Importing a bike TO the states

[rafiki911]

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no comment lol

What if shoe looks like a horse?

 

[DoubleJ]

Or the shoe is up the horses ***!

 

[Tripletrouble]

I normally cross the border riding. The only time I trailered was going to Daytona bike week. After a few friendly questions the Customs officer said," Now I just need to see an ownership for that bike and you are on your way" so it may not be quite so simple for everyone.

 

[ShanehSMP]

Moved to Florida a few years ago with my car....the import process was far easier than it was coming back into Canada with a different car.

I actually drove with my CDN plates for a good while, until my insurance expired. Went to the DMV, brought my registration (title) and signed a few forms, presented my work visa, had to get the car inspected and ouila!

I can only assume that it is that easy for a bike...

 

[Cat13]

pm EL ZINCHO

Thanks I managed to find the info. Turns out theres a form to full out and check off a box saying its coming from Canada. Then bring proof you owned the bike for at least a year before crossing the border. Then its easy peasy. Only issue I see is Gilligans xs650 and my cb360. Both are obviously custom bikes and the info I find is clear in anything older than 20 years is ok in stock form.

Maybe try an American forum? Which ones do you have in mind? Sad to you see you guys going, but I'll film you leaving so I can watch it in slo-mo on the quiet nights... Giggity

Sad to be leaving and you buggers better be planning to visit.... it was 16 there last week....

The gubermint knowns.

All knowing one... *bows down*

Here is exactly what worked for me.

Starting point. I live in Florida, and all my papers say so. I was visiting Ontario in September 2009. I drive a van with a Florida plate, pulling a trailer with a Florida plate, carrying a 650 with a Florida plate and a 125 with an Ontario plate. My objective is to have a proper Florida title for the Ontario bike and put a proper Florida plate on it. I will tell you how I achieved this objective.

I have crossed the Peace bridge, both ways, about seventy times, usually carrying a motorcycle or two, in or behind my van. There have been MANY combinations of Florida and Ontario plates on van, trailer, and bikes, and often no plate at all on a bike. The only question I have been asked about motorcycles is, "Are those your bikes?" I have replied, "Yes" and no more mention has been made of motorcycles.

And so I smoothly entered Buffalo New York, and two days later Florida.

For the 125, with the Ontario plate, I had a signed bill of sale and the signed-over Ontario registration from the original owner (not me, but that never mattered). I also had insurance in my name. For a while, I rode the bike, here, with its Ontario plate.

I visited a Florida DMV office in Sarasota FL, and learned what to do. In order to verify the bike's VIN, I needed to go to another DMV office in a nearby county, pay a $20 fee, and have somebody write the bike's VIN on a form, stamp the form, and hand it to me. This I took to the first DMV office, and I explained what I wanted. "Easy as pie" was the response, and so it proved. I paid two fees: "usage tax" which was equivalent to sales tax (6% in Florida) of the price I paid (I showed the bill of sale), and the annual license fee for a motorcycle (less than $40 for a year). I would have paid a third fee, for issuance of a plate, but I had retained the plate when selling another bike, and it was OK to use that plate, so it is on the 125 now. I surrendered the Ontario ownership and got a valid Florida registration, and within three weeks, Florida sent me the proper title to my 125.

And that was the entire story.

Did you notice that something did NOT happen? I did, and I still wonder about it, but I am not going to investigate. Uncle Sam did not get involved. There was no attempt to collect duty or any other fee for importation of the vehicle into the USA.

In fact, I have imported several vehicles of my own into Florida over the years, all starting with valid Ontario registrations and license plates. There was never any attempt to involve Washington in the process; Florida collects fees, Florida issues a plate, Florida prints documents, and the feds never get into the act.

Any questions?

Visit this, and then you may have some questions:
http://www.dmvflorida.org/sarasota.shtml

Couple of differences... Americal citizen crossing the border temporarily... I am Canadian and moving. You are a citizen, I will be with a visa. And I need to be able to register and plate my car and bikes within a month.
You didnt cross the border with the bikes on a trailer towed by a moving truck with household goods and furnature.
And also a different destination state. They each have their own rules for vehicle standards where Canada is country wide standards.

Thinking it was such an easy process for you as you said you are an American Citizen and most of your vehicles have US plates...

Yep. Canadian border is easy to cross... American side is not. Plus I imagine my passport is now flagged for reasons I am not discussing here.

If you take a look at the link's I posted it tells you all the steps you need to properly import vehicles from Canada into the United States.

Cat and Gilligan are my friends and sorry but I would rather they went through all the government information listed in the sites posted then take your word from your experiences.

Thanks and Marry Christmas.

Thank you hun. I've been looking at everything and anything I can find. Its all complicated as Gilligan is involved. He was deported and now has a visa. Its all a complicated ****. Moral of the story... dont piss off American Immigrations. They know how to mess stuff up. Getting dropped off in Halifax when you are from North Bay is just one of the many ways they play games. We are proceeding as if they are watching him like a hawk so we are both determined to cross out T's and dot our I's. Theres an adorable little girl whos life we want to be a part of and it would hurt her to have her dad taken away again.

I normally cross the border riding. The only time I trailered was going to Daytona bike week. After a few friendly questions the Customs officer said," Now I just need to see an ownership for that bike and you are on your way" so it may not be quite so simple for everyone.

Not so simple when its a moving/import case. Trip yes its that easy but I am moving.

Moved to Florida a few years ago with my car....the import process was far easier than it was coming back into Canada with a different car.

I actually drove with my CDN plates for a good while, until my insurance expired. Went to the DMV, brought my registration (title) and signed a few forms, presented my work visa, had to get the car inspected and ouila!

I can only assume that it is that easy for a bike...

I have a car and two bikes so we will find out. Glad to hear it was easy for you. I plan to rock Canadian as long as I can but I dont want hassle when its time to switch over. Like I said I am making damn sure my ts are not only crossed by written so perfectly that they have no reason to want to play games.

 

[rafiki911]

Wish you and Gilligan an easy crossing. I'm sure you guys will have everything just right Looking as cute as you do will help too

 

[adri]

Which of the bikes are going? All three?

 

[Cat13]

Which of the bikes are going? All three?

The CB and the Vstar.
If I have to I will arrange for someone to sell it for a commission. People keep telling me to hold it for them then drop off from buying her. I have almost given up hope. But I wont skip on the price either. Its less than others are selling for.

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