Canadian Import Process

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting us for your importing needs.  Canadian cars, which were originally sold new in Canada, are relatively easy.  The main problems you may have are EPA, the Passive Restraint or the Speedometer/Odometer.

If your car is model year 1990 or newer, it needs to have either the automatic, mechanical, seatbelts that the shoulder belt goes around the door frame when you open and close the door; or it needs to have air bags.  If it doesn't have either, I strongly suggest that you sell the car in Canada.  I can not install those items for you.

You have several options with the speedometer.  You can have this changed over before the vehicle is imported.   If we take care of it for you at our shop, it could cost between $500.00 and $800.00. Some models are even more.  You can leave it in  KM/hr if you want to.  The minimum requirement is that the speedometer also have MPH in lower case on the gauge and that the Odometer is labeled that it is in Kilometers.   We can label the Odometer for you for about $100.

My base fee is $500 to certify a vehicle that it meets US DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.  Payment will be accepted by cash, certified check or Visa/MC with a $100 nonrefundable deposit due before the process can be started.  It will take two or three hours to process labeling and pictures. I can only use my broker for $100 plus a Customs Bond in the amount of $3 per thousand dollars of the current value of the vehicle or what you recently paid for it.   Duty will be approx. 2.6% of the value of the car if it is not made in the US, Mexico or Canada.

Effective August, 1998,  we are required to have all imported vehicles be checked for outstanding recalls and repaired before they can be released from our facility.  This is required of all registered importers.  The dealer you purchase the car from can supply verification that there are no outstanding recalls.  You may also want to verify that the manufacturers warranty is still valid in the US for your car.

I will need the name, address and ph number of the persons buying & selling the car.  All the vehicle information and its value in US dollars, the Bill of Sale is best.  My fax # is 206-767-2157.  I will make up a contract and fax it to you for signature.

Directions to our facility:   I-5 south - take exit #156.  Turn right (north) onto Interurban Ave. and go almost 1 mile.  Turn right onto 42nd Ave. and go over a green steel bridge.  Go straight at the blinking red stop light at the Allentown Grocery Store and then take your next right onto 122nd St.  Turn left onto 44th Place, it will be the last left on 122nd St. Western Cascade is the 3rd driveway on the left.

Thank you for choosing Western Cascade as your Registered Importer.   I hope I have answered most of your questions.   Please feel free to call if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Karen E. Bister,
Import Specialist
Karenb@WesternCascade.com