Bought a Yamaha R1 in the USA and imported to Canada. Easy!
Decided to move on from the VFR and buy myself a 2010 Yamaha R1. The bike was bought from a dealer in Washington. Here is the story and process of the import into Canada. It’s paperwork intensive but fairly easy.
May 3rd – Went to dealer, test rode bike, checked over, bought bike, faxed paperwork from dealer to US customs (Certificate of origin/title, bill of sale/invoice, export worksheet), Stored bike in Blaine, WA
May 4th – Confirmed US customs they received the paperwork and bike is ready for import on Friday via email Blaine-OFOEXPORT@dhs.gov
May 5th – Wait…
May 6th – Bring the bike across the border (border office just needs Certificate of origin/title to stamp it), went to Canadian Customs to pay GST and collect Form 1, paid RIV fee online
May 7th – weekend
May 8th – weekend
May 9th – Checked with RIV online. no paperwork found
May 10th – Checked with RIV online, no paperwork found. emailed RIV the paperwork. Went to RIV office and the staff there were useless.
May 11th – Wait…
May 12th – Called RIV. no record of paperwork. Gave information over the phone. RIV form 2 was emailed to me later that day. The bike is good to go for inspection at Canadian Tire. Inspected. Insured. RIDE
The whole process took 10 days with about a two day delay. Not bad! It’s tough when you do bring the bike across the border and you do still have to wait. It’s the hurry up and wait game at it’s finest.
Would I do it again? Yep! I would just be harder on the dealer. The bike I bought needed a new front tire. I had to point out the poor condition of it. There is an outstanding service bulletin that was not completed. Why sell the bike without it being completed? How about cleaning the bike? It was pretty filthy. I wasn’t going to make a second trip down to Seattle and they probably knew it. Bought the bike as is and everything did turn out fine.
Make sure the bike you want is admissable!
http://www.riv.ca/BeforeYouImport.aspx
Forms you need!
UScustomsexportworksheets.zip Bring the Vehicle/Equipment Export Worksheet with you. Once you have the Bill of sale and the Title. Fax them too US customs right from the dealer. The next day use the Status Form to confirm the day you can bring the bike across the border.
*Before giving the seller/dealer one dollar. Be sure to get a recall clearance letter from them. Don’t make the deal on the promise they will get it. If you don’t get the recall clearance letter you CANNOT import the bike. Some buyers who jump the gun get into a tough situation this way.
