What's involved with import from Canada to US?

[zip]

Used boat with trailer from Canada to California.
Appears to have late model Suzuki 4 strokes.
Thanks.

[jyasaki]

I brought in a new boat; but the seller did quite a bit of (ok, damn near all) of the import stuff.

Check with the DMV as to what you'll need to do to register the vessel (don't forget about the trailer as well); as to the actual importation, there's this:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...e-into-the-u.s.


Hope this helps;

jky

[zip]

thanks jky.

[jyasaki]

No prob. Best of luck should you decide to buy.

jky

[Bigtalljv]

I was lazy when I purchased a bunch of part for my Zodiac. I used these people and they did all the custom work for me. I don't think it was that expensive.

Customs Brokerage | Freight Forwarding | Warehousing | Pacific Customs Brokers Ltd.

Jason

[jyasaki]

Jason;

Parts are pretty straightforward, tariffs and taxes notwithstanding.

I think Zip is wondering about importing a vessel, which gets a little hairy with the registration, coding (has to meet USCG specs) and all that crap.

How's the boat running? Haven't heard a report in a while.

jky

[Bigtalljv]

Take the engines and tubes off and import it as a bunch of parts

I assume it's running well, sure looks good sitting in my front yard. It hasn't been out in months, the weather has sucked. Crazy wind, 40+ every week. The wind finally died down and now we have a 12' swell coming in today.

Jason

[ncp]

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

The wind finally died down and now we have a 12' swell coming in today.

Sounds like the makings of a surf trip!

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

Take the engines and tubes off and import it as a bunch of parts

Well, I suppose that'd work for the "getting it into the country" part; the registration would be a little sticky though:

"Honest, DMV worker, the boat just magically appeared in my driveway..."

jky

[ncp]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

"Honest, DMV worker, the boat just magically appeared in my driveway..."

Different bills of sale? People put boats together all the time.

[Bigtalljv]

I did. It was an adventure at the dmv with the military surplus, government bills of sale (or not) but the dmv people were very helpful.

Jason

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by ncp

Different bills of sale? People put boats together all the time.

Point is, one of them has to list the hull and hull ID number, and that makes it a vessel being imported (and has to be reported and taxed/tariffed/whatever else.)

I don't remember how long you have to register an imported vessel in Calif (which I think is where we were talking about); I suppose you could get a lot of work done on the boat in that time...

jky

[Bigtalljv]

I'm not sure boats have to be registered in a specific time. Just for when you want to use them.

I'm not sure there is a legal way to get around sales tax. The state had record of my import and sent me a reminder to declare tax on the purchase.

I think NAFTA helped with import duties but I'd have to dig up the paperwork. Memory says I dug up some NAFTA numbers from zodiac for the parts and there was not extra on those parts.

Jason

[jyasaki]

Looks like it's 120 days, Jason:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1...tsinfo/boatreg


And, this might raise more questions, I suppose...

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...e-into-the-u.s

Haven't found anything specific from the DMV on registering an imported boat, but as I recall, I needed the bill of sale, the HIN (and VIN on the trailer), and some documentation that the boat didn't exceed the trailers GVW (printed material showing the trailer capacities - also on the mfgr's placard, and a spec sheet on the boat showing weight.)

jky

Forgot to add that since the boat is taxable by the county of residence, delaying more could, I suppose, fall under tax evasion laws.

[jyasaki]

Sorry, one more link:

Association of Yacht Sales Professionals | U.S. / Canadian Vessel Transactions

jky

[Bigtalljv]

Sorry. I was getting confused about the subject. I didn't import the boat, just parts. Duh

Jason

[ncp]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Looks like it's 120 days, Jason:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1...tsinfo/boatreg

But, it says in there:
Vessels previously registered in other states must be registered in California within 120 days of being brought into the state, if it will be used upon California waterways the majority of the time."

Specifically, "other states". Does Canada count?

I have an appointment with the CA DMV on Tuesday for the "new" Avon that I've owned for over a year. It's not registered yet but it's never been owned before by a private party or registered. I don't expect problems at the DMV. We'll see.... Sometimes it confuses them when there's no HIN (1x was easy-Oceanside, CA and one time was tough-West Hollywood, CA)

[jyasaki]

I assume that the "previously registered in other states" means something more like "previously not registered in California". I may be wrong, though; you'd need clarification from the DMV on that one.

Can't help on your DMV locations, except to say that if you end up at the Oakland Coliseum office, wear a bullet proof vest.

jky

[zip]

Thanks.

[Nightfisher]

That's a touchy one. Depends on what Country each of the units were made. I have the duty rates coming into Canada but not going into the USA. If any or all was made in the USA originally then exported to Canada then USA Duty won't apply, though taxes might. The original USA Manufacturers would have to provide you with proof of original export to Canada by Serial Number of each. If foreign made (Not USA, Mexico or Canada (NAFTA)), then you would pay US Duty on the price you paid for each unit made elsewhere. eg: Trailer Serial xxxx Made in Canada (No Duty). Motor Serial xbxbxb Made in Japan Duty Applies. Boat Serial cbcbcb Made in USA "US Goods Returning to USA No Duty Applies.