Another issue - crossing into Canada with temp registration?

New Update: We are now in Alberta! We crossed from MT to Alberta at Coutts today. We had all our papers ready but the border patrol officer only asked us very cursory questions and waved us through! I think having 3 cute 6 yr Olds in the back seat helped lol.

We will visit family and friends, then proceed to Jasper, Banff, and Kootenay National Parks. Then instead of proceeding west all the way to Vancouver, we wil head back to the USA via Okanagan and Osoyoos.

We will then traverse Washington state on Hwy 20. We will spend a couple days in Winthrop and inside the Northern Cascades, before ending up in Bellingham where we will store the trailer.

Then we will head on up to Vancouver to stay with family for 3 weeks. We will then drive back to Bellingham and pick up our trailer for our return trip home.

I figure so long as we cross back into the USA before our temp registration expires, we should be ok.

Btw in the 1500 mi I've driven on the 1st part of this trip, no highway patrol or sheriff has even given us a 2nd look. I've stuck to all posted speed limits and stayed in the proper lane at all times.

Hopefully the op has left on his vacation and has everything under control.

The information he was given by calling is correct. I have been in his situation many times. The only hassle I have ever had was returning to the US and the customs lady couldn't read the VIN on the paper through the tinted window it was stuck to. This includes hauling a TT 5000 miles through the US and eastern Canada with nothing more than a paper registration stuck in the kitchen window.

For those of you blessed to live in jurisdictions that have their act together, be assured there are places that do not. In ND they have 6 months to process and send your tags. Currently it takes quite a bit less than that, but a few years ago it was at least that.

Minnesota is currently something like 9 months due to a software upgrade failure. And they don't renew the temporary.

Lexx wrote:
New Update:

I called Canadian and US Border Patrols. Both stated that as long as I have my temporary registration and bill of sale, I'm ok. Not having a plate is not a big deal to them.

Good call! That was my first thought after reading the initial post. Never second guess the border agencies and the regulations. If in doubt, always get it from the horse's mouth...

And if you aren't already, be aware of things that are prohibited crossing the border in either direction (go to their websites for accurate and current info.). And be aware of the HIGH cost of fuel in Canada this year! And more importantly, have fun!

So the big issue is The scifty dealer who held onto the title transfer and apparently a state that takes an abhorrently long time to figure stuff out.

However, sure you can go through great lengths to get your plates mailed somewhere so you have them for the remainder of the trip, or just don't worry about it.

First, you have documentation that you OWN the camper. You also now have backup as to why the plates are late. Bring that.
Second, idk if Alberta even issues tags for TCs, so if they don't, then they're likely not looking for them.

Lastly, there are US states that don't license TCs so you could legally be crossing with no plate and no chance of having one IF your camper resided in that state.

Enjoy your vacation, the Mounties won't be hot on your trial, OR "out to get you."

Lexx wrote:
The DMV here is terrible. Appointments are over a month out if you want one. Otherwise you walk in and it's a 1+ hr wait just to talk to the information person up front. Then they issue you a number and you have to wait another 3-6 hrs to be seen. A trip to the DMV is an all day, or multiple day affair here. It's madness.

Just a suggestion, we do it up here all the time, find a quiet little DMV office out in the boonies somewhere where the work-load, and therefore wait times, are much less.

Just last month the daughter of a very good friend of mine had to get a road test to close off her graduated drivers licensing process. The office near their home said it would be 6 weeks to get an appointment. She was heartbroken. I called the office near my summer place, they said “Can you be here at 11am tomorrow?”

We drove up, she passed with flying colours, we had a nice lunch on a patio overlooking the lake and her ‘uncle’ is once again her hero. ;-)

The problem is California (don't get me started). This is one of the few states that does NOT issue temporary plates. And you don't get the title immediately either. The dealer gives you this little piece of paper that's a temporary registration valid for 90 days.

I purchased the trailer on April 10. This $tealer didn't file the paperwork with DMV until May 21. They're probably sitting on the funds (could be a cash flow issue). So I get screwed because California DMV won't do anything for you until 60 days AFTER the dealer turned in his paperwork. Only then will they issue you a new registration and plates, if you haven't received it by then.

My problem is my planned trip (a ton of planning since January) runs through the end of the temporary registration period.

The DMV here is terrible. Appointments are over a month out if you want one. Otherwise you walk in and it's a 1+ hr wait just to talk to the information person up front. Then they issue you a number and you have to wait another 3-6 hrs to be seen. A trip to the DMV is an all day, or multiple day affair here. It's madness.

JaxDad wrote:

Wadcutter wrote:
Here's some news for you since you apparently haven't caught it. The OP is not in Ontario. The OP is in California. So whatever you have to do in Ontario doesn't really matter to someone living in CA.

Here’s some more news. The OP was asking about entering CANADA with the RV, so what CA or any other state wants / needs / likes is moot.

Amazing that someone who claims to have law enforcement experience does know that foreign countries have their own laws.........

Seems like diferent states have many different rules leading to all kinds of confusion..
I bought vehicles in many diferent provinces and its same everywhere.

Paid cash or certified check,,got registration/title from the seller and went to DMV to get plates..
Why would anyone leave with a vehicle or RV without having title in hand is mind blowing..
how long does it take to fill out the paperwork?

If theres lean on it for example why would dealer be allowed to sell it at all?
Call the bank,transfer the money owing,fax the title to the seller and give it to the new buyer..

Sheesh I closed real estate property deals faster then this OP mix up

Wadcutter wrote:
Here's some news for you since you apparently haven't caught it. The OP is not in Ontario. The OP is in California. So whatever you have to do in Ontario doesn't really matter to someone living in CA.

Here’s some more news. The OP was asking about entering CANADA with the RV, so what CA or any other state wants / needs / likes is moot.

Amazing that someone who claims to have law enforcement experience does know that foreign countries have their own laws.........

OP.... glad you got your problem solved as stated in your initial post.

Yesterday he didn't even know what a temporary tag existed, today he's an expert on them.