Importing Lifted Trucks...If even possible?

[RPM Chris]

Not exactly, as usual they make it a little more complicated.... to transfer the plates you MUST have a Safety Standards Certificate ("Safety Check")from an inspection shop. So EVERY single vehicle in Ontario has to have that completed BEFORE the plates are issued to that vehicle. That, AND an Ontario Drive Clean Emissions Test.

So with this truck I have to first get the RIV Federal Inspection, then take it for the Ontraio Safety Check inspection, then the Emissions Test.

To top all that off when you finally get to the License Office to transfer it over, you are usually met with nothing but a bad attitude by the people at the wickets as they think everyone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

Nice eh!

Chris

[green1]

Originally Posted by RPM Chris

To top all that off when you finally get to the License Office to transfer it over, you are usually met with nothing but a bad attitude by the people at the wickets as they think everyone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

Well it's good to know that some things are the same in every province (and for that matter, every country...)

[RPM Chris]

Isn't that funny... it figures though.

At this License Office in my town (Brantford, population 100,000) when the girls at the wickets try to be kind in the smallest way and/or help save you a buck the tyrant owner (as they are independantly owned franchises) literally centers them out and diciplines them.

Yet, you drive 15 minutes to Paris (population 15,000), and there are usually 2older ladies who can't do enough to help you!!

Chris

[RPM Chris]

Still haven't gotten this vehicle back as yet. Shipper has not picked it up in Florida... Which is probably a good thing considering the weather throughout the US lately.

One thing I did do is scare up the original suspension parts (for a few hundred bucks).

I got a bit paranoid maybe as the ACTUAL RIV documents specifically list that vehicles with "Lift Kits" are inadmissible into Canada, AND that the Customs officials have the authority to and "can" detain the vehcile if they see fit. My thought is that 98% of them would not have the heart to do that, BUT what if??

So I am changing the suspension back to factory stuff before I try I import this... I just figure it is better to spend a few hundred bucks and a few hours now than to lose it all and spend thousands in lawyers fees and countless hours in fighting with the Gov.

Chris

[PREDATOR]

I am located in Arizona, I am actually asking this question on behalf of a young man who put a deposit down on my truck... and I don't want him to lose any money.

I have a Ford F-350 with an 8" lift kit. The truck is a 99.

He said he did some research and came up with some bad news. He was told that he can not import a truck into Canada with a lift kit previously installed.

I know some of you have imported lifted trucks. Can you provide some information that I may pass along to him?

BTW, I do not have the stock parts to convert it either.

Thanks in advance

[PREDATOR]

If I left my license plates on there and kept it registered, do you think he would have a problem? The truck's tags and registration is good until Jan 2011... I just don't know how that would look with him driving it over with his Canadian ID card.

[poole312]

I need some serious help. I want to buy a ford F-350 1999 with a 8 inch lift and 40 inch tires from Arizona and bring it over to Canada. Do you think they will turn it back because of the big lift?

[RPM Chris]

Predator - It's true, it (the legislation) specifically states in the Vehicle Import wording that "Lifted Vehicles are inadmissable to Canada". Probably one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of considering EVERY vehicle has to go through both a Federal and Provincial inspection anyways, but true.

At first I thought they would let you in and let the inspection take care of the decision but that is not the case the decision is made at the border upon entry by the Canadian Customs officials.

I dug very deep into this as I just bought a lifted truck. Yes 9 times out of 10you would get across the border without any porblems however if you happened to be that 10th -- They could: A) Turn you back B) Let you go but issue you a document which states that the vehicle cannot be licensed in Canada and that it must be deported or (and this is the one that really made me think) C) Detain the vehicle and dispose of it by either deportation or destroy it.

Now since I personally did not want to go through the stress of this, or, if infact they decided to detain my vehicle have an altercation and end up in jail, I chose to lower it back down. In all it is costing me about $600 to do but well worth the money I feel. But each person muct decide this for themselves.

Now the other fellow on here drove his truck through with the previous owners plates on it and had no difficulty. Given the times we are now in that may be difficult to do these days. They may not let a Canadian citizen through driving an American citizen's vehicle, and I would hate to see someone get caught even telling a little white lie to the Customs officials as they could and would have a hayday with him.

I am not fear mongering or anything like that but I cross the border a lot for my work with the magazine and try never to mess with them. Just some info from my own experience to date. My truck is due to arrive over the next few weeks and I will have a better take on things then.

Chris

[green1]

a 1 - 3 inch lift you could probably get away with at the border, however I think they'll notice an 8 inch lift... you're better off to remove the lift kit, bring it accross, then re-install the lift kit (lift kits are perfectly legal, assuming other requirements, like bumper and headlight heights are met)
It's a pain, but it's less of a pain that having the vehicle impounded or turned back.

[RPM Chris]

Here is the link to the site with info-- It is next to impossible to find but my resourceful wife found it after digging for a while

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...9-12-1-eng.pdf