[B335]

I just wonders what if I buy a car from the US then bring it into Vancouver, how much tax will I have to pay on it?? (say a used and a new car scenario) Thanks.

[ThinkPink!]

First, depending on the US State you're buying the car from, you might have to pay US State Tax, then if the car was built outside NA you will need to pay excise tax (6.1%), then you have a 100$ tax on Air Conditioning, and finally GST (6%) + PST on licensing 7%, registration to the RIV (220$) and license plates.

[bling_singh]

so if the only variable is state sales tax, which state has the lowest sales tax rate?

[Asclepius]

Im pretty sure Canadians do not pay the state tax.....I also imported a vehicle from Buffalo. Now here's the catch on the tax.....a used car is no prob....u dont pay state taxes but you will pay the rest of the fees/taxes mentioned above. If you want to buy brand new, they will refuse to sell to you and so then you will need to get an american to buy the car for you...which means of course that you will pay the state tax from which ever state that person is from....not the state where the car is purchased from. My aunt originally bought my car...I paid the state tax in Illinois. I heard that Long island doesnt have to pay state tax....and at least one other state....you should try to find a relative or friend who lives in a state with low tax I guess. Remember if you do go brand new there are other fees such as liscencing and vehicle title (another $300). Also, it takes 6 to 8 week for the U.S. citizen to recieve the vehicle title and they cannot sell it to you without that in hand so you will be set back at least a month and a half. My aunt recieved hers in 5 week..yay.

[hockeyguy]

you do not pay the state tax, and GST is only 5%

[Vacek]

[smartys]

Hi, I know this is kind of a later response, but what was posted in this thread is correct:

1.) You don't pay US sales tax, as tax in the states is paid only when the car is registered, so if you don't register it there in the US, you don't pay US tax

2.) When you cross the border, you will pay $105 CAD for an Air Conditioner Excise tax, and duty of 6.1%. They will calculate this based on the price you paid for the car, converted into CAD, based on the rate at the time the car is crossing the border. They will add the A/C tax, the duty to the price paid to get a total. On this total (what you paid + A/C tax + Duty) they will charge you 5% GST. When you register the car in your province, you will have to pay PST on the car as well, (I think on what you paid + duty, ie pre-GST total).

Hope that wasn't too confusing.

[flyer333]

i am about to import one... just doing all these research now.. ahh headace hahah

[flyer333]

so i have a sister in portland, she can buy the car and also long as she doesnt register in the US, i dont have to pay the state tax nor the register fee for licence in us?

[f30Seth]

Dont you have to pay the duties for products that were built/made outside of NA?

[Rossland]

Originally Posted by e92says

Dont you have to pay the duties for products that were built/made outside of NA?

Yes, that is what the 6.1% excise tax is for.

[B335]

Ok thanks everyone....however, as I want to have the lowest cost as possible...say...
BC's PST& GST is high...so I bring the car from the US to Alberta (lower tax)...then bring it up to BC to use, here is the cache...will there be any additional tax (from Alberta to BC)??? Thanks

[sandecker]

You can't beat the tax - just do it properly and import direct to BC and you should still be ahead. There are many resources out there to assist you in importing - do the research, follow the proper procedures and you will be happy - don't think you can outsmart the system because you are motivated to save a few $$$.

http://www.importcartocanada.info/
www.riv.ca
www.UCanImport.com

[B335]

Originally Posted by sandecker

You can't beat the tax - just do it properly and import direct to BC and you should still be ahead. There are many resources out there to assist you in importing - do the research, follow the proper procedures and you will be happy - don't think you can outsmart the system because you are motivated to save a few $$$.

http://www.importcartocanada.info/
www.riv.ca
www.UCanImport.com

Thanks man. Very helpful. seem like buying a used car in the states save us money rather than new. Aston Martin anyone?? LOL

[Jaws]

Everyone seemed to forget the recall clearance letter from BMW ($500) and the instrument cluster replacement (~$3000).

:r epost:

[f30Seth]

Originally Posted by Jaws

Everyone seemed to forget the recall clearance letter from BMW ($500) and the instrument cluster replacement (~$3000).

