname 'Tiny') and cannot believe how much more headroom I have in a Titan over the competition.

Anyhow, after doing much shopping around and internet research I came to realize that it appears to be much cheaper for me to import from the USA. I've even put a deposit down over the phone with a US Nissan dealer near the Alberta border yesterday, so I am committed to the process now! (Can't wait to see my new baby in a couple of weeks!)

I have been to the R.I.V. "How to Import" site and it seems easy enough - and saving several thousand dollars on sticker+taxes seems worth the hassle. I'm hoping that Customs charges GST on my invoice amount, and not the Canadian MSRP. Anyway, I believe that I just have to add Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) to be compliant with Canadian law.

Does anybody know how easy/difficult it is to modify a US Titan to have DRLs for Canada? I'm not mechanical at all, so hopefully it isn't too bad. Just hoping that I don't have to go to a local dealer who may be annoyed with me for buying "south of the border"... Hopefully others have been through the process. I found a few other threads on this site, but nothing with details so far. If this info is elsewhere I'd appreciate a pointer!

Thanks all
Tiny

[Frosty_Power]

Hey Tiny, welcome aboard to a great Titan site. You should PM Nissan_Rob. He works at a dealership down south and he's very helpful and knows his stuff when it comes to importing vehicles to Canada and pricing if you have any problems.

[keane]

If you could; please try and post or PM me with the exact costs and steps that have to be done to get it from the states into Canada. The options and configs are much better in the states than here,; even if the cost ends up being the same. I also worry about the warranty.

[tiny]

The main source of importing information that I have found so far is the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) website at riv.ca

Check it out! Lots of helpful info... note that the Federal Inspection is done at Canadian Tire for FREE (in reality paid for by you when the RIV fee is charged by Customs when you cross the border into Canada).

Tiny

[MuskyHunter]

How does vehicle warranty work with importing vehicles from the U.S. to Canada? I haven't researched the topic, but I am very aware of issues with other products, particularly electronics where warranties are void if sent to another country. Will the Canadian dealerships be authorized, meaning being reimbursed for the warranty work performed on a U.S. vehicle in Canada? Is the Nissan warranty a North America warranty or a U.S. warranty?

[tiny]

Originally Posted by MuskyHunter

How does vehicle warranty work with importing vehicles from the U.S. to Canada? I haven't researched the topic, but I am very aware of issues with other products, particularly electronics where warranties are void if sent to another country. Will the Canadian dealerships be authorized, meaning being reimbursed for the warranty work performed on a U.S. vehicle in Canada? Is the Nissan warranty a North America warranty or a U.S. warranty?

Well, I called Nissan North America to ask this question after downloading the "2006 sample warranty booklet" off the Nissan website. The call center employee verified the wording in the website document is correct, which states the following:

The warranty is valid in Canada & US unless you do both of the following:
1. Export the vehicle from the USA
2. Sell the vehicle within 6 months

So, if you buy a used vehicle that is >6 months old, no problem, and if you buy new and retain ownership > 6 months no problem. If you buy it, import it, and **sell it under 6 months then the warranty is void**.

I also called a dealership in Calgary and a dealership in Ottawa and talked to the Service Manager of each. The Calgary guy said "no issues", the Ottawa guy said "you better call Nissan and check with them, but if they say 'OK' then I will be happy to submit claims to Nissan USA".

So, there is a local element at play. Mostly service managers are worried about making money off delivering service, not new sales, so I feel safe enough to proceed, personally. But it's probably best to approach your local service department to verify before making your purchase decision.

-Tiny

[romoz]

Originally Posted by tiny

Anyway, I believe that I just have to add Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) to be compliant with Canadian law.
Does anybody know how easy/difficult it is to modify a US Titan to have DRLs for Canada?
Thanks all
Tiny

Tiny,

Did anyone answer your question about the daytime running lights (DRL's)? I would like to add DRL's to my Titan like the Titans in Canada but I live in the states. I think DRL's provide an extra bit of safety while driving during the daytime, especially when driving on a two lane highway. Wouldn't it be nice if it was as easy as putting in a fuse or connecting a couple of wires? If you ever get an answer to your question about DRL's, please let me know what you find out.

Romoz

[RockyMtnMechanic]

I had the Nissan Dealer hook up my running lights before they shipped my 04 to Canada. They said it was just some relays. I have seen two relays in the fuse box pass side that are labeled DRL, I'm not sure if the US trucks are just missing these relays or what. I got a metric dash from a wreck and it pluged in, easy swap. now all I need is block heater.

