Importing Tips
Here is a detailed list of vehicles admissible from the United States.
Imported vehicles may have to be modified to meet requirements for daytime running lights, child tether anchorage systems and anti-theft immobilization devices. Within 45 days of a vehicle’s importation, you must make any required safety modifications and bring it to an authorized facility for RIV inspection. Right-hand drive vehicles are eligible for registration in Alberta provided the vehicle meets all other inspection criteria.
As a general rule, used cars that are at least 15 years old can be imported from the U.S.A. and are not subject to safety and emission equipment requirements. Age is not determined by model year; the month of importation must be at least 15 years after the month of manufacture of the vehicle. You must be able to prove the age of the vehicle to a Customs Officer.
If the vehicle was purchased by yourself in Canada, brought to the US, and is now returning to Canada, it will be exempt from the RIV program, as long as no modifications or alterations have been made. You will be required to show proof of ownership of the vehicle while you were in Canada to a Customs officer.
A kit car is not permitted entry unless it was assembled more than 15 years ago. You will be required to submit proof of the age. Registration documents will have to show that the kit car was registered more than 15 years ago. The date the reproduction was assembled is the age of the kit car rather than the model year of the reproduction.
Grey market vehicles are foreign-specification vehicles that are re-certified by a U.S. company. The RIV program only applies to vehicles that were ORIGINALLY manufactured to comply with US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards on the date of manufacture. Therefore, a grey market vehicle is a re-certified vehicle and can NOT be imported into Canada.
Ensure that the vehicle is paid in full, with the title in your name. If there are any outstanding U.S. debts on the vehicle it will not be allowed to cross the border.
Ensure that your warranty will be valid in Canada. Canadian dealerships are not required to honor warranties on U.S. purchased vehicles.
Before reaching the border, ensure that the VIN on your Certificate of Origin, your bill of sale, and the serial number on the vehicle match. If any of these don’t match, you may require a VIN verification prior to importing. Before leaving the border, ensure the F1 import form has been properly filled out, including having the correct VIN number on the 
form, and the correct status of the vehicle checked off, for example “clear” or “salvage.”
Ensure ahead of time that there won’t be any issues with repairing the vehicle at a Canadian facility. Some imported vehicles can only be serviced in certain locations. Check on availability of parts and servicing prior to purchasing a US vehicle.