Some Helpful Links:

• Moving From Canada to the United States
• Free Entry of Household Goods & Personal Effects
• What Happens When Your Possessions arrive in the United States?
• Importing a Motor Vehicle into The United States
• Importing Firearms
• Importing Household Plants
• Importing Alcohol and Tobacco
• Importing Pets into the United States
• Useful Contacts
• Useful Numbers

Moving From Canada to The United States

Importing a Motor Vehicle into The United States

This is the area which seems to cause the most problems when proper steps have not been taken well in advance of your moving date. Your automobile must comply with U.S. Safety and Environmental Protection Standards.

In some instances, a temporary approval can be obtained for a non-performing vehicle, however in those instances, the vehicle must be exported one year after entry with no extensions permitted. Unless you know for certain that you will be in the United States for less than one year, you must take steps to ensure that your car meets the appropriate standards.

The first step is to contact (by letter or fax), the manufacturer of your automobile and request a "Letter of Compliance" to safety and emissions' standards. You will be required to provide the vehicle Identification Number, Make, Model and Year as well as the name of the registered owner. They will arrange to forward a letter advising if your automobile qualifies and what if any upgrades must be done to bring the vehicle to standards.

Your Fred Guy Moving representative can provide you with the contact number for the various automobile manufacturers. if you prefer, you can locate this information on the internet on the National Traffic Safety Association web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

This site also provides a listing of Registered Importers who are able to bring your vehicle up to standard. There is also a listing by year, make and model of non conforming vehicles which have been granted special exemption status and will be eligible for importation even though they do not meet standards.

If your vehicle does not meet emission control standards, it will not be eligible for importation. Individual state emission requirements may differ from those of the federal government. Registration and state licensing is dependent upon satisfaction of that State's requirement, so you should contact the appropriate State's authority prior to importation.

You can link to the EPA Mobile Sources Site from the NHTSA site.

Two useful brochures:
Know Before You Go - Customs Hints for Returning U.S. Residents
Customs Hints for Visitors and Non-Residents

Can be obtained from a local U.S. Customs office or by writing to their office in Washington: U.S. Customs
P.O. Box 7407
Washington, D.C. 20044