How to import a car from the US to Canada, step by step
What will your car cost to bring home?
Ontario example: $30,000 USD, model year 2022, air conditioning on, US manufacture origin to confirm. RIV fee: $367.25 CAD ($325 CAD + 13% HST).
Open the full calculatorIncludes duty, surtax, GST, provincial tax and the RIV fee. Estimate only. Confirm final charges with a licensed customs broker.
The 8 steps
- 1
Check admissibility
Cars under 15 years old must be on the RIV admissible list at riv.ca. Modified cars usually do not qualify.
- 2
Clear recalls
Get a letter from the maker or a dealer showing no open safety recalls. You need it before the RIV inspection. It is smart to get it before you buy.
- 3
Check where it was built
Country of manufacture, not where you buy it, drives your duty and surtax. Ask the seller or a licensed customs broker to confirm it. CUSMA duty relief also requires qualifying origin paperwork.
- 4
File US export papers
File AES to get an ITN. Send the ITN, title and bill of sale to US Customs and Border Protection at least 72 hours before you cross.
- 5
Stop at the US export office
Bring the car and the title. US Customs stamps the title as exported.
- 6
Declare it at the Canadian border
The border officer reviews your papers and collects duty, surtax, excise and GST. You get Form 1, the Vehicle Import Form. A licensed customs broker can do this filing for you.
- 7
Pay the RIV fee and pass inspection
Pay $325 CAD plus tax. In Ontario, that is $367.25 CAD ($325 CAD + 13% HST). Make any changes, such as daytime running lights. Pass the RIV inspection within 45 days.
- 8
Register it in your province
Pass a provincial safety inspection, pay provincial tax and get plates.
What it costs: 2026 rates
The RIV fee is only one part of the bill. Here is a typical breakdown for a car under 15 years old.
| Cost | Amount or rate | Paid to / source |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 0% with qualifying CUSMA origin paperwork. 6.1% otherwise | CBSA Customs Tariff 2026 |
| US-origin surtax | 25% of value. 21.25% if CUSMA-qualifying. New and used, no age exemption | CBSA Customs Notice 25-15 |
| A/C excise tax | $100 CAD if it has air conditioning | Canada Revenue Agency |
| Green Levy | $0 to $4,000 CAD. Passenger cars rated 13 L/100 km or more. Pickups excluded | Canada Revenue Agency |
| GST | 5% of value plus duty, surtax and excise | Canada Border Services Agency |
| RIV fee | $325 CAD plus tax. Ontario: $367.25 CAD ($325 CAD + 13% HST). Not charged at 15 years or older | RIV / CBSA Customs Notice 20-26 |
| Provincial tax | Ontario 8% provincial HST portion, Quebec 9.975%, Manitoba 7%, Saskatchewan 6%, British Columbia 7% and up, Alberta 0%. Paid when you register in this estimate | Your province |
Worked example: a $30,000 USD car going to Ontario
Fixed example from October 28, 2026. The supplied Bank of Canada rate is 1.4036, so the car is worth $42,108 CAD. The car is under 15 years old, has A/C, and uses under 13 L/100 km. The RIV fee now includes Ontario's 13% HST.
| Line | US-built, CUSMA | US-built, not CUSMA | Japan-built | Canada-built |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duty | $0.00 CAD | $2,568.59 CAD | $2,568.59 CAD | $0.00 CAD |
| Surtax | $8,947.95 CAD | $10,527.00 CAD | $0.00 CAD | $0.00 CAD |
| A/C excise | $100.00 CAD | $100.00 CAD | $100.00 CAD | $100.00 CAD |
| GST (5%) | $2,557.80 CAD | $2,765.18 CAD | $2,238.83 CAD | $2,110.40 CAD |
| RIV fee with 13% HST | $367.25 CAD | $367.25 CAD | $367.25 CAD | $367.25 CAD |
| Ontario HST provincial portion (8%) | $4,092.48 CAD | $4,424.29 CAD | $3,582.13 CAD | $3,376.64 CAD |
| Total on top of price | $16,065.48 CAD | $20,752.31 CAD | $8,856.80 CAD | $5,954.29 CAD |
Where the car was built can change your bill by over $10,000 CAD. Not included: transport, broker fee, safety inspection, and any RIV changes. Add your own numbers in the calculator. Origin certification is required for CUSMA relief.
Run this example with your carIs my car exempt from anything?
- Under 15 years old: vehicles sold in the US or Mexico generally need the RIV.
- 15 years or older: no RIV fee or RIV inspection. Age is measured from the month of manufacture. Duty, surtax and taxes still apply.
- Returning residents and settlers: may bring a car in duty and tax free. Ask a licensed customs broker.
- Pickups: no Green Levy. Surtax still applies to US-built trucks up to 5 tonnes.
Get help with your import
A licensed customs broker can file the paperwork and confirm your costs. VehicleImport can match you with one for free.
Get your exact costFAQ
How much does it cost to import a car from the US to Canada?
It depends on where the car was built and its origin paperwork. Expect 5% GST, a $100 CAD A/C tax if equipped, the $325 CAD RIV fee plus tax, and provincial tax. US-built cars also pay a 25% surtax, or 21.25% if CUSMA-qualifying. Non-qualifying cars pay 6.1% duty. Ontario RIV is $367.25 CAD.
Do I pay duty on an American car?
Qualifying CUSMA vehicles built in Canada, the US or Mexico pay no import duty. Origin certification is required. Non-qualifying cars pay 6.1%. US-built cars also pay the surtax.
Does the 25% surtax apply to used cars?
Yes. It applies to new and used US-built vehicles, with no age exemption.
How long does it take?
Allow at least 72 hours for US export notice. Then you have 45 days after crossing to pass the RIV inspection.
Do I need a customs broker?
Not always. Many people use a licensed customs broker to file the papers and avoid delays at the border.
What documents do I need?
The title, bill of sale, recall clearance letter, your ID and the ITN from your US export filing.
What if my car is 15 years old or more?
It skips the RIV. You still pay any duty, surtax and taxes at the border.
More Canada import guides
Sources
- Transport Canada: Importing a vehicle from the United States and Mexico
- Transport Canada: Frequently asked questions about importing vehicles
- CBSA Customs Notice 20-26: RIV fee
- CBSA Customs Notice 25-15: Surtax
- CBSA: Canadian tariffs on certain US goods
- CBSA Memorandum D19-12-1: Importation of vehicles
- CBSA Customs Tariff T2026, chapter 87
- Canada Revenue Agency: Current rates of excise taxes
- RIV: Official website
- AES: Automated Export System
- CBP: Exporting a motor vehicle
- Bank of Canada FXUSDCAD, October 28, 2026 example
Source review date supplied with the draft: October 28, 2026. Ontario RIV tax updated October 29, 2026.
Estimates only. Confirm your costs with a licensed customs broker.