Canadian Import to CA

I highly recommend you NOT register the car in CA. Also depending on what it is you may not be able too anyway. Not to mention, fees and taxes here are outrageous.

 

CA does not operate with the 25 year rolling window - that is a federal rule (that many states adopt). In CA, it is 1975 or earlier that is exempt from CA regulations. So, anything newer than 1975 would have to conform to CA regulations - there are Registered Importers that convert, but that is usually cost prohibitively, unless the more-or-less same model is sold here. Some people register out of state but operate in CA, but that is being cracked down on by authorities, so be careful.

 

as long as it it 1975 or older and you don't have to worry about smog, I would recommend.

Flegenheimer International
Address: 227 W Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 322-4356

to do the customs, paperwork

And then Reliable Carriers to bring the car. Depending where it is in Canada. TRX is the usual Canadian carrier, but they aren't very good. Also you could drive the car across the boarder, etc.

 

I've imported a Canadian car to California.

Two primary "Steps" you have to go through: Import through CBP, then register it at DMV.

For CBP:
Two main ways: Either import it through a broker/shipper, or ship it down and then import it yourself. Broker method means they will import it at the border while it is on the truck, provide you with the import papers, then you register it at DMV.

Second method is to clear CBP yourself. You'll have to go to an airport or port for an inspection. Then they provide papers, and you register at DMV. I used this method. It sucked. CBP officers in CA are so clueless on what is actually required. I just had to make many visits until I got an officer that was competent and let me pass.

Fees:
Unless you are planning on owning the car for a year before importing to CA, you will pay 2.5% duties + CA use tax on the market value. Canada may try to collect sales tax as well, but I think if you state that the car is never going to be used in Canada, you might be able to avoid that.

 

I imported a 1970 Ferrari from Canada and it was not an issue at all.
The shipper I used had all the import paperwork done for me.
The VAT Tax is a few bucks though..

 

If it is a 90s car you will not be able to register it in CA unless you have a Registered Importer "convert" it, or if this particular vehicle is already a US 50-state vehicle, e.g. it was previously exported from US to Canada, or if make some semi or fully illegal arrangements. You are looking at headaches... and $$$. I always wanted to import an early 90s Alfa SZ (Il Monstro), and that car could potential qualify for exemption due to its historic value and rarity, but I have not had the courage to go down that road with CA DMV... and I don't want the headaches of circumventing regulations by semi-illegal arrangements - just not worth it to me.

 

This is not exactly the same situation I believe. CBP maintains a list of "admissible vehicles" that are allowed to be imported into the United States without heavy modifications. It's an exhaustive list, but a general rule of thumb, if the car was originally sold in Canada or United States, it most likely already satisfies all the regulations of either of those countries.

The Alfa in this example seems like it was never sold in North America, so it was probably built to European regulations, which have a few major differences and conflicts with North America. You can actually still import a European sold car, but the modifications will likely have to be excessive as you said.

 

A problem is that we don't know what vehicle OP is talking about. It could be a Lancia Integrale that has made its way legally into Canada, or even an SZ, or a 360. In the early 2000s I was also looking into importing an Alfa 164Q4, and even though the 164 was sold in the US, albeit not in the Q4 trim (but same engine), research indicated that it was cost prohibitively. But, I generally agree, if it is a 360, or as I said earlier a car that was original sold in the US and exported to Canada, it should be pretty straightforward.

 

get a wholesale dealers license..... problem solved!

 

That may not be too bad. Maybe try post in the 348/355 section to see if anyone has federalized a Canadian 348 and what is involved. Sure it is not a US car that was previously exported to Canada?

 

A Canadian market 92 348 is almost identical to a US market one and should carry all of the CA required emissions equipment and labels for a clean importation. AFAIK the only differences in the cars are the 7mph bumpers (of which the difference is totally internal and invisible) and the KPH speedometer and odometer which should not affect importation. Assuming the car has not been tampered with I do not believe there will be a problem smogging and registering that car in CA.

 

Forget about it. Can't happen.

 

Ferrari made "North American" cars destined for either Canada or US, most of those are 50 state legal. If it can be registered in CA, it will have compliance stickers under the hood. Ferrari can write you a letter that will verify the car meets US standards to import federally. Canada charges nothing on export, the US charges duty based upon your bill of sale, CA will charge tax and license to register based upon bill of sale.
If it either doesn't have the stickers or you can't get the letter, don't bother. If you can get them both, it's very easy to import. I imported a 1995 456GT from Canada to CA. Note, you will still have to smog the car in CA.

 

I think the part about having to get smogged in California cannot be underestimated. California has the toughest smog rules in the nation. I had a huge headache getting a Florida car smogged in California. You can easily spend $10,000 and take a year or more of headaches in getting an exotic smogged.

Personally, although I love my car, I would never buy a non- California exotic again. Not worth the potential brain damage.

 

Ok. I need to bump this. It appears there’s more than just the smog on has to worry about.

https://www.importavehicle.info/2014/12/california-certification-procedures-for.html?m=1

“1968 model year to 1974 model year vehicles: California does not recommend the purchase or importation of these years of NON-USA vehicles, even if currently registered in another state. These vehicles require compliance with USEPA requirements in effect on the specific date of 11/15/1972. This provision when written, was considered by the California legislature as a gradual phase-out of very dirty "non-collectable" types of imports, as this specific requirement was understood to become increasingly difficult to meet. Today, this requirement, while not impossible to meet, would require testing expenses and modifications that far exceed most vehicles value and would make little sense from a collectors standpoint to attempt. Some limited exemptions apply to individuals moving to California with vehicles of these years registered in their home state for at least a year before moving to California. Contact us for more information.”


I’m interested in importing a Euro-spec Alfa GTV (1971-74) and registering it in CA. Any thoughts or leads to how this can be legally achieved?

 

Check to see if this is a North American spec car and you might possibly be OK but the registration tag in the engine compartment MUST state that it meets California emission standards. I did import a car once under these conditions and it worked but only because the Canadian cars and US cars were the same spec and the engine tag stated it was compliant. I still had to go through a lengthy process with the smog referee but it did work out. The only other alternative is the Montana LLC. Lots of controversy around that so buyer beware.

 

Not a Canadian car. It’s a euro-spec car. There is one person who claimed he was able to get a Euro spec 73 Alfa and register it with CA plates. I verified this info on Instagram. I saw his car with CA plates.