Truck Buying Process

Here is a list of what's next

Go to this web site http://www.riv.ca/english/html/us_vehicle_admissibility.html and confirm for yourself that pickup trucks are admissible into Canada. The pickup truck reference is in Section 2 under vehicle types.

After I secure the price I will introduce you to the sales person

I suggest you confirm everything about the truck with the sales person including a photo and the VIN number

Secure the deal with a deposit on a credit card

Ask what is the accepted way of payment is either EFT Bank Draft or personal cheque but not cash This step is important as the amount of time it takes to confirm the money is in their account varies and could have an impact on the release and trip home.

Send the particulars as to dealership as to who you are name, address, etc.

Arrange with your bank an American account in order to transfer your money, you can find a few references on the blog of what other people have done. There will be a service fee to transfer as well a fee for converting the currency.

The sales person Bellevue Ford will arrange to have the title info faxed to the American border at the Pacific crossing.

Arrange with ICBC a "binder" for coverage of the truck, have all of the particulars of the truck most importantly the VIN number, if you don't get the information that you need go to another agency until you get someone that knows what they are doing

72 hours later you are able to clear the necessary paper work at the American border, this is to satisfy that the vehicle is not stolen or have any liens against it. It should take a few minutes if it is not busy, Friday is not a great day to be doing this as people are rushing to get things home for the weekend. The office at the border closes at 4pm but suggest going through no later than 2pm. Even tough it is 72 hours it does not mean that it couldn't be after the 72 hours it just means no earlier.

Drive to the Canadian border and tell the guard what you are doing and you will be asked to go and pay GST, RIV importation fee ($200) an air conditioning tax ($110?) There is also info on the blog about this process as well.

Drive home......wahoooooooo

Take truck to inspection facilitly, Canadian Tire, for the approval form that the vehicle has daytime running lights, speed in kilometers etc,

Take appropriate papers signed and stamed to ICBC for plates

Pay PST and insurance

And then show off truck