How come I can't drive a U.S. vehicle into Canada?

Show all answers

rockjv

Jim B you are wrong on that point about rental cars not letting you drive them across the border.

I rented a car in Seattle and dropped in Vancouver from Enterprise . They charge you a fee but they will let you do it.

North of 49

It always has been that way and actually is getting better.
The issue here are taxes not paid on the sale of that vehicle.
Vehicles have always been known to be lower priced in the US than Canada and like everything, there is always someone who tries to work the system and makes it tough on everyone else.

A Canadian cannot drive a US car (exhempt If you have the American Registered Owner with you). That rule will avoid people purchasing them, driving them to Canada, keep the former US license plates/Insurance and drive around in the car. The PST and GST would not have been paid. It also avoids someone else legally bringing the car to Canada (for themselves) and then drive it while it's registered to you friend.

Basically put: to stop the appropriate taxes for not being paid (all about money).

prowler

not sure..that dont sound right.. seems people drive back and forth everyday......it might be a tax thing .maybe you have to declare it...

Lori J

Canadian Customs regulations prohibit you from entering Canada with a U.S.registered car. Renters with a Canadian driverâ€™s license and a car with a U.S. license plate wonâ€™t be allowed to cross the border into Canada.

â™¥Lilyâ™¥

Did they not give you an actual reason?

It's very serious to be denied entrance and a customs officer can't do it just for any silly reason. You could tick them off as much as you can and they can't deny entry without a valid reason.

But yes, if you did try and go through a different gate they can arrest you. Call the customs office you tried to go through and ask to be explained the situation more.

Dead Day Afternoon

Because they want the gst and pst plus the tariffs if you are planning to stay in Canada. It's basically their way of forcing you to buy Canadian so you casn't get around the tax. Having dual citizenship, even if you said you were only coming for a visit they couldn't really do anything about it if you decided to stay.

Island Gurl 79

If you rent or lease a car, they don't like you leaving the country, as it will be that much harder for them to recover it if you don't return. This will be in your rental/lease agreement.

Jim B

You have been given the proper information, by the previous answers BUT I wil correct you about driving a US rental car into Canada.......

US car rental companies do NOT allow their property to be taken out of the USA, period.

Why ? How can they recover the car ( their property ) in a foreign country ? The rental contract has a specific clause that forbids this from being done. Don't believe me ? Call Hertz or Budget, and ask the same question ..........

Jim B. Toronto.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: