Advice on importing from the US

[vangoalie]

I am purchasing a travel trailer in the US in July, have already sent a deposit, the price is just over $20K USD and I will need to pay for it somehow, I don't want to send the money without seeing it but I cannot transport over $10k across the border without declaring it, whether cash or a bank draft. What has everyone else done, do you just declare it and they let you through no problem, is it simple. Just looking for advice from the wide range of you that have done this before and how you paid. It is a private sale so credit cards and other means don't work. Thanks for all your help.
Cheers

 

[noluck]

declare at the border and have the slip where you took it out of the bank, if you have that there is no questions they count it and you are on your way

 

[cletus]

I've done it for 2 boats and 2 rv's. For private sales I took a copy of the add and a bank draft and declared it to the agent.For the dealer purchases I wired the money.Got sent inside once out of four times.

 

[vangoalie]

Ok thanks, I will declare it. He would like cash instead of a bank draft. Where does everyone and how to get the beat exchange rate? Thanks

 

[Capt_Ed]

I just did this a week ago for my new boat . I went thru my bank (CIBC) and used there Global Money Transfer on my online banking. The seller does have to give some personal and banking info so some trust involved but this was all at the suggestion of my personal banker. There is a time lag of a day for the transfer so I did it the day before I picked it up. The seller did email me a copy of a bill of sale before hand but held onto the titles till I picked up the boat and trailer. With all the bank draft scams going on this again was at my banks suggestion. Also bank draft can take more time to clear.
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[vangoalie]

On more question has anybody dealt with Knightsbridge for currency exchange.

 

[vangoalie]

Can anybody give me advise on insurance on a trailer purchased in the US, seems a lot of wish washy information from ICBC. I know I need an ICBC rider, does that cover me all the way in the US too or do I need to buy something in the US too. Please help with what you know. Thanks

 

[Marko]

As long as the draft is addressed to the vendor, it’s not cash.

As for the trailer license, I’m thinking get a temporary use permit from the state it’s registered in. Get enough time to get it home.

 

[noluck]

As long as the draft is addressed to the vendor, it’s not cash.

As for the trailer license, I’m thinking get a temporary use permit from the state it’s registered in. Get enough time to get it home.

this works for a Washington licensed trailer, other states have different rules, so do your homework

 

[sudsy]

Can anybody give me advise on insurance on a trailer purchased in the US, seems a lot of wish washy information from ICBC. I know I need an ICBC rider, does that cover me all the way in the US too or do I need to buy something in the US too. Please help with what you know. Thanks

Call icbc or your insurance broker to confirm this- when I picked up a boat in the US in 2012 I was told my insurance rider only covered me once I was in Canada.

I was told i would need to go get a temp insurance from Washington state motor vehicle Department to drive it in washington state. I opted to have the seller drive it to Blaine parkint lot near the border and I drove it 800 m to the border uninsured. Once I was through the border it was covered with my rider. It was super easy to import a boat - the hardest part is the trailer- knowing what I know now I'd drive over with a bc trailer and throw the boat on it and drive it back.

 

[Sr SQ]

Call icbc or your insurance broker to confirm this- when I picked up a boat in the US in 2012 I was told my insurance rider only covered me once I was in Canada.

Pretty sure that's the way I remember it too.......

I also needed a letter of recall from the mfg but there may be an age restriction on that?

 

[Weatherall]

Hey, I imported a boat in the fall and used Sonja at Anacortes Marine Documents. She was reasonable and brokered the whole deal (payment and paperwork) once everything was done properly. She would be able to give you the right information https://anacortesmarinedoc.com/ I bought my trailer and drove accross, making the whole thing way easier. The main things is there is a difference in US laws and Canadian laws on electric brakes, so the border guys are looking for certification to the Canadian standard before importing.

 

[sudsy]

I also needed a letter of recall from the mfg but there may be an age restriction on that?

Yeah if it's older than 15 years it's RIV exempt and doesn't need a letter.