Going to pick up trailer in USA and have question? When crossing border can I/should I tell them I'm going to pick up trailer or do they frown on that?
If you mean dealing with US Customs just tell them what you are going to do, they don't care if you're coming down to buy a trailer. Just answer the questions honestly and you'll be fine.
Coming back you will have to deal with bringing the trailer back to Canada so do some research and find out what you need to present at the border going back in.
It requires about three days for the paper work to be processed so don't be in a hurry. My son brought a unit back, got required info from Canada customs, made a brief stop at the border to make sure he had it right, processing was done and he went back 3 days later and brought the unit over.
Contact Canada Customs and they will put you on the right track. With the correct documents it is a breeze.
As far as the US customs goes....Just tell the truth.
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
There's nothing wrong with going to the US to pick up an rv. All you are doing is going shopping in the US - why would they frown on that?
If you have not paid for it in advance and are bringing money in excess of $10,000US, that MUST be declared when entering the US (if you don't declare it and they find it, they can and will seize it). (Personally I would also declare it if I had paid for it in advance).
As mentioned, US side of customs need 72 hrs to process the exportation of a vehicle - some US POE will accept faxes/emails of the title but some need the actual title at least 72hrs before you export. Also keep in mind that most US POE only process export during regular business hours (e.g. Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30)
The 72 hrs only applies to motorhomes/cars etc. For trailers you do not stop at the US customs only Canadian. Most US trailer dealers close to the border know all the paperwork required to get it into Canada.
Mootpoint wrote: It requires about three days for the paper work to be processed so don't be in a hurry. My son brought a unit back, got required info from Canada customs, made a brief stop at the border to make sure he had it right, processing was done and he went back 3 days later and brought the unit over.
Contact Canada Customs and they will put you on the right track. With the correct documents it is a breeze.
As far as the US customs goes....Just tell the truth.
Note - with a trailer it is not a three day wait. A vehicle with a motor requires something like three days notice to US customs that you are exporting a vehicle.
We picked our trailer up in the Michigan in 2010. We told US customs what we were doing when we entered the US - they do ask why you are entering and there is no reason not to tell them. A certified cheque made out to the dealer or a wire transfer are the preferred methods of payment to make entering the US easier.
When returning to Canada there is a list of documents that you need. Visit the Registrar of Imported Vehicles website for all of the current information.
Basicly, at the time of entry to Canada you declare your large purchase. You will be directed to the side where your paperwork will be processed. You will pay a fee of around $100 plus GST, and the GST on the purchase price of your trailer. This will take around a half hour if there are no lineups. They may or may not search your trailer and vehicle (we weren't, others are) and you are pretty much on your way with some more documentation in hand. You will need to make an appointment at Canadian Tire for an inspection, and show your paperwork again. They fax the information off and you should receive a shiny new RIV sticker in the mail that you stick on your trailer to show your taxes are paid. Then you can get it registered with your provincial DMV and pay the provincial tax and their fees. Now your trailer is legal and licensed.
Please note that nowhere in any of the RIV information do they mention temporary transfer permits. I was dinged by Toronto Police - no plate on my trailer. The officer threatened to have us towed, because he claimed that with no plate/registration it had no insurance. He checked out a few things in his car then returned, wrote us a ticket for no plate and told us to get off the road real soon until we got ourselves legal.
I did get a transfer permit, but I believe he was wrong on the insurance part. I've never been able to register anything if I couldn't prove insurance was already on it - not the other way around. When towing a trailer, insurance "should" extend from the tow vehicle's policy. To be safe, next time I would try to get a temporary permit from Michigan before I left the dealer's lot.
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