How to Import Cars From Japan to the Maritimes

To import a car from Japan to the Maritime provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island), you must be a resident of Canada in a Maritime province. Recent softening of Japan's export laws makes the process of exporting motor vehicles from Japan to other countries much easier than before. Used Japanese cars are often in excellent condition due to aggressive domestic legislation concerning maintenance and a national highway speed limit equal to 50 miles per hour. By Canadian law, all imports from Japan must be over 15 years since the date of manufacture; no exceptions.

Instructions

Out of Japan

1

Buy a used Japanese car in Japan. Retain all paperwork.

2

Visit the nearest Local Land Transport office and obtain forms for deregistering the car--to assure the government that the car will no longer be driven on Japanese roads--and an export license application for your vehicle.

3

Fill out the deregistration and export license application forms using the paperwork you retained from the used car purchase. This includes the car's entire ownership history.

4

Take the completed deregistration and export license application forms to the Local Land Transport office.

5

Obtain valid, verified deregistration and export license certificates from the Local Land Transport office.

6

Report your car to Customs Japan, and declare all contents using the paperwork from the used car purchase.

7

Take your car to a Customs Japan inspection site as directed.

8

Clean the car of all soil, insects and so on,. as required by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

9

Arrange shipping for your car. Keep your copy of the Bill of Lading that records the contents of your shipment.

10

Ensure that you have either the manufacturer's compliance sticker or a letter from the manufacturer proving that your car is over 15 years old to qualify for the proper exemption from Canadian customs.

11

Ship your car to Canada. The ship itself must be a Container or Ro/Ro (Roll On, Roll Off) ship to accommodate your car. Accept the car at the Port of Destination. If the Port of Destination was not in Canada, get the car to the Canadian border.

Into Canada

12

Provide Customs with the paperwork you have prepared. This proves that you own the vehicle, that it is imported and that it is over 15 years old.

13

Pay all taxes and duties owed to both federal and provincial governments. Duty is federal, but Harmonized Sales Tax varies according to which Maritime province you are importing your car to.

14

Obtain a Vehicle Import Form provided to you by the Canada Border Services Agency (that is,"customs").

15

Fill out the Vehicle Import Form with the information contained in your previous paperwork. This will serve as your temporary motor vehicle registration pending a safety inspection and normal registration in the province where you reside.

16

Transport your car to the Maritime province in which you reside. This completes the importation process.