I'm buying a car in Canada and driving it back into the US. How do I deal with auto insurance/registration?

Question

So basically I'm flying out to New Brunswick with a friend on one-way tickets, buying a car, road-tripping back home to California and then selling it. We've looked into the renting/shipping a car options and this is our best, cheapest choice. The problem is I have no idea where to begin on the matter of insuring and registering a vehicle that I'll have for only a matter of weeks and will be traveling across country borders. Anybody have any advice?

Answer 1

Typical situation you have like many other people,therefor,be patient and check out the resource here i found useful.http://car-insurance.easyideas4u.info/ca...

Answer 2

Before you do anything, you have to talk to US customs to ensure the auto you purchase can be imported into the US.  There are models that cannot go US to Canada, and models that cannot go Canada to US, especially California with higher emissions standards than other states.  It is possible you will have to get a transit permit for every state you travel through as well, unless California has a temporary registration you can do by fax when you take possession of the car and have the original bill of sale and Transfer of Ownership document in hand.  You have to check with your insurance agent to see if you can buy temporary insurance for the trip home.  You cannot title it until you get to your home state, or at least until you get the car across the border (that you have to check with the DMV, but likely you can't because they need the original TOD and bill of sale.  If the car is not Canadian or American, you may have full freight import duties to pay at the border as well as the import fees.  Buying an out-of-country car for the specific purpose of a joy-ride home is not something to be taken lightly.

Answer 3

If you have a California drivers license and (can say you) are buying a car to keep and use in California, you can pull it off with little or not much hassle.

Make sure you buy a car currently registered and legal. All insurance policies (that I've ever had or seen) allow you to buy an additional car and it's insured as soon as you take procession of it. ie, you/it will be insured under your current policy. Just make sure you call your insurance company when you do it. You can also call them before you do it, asking them any questions you have.

You should take a copy of your insurance policy with you.

You should, of course, register it in California as soon as you arrive. It will also be easier to sell in California if it's registered here.

When you buy it, make sure you get a receipt for it. You may want to download one from http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/topbuysell.htm

That said, check the California DMV, here, http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/os.htm for

Vehicle Registration and Title Information

Buying an Out-of-State Vehicle

    * What You Need to Know About Buying an Out-of-State Vehicle

    * Register a Nonresident Vehicle

    * Problems with a Vehicle Purchase

    * Vehicle-Related Consumer Information

Part of those links include this:

California has special requirements for vehicles imported from other countries (including Canada and Mexico). It may be very costly and in some cases impossible to modify these vehicles to meet California emission requirements and/or federal motor vehicle safety standards. For example, vehicles manufactured to be sold in Europe (gray market vehicles) less than two years old are not legal for registration or use in California.

Read the rest of the stuff in those links carefully. Make sure the vehicle you want to buy can be smogged and is legal.

Again, it will be more difficult to sell an out of state car registered here -- the seller (you) has to guarantee that it will pass smog  inspection.

Good luck. Drive safe.

Answer 4

Lately parenting forums have been buzzing with parents looking for ideas how to keep their teenagers from spending a lot of time on the computer and Internet. It seemsthat teenagersthese days are hooked on the computer just as they were hooked on watching television just a decade ago.  In my travels through cyberspace, I have noticed an increasing number of websites and blogs discussing<!--various forms of Insurance and registration related to cars... Yes, these days if we have a car there are lots of things that we should consider into account especially with the insurance thing. I understand what your problem is all about and I think the below website may solve your problem. You can almost find any information related to car insurance.

http://www.best-autoinsurance.we.bs/

Car insurance is essentially insurance that covers you, your passengers, and your car in case of an accident. Most states require that car owners carry liability coverage in their car insurance policy. Liability insurance covers expenses incurred for damaging another vehicle with your own when you are at fault. This means that if you are in a vehicular-->accident and your car caused the damage, then the liability piece of your car insurance will cover the damages according to the terms of your policy.