Thank You !!

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waiting

Hi,
I just read this post and would liketo share some info. I did have problems the last time I tried to take my car across the border since I had a lein on it. So, I filed for my PR card and returned to US. Now I do have the car title and 'am planning on moving back to canada on Job with my car. But I read about the Recall Clearance Certificate which I was not aware of. I'm movi ng next week and don't think I have the time to order the Recall Clearance Certificate within a week. Can you please calrify if this is a must? I don't want to get into problems this time as I've resigned from my company in US and can't return to US if I have problems crossing the border due to importing my car to canada. Please advice ASAP. thanks,
msg0092

Benglur --

The Recall Certificate is an absolutely mandatory piece of document.
Without that, Canadian Customs will not import your car.
They specifically ask for it.

Also, when you register your car in the province of Ontario, they will keep a copy of the letter.

However, 1 week is sometimes enough to get it.
I got mine in a week, IIRC.

Contact your manufacturer pronto and tell them to send it to you ASAP.
You can request them to fax you a copy and put the original in mail.

Maybe you can negotiate with them to send it via UPS overnight and pay for the shipping or give them a FedEx account number.

Either whichever works for you - but the thing is that it is very important document.

While on the subject, have you faxed a copy of your title to the border post?
They need that to conduct a background check on the vehicle.
They need it at least 72 hrs. prior to exporting the car.
If you haven't done that do so right away - without that, they won't let you take the car out.

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"

Hi Benglur,

I think what Pratickm has suggested is the most prudent course. However *Just in case* you run out of time and do not get the manufacturers Recall Clearance, you can try the following:

US Side:
1. Fax your title 72 hours in advance to the US Customs office along with a cover letter explaining your intent to export the car to Canada.
2. Get your car insurance in US to include Canada (we were covered by State Farm and they issued us a certificate saying that we are covered in US and Canada free of cost).
3. While you are with your insurance firm ask them to issue you a "letter of experience", it helps reduce your Canadian insurance.
4. At the US side get a stamp on your title saying "vehicle exported". That completes your formalities for exporting from the US.

Canadian Side:
1. Put your car in your "List of Goods to Follow".
2. At the border crossing obtain a temporary permit to drive the car in Canada - you can give them a time frame of about 30-60 days. You MUST have this permit cancelled at a Customs Office BEFORE IT EXPIRES.
3. When you get the Recall Clearance from your manufacturer, go to the nearest Customs and Revenue Office in your province and have them cancel the temp permit. At the same time they will issue you the RIV Form and strike off your car from the "List of Goods to follow"
4. Subsequently RIV will send you the papers containing list of modifications and you must get the modifications completed within 45 days.
5. Any other provinical regulations eg. in Manitoba i had to get the car "safetied" - a saftey check.
6. Get your car licensed in your province
7. Obtain your provincial insurance
8. Cancel your US insurance. Fax them your title with "Vehicle exported" stamp and your Canadian Insurance certificate showing your car is covered by Canadian insurance.

I know this process, because I personally used it when I came to Manitoba- we did not have a permanent address in Winnipeg at the time of landing, so even though we had all other papers, they could not issue us the RIV Form as that requires a perm address. Therefore they issued us a temporary permit valid for 30 days (my suggestion) and I had to go to a Customs Office in Winnipeg to cancel it when we had a permanent address.

However let me reiterate the Recall Clearance Letter is absolutely mandatory and pratickm's solution is the best and most straightforward approach. We had very friendly Customs Officials at the Manitoban border crossing and your experience may be different if you do not have the necessary papers.

Hi,

i just received the recall clearance certificate for my car.

Is there a particular format the letter should be in. It just states that there are no recalls on this vehicle with the vin#. My name is also not mentioned correctly. I suppose as long as the vin# is right, that shud be ok?

Please advise.

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waiting

LOL !
This is exactly what happened to me
I requested them to send me another letter with my name correctly spelled.
The letter itself is fine - all it needs to state is the VIN# and that there are no current recalls on that vehicle.
Name spelling should not make a lot of difference, as long as it is close enough.
Of course, if the name is something totally different, then you may want to ask for another letter.

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"

I had a friend who took his car without any prior Info through the Vancouver border, he was allowed although they asked for few documents .

Is the Recall Clearance a must? Who issues the document

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Ashish