Hey all,
I just read through a thread from last year about the process of importing a used car to the US from Canada. Seems pretty straight forward.

It seems like if you go into Canada, buy the used car and drive it back across the border, the duty, customs, etc is all handled in-person at the border.

I'm heading to Ontario to buy big lot of old car parts, paying cash (less than $10k US) and bringing it all back in my stripped out minivan. For personal use, not a commercial transaction.
The parts will be easily visible in the back, I have no reason to try and avoid any customs or taxes.
I'll have a written receipt from the Canadian seller, with name and address, and bring that coming into the US.
I'm coming into NY at Niagara Falls.

I've surfed online, the process seems not to be complicated, I report to Declare at US customs on the way in and they accept multiple forms of payments and off I go..
Anything I should be aware of?
Does it matter that I'm coming in on a Saturday? Less commercial traffic, and I assume they are open for processing customs 24/7.

Thanks,
- Art

You don't "report" to customs. When you're crossing back the U.S. guard will ask how long you've been away, did you buy or receive anything, any alcohol or tobacco, etc.. At this point you tell him anything you want ... been away one day, bought some used car parts, etc, etc.. You WAIT for him/her to ask how much you spent and at this point you tell him whatever you want. If you're gonna fudge the number you should decide that ahead of time and even have a bill of sale (doesn't need to be itemized) OR have the seller agree to back you up if they decide to call him (HIGHLY unlikely). If he decides to make you pay he'll direct to the office. Personally I think they'll just tell you to "have a good day" ... as he pulls on the rubber glove 'cause the next car is a Canadian !!!

You'll need a passport to enter Canada as well as return home. You can tell the Canadian customs guy exactly why you're coming to Canada. And you MUST declare anything more than $10,000.. If you don't and they inspect and find it, chances are you're gonna lose it. Other than that, crossing either way is usually trouble-free. Oh, border guards have NO sense of humor so ... don't volunteer any info and just answer the questions they ask.

It doesn't matter which day you travel, its hit and miss.

Interesting, do used parts apply to the spend limit for duty/taxes? I assume no?

If not. "How long were you in Canada" - 1 day
"why" buying used parts

They'll probably take a peek at them and send you on your way

There has been an update to the importation of vehicles into the US. They are no longer free of duty. I am guessing parts are the same way. If you are taking cash to pay for them, make sure you tell Canada Customs how much you have if it's close to $10k after converting to Canadian funds. As far as being open on weekends or 24/7, that depends on the port you will be crossing. I would recommend you calling the port and see how they handle the process and hours.

First off ... there is NO DUTY on North American - made cars or parts. Tax ... maybe - depends when the last time the border agent got laid.

Do not misinterpret "spend limit". You can spend any amount you want - its your money. HOWEVER, the "limit" is what you can bring in tax-free. Any amount over that limit they can charge you tax on. The "limit" applies to anything - doesn't matter if its used crap or new, yard sale or retail.

"As far as being open on weekends or 24/7, that depends on the port you will be crossing. I would recommend you calling the port and see how they handle the process and hours"

Huh ??? Every port is open 24/7.

PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE - the man is bringing back PARTS - not a complete car !!!

To help you crossing the border, don't cross with any food. buy/eat it on the other side.
make sure your van is in running condition(light/tire) and doesn't smell gas.
Don't give them an edge to pick on you.

Custom officer may do marketplace search on large/valuable item, to look if you screw them.

At 1 time, I cross with a NV4500 2WD gas trans. I said I paid 400$, he search on marketplace and find a NV4500 4WD diesel with transfert case attach to it. price was 2500$ I had to educate him.

In addition to having all your receipts, it doesn't hurt to have an itemized inventory of your purchases too. Makes the border guy's life a little easier not having to wade through a wad of wrinkled up hand written receipts to figure out what you've got and if it's worth sending you to Secondary.

