Canadian prices too high on used units? Cheaper to import?

Ok, this applies to us living north of the border. I'm starting to get frustrated with a lot of Canadian dealers, especially in Ontario. Long-winded post so please bear with me.

When I'm looking (as I'm seriously doing this week) I use the NADA low and average retail as aguide- stress guide and 30% added for the CAD dollar difference. However dealers seem to be adding 40-50% on to their prices with a take it or leave it attitude.

So my question is, is it getting to the point where I can bring a MH into Canada cheaper myself?

Here is my thought process on how the dollars work out. Same theoretical motorhome in Canada and US, priced at $100K USD in the US and should be priced at $130K in CAD using NADA as a guide.

If I buy in the US I loose any sales tax credit on my trade so I'm thinking it works as follows;

Buy in the US (using an exchange rate of 30%)
Asking price $100K USD
Maybe get $45K USD in trade (taking $5K of off NADA low)
I pay $55K USD or or roughly $71,500 CAD
Add sales tax of $16,900K CAD (13% on the full value in CAD - $130K)
Total cost before any misc fees for import $88,400 CAD

Buying in Canada ideal price
So asking price $130K CAD (assuming realistic markup)
Maybe $45K CAD in trade (even though avg NADA is more like 58K)
I pay $85K CAD plus
sales tax on $85K = $11,505 CAD
Total cost should be = $96,505 CAD

OK, a $8100 CAD difference cheaper in the US based on NADA average.
(The trade in value above in CAD is based on current discussions with lowball dealers offer not NADA average with 30% )

Based on what I've been looking at Canadian dealers are not using NADA average (though they actually say they use it), actual asking price on the MH in Canada for a $100K USD MH is usually around $150K, so potentially I can save $20K going to the US right of the bat.

Actual example on a MH I asked a dealer about. NADA plus 30$ put it at $179K CAD, dealer told me it was $220K CAD. Where did the extra $40K come from? Oh yeah, he told me a tag cost $80K more than non-tag, even used.

So is anyone else thinking of going this route? Also any idea on the import cost? I know there will be at least a couple of grand extra.

Any flaws in my thinking?

Ok, end of my rant.

thanks

Chris

Class A

moisheh
Explorer
Feb 26, 2017
Chris: Many of those dealers are importing their units. They mark them up by outrageous amounts. Whey don't you sell your unit in Canada and then buy in the USA? Private sales are much better than a dealer. We have not but an RV in Canada for more than 20 years> None came from dealers. Lots of web sites with private sales. You may have to travel far to find the right unit. NY is not a good spot.

Moisheh
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2017
Make sure you include any costs of complying with all the steps required to import a vehicle from the US into Canada when calculating the total US purchase price:

9 Steps to Importing a Vehicle into Canada from the U.S.

And make sure the chosen RV is eligible for import in the first place of course...
JaxDad
Explorer III
Feb 26, 2017
cvbdsl wrote:
Any flaws in my thinking?

thanks

Chris

While at least one person, usually from Manitoba, will argue the point, to be legal and not risk the loss of insurance coverage or being able to get it serviced at an Ontario repair facility you will need to bring it into compliance with CSA Z240 standards if it's not already so.
MrWizard
Moderator
Feb 26, 2017
I'm not in Canada, I've never done what you want to do
But I think that if you shop the USA for the same unit that Is available in Ca.
You should be able to get it done, and for less money
You get to be the one doing all the paper work filing, to get approved titled and licensed

The dealers have the clerks, the paper work forms, the inside track
The Mark up is their extra profit, they do the importing and the jumping thru hoops
Others have done, you can too, just decide if everything involved is worth the time and trouble to you
Greydennyhawk
Explorer
Feb 26, 2017
Why don't you consider joining our country! We love Canadians down here, there is a bunch of y'all here in Buffalo already. Not much culture shock, you will find the currency thing is stable, Health care is a bit of a sticky wicket, but it's being worked out. In any case, the amount of money that you will save on fuel, booze and the occasional vehicle might sweeten the pot.
Plus in winter, when you retire, you head down to Florida, and that heat makes you forget everything.
My late business partner, moved from Peterborough some years ago, his family started following later, sisters, cousins, adult kids, like everybody. They became America citizens after a few years, some went to college here one is a doctor, two are lawyers, three are now retired( and they get a Canadian pension check sent to Florida!)
Just thinking outside the box.
cvbdsl
Explorer
Feb 27, 2017
JaxDad wrote:
cvbdsl wrote:
Any flaws in my thinking?

thanks

Chris

While at least one person, usually from Manitoba, will argue the point, to be legal and not risk the loss of insurance coverage or being able to get it serviced at an Ontario repair facility you will need to bring it into compliance with CSA Z240 standards if it's not already so.

