| Author |
Message |
Dave Dulmage (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 3:21 pm: | |
Is there a good source for used motorcoaches in Canada? If not, are there mnay probelms with importing a used bus from the USA? |
bruce finlayson (216.21.139.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 3:54 pm: | |
There are bus sales lots in all major cities. If you are thinking of importing pick up a copy of the booklet that lists importable vehicles from Canada Customs. It lists all vehicles that are importable, those that can be imported with modification, and those that are not allowed.
Bruce mc2 |
Henry, eh (24.79.130.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 10:35 pm: | |
Where are you? Greyhound keeps their "for sale" buses in Calgary out west here. Out east, GO transit in the Toronto area should have on-going stock for sale as well as Greyhound. As for importing from the U.S. if you can't get to Canada Customs like Bruce suggested, there are several government websites with lots of information including www.riv.ca There are numerous restrictions you have to be wary of but I've done a fair amount of research into it myself and it's mostly time consuming. The major cost you will find out is the 7% GST on the FAIR market value of the unit. (no bill of sale of $1.00 allowed) That's if there isn't any outstanding recalls on the model you are considering. If there is, you will have to bring it up to Canadian standards. Sometimes all you need to do is have all exit signage in French and English. The website has a lot of the answers you need with phone numbers for any other questions.
Good luck,
Henry |
Henry, eh (24.79.130.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 10:40 pm: | |
To add a little more,
Don't forget that eastern buses need to be checked extra carefully for rust due to salting of the roads in the winter. Also, out here in Alberta, Diversified Transportation is buying up almost every decent running bus to keep up with the demand they are facing with our mega-oil projects in north-east Alberta. They probably know about every available bus around and if they haven't bought it, I would want to know why. Doesn't mean there isn't good ones out there, just a little more work to find them out.
Henry |
David Dulmage (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 2:15 pm: | |
Thanks, all, for the good information.
Dave D |
Dave Dulmage (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 3:17 pm: | |
Thanks for the information.
I ended up buying an MC8 in Seattle, WA and drove it through the northern US back to Ontario. The tip about RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles program)was very important. As a result I limited my search to Prevost and MCI's since Canada does not permit importation of some of the other buses (if they 1971 or newer). RTS's are not admissable.
Now I'm waiting for RIV to respond with the details of changes required (Verbally they have advised bilingual emergency exit signs are the most likely modification required).
Its important, too that the bus NOT be converted before it is brought up to Canadian standards - It must be imported as a bus with all the seats, etc. |
Henry, eh (24.70.95.206)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 12:34 am: | |
Dave,
What was it like at the border? Lots of questions or a quick look at the paperwork? Did you get the recall release form from MCI ahead of time? I would love to hear more about the experience since a U.S. coach is still a possibility for me. If it's information that would help others, post it here. Otherwise, email me.
Thanks,
Henry
PS - Congratulations by the way!! |
Dave Dulmage (206.47.98.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 9:57 pm: | |
Crossing the border went smoothly. Personnel on both sides were extra considerate and professional. Title had to be presented at US Customs 72 hrs prior to export - US Customs verified that VIN, etc., matched, when I arrived there with the bus. On the Canadian side, they verified date of mfr and that the manufacturer's plate stated the bus met applicable safety stds at time of mfr. Filling out the Form 1 (import form), etc., paying GST (based on CDN $ value from dealers bill of sale), $100.00 excise tax for air conditioning plus Registrar of Imported Vechicles (RIV) processing fee ($187.00 CDN)took about 1/2 - 3/4 hr. All in all it was a reasonably pleasant experience. RIV douments came in about a week. The MCI compliance and recall clearance letter arrived following that (this required the most lead time and some follow-up. Doing this so close to the holidays proabably din't help) Bus required bilingual emergency exit signs for RIV compliance, MCI identified a possible recall (MCI has identifed that MCI-5's through MC-9 may require replacement of the steering arm with special heavier duty one which is supplied as a kit. Cost was about $115.00 CDN. Its not entirely clear if the official NHTSA recall campaign was this inclusive, but replacing it seemed to be the best course of action. Canadian Tire Auto Centres are the offical inspectors for the RIV program. I had a bit of trouble finding one that would look at a bus. The provincial safety inspection was done by an excellent bus mechanic in Ottawa, Ken Clark. Canadian Tire's RIV program inspection took about 1/2 hour. Having receipts from MCI for the bilingual signs (I installed 24 signs for window exits plus two for the emergency roof hatch) and the recall parts was a great help there. The vehicle is now registered as a bus in Ontario, but the license bureau will change that to a motor home, once I have converted it to the point where it can be used for that purpose. |
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