Selling Canadain RV in USA after trip?

I`m just guessing here, but different states have different requirements. Maybe an Arizona resident on here either knows the answer or can find out for you.

Trailer or motorhome?

In Wisconsin, you would need importation papers in order to transfer ownership to a new buyer.

We have friends who purchased a Beaver coach from a Canadian friend while in Arizona. The big problem is that he said Canada does not use titles. He did eventually get the job done, but he said it was a nightmare getting all the paperwork done to register it in the U.S. He told us he would never do it again.

Dale

I suggest contacting the US Customs office to determine what if any import taxes and paperwork is needed.

Also it could be an issue for your visa if they decide your trip is buisness not pleasure. You don't say what type of RV or explain your motives regarding profit.

RV's are way cheaper down south,factor in currency exchange and probably see a substantial lower number then you are planning on.

I was looking at selling a car to someone in Montana last year. The recommended procedure was to transfer the ownership in Canada to the new US owner. The new owner had to be in Canada. As I remember ICBC (BC insurance company) then issued a temporary permit to the border. The US resident just drives to US border and does his thing. There was no requirement for submitting paperwork ahead of time like we do buying in the US.

It will depend on what kind of RV.

First, you are importing it. There is a general exemption from certifications and duty for vehicles casually imported by visitors, if the vehicle will be in the U.S. for a year or less. But that is not what you are doing, you are importing it for sale. That makes you a commercial visitor, and the importation becomes a business.

Motor vehicles in the U.S. are subject to DOT safety and EPA emissions certification. While U.S., Canada and Mexico are more or less a single market for automobiles, and there is no great difference in standards, something sold in only one country may not have certification documented for the other countries.

Non-motorized RVs won't have EPA certification, but there is still a certification procedure for DOT safety requirements. Here, one would hope that the customs agent clearing the importation would have the good sense to waive EPA certification.

Then there is customs. Duty might range from 2.5% to 25% depending on how the Customs Bureau chooses to classify it. It is possible there may be no duty on a trailer, but it might end up being taxed as a car.

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, there are procedures (including duty exemptions) for importing a vehicle bought in Canada. These assume a physical presence in Canada for the purchase, and clearing the customs and certification at the point the border is crossed.

Customs information page.

If you do not qualify as a citizen or resident, you cannot import a motor vehicle for sale without an import license.

Bringing it in as a casual visitor, then selling to a qualified buyer, can create major paperwork headaches for the buyer. This could make it difficult to sell.

As one who has bought in one state to be registered in another & also bought in the US to be immediatly exported I can't stress the importance of gathering imformation & organizing paperwork first.

Tatest has provided good imformation. Trying to 'wing it' on the spot will quickly turn into a nightmare trying to jump through all of the hoops.

Good luck with it.

jporietis wrote:
I was looking at selling a car to someone in Montana last year. The recommended procedure was to transfer the ownership in Canada to the new US owner. The new owner had to be in Canada. As I remember ICBC (BC insurance company) then issued a temporary permit to the border. The US resident just drives to US border and does his thing. There was no requirement for submitting paperwork ahead of time like we do buying in the US.

If you can get buyer to do it great because you just put all the import hassle on the buyer. He doesn't just drive across the border and it's imported free and clear.