Dealers have to bring them up to spec all the time so it can't be too hard or costly. I'm aware of the argument from Manitoba but CSA Z240 seems to apply mainly to manufactured homes/modular homes.

Canadian Tire is the only shop currently certifying motorhomes (scary isn't it). I also know that apparently the circuit breakers need to be 15 amp vice 20 amp but haven't found that in writing yet.

Also referring to the CRVA site, CSA Z204 only covers manufacturing of new RVs. NFPA 1192 applies to recreational vehicle standards and inspection and you need to buy a copy. I believe it is this standard that Canadian Tire certifies?

thanks for the feedback, I'll continue to do research.

Just came across the following

"Before you import a vehicle, you should also contact the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV). The RIV is an agency contracted by Transport Canada to administer a national program to ensure that imported vehicles are brought into compliance with Canada’s safety standards."

So if it meets RIV standards it should meet all other standards??
Get murky:?

Chris
cvbdsl
Explorer
Feb 27, 2017
Greydennyhawk wrote:
Why don't you consider joining our country! We love Canadians down here, there is a bunch of y'all here in Buffalo already. Not much culture shock, you will find the currency thing is stable, Health care is a bit of a sticky wicket, but it's being worked out. In any case, the amount of money that you will save on fuel, booze and the occasional vehicle might sweeten the pot.
Plus in winter, when you retire, you head down to Florida, and that heat makes you forget everything.
My late business partner, moved from Peterborough some years ago, his family started following later, sisters, cousins, adult kids, like everybody. They became America citizens after a few years, some went to college here one is a doctor, two are lawyers, three are now retired( and they get a Canadian pension check sent to Florida!)
Just thinking outside the box.

As I get older it becomes more tempting. In about 18 months I can retire on a full government pension after 29 years in the army and six years as a government employee.

Definitely intend to be a snowbird at least. Even now I spend most my vacations travelling in the US. Even with our low dollar, most things are still cheaper.!

Thanks

Chris
JaxDad
Explorer III
Feb 27, 2017
cvbdsl wrote:
JaxDad wrote:
cvbdsl wrote:
Any flaws in my thinking?

thanks

Chris

While at least one person, usually from Manitoba, will argue the point, to be legal and not risk the loss of insurance coverage or being able to get it serviced at an Ontario repair facility you will need to bring it into compliance with CSA Z240 standards if it's not already so.

Dealers have to bring them up to spec all the time so it can't be too hard or costly. I'm aware of the argument from Manitoba but CSA Z240 seems to apply mainly to manufactured homes/modular homes.

Also referring to the CRVA site, CSA Z204 only covers manufacturing of new RVs. NFPA 1192 applies to recreational vehicle standards and inspection and you need to buy a copy. I believe it is this standard that Canadian Tire certifies?

Chris

Not at all, and a BIG part of the confusion.

RIV administers the Federal VEHICLE safety Standards, the 'driving' portion of a motorhome.

Life Safety, I.e. electrical, gas, electric, smoke and propane detectors are PROVINCIAL jurisdictions.

The problem is there is no mandatory inspection for those items.

But to demonstrate, here's an extract from a 2015 Suburban RV furnace manual;

"In Canada, the furnace must be installed in accordance with:
1. Standard CSA Z240.0.2-08 Recreational Vehicles.
2. CSA Standard Z240.6.2-08 C22.2 NO.148-08 Electrical Requirements for
Recreational Vehicles.
3. Standard Z240.4.2-08 Installation Requirements for Propane Appliances and
Equipment in Recreational Vehicles.
4. CAN/CGA-B149 Installation Codes.
5. Any applicable local codes and regulations."
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2017
I think the OP is headed into a multi-government tangled web of confusion and aggravation. Besides importing the new coach to Canada he may have to go thru USA import requirements for his present coach to use it as a trade. Not sure I would want to go thru it all to save $8K CAD (or about $6K for us southerns). Plus working thru an import/export service might eat any savings.
wallynm
Explorer
Feb 27, 2017
Kind of like A US citizens buying drugs in CN.