Importing a vehicle to Canada

Compare vehicle-specific landed costs when importing to Canada. Factory origin, certification, manufacture date and registration province affect your individual quote.

Calculate your vehicle's import cost

Example landed cost to Canada

Illustration as of October 22, 2026: USD $30,000 purchase price; assumed US-built, CUSMA-certified passenger car with air conditioning and North American market specification; personal registration in Ontario. Manufacture date defaults to January of model year 2024. Standard transport, inspection and broker estimates are included. Your actual origin, certification, vehicle category, manufacture date and province can change the result.

USD→CAD 1.4057 · Bank of Canada fallback, 2026-10-21; not a live rate.

Delivered to your door: CAD $61,375.80
ItemEstimate
Vehicle priceCAD $42,171.00
Enclosed transportCAD $2,450.00
Import duty: $0, made in North AmericaCAD $0.00
US-built vehicle tax (surtax)CAD $8,961.34
GST (5%)CAD $2,561.62
Ontario HST (provincial 8%)CAD $4,090.59
Federal vehicle inspection (RIV)CAD $341.25
Air Conditioning Excise TaxCAD $100.00
Green LevyCAD $0.00
Customs broker feeCAD $450.00
Provincial safety inspectionCAD $250.00
All-in estimateCAD $61,375.80

Estimate only. Final charges and eligibility must be confirmed by a licensed customs broker.

Rules to confirm for this example

  • RIV-eligible if on the Transport Canada admissible list and recalls cleared. Official source
  • Canada's 15-year manufacture-age threshold concerns RIV and vehicle compliance, not duty or US-origin surtax relief.
  • Assumed qualifying CUSMA certification removes MFN duty in this example. US-origin surtax still applies to new and used vehicles at 25% × 85% of customs value (21.25%). Non-qualifying imports can owe full 25% surtax plus applicable MFN duty.
  • GST is included on the applicable federal tax base. Ontario registration tax is included here; select your actual province for PST, HST or QST and its applicable base.
  • RIV is estimated at CAD $341.25 for vehicles under 15 completed manufacture-years, and zero at 15 years or older. Inspection and registration requirements may still apply.

Vehicle import questions

What is the US 25-year NHTSA import rule?

A vehicle at least 25 completed years old, measured from its manufacture date, can qualify for the NHTSA safety-standard exemption under HS-7 box 1. This exemption does not remove import duty or other taxes.

What is the EPA 21-year vehicle import rule?

A vehicle at least 21 completed years old can qualify for the EPA age exemption under Form 3520-1 code E when its engine is in its original, unmodified configuration. Younger vehicles generally need proof of EPA compliance or an Independent Commercial Importer.

How does Canada’s 15-year vehicle import rule work?

Vehicles at least 15 completed years old, measured from manufacture, are exempt from the RIV program and Transport Canada vehicle compliance requirements. Duty, surtax and taxes can still apply. Younger US/Canadian-market vehicles must meet applicable admissibility and recall-clearance requirements.

What is the US Section 232 auto tariff and its 25-year exclusion?

The general Section 232 auto tariff is 25%, in addition to applicable MFN duty, subject to origin-specific agreements and approved content treatment. The calculator excludes Section 232 when a vehicle was manufactured at least 25 years before its year of entry. This year-based exclusion is separate from NHTSA’s manufacture-date safety exemption.

How does Canada’s US-origin vehicle surtax apply with CUSMA?

US-origin vehicles can owe surtax whether new or used, with no age exemption. For qualifying CUSMA vehicles, the calculator uses 25% × 85% of the vehicle value for customs, or 21.25% of value. Otherwise it uses 25% of full value plus applicable MFN duty. Origin certification and eligibility for reduced treatment require confirmation by a licensed customs broker.

How much is the RIV fee in this estimate?

The calculator estimates the RIV fee at CAD $325 plus 5% GST, or CAD $341.25, for vehicles under 15 completed manufacture-years. It estimates no RIV fee at 15 years or older. Confirm the current fee and eligibility with a licensed customs broker.

Vehicle import estimates