I have to take my Porsche for the RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) Federal Inspection. Canadian Tire automotive Stores are designated facilities, along with other shops. Can anyone that has gone through this process please comment on your experience along with any pertinent recommendations. I have the DRL's (Daytime Running Lights) set to on, and all digital readouts are now in metric, (KM instead of MPH). I am aware I may need to buy a child tether kit for $5 from the store before the inspection begins.

 

My car is from the USA, and I didn't have to buy a child anchor before the inspection. If you have to get one, buy an OEM one from MCL, it is designed to fit the car. Canadian Tire inspectors aren't the smartest ones, but I suggest taking it to the White Rock location, as most dealers get I done there, and they will be more familiar with your new Porsche! Other then that you sound like you are set.

How are you getting your car across the border? Driving or transport?

 

Expect to waste 5 minutes of your time...!!! They don't know what to do, all they do is take down the vehicle weights ect. and tire pressures!!

The vehicle must already be in Canada, otherwise he couldn't get the forms from RIV without the Customs form.

 

At the momet I am at a garage in Downtown Vancouver that is authorized to do both the federal and provincial Inspections. I have my fingers crossed that I will get both of the required approvals in order to be able to get my vehicle registered and insured.

 

I just got home, the car is now registered, insured for a year, has both provincial and federal inspections completed and the mechanic said the car is really nice and in great shape. it sure is fun to drive!

 

Ummm that's all they're supposed to do. The form will tell you if you need a child teather. I haven't seen a Porsche in recent history that has required them.

 

It looks like our neighbors up north are even more screwed by the useless bureaucracy - no more than an oppressing cost center.

 

I don't think it is useless bureacracy, they have good intentions, and the inspectors are not the brightest when it comes to Porsche and other Hugh end cars. Transport Canada needs to make sure that US cars meet the standards that Canada has for it's registered vehicles, our requirements are higher then those in the USA. It may sound like a waste of time when importing a 2006 C4S, but imagine a total POS that shouldn't be on the road.

I feel that the US Customs side is more of a PIA then the Canadian side. We need to fax a copy of the title, at least 48 hours before the car is going to be exported, and then it needs to be inspected prior to trying to importing it to Canada.

 

Congrats on the car! Today was a great day to drive it!

 

Higher standards/requirements in what sense? DRLs?

 

Pardon the correction, but to add to your point, they technically need the ORIGINAL title (which complicates things substancially) for 72 hours before you cross the border.

 

Yes.

And they all canadian vehicles require a cup holder adequately sized to fit a large double double. It's just how we roll.

honestly, I don't think that there's a whole lot of difference between us and cdn market cars.

 

That's what I suspected. Government tricks to limit free trade. However, as we see, many Canadians buy every day US cars.

 

This must have changed, the last time I imported a car, a fax was enough for them to do the search, the original was needed when the car was presentfor final export inspection.

 

There is no freetrade on goods made in countries outside the NAFTA, Porsche doesn't quailfy.

Large Double Double's are not important anywhere in Canada except for Ontario.

There are many standards that are higher in Canada then US, different crash ratings on bumpers, differnt lighting requirements (DRL's and side markers), the inspection also makes sure that if the car was involved in an accident in the past that it has been repaired properly.

Many cars are being imported to Canada due to our strong currency, and a large supply of used vehicles in the US for sale, this results in a significant savings. On a car like a Porsche, it also increases the choices, as the market is much larger. Many manufacturers have put in measures to stem the flow of cars from the USA to try and protect Canadian Dealer's markets, but there is still a large amount of vehicles making it's way north.