[Always] WOW ---- New and used cars from US up to 30% cheaper - Read post #1

andrew-g wrote:I'm also looking to import a Infiniti in the new year. Does anybody know if there warranty is still good in Canada?

It is valid for Nissans. I called both Nissan USA and Nissan Canada.

Nissan Canada says as long as there aren't any hidden clauses in the Nissan USA warranty, and that the USA warranty continues to be valid after import, then Nissan Canada will honour the warranty and you can get work done in Canada.

Then I called Nissan USA to confirm whether there are any hidden clauses regarding importing a car to Canada, and they said the USA warranty will continue to be valid.

I would presume it is the same policy for Infiniti, but someone should call to confirm.


One consideration though - I know someone who imported a 350z from the states last year, and although the warranty is valid, he says he had to jump through a few hoops in order to get Nissan Canada to perform warranty work.

Monsieurmaggot wrote:Since I've been talking to a dealer in New York State, he tells me I would need to purchase a NYS 30-day permit for $45 USD. He was unsure whether you could travel from the dealership through customs with Ontario temporary plates. In my case, I would rather spend the $45USD on a tried and true method. I would consider getting temporary Ontario plates if my registration was going to take a while.

And we as Canadians can walk right into a NYS DMV with our invoice and get temp plates and drive right passed the border and to CT?

jafo999 wrote:If anyone has any pointers to a US Toyota dealer near the Ontario border that is willing to sell to Canadians, I'd really appreciate a PM. I haven't been having any luck. Subaru, on the other hand, was a piece of cake.

Same here,I couldn't find any Toyota dealer in Washinton State are able to sell to Canadians.

develop wrote:Same here,I couldn't find any Toyota dealer in Washinton State are able to sell to Canadians.

You could try getting one in Oregon like this guy. He detailed his experience and mentioned the dealership as well as the salesperson.

Is there any company in Canada that will do all the work for you for a fee? It might be worthwhile considering how much work you have to put in.

Monsieurmaggot wrote: I don't see how Deemo is getting hosed. I was quoted the current exchange rate PLUS 2.5% administration at the first place I went to.

What rate did you get Bank of Canada is posting 1.13. You can't get better than that.....tha banks want there cut and that was the best rate (1.14) on a direct money transfer from my account to another account.
By paying an extra 2.5 aren't you just worsening the exchange?

Monsieurmaggot wrote:To answer his other question, my dealer has invited me to see the car before I purchase it. He would also indicate that this is a new vehicle that is not storm damaged on the invoice. The invoice (bill of sale) is one of the forms that is required by US Customs to export the vehicle.

I am looking at a car that isn't at a dealership.
It is a private sale with a loan (ie lien) at a bank.

I'm still in disgust on why warranties aren't transferable. I understand that some manufacturers honour their warranties if you export the car to Canada, but for the ones who don't...ultimately a warranty is still a warranty, NO? I mean, if you drive your car on a trip to the US, and it breaks down while under warranty, would you not be able to bring it in to a dealer and have it fixed in the US? Too much politics and greed involved. I did some research and had an invoice sent to me via email on a vehicle and there is a difference.

That's my point Deemo, if you're getting an exchange rate at 1.1345 that's excellent.

The bank I went to (CIBC) wanted a 2.5% premium over "their" posted rate.

It was closer to 1.17.

To answer ReFuGeE's question, when I spoke to a dealer in Washington State (Carter Subaru) about driving a car back to Toronto, he told me that as far as he knew, you couldn't cross state lines with temporary plates. I don't know if that is necessarily true but you might want to check with the authorities in the neighbouring states before you bring a car cross country.

Lucky for me I since found the dealer in Buffalo who gladly sells to Canadians.

Monsieurmaggot wrote:That's my point Deemo, if you're getting an exchange rate at 1.1345 that's excellent.

The bank I went to (CIBC) wanted a 2.5% premium over "their" posted rate.

It was closer to 1.17.

To answer ReFuGeE's question, when I spoke to a dealer in Washington State (Carter Subaru) about driving a car back to Toronto, he told me that as far as he knew, you couldn't cross state lines with temporary plates. I don't know if that is necessarily true but you might want to check with the authorities in the neighbouring states before you bring a car cross country.

Lucky for me I since found the dealer in Buffal who gladly sells to Canadians.

MonsieurMaggot...thanks for the info you provided me earlier. As you stated above, every State that you cross, you need a temporary plate for every one you cross. I checked that out already, so a NYS temp plat is only valid in NYS.

