Please excuse the length of my reply, but there�s a lot of info on the �net
but I didn�t find anything that will take you from start to finish. The
example I�m going to give is importing a vehicle from Washington State to
BC; importing from another state to Alberta might have a few differences,
but most will be the same.
 
First of all, the license/insurance regime in the US is different than north
of the border; vehicles have a State Certificate of Title which proves
ownership, a separate State Vehicle License, and Private Insurance.
 
Before you can import the vehicle into Canada you get the seller to sign on
the Certificate of Title that they are surrendering interest in the vehicle.
You also need them to write out a Sales Receipt (This can just be a piece of
paper with VIN, year, model and make, dated and signed by the P.O.). The
vehicle will also need a current State License, and if it doesn�t have one
you must go to the state motor vehicle licensing office and get one (they�re
cheap). Vehicle licenses go with the vehicle, not the owner, so you can use
the PO�s license if the vehicle has a current one.
For Insurance you go to your own insurance agent before crossing the border
and explain what you are doing (you will need the vehicle VIN number, model,
year and make from the P.O.) In BC you are issued what is called a Binder of
Insurance, which is good for ten days, and is surprisingly inexpensive. You
get them to start the insurance on the day you plan on taking possession of
your new vehicle. There is no �Transfer of ownership� paper other than what
is written on the certificate of title.
 
When you take possession of the vehicle in the states, the paperwork you
must keep in the vehicle is a State License, Provincial Temporary Insurance
or Binder, a Sales Receipt, and a properly filled out Certificate of Title
(read this document carefully; it explains how to fill it out. The
certificate will list all persons who have a legal interest in the vehicle
and they ALL must sign to surrender their interest). One section of the
Certificate of Title stays with the P.O. to register with state authorities
that they have surrendered possession.
 
Then you head for the border. You must export the vehicle across specific
border crossings where the US allows this, you cannot export at all border
crossings! The designated vehicle export customs offices are listed on the
US government customs website. In Southwest BC it�s at the Pacific Hwy
(truck) crossing. On the US side you MUST go to US customs and get a US
Export Permit. After filling this out, you MUST wait in the US for 72 hours
before exporting the vehicle. After the 72 hours is up, you return to the
same US customs office where you applied for the permit, and if the vehicle
is cleared for export, they stamp your US Export Permit and you are allowed
to legally export the vehicle to Canada.
 
Once in Canada, you will have to report to Canadian customs that you are
importing a vehicle. You will need to show all the paperwork you have
accumulated at this point, including the US Export Permit. Because the van
is older than 15 years, you don�t have to pay for or pass the federal RIV
program, which saves you a bundle. Because the vehicle is a non-North
American make, you are supposed to pay duty (I believe it�s 9%) on the
CANADIAN BOOK VALUE of the vehicle, as well as GST on the same. This book
value may be far higher than what you paid. You might be able to argue this
point and it may not be rigorously enforced, because when I brought my van
across, the customs agent was having a very good day and she decided not to
charge me the duty, and only charged me GST on the US value I paid for the
van. I think I saved $400.00, which made my day!
After paying these fees you are allowed to carry on with your vehicle, but
keep all these documents with you in case you are pulled over by the police.
Customs will give you a stamped Import Permit showing that the vehicle was
legally imported and fees paid.
 
In BC you are supposed to take the vehicle straight home and then buy a
temporary BC permit to drive it to the provincial inspection shop, but
nobody does this �you still have the valid US license and your valid
temporary provincial insurance, so no big deal. They just don�t like British
Columbians driving around vehicles with out of province licenses. You now
have to take it to a shop licensed for provincial inspections, where they
will do an extensive safety check. It�s worth your while to get a copy of
the check beforehand so you can fix anything obvious right away (like
burned-out lights and such. In BC even a torn driver�s seat can cause a
fail). Phone around for costs for this service because it can vary widely.
In BC costs range from $60-$130.00 for the same inspection.
 
If you fail inspection you don�t have to pay the inspection fee twice, but
if they have to yank wheels or something when you bring it back they might
charge a nominal labour fee (that�s assuming you take it away to do the
repair work yourself rather than paying the inspecting shop to do it �these
places are full service shops that do inspections on the side). I had
leaking rear brake cylinders and the shop wanted almost $300.00 to fix, and
I replaced both for $40.00, brought the vehicle back, showed them the old
parts, and they passed it. I then got a Provincial Certificate of
Inspection. My van was in very good condition. The only other thing wrong
was a burnt-out license plate light, which I had missed. Get all this done
while you still have valid provincial insurance so you can drive the rig
around. Remember, the insurance (in BC) is good for ten days, and the state
license is still technically valid.
When you at last go to transfer title into your name and get the vehicle
properly insured, you MUST bring the vehicle with you so the agent can
visually confirm the VIN number. Unfortunately, I had let the provincial
insurance lapse before doing this so I had to pay for a temporary permit to
drive it the five blocks to the agent�s office!
When you get the provincial license and insurance done you will need:
Bill of Sale
State Certificate of Title
State License and/or plates (you must surrender them so take them off when
you arrive at the agent�s office)
US Export Permit
Canadian Import Permit stamped and showing federal taxes and fees have been
paid.
Certificate of Provincial Inspection showing a pass.
More money ;)
 
While all this might sound complicated, as long as you have the info
beforehand and are prepared, it goes pretty seamlessly. If the vehicle you
are exporting from the US hasn�t been stolen or has a hidden lien on it, you
should have no problem at the border. I would find out from the PO if the
vehicle is licensed, as licensing offices will probably be closed on
weekends. Also have them guarantee that they have a valid and clear cert of
title, especially if you get it on an ebay auction, because if the guy lies,
you can get ebay to go after his ass and reimburse some costs.
(as an aside, I would recommend the ebay route; I got my Riviera camper van
for $1800, and I�m sure I could get $6500 here in BC, the van is in such
great shape. A trick I discovered is watch a vehicle when it is first listed
�for some reason in the auction process, first listings don�t seem to get
much notice, at least when I was lurking; I watched several vans pass
without a single bid, but when they re-listed they would suddenly get 40 or
more bids and sell for up to 9 grand! I don�t know why this is, but true to
the pattern I was the only one who bid on this guy�s van (his first listing
for it) and got it at his reserve price. And if it turned out that the guy
misrepresented his sale, supposedly ebay with refund you and sue him.

Remember to bring with you proper I.D. when crossing to the states, your
copy of provincial insurance, enough time and money to stay in the states
for the drive down, the drive back, and the three-day wait at the border! I
know all this is obvious, but you don�t want to drive all that way and
realise that you forgot something.
 
Hope this helps,
Nathaniel 

> Nathianiel
>   As all Vanagons are now 16 years old the age exemption should
> apply.  Can you offer some specifics on the importation of Vanagons,
> and in particular, Westfalias into Canada.  ( I'm assuming from your
> note that you have successfully done this).  I'm in Alberta where we
> also are required to have an "out of province inspection" done prior
> to licencing.
> 
> Thank you
> Don
> On 30-Oct-06, at 4:01 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>