[tiny]

Well I am fully committed to the import process now... I fly into Calgary, Alberta on Thursday night, and will drive down to the border to get the truck. The dealer I bought from is going to arrange for a guy to haul the truck on a flat-bed up to Sweetgrass, MT for a few hundred bucks - this saves me a long day of driving. I should be able to do the round trip from Calgary in about 9 hours instead of 22.

I finally settled on a Silver 2007 King Cab LE with the tow package...

Tomorrow's agenda is to shop around to minimize the exchange rate I have to pay (chartered banks are NOT the best!) There is a sizeable business in Ottawa where I live called "Accu-Rate", they quoted me over 1% less than RBC, definitely worth the hassle of getting a bank draft from my credit line and driving over to their office - on US$30K that is a C$300 savings, well worth the hour of time/hassle.

They will also perform the US wire transfer to the Montana Nissan Dealership as well for a fee of $30. I did learn that the big banks will quote you a different rate when exchanging > $10,000 as well. Perhaps someone reading this will know more about exchanging currency and can offer tips - this is what I learned from 1 day of researching only.

-Tiny

[tiny]

So, today I went to my bank, got a too-high quote on exchanging to US funds (Again), got a bank Draft in Cdn$ and went to the 3rd party exchange company Accu-Rate. I saved about Cdn$55 on the exchange, and then the wire transfer was also C$5 cheaper. I got the bank account information from the dealer and all the wire transfer info. It's best to call ahead to where you are going to wire the funds from and make sure you have all the info with you to perform the wire transfer.

Feels strange wiring $30K to somebody you've never met, but the cash should be there tomorrow. My sales rep is supposed to call me in 24 hrs to confirm the money made it into their business account.

In the meantime, I called US Customs in Sweetgrass, MT and they had an automated option to select if "exporting a vehicle". I selected it and got a customs officer who faxed me a 'worksheet'. I faxed this to my sales rep and he filled out the form and called the Customs guy back directly and they spent some time making sure the paperwork as all in order. This ** must be done 72 hours in advance of showing up at the US border!!! ** I am planning on being there Friday at noon, and this paperwork wasn't faxed to us customs until about 2pm and the customs guy actually commented that it wasn't 72 hours in advance and I 'could have a problem'. But overall he was helpful with the paperwork and my sales rep indicated that he was good to work with over the phone. So, the next part is getting through Canadian customs. More on this tomorrow.

In the meantime - check out the following website -->
naata.org
This appears to be a not-for-profit association that helps people buy from dealers that are experienced in import/export issues between canada/USA and the EU. Very cool - apparently they will hook you up with a dealer that knows what they are doing. Likely worth an email to them if you are considering doing an export from USA into Canada. They also confirm prices are MUCH CHEAPER to buy in the usa than in Canada.

That's all for now,
-Tiny

[tiny]

I'm still hunting for detailed info on how to add DRL's to the Titan. Does anybody out there have access to this info? Please post!!

My Montana dealer's service mgr refuses to do it for some reason, expressing concern about exporting and getting in trouble with Nissan North America, so I must do this on my own or pay a local dealer.... would be helpful to get info from someone who has done this.

-Tiny

[keane]

Keep up the good info. I am really curious to see what your final $ figure comes out to, and what mods have to be done to the truck.

[tiny]

Another tidbit I picked up from called CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency). You are charged GST at the border on the US$ selling price of your vehicle converted into Canadian funds.

e.g. if your truck costs US$30,000 then you will pay GST on $30,000 x (current exchange rate, 1.14) = Cdn$34,200. GST would be 6%, or about $2050.

Also, if the amount of GST exceeds Cdn$2500 you are not allowed to use a credit card, and should have a certified cheque made out to the "Receiver General of Canada". If you are over the $2500 limit, you can bring a certified cheque for $2500 and just pay the difference by credit card, debit, or personal cheque backed up w/ credit card.

I'm going try to just use a credit card, but will bring personal cheques with me "just in case" ... my truck will cost under US$30K so I will be under the limit for sure.

Pickup time in Sweetgrass is 1pm mountain time on Friday!! Less than 2 days to go! and it just happens to be my birthday. Best darn birthday present of my entire life :-)

I'll post more - but possibly not until I get back from Alberta, sometime next week...

-Tiny

[kman]

when you register it in Ontario will you not also have to pay PST? Also are there not any duties to pay when bringing a new vehicle accross the border?

[RiderBelle]

I am too curious about the Drls.. I would like to have them as well.....