Has anybody tried to have the car shipped?

Using Hansen's? http://pages.ebay.ca/ebaymotors/sell/hansens.html

Blah blah from their web site:

You can trust Hansen's to provide an exceptional package of relocation services anywhere in Canada and to or from the U.S. With nearly 25 years of specialized experience, only Hansen's can deliver your car or truck door-to-door, on-time, and damage free.

* Canada's largest national transporter of cars and trucks
* your car or truck is never driven
* competitively priced with no hidden costs
* cross border shipping; customs assistance available
* 5 offices strategically located across Canada
* satellite tracking
* fully insured with no deductible
* on-line vehicle tracking
* Visa & Mastercard accepted
* Canada and U.S. customs bonded

ok...now i am worried about the permit...everything else i can obtain there and such...and i do not want to purchase a car without checking it out first, even if its new...so the ontario permit is out of the question.

i thought you could get a temp state (which ever state you are in) permit or a traveling permit and it should be valid for a certain amount of days?

Hiring a mover or even a broker would make sense if you didn't live near the border.

The cost (I have been quoted about $1500USD) for shipping isn't worth the juice for a trip that's only 100kms. I can bring the car across in a few hours.

As far as brokering goes, why would I want to pay someone to do my brokerage when the cost is under $200 to do it myself? I can't imagine what a broker would charge me for that work.

I noticed that their website indicates a broker is required for dealer purchases. That would be incorrect.

Maybe someone reading this can shed more light on the actual costs to do it.

I wouldn't want to wait days to get my new car.

One of my co-workers suggested I buy the cars in the US and flip them here just like the dealer in Oakville does. It would be curious to see how much I could get for a new American car in Auto Trader.

Mack, where are you thinking of buying your car?

Monsieurmaggot wrote:Mack, where are you thinking of buying your car?

well i'm in Toronto wich is like 1 hour away from buffalo. as for the car, basically somewhere close to the border or somewhere hot (florida? cali?)

however, right now i am taking all the information i can get before i actually import a car. i dont want to purchase the car and be stuck/have trouble getting it over here.

If you buy in Florida, it might almost make sense to have the carrier that matkokubko talked about bring your car over.

You're going to spend two or three days driving the car. The money you spend on permits and gas might pay for the transport cost.

Something to consider anyway....

If I was buying in any of the northern States (Washington through Maine) it would be easier to drive it across.

thats true...it shouldnt matter if its a hot state or not since it'll be a brand new car....so lets say buffalo/washington/NY...any place else?...will dealers in buffalo sell to canadians?...its pretty close for us and i wouldnt mind driving there twice.

It would be great if somebody posted the names of the dealer with phone number they have dealt with. Especially the ones in NY, MA, Washington. I think many of us have shown interest in getting vehicle from US. It will be good to know atleast that few US dealers are interested in selling vehile to canadians.

Thanks for the info on [not] getting a lease!

stewpy wrote:You might have success with a Canadaian 3rd party lease company. If you arrange the sale in USA and have the Canadian lease company buy it and lease it to you, that might work.

Any suggestions on where I might find such a leasing company? I've never seen one outside an auto dealership.

Living in the GTA, I could easily go to WNY or Michigan. Since I have family in Windsor, it's no problem for me to shop in Detroit (or the suburbs).

If I lived in Alberta or Saskatchewan, could try Idaho, Montana, North Dakota.
If I was in Manitoba or Northern Ontario, I would try dealers in North Dakota or Minnesota.
Those RFDs in Quebec could always try Vermont, and those in the Maritimes could go to Maine.

Since I am shopping for a Subaru Outback I can only say that I started with one dealer in Washington State (Carter Subaru) who has a website dedicated to Canadian exports. The bulk of their Canadian exports are to BC and Alberta residents. Carter sells more Subarus than all the Canadian dealers combined!

When I was sure I could import the Outback with no duties, I then contacted Northtown Auto in Buffalo - Two reps. contacted me willing to do this.

I was ready to try all the dealers in WNY or Michigan if need be, but the first one worked for me.

At this point, I'm waiting for the 2007s...

markjia wrote:Thanks for the info on [not] getting a lease!



Any suggestions on where I might find such a leasing company? I've never seen one outside an auto dealership.

My first car was leased with Ensign Pacific. I got three pages on Telus directory searching auto lease in Vancouver. Here's one that sounds independent

Independent Leasing Inc
20-1850 Kingsway Avenue,
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1S6
Tel. : 604-941-9233


Category : Automobile Leasing
Directory : Vancouver