:r epost:

Wow, are they still making people to replace their clusters? I thought that's why BMW was getting sued by all the importers who are bringing vehicles into Canada.

Originally Posted by B335

Ok thanks everyone....however, as I want to have the lowest cost as possible...say...
BC's PST& GST is high...so I bring the car from the US to Alberta (lower tax)...then bring it up to BC to use, here is the cache...will there be any additional tax (from Alberta to BC)??? Thanks

That would only work If you are living in Alberta. If you bring a new car into BC from any other province. You have to pay the difference. At least that's what I remember from reseraching a couple years back. Honestly,I don't think the price for 335i is that bad at the moment. You will get more cash rebate than ever, plus the discount will probably get you at least 6k discount.
How do I know for sure? because I'm one and I was in your shoes a couple years back when the coupe was first introduced I think you can somehow make do with the current incentives offered+discount instead of going through all the hassle of importing/changing cluster&DRL. This is as real as I can get for you to help.

[hockeyguy]

Originally Posted by Jaws

Everyone seemed to forget the recall clearance letter from BMW ($500) and the instrument cluster replacement (~$3000).

:r epost:

don't ahve to worry about that anymore

a US printed copy is fine and the cluster is a no no

[Slke46]

Really? When was that confirmed? ^^^

[smartys]

Yes that's true,

I'm in the midst of importing an e93 as well, and it's true, you DO NOT require the recall clearance letter from a CANADIAN dealer. Now, the RIV will accept a Printout from any AUTHORIZED BMW Dealer in the US to import the car. This was updated as of June 26th 2008. Previously, BMW Canada would not issue a recall clearance letter until you took the car to a Canadian BMW dealer and had the cluster changed. Since you don't need the letter from BMW Canada anymore, you don't need to change the cluster. It is not, nor has it ever been a legal requirement to do so, so long as the speedometer has metric units somewhere, which they do. If you get a printout and want to make sure it's acceptable, you can fax it or, scan it and email it to the RIV.
The email address is:

recall@riv.ca

So, NO MORE CLUSTER CHANGES, NO MORE (CANADIAN) RECALL CLEARANCE LETTER---IE NO MORE GETTING JACKED FOR $3000!

[sandecker]

But will the BMW dealers in US issue the printout - that was part of the problem since BMW was prohibiting any US dealer from releasing the printout - and if you can't get the printout then the only option is to get the recall letter from BMW Canada and to get that you need the cluster change (on 335i at least)

[B335]

Originally Posted by smartys

Yes that's true,

I'm in the midst of importing an e93 as well, and it's true, you DO NOT require the recall clearance letter from a CANADIAN dealer. Now, the RIV will accept a Printout from any AUTHORIZED BMW Dealer in the US to import the car. This was updated as of June 26th 2008. Previously, BMW Canada would not issue a recall clearance letter until you took the car to a Canadian BMW dealer and had the cluster changed. Since you don't need the letter from BMW Canada anymore, you don't need to change the cluster. It is not, nor has it ever been a legal requirement to do so, so long as the speedometer has metric units somewhere, which they do. If you get a printout and want to make sure it's acceptable, you can fax it or, scan it and email it to the RIV.
The email address is:

recall@riv.ca

So, NO MORE CLUSTER CHANGES, NO MORE (CANADIAN) RECALL CLEARANCE LETTER---IE NO MORE GETTING JACKED FOR $3000!

"no more" cluster changes on all cars?? What about those Exotic cars like Bentleys, Ferrari, Lambo??
seriously, we pay way too much compare to those people in the States.

[PBureno]

Originally Posted by sandecker

But will the BMW dealers in US issue the printout - that was part of the problem since BMW was prohibiting any US dealer from releasing the printout - and if you can't get the printout then the only option is to get the recall letter from BMW Canada and to get that you need the cluster change (on 335i at least)

Yeah? Do you think BMW dealers in US will issue the print-out? Just out of good will or maybe like $50 or something?

Cause if you're buying a used car(privately) How will someone get the recall letter from a BMW dealer?

Can a dealership in Canada(not BMWCA) but just any dealership in Canada issue a letter as well?