Re-importing a Ferrari back into the US | FerrariChat
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Re-importing a Ferrari back into the US

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Yoric, May 1, 2024.

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  1. Yoric

    Yoric Formula Junior
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    Jan 8, 2005
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    Yoric
    #1 Yoric, May 1, 2024
    I have found a 1976 Ferrari 308 in Canada that I want to buy. The car was previously owned in Pennsylvania and sold by Mike Sheehan to the current owner in Alberta and it's originally a US car. The present Canadian owner/seller has committed to driving the car to the Canandian-US official border station in Sweetgrass, Montana where I would meet him and finalize the sale (having previously wired him the funds). The plan is for me then to return to my home state of Wyoming and there title and register the car in my name, so my questions are these: 1) at the border what are the seller's obligations to either the Canadian or the US authorities? 2) at the border what are the buyer's (me) obligations to the Canadian or the US authorities? 3) Should the change of ownership take place on the Canadian or the US side of the border? 4) can all of the paperwork be completed without complication, delay or prior notification to the border authorities (either US or Canadian)? 5) Canada does not have imposing certificates of title such as we have in the US but rather an unimpressive certificate of ownership issued by the "Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services," which has a dotted line for the owner's signature on the back side of the document. Will this official certificate, together with a notarized bill of sale, suffice to title and register the car in WY (or any other state for that matter) in my name as the new owner?
    The primary intent of this arrangement is for the seller to get the pleasure of driving the car one last time (he lives 3 hrs away from the border) and for me to avoid the hassle of shipping, hiring an agent to transact the importation and, more importantly, to have the car in my possession as quickly as possible.
    Please excuse my longwindedness and thank you in advance for your expert advice.
    Yoric
     
  2. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
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    Justin
    #2 technom3, May 1, 2024
    Importing the car is quite easy as it is over 2t years old.

    In Canada the registration is the proof of ownership.

    So you are all good to go there.


    Honestly... Your best bet is to hire a customs broker to fill everything out for you if you are going to drive it over the border.
    .if you ship it a company like TFX transport can help do everything with you.

    The customs broker will only run you a few hundred dollars but you will have someone guiding you and most importantly correctly.
     
    Jack-the-lad and Cigarzman like this.
  3. pce01

    pce01 Karting
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    Peter
    #3 pce01, May 15, 2024
    If the car is returning to the USA with a different owner that the one who exported it to Canada, then you will have to pay USA duty on the car. That will give you US Customs paperwork (CBP7501), which you will need to register the car in the USA. Your purchase is considered a "commercial" transaction by US Customs.
    I bought a Ferrari in Ontario, and that was the requirement to register it in NY, even though the car was a USA car, originally sold in MA.
    I used TFX and a customs broker to handle the paperwork and shipping.
     
    INRange and JAM1 like this.
  4. Sunshine1

    Sunshine1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 Sunshine1, May 16, 2024

    +1. Easy to import a vehicle that is 25+ year-old.
     
  5. ZikZak

    ZikZak Karting

    Dec 18, 2023
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    Dickie Maxwell
    #5 ZikZak, Jun 2, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2024
    To add to this, I just imported a '79 308 from Germany, and my local State (Montana) required the fed US import docs (originals - copies weren't accepted) before issuing the title. The documentation was extensive, and I can't imagine the headache it would have been to navigate them without prior experience. I used Cosdel: https://cosdel.com/, and they were excellent (dm me if you'd like a name to ask for/contact info).

    This is predicated on the assumption that Wyoming requirements are similar, which may not be the case (though I assume every State will require the fed import docs). Before you agree to this method of delivery, I'd make sure you know exactly what your DMV needs to issue a title.
     

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