anyone done this before? around how much did u pay when it was all said and done? a friend wants to buy a 3rd gen now, only thing is, he has about 17 g to spend, any help would be appreciated

 

Please read this recent thread.

https://www.rx7club.com/canadian-forum-42/any1-can-find-me-fd-430795/

And search for other threads regarding cheap FD's.

Not trying to spoil the fun but consider the cost of repairs too when considering buying an FD.

 

thanks for the thread, and i know, i have a silver 93, spent too much on repairs already

 

I am in the process of importing my 3rd gen from Texas. Here is what I have been told...

The 3rd gen is allowed into Canada. To meet Canadian safety standards you must 1.) add a child restraint system. I understand it is some kind of ring which allows you to secure a child's car seat to the frame. I have been told you must buy it but you may leave it unattached in the glove compartment. Seems somewhat pointless and a waste of money. 2.) You must have daytime running lights installed. 3.) The reinforcement bar in the front bumper must be changed out for the Canadian part. This costs about $1,000 (with labour) and provides little, if any, additional safety protection. The total cost of these mods is about $1,200. You also must pay a Register of Imported Vehicles fee at the border ($186) and an excise tax on the air conditioner ($100). You are also subject to duty and GST if the car is valued at over $10,000. (You don't pay on the first $10,000).

 

I am going through the importation process on my FD right now. I have not heard about any requirements to add a child restraint or daytime running lights. The regulations I saw do mention that there has to be a change to the bumper. I also heard about the RIV fee and the excise tax on the air conditioner. As far as I know the GST applies to the entire purchase price - not to just that amount over $10,000. In fact, I brought a 914 race car into Canada from California that I bought off e-bay for $5500 and I had to pay GST on it.

The other thing is you have to pay a duty on the car based upon where it comes from. On an RX7 that duty is 6.1%. So if your car cost you $10,000 US you would have to pay the following:

$10,000 US x exchange rate = $ 12,522.00 CAN
$12,522.00 x 1.061 = $ 13285.84
$ 13285.84 + $100.00 = $ 13385.84
$13,385.84 x 1.07 = $ 14,322.80
$ 14,322.80 + $186 = $ 14508.80

Then there is the shipping and costs to have all the modifications done. One important thing I have learned is that you must inform US Customs at least 3 days in advance that you are taking a car from the US to Canada.

 

As far as I know, you will always have to pay GST when transferring a car to your name and plating it, doesn't matter where you bought the car. The government wants its money.

Is there GST on that importation fee of $186? If not, then I'm surprised the government forgot to add that, considering they tax pretty much anything!

 

Just a little heads up since I did this about a year ago.

The duty is not on the purchase price of the vehicle, but what the vehicle would be worth in Canda.

You do need the front reinforcement bar, and daytime running lights, if you have this done by Mazda, expect to pay around $2000.

 

I don''t pay GST on the first $10,000 because I have lived in the US for years and owned the car for about 5years. I forget exactly what qualifies you for the tax break.

 

The bumper reinforcement part which must be replaced is part number 50-040.

[img]RX7%202OF%20BODY_05_0001.jpg[/img]

 

The bumper reinforcement part which must be replaced is part number 50-040.

[img]RX7%202OF%20BODY_05_0001.jpg[\img]

 

I can't seem to upload the parts diagram...

 

I thought there must have been a loophole for you. Care to bring back a car for the rest of us.

I'm learning more as I get into this "buying and driving a car from the USA". First, you have to register it in the state that you buy it in so that you can drive it to the border. Once at the border you have to register the car with the province you live in. For insurance I found out that my insurance company will only cover a car registered in Canada. So I have to buy a policy in the US from a US based insurance company to cover me during the drive to the border.

Naturally, this all comes after getting the bill of sale and title to the car. Without those you can't get the insurance and registration.

I'll tell you more as I find out myself.

 

If you have lived in the US for more than a year and have owned the car for atleast 6 months prior to moving you pay no GST at all.

 

Not sure which RX7 you are importing. I believe any car 15 years or older that was registered for public roads in the US can be brought into Canada without modification (ie no day time running lights etc. required). However, currently any car 1991 or newer must have the lights to be legally registered for Canadian public roads. Same for the child restraint system.

The value of the car can be based on an appraised value or on something like a Kelly Blue Book value. In my discussion with the customs people I found that they would accept the 'trade in value' of the car versus a 'private sale' value. Trade in is usually a lot less (for my FD it was about $8500USD).

 

its fun to see that the reinforcement bar is the same for us and canada cars except for the colour. You can buy one in a junk yard (100$)... mazda sells for 800-900 i think... for the daytime running lights, it will not cost a lot. It's not that hard, but it is easier when the car is nearly stock or bone stock.

Max