bringing trikes into Canada

[barrycoish]

I am supposed to be picking up 2 3 wheelers in the States today and bringing them into Canada but I have heard that I am going to have troubles. It's a 7 hour drive each way for me and I don't want to find out after picking them up that I can't bring them home. Any body know the ins and outs of this?

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

ive crossed into canada a few times to go riding before with my R, they didnt have any problem with it, and it wasnt just me, it was a whole line of us with atvs going to the drags.

[barrycoish]

Did they ask for registrations or anything like that.

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

nope, they asked "so what are your plans" we said, were heading to go riding at the drags, and he said "how long do you plan on staying" we said till around midnight or so, and then they said, "alright, well have a safe trip" besides that, all they did was the routine crap (drivers license, photo id's etc.) but they didnt ask for any atv registrations, and there was no plates on them, none of us had them registered., not like it really matters in the back of a truck anyways., i really wouldnt worry about it.

[barrycoish]

Thanx for the info and I hope you are right.

[foster]

You can call ahead. Look in the blue pages in your phone book under Government of Canada, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency or (I can't recall) Border Services. They can answer all your questions.
I wouldn't give them my name, though, or my itinerary, because it's human nature -- give someone the opportunity to exercise power over you and they will.
Every time.

[TimSr]

I would suggest calling customs ahead of time. While a US citizen bringing in trikes for drags will be viewed as tourtists or temporary visitors, it may be a whole different story for a Canadian bringing trikes into Canada. Unless they have reason to believe you left the country with them, and are returning with them, it will be obvious you are importing them and they may be subject to import taxes or fees, and a whole different set of standards. Id make a few calls before making that drive.

[trailboss]

buying something like a trike in the states and bringing it back to canada is subject to duty and it can be a fairly heavey fee. call ahead to canada customs and find out thier policy on impoting used goods from the states.

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

i dont see how going into canada and bringing stuff back into the US is any different, ive done it on many occasions, for one, there is killer sales up there most the time, so ive bought loads of stuff and have brought back, and all you have to do is tell them what your taking through and they have no problem with it., although, you probly should call ahead just to be on the safe side

[TimSr]

There is a huge difference in importing merchadise into the US or importing it to Canada. They each have a different government, and one has nothing to do with the other. Remember a thing in the US called NAFTA that the libs freaked out over that was supposed to have sent all our jobs to Mexico? It greatly loosened up what was tariffed, taxed and dutied coming into the US from other North American countries. Most personal use items coming into the US are not taxed at all. Canada, however, is much quicker to pull the tax trigger on imports. Anything you sell on ebay and ship to Canada is taxed as an import. Thats why you have to fill out all the extra forms when you ship there. Thats why Canadians are more reluctant to purchase US goods unless they can drive across the border, pick them up, and smuggle them back across. Thats why Canadians near the border support Mailbox's Etc. stores with a receiving box on the US side!
I am not a Canadian citizen, so I dont comment on their government affairs, but I certainly openly oppose those US govt officials who would like to emulate the Canadian system.

[timex69]

If they ask if you purchased this ATV in the US just simply say nope it was a gift. I hear that works

[trailboss]

don't forget we are one of the most heavily taxed countries in the world. we are in the top ten.

[Mobular]

As someone who does live near the border, and regularly imports parts from the US, I can offer some tips.
-Firstly, do not attempt to bring anything across illegally, unless you are willing to surrender your vehicle(s) if you are caught.
-Play it safe and declare the purchases.
-Don't try to use the "gift" angle. Free, or not, will be taxed as to what they believe the inherent value to be.
-Have a detailed sales slip, with the sellers name and address.
-There is no duty applicable to ATCs, but parts/whole machines are taxable.
-No trike manufactured after 1987 is importable.
At each Canadian Customs crossing there is a large book which will supply you with article numbers pertaining to dutys/taxes for most every concievable item ever. The article # for a whole ATC - 50 - 250cc is 8711.20.00-10. The # for an ATC 251- 500cc is 8711.30.00-10. The # for parts is 8714.19.00. These numbers are specifically for all-terrain-cycles(their wording). Make sure these numbers are the ones used at the time of documentation. I have had officers try to document stuff as ATV goods, not ATC. Some ATV goods are dutiable. You may have to point out the difference to the officers between a quad and ATC (I have many times...some people just don't get it). There is one section that they may try to apply a tarriff, and that is for a vehicle having less than 6 wheels, powered by agas engine made for 1 passenger. This has a duty of 6.1%. Use the allterraincycle numbers and aviod the extra tarriffs.

A downloadable PDF with the Canadian Customs details is here:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/publications/tariff2004/ch87ne.pdf

If you have anyother questions, just ask! :beer

[barrycoish]

Thanx for all the info. guys. I got a receipt saying I only payed $300 and I ripped some parts off the bikes and put them in my trunk and told them they were stricktly for parts and declared for $300. No problems became of it all they did was look over the bikes which both looked like nothing but a load of parts and I had to pay $60. It was well worth the drive in the end. Got 2 trikes in like new condition, lots of extra parts manuals, parts cd and a nice road trip getting them. See you all on the trails. Play safe and ride hard!!!!!!