Kevin

Thanks Stanton,
It was your earlier thread I read through to get an idea of the situation.
I'm hitting the road in a few minutes, will read more of the responses later tonight at the hotel. seems like a reasonably straight forward process, I will answer their questions honestly and not volunteer more. I've got passport and Global Entry card, drivers license and KTN with me..
Cheers!
- Art

Thanks again to all of you -
I skimmed the responses real quick, thanks for good advice.
I'm overnighting on the US side of the border tonight, plenty time to rid myself of food items, write up an inventory of the parts I expect to buy, talk with the seller about a Bill of Sale, receipt and anything like that.
Cheers,
- Art

The only food you have to worry about is fresh fruit and veggies. Anything else is NO problem. Hell, do you know how many Canadians go over to grocery shop !!!

Read this: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

Especially the USMCA part. That used to be the old NAFTA where Canada and Mexico parts were duty free. It may not be duty free now. It appears it may be under the special category of the HTS, but would have to find if it is and don't have time this morning. The port officers should know.

I'll say this again ...

PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE - the man is bringing back PARTS - not a complete car !!!

Thanks again Stanton and all...

I just got home after 13 hours driving, with the minivan and the roof rack packed full. I had no issues whatsoever.

Entry into Canada at Niagara Falls entailed showing my passport, and the agent asked where I was from, where I was going, for how long, and for what purpose. I replied from the Albany NY area, going to Kenilworth Ontario, just for the day, to buy a bunch of used Maserati parts. He asked me to roll down the rear window to see the back of the van. Empty. A conversation then ensued about what kind of Maserati, what they are like, how much they are worth. The only thing I volunteered was how much US cash I was bringing in, even though I knew it was well below the reportable limit. He was fine with that. The Canadian waved me through and wished me a pleasant day.

The Seller and I wrote up an itemized Bill of Sale with a reasonable purchase price on it (75% of actual cost), signed by both of us, with our addresses and phone numbers.

Re-entry into the US was pretty much the same, but two agents in the booth. Showed my passport, they asked exactly the same questions and had me roll down the rear window. They looked at the pile of parts and commented on the four rims I had on the roof rack. They asked to see some pictures of the Maserati, I gladly showed them. They asked if I was doing the work myself, how I was doing with the project, how old it is and about the value. I answered straight forward, volunteered nothing, they were perfectly pleasant. Didn't ask for Bill of Sale. Waved me through and that was it.

The parts are definitely not US or Canadian made, so technically likely to have required some kind of import fee. The US agents *did* ask how old the parts were. So maybe a private purchase of used stuff from the 70s just isn't a big deal anymore.

Cheers,
- Art

The Canadian guy I was buying from was parting out a 1977 Maserati Khamsin, I bought everything he had. Here is what ours looks like...

Sh!t can happen but generally going through customs is a breeze.- particularly on the homeward-bound journey.

Cars and parts 15 years old or more - regardless of their origin - are duty free. That's one of the reasons for a lot of older JDM vehicles you see.

And I'll say it again. Car parts (as well as everything else in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule) has duty rate based on what the item is, where it's made, and where it's purchased. Car parts and complete cars have different HTS numbers. Some may be no duty and others really high. That being said, sounds like he got someone who didn't bother to collect duty since the importer knows they weren't made it the US or Canada. That could have been for several reasons, but glad that he didn't have any issues.

Thanks again,
It was really helpful to have all your input - it gave me a lot of information for that situation where I might have been really nervous and uncomfortable - which they can sense, and then they could start asking questions, etc.. that can go sideways.

Cheers,
- Art

i just read this adventure, and noticed you entered at niagra falls.
i wished i had read this sooner, as i have a cousin that lives there, and he is in the import/export business, and has a great reputation in this.
i could have given you his phone #.

Thanks,
I think my situation wasn't complicated enough to warrant an import agent to handle the transaction.
I just went as a private individual and everything went smoothly, the border agent didn't view my situation as anything needing to be declared.
- Art

Going the other way and bringing stuff back from the states the only time I've ever ben dinged for duty is buying a new set of Dunlop tires.

Going either direction when parts are concerned they don't seem to care as much where the parts were made but what manufacturer of vehicle they're for.