A US to Canada import, bought new from Surburban Infiniti of Troy in Michigan. Great dealership to deal with and very pleased with the purchase and saved over 15k than if I purchased here in Canada. I absolutely love this car!

Specs: 2008 G35S 6MT Sport Sedan Platinum Graphite / Stone /Premium Package / Navigation Package / Rear Spoiler / Splash Guards / Cargo net / Wheel locks

 

Props...nicely done.

Do you mind sharing the details of what you went through with the process?

 

yeah, nice deal. I'd like to hear the details too.

 

Well first you have to figure out if the car is admissible to Canada

All that is required is that you hook up the day time running lights with this vehice in order to import it.

I first researched what others were paying in the US on a negotiated deals thread here on G35driver.com

I then searched on the Infiniti web site for dealerships close to the Canadian US border. I than emailed all 16 dealerships with the specs I desired and got four fair quotes. I responded with what others were paying and had about 3-4 competitive quotes which I than sent to each dealership, which inturn they started to throw in freebies suchs as winter mats, splash gaurds, trunk cargo net, trunk mat and undercut each other I basically new what invoice is on this vehicle and offered $250 over.

I was finally very close to a deal at an Albany NY dealership but they were 600km form T.O. and did not want to drive that far. I decided to call one dealership in Michigan that was 40 miles over the border (they originally did not respond to my request for quote by email) and told them what I am looking for and my specs + I am close to a deal and if they can beat it the sale it is theirs. They did. Put a deposit down on the car waited 3 months.

The car comes in you have obviously pay for it, you then fax the title and recall letter to the US side of the border 3 days in advance. I than drove down to the dealership day of signed my paper work, viewed the car, test drove it, than had it shipped to the border (if the car is driven across the border you may be charged Michigan State tax). By shipping it you get around this.

Drove back to the border stopped for lunch with my wife by the time I crossed the US side my car was at customs on the US side and the shipper was filing out the paperwork. Cross into Canada, tell the border guard I went car shopping. Wait for my car to come across meet my car and shipper as they cross the border and go to the secondary search area, watch as the border guards gawk at the car. Pay your taxes which include GST, 100 AC tax. They unload it off the trailer and off I go with my paperwork in hand.

Drive into Ontario and go get a 10 day permit, stop at the nearest Library log onto RIV.ca and pay your 200 dollar RIV fee online, that way you will quickly get form 2 sent to you by email. Next day wake up go over to Canadian tire get a safety done and hook up the day time running lights which cost about 300 dollars to do. (takes about 2-3 hours to do). Take the car to get a clear bra installed (has absolutely nothing to do with importing it lol)

Enjoy your unplated car by driving on the 407 as you wait for form two to come in via email, once form two comes in (which took about 3 days to be sent to me via email) go back to Crappy tire to do your free 5 minute inspection and voila. Canadian tire stamps your form two and you are off to the DMV to pay PST on your new vehicle and plate it.

Go home admire your car and use the 17K that you saved vs purchasing here in T.O. on something else. Honestly observing the break in period and keeping the revs under 4K is harder than importing the vehicle. I talked to the border gauard as my car was being unloaded and he said ppl are importing on average 700 vehicles per day including snowmobiles, boats, RVs etc.

 

Congratulations Nice car and thanks for sharing your experience.

One question: do you usually take your car pics in a Cemetary?

 

No ha! Well I live in the city and there are not many scenic places to take shots, I know it seems morbid but it is actually quite peaceful back there.

 

Thanks for the write up.

I noticed that too about the pics in the cemetery.

 

HA, I was too busy looking at the car to even notice the setting.

 

Congrats Chris, and thanks for the write-up. Saving $17k is one large chunk of change.

 

Thanks for the detailed write up Chris.... nicely done!!!!
I didn't know about the state taxes.. driving vs shipping - good info!

 

Neither did I until I spoke to the dealership and they suggested it. It was about 400 to have it shipped 50 miles to the border a little pricey but much cheaper than paying almost 2K in Michigan state sales tax.

Plus you have to factor in the time the guys spend on the US side of the border taking care of your paper work for you. I could have not gone to the dealership and just taken delivery on the CAD side but did so just so I could inspect the car and make sure all was well.

 

I'd have done the same.
Spending that much $, there'd be no way that I'd leave it to chance.

 

If you don't mind me asking, how did in total did you ended up paying for the car?

 

I will have to tally it all up sometime this week and post a breakdown

 

Excellent.
I'm sure that'd be greatly appreciated by many!!!!