• Research the law if you wish to import a car into Canada.auto image by jasmina nemanjic from Fotolia.com
  
  If you purchase a car in the United States and wish to import it into Canada, it is important to check whether or not you will be allowed to enter with the car you have chosen. There are a number of laws, enforced by the Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles, that you will have to adhere to in order to be allowed to cross the border with your vehicle.
  
  

Admissible Vehicles

• You may check whether or not your car will be permitted into Canada by examining a document available on the Transport Canada website. There is a link to this document in the resources section of this article; it will tell you immediately whether you are allowed to enter Canada with your particular vehicle.
  
  

Previous Brands

• Canada requires you to carry out a thorough check of your vehicle's history before you attempt to bring it into the country. If your car has previously had damage resulting in an insurer writing it off, it will have a U.S. "brand." If the car has a brand, the Canadian authorities may carry out a more rigorous test on the vehicle; if it is deemed to be un-repairable, it will be denied access.
  
  

Department of Justice Safety Standards

• The car you are attempting to bring into Canada must meet the safety standards of the Department of Justice Canada. If it does not, you will be asked to make relevant modifications to the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle is liable for the costs of the modifications.
  
  

Recall Letter

• If the manufacturer indicates any defects in the vehicle, you will need a recall letter to bring the car into Canada. This letter must confirm that the defects have been corrected and the vehicle is now safe to drive. It is advisable to submit this letter to the Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles in a timely fashion (you can submit it up to 30 days before entering the country) to ensure your vehicle gains access quickly.
  
  

Exemptions

• Certain vehicles are exempt from the border control of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles and can enter Canada without delay. These include vehicles of temporary visitors such as students, tourists planning on spending 12 months or less in Canada or individuals with work permits of less than 36 months. Foreign diplomats are also exempt from checks on their cars, and vehicles carrying military personnel are free from Canadian auto laws.
  
  

Import Taxes

• Depending on the type of car you are bringing into Canada, you may be liable for certain import taxes. The tax rates for importing vehicles into Canada can be found in the resources section of this article.