Apparently, I have to find a customs broker to ship the car I'm importing Edmonton->Seattle. I've got some phone numbers and will start cold calling, but at this point I don't even know what the "Customs Broker" does, besides clearly take some kind of fee for the privilege of me moving something across the border...
Anyone know what the Broker does, and how I go about selecting one?
I'm not sure if it's still the same as bringing them into Canada, and also this was a dozen years ago, but I was able to sign a form giving the truck driver power of attorney for that transaction only. He did the paperwork for me at the border.
Maybe not all companies do that, and maybe it's changed by now but that saved me money.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Keep in mind you're doing an international transaction that needs to be recognized by both countries.
A customs broker deals with customs all day, everyday. You need one that knows how to deal with antique cars from Canada to the USA. They'll know all the paperwork to fill in. Theoretically you can do it yourself, but if you screw up you're likely back to behind square one.
When looking to sell the 454 Laurentian a couple years ago I found a broker in Michigan that knew exactly what they were doing. I can send you all the info.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Thursday 14th of December 2017 04:37:01 PM
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Thursday 14th of December 2017 06:13:27 PM
I used auto import USA in September. They looked after everything and were on the lower side of cost. You cannot get an import number or clearenace without going through a broker. You used to be able to arrange yourself but that stopped in 2013.
I used livingston international to import a truck from the US. They handled the paperwork for both sides of the border.They were very helpful and when i arrived at the border everything went smooth. Expect a fair amount of fees.
Apparently, I have to find a customs broker to ship the car I'm importing Edmonton->Seattle. I've got some phone numbers and will start cold calling, but at this point I don't even know what the "Customs Broker" does, besides clearly take some kind of fee for the privilege of me moving something across the border...
Anyone know what the Broker does, and how I go about selecting one?
Look up the best reviewed . and pay the price . saves a lot of stress
On a bit of a side note, my brother once let his son bring home a car he had bought at auction. My brother ran an auto wrecking. His son checked off one wrong box on the import form and turned the car into a parts car by doing that, the car was never allowed to be titled in Canada because of that one little mistake that was non reversible.
It's not all bad having to use a broker.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
When my daughter imported a car into Canada 3 years ago we went through a broker bringing it into Alberta. Very smooth crossing, no delays and no hassle.
I don't have the brokers name but can get it if the other leads don't pan out.
I did it myself ... no problem ... smooth as silk. Freeport, Maine to Price Edward Island. The owner trucked the car to the U.S. border, switched it onto our truck on the U.S. side, then we hauled it over the border from there. I did a lot of homework, and phoned both the American and Canadian borders at Calais to get their advice.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Interesting that we have no choice now but to use a broker as Fake68 posted. The "Glory Days" are over for us as far as importing and exporting I guess. It's just another one of those things that has extra expenses associated with it now.
Years ago, taking a Canadian car into the US was even easier than going the other direction. My Nebraska friend bought a Beaumont here and my brother delivered it. The border crossing was not really much different than if he was going across for an hour to buy gas. He said it was virtually effortless, and I think one simple form he had to sign.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Note it depends which way, it seems easier going INTO Canada than the US. I was just curious on what they actually do, whether it's just customs and duty (which should be negligible on an old antique) or do they handle the DOT and EPA stuff too I wonder?
Just to follow up on this, I used Livingston per the shipper's request, and all went well. I sent in payment and a couple of forms, they sent the shipper some magic number. Hopefully that gets it across the border, I guess we'll find out!
I also got a good recommendation for another broker from a board member and both replied at about the same time, so I went with the shipper's agent since I figured that gave me more leverage. But suffice to say it seems like they all know what they're doing even if it's a mysterious process to me!
-- Edited by davepl on Sunday 31st of December 2017 03:00:03 PM
I think total was around $500 and duty/fees was about $350 of that, so I think the Broker is maybe around $100. That's from memory, I don't have the paperwork handy, but I don't remember feeling gouged or anything!
No, it's supposed to be picked up in Edmonton today, the 2nd. Ideally here the 4th because I leave for 2 nights and my 18-year-old will have to figure it out!
It was an interesting day yesterday! Still no car though.
Car was picked up and about lunch I got a call from the driver. He needed a form 7501 from Department of Homeland Security (69 Pontiacs being especially important to Homeland Security). I didn't have one, he didn't have one, and the broker wasn't at his desk.
I ran home and went through the bill the broker had mailed me, as it had arrived a day or two back. Sure enough, there was a copy in there (why they sent it to me after the fact I don't know, but they said this form is rarely asked for I guess, and you often get it after the fact). So I scanned it with Office Lens (a great iPhone app) and emailed it to him.
By that time it turns out he was hauling two vehicles, and the other one, a Land Rover, didn't have his paperwork in order so they rejected the truck. I assume my car will still make it at some point, but it's complicated now because I'm out of town for a couple of days, leaving my oldest teen son to receive the car. I'm only worried now because it's a long truck (I assume, with two cars) and I have a fairly tight driveway and the car is a roller skate with no steering column! And it's cobblestone so you can't really jack up and swing the front around.
Ah well, this is the life we chose. This is the hobby!
