Anyone around here went thru Canada/US border recently? Any problems?

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

I am very interested in buying a vehicle which is located in Toronto.. I already am talking to the owner about it.. Everything looks pretty good..

My options are-

1. have it shipped to Detroit and I can pick it up there

2. I have to call insurance company to have it insured and then I will go up there and pick it up myself..

The option #1 definitely is out of the picture right now since it costs over 1k bucks to be shipped from Toronto to Detroit..

Only option I have right now is coming up to Toronto and pick the vehicle up myself..

So here is the question.. Will I have any problems going thru the border? I dont have a passport.. Also, that vehicle I am interested in is still registered in US or whatever so I wont have to pay any duty.. I am only looking to go up there and buy the vehicle and go straight back into the states which should be like 8 hours in total or less (based on my estimate from Flint,MI to Toronto)..

Just wanted to see if any1 of you just went through the border recently and be able to give me some tips (if they r necessary)..

The only reason I am asking you guys is that I heard that the border became strict nowadays.. and I heard that they will start requiring a passport to go through in 2009..

Thanks in Advance

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[geowick07 10+ year member]

I thought you already had to have a passport to go into and out of Canada. I haven't gone there in quite a few years, so I am not sure what the process is. It would be much easier with a passport, I think.

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

Yeah you can say that..

But I dont have much money to shell out for a passport, and then I will have to pay passport for my brother too since I need him to drive my car back home while I will drive the vehicle I want..

Also, we will have to wait for a while for the passports to get to us.. My girlfriend bought a passport recently with expedited shipping and the total came down to $215.. holy sh*t!

 

[mepratt1234@cha 10+ year member]

$215 vs $1000. Big difference.

 

[geowick07 10+ year member]

Passports are expensive, but they are worth it, too. Just think: if you ever decide to go up to Canada again, or anywhere over seas later on in life, you will be set.

And yeah, shipping costs on a car are outrageous. Especially coming from another "country".

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

I am no longer allowed in that fvckin country:furious://content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/verymad.gif.3f39c5c2fd57527b671fad3efdfac756.gif and my parents have 2 cabins there

 

[pilyin 10+ year member]

I live by the border and you DO need a passport to get back into the US.

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

$215 vs $1000. Big difference.

Yeah man.. lets not be sarcastic, I said I dont have much money to shell out for a passport.. Also that means I will have to pay for my brother which is not even necessary since he probably would not use it again..

Passports are expensive, but they are worth it, too. Just think: if you ever decide to go up to Canada again, or anywhere over seas later on in life, you will be set. And yeah, shipping costs on a car are outrageous. Especially coming from another "country".

That is true, but I feel that this time is just a wrong time for me to get a passport.. $ and I know I wont be getting out of country until maybe 2 years later..

I went to Canada when I was younger with my parents, I remember that they only required my birth cert. and ID.. Not sure if they are like that right now..

 

[mil81 10+ year member]

As far as I know, you only "need" a passport if you are flying across the border. You should still be able to get away with showing your licence and birth certificate. You won't have any problems as long as you don't have a criminal record. If you do, they won't let you cross. Atleast not without grilling you some kinda hard, in the little room in the back.

And when you tell the guy what you are going to do, make sure it is clear that the vehicle is registered in the states already. That should make things run a lot smoother.

 

[ace_800 5,000+ posts]

passport will cost $60-70 with a 6 week wait, if you're willing to wait. Expedited will cost you though

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

I live by the border and you DO need a passport to get back into the US.

For real? if so, then **** this sucks..

As far as I know, you only "need" a passport if you are flying across the border. You should still be able to get away with showing your licence and birth certificate. You won't have any problems as long as you don't have a criminal record. If you do, they won't let you cross. Atleast not without grilling you some kinda hard, in the little room in the back.
And when you tell the guy what you are going to do, make sure it is clear that the vehicle is registered in the states already. That should make things run a lot smoother.

Yeah, I dont have any criminal record ha.. But the guy up above said I DO need a passport..

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

my parents just crossed into Ontario this last weekend with drivers licenses only I believe.....

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

yeah about 6-7 weeks of wait..

I am not sure if the seller would like to wait for 6 weeks ha..

I might try to have him drive across the border (if he has a passport) and then I ll meet him right there..

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

my parents just crossed into Ontario this last weekend with drivers licenses only I believe.....

that would be nice if you could verify this.. by asking your parents if you have a chance to..

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

I'll see if I can get ahold of my dad.... I'll PM you if I get an answer