| Author | Message | ||
| Syd (Sy600)
Registered Member Username: Sy600 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 64.59.144.24 Rating: N/A |
Greetings Guys, Ok, here it is. I have been looking for a good Prevost or MCI bus conversion for the past several years and and flown all over the US (like an idiot) inspecting them. Only to find out that a "Bus" is not the same as a "Bus conversion" according to the RIV list. Thankfully, I did not find out the hard way but almost did the night before I was to fly to pick up a converted MCI. That's another story. Is there a way to "beat" the RIV list if you have found a non-RIV bus conversion down south? In this case, the owner is willing to drive it to Vancouver, BC, sell it to me and leave me with it. It has only been declared as a "bus" all along and never a motorhome. Thus, will Canadian Tire agree that the bus inspection that they are inspecting is really a bus or will they make a fuss about the fact that the MCI is already a professional motorhome? Who else physically 'looks' at the bus before knighting a 'pass' on the registration? ICBC? I cannot afford a newer Liberty or a Vantare or even a 1997 or newer Marathon or Bruce Coach...etc etc etc. What is the solution???...pl tell me that there is someone on this site that has actually done this...and outsmarted the RIV, CBSA, Transport Canada and ICBC. Any words of advice? Syd Vancouver, BC | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 585 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.105.112  Rating: N/A |
"Any words of advice? " Yeah... Move to America, where we don't answer to a "queen". (yet) (maybe) (not that there's anything wrong with that) | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 144 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 209.50.73.73 Rating: N/A |
Syd Email me the year and make of what you trying to get and I will phone a guy in the business and find out how he does it. He brings bus/mh units into Canada all the time. Bill | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 237 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 216.37.73.226 Rating: N/A |
John, If your married you answer to a Queen..... . | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 193 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30  Rating: N/A |
If you don't have the correct import papers, you will probably not be able to register the vehicle. RIV is actually Livingston Customs Brokers, under contract to Transport Canada. As for the Canadian Tire inspection, for my bus they looked for bilingual emergency exit instructions and a speedomoter that had both km and miles indicated on it. RIV specified what needed to be done in the letter they sent me. I needed to replace the steering arm as this was apparently a recall on MC-8s and I had to purchase and install 23 bilingual emergency exit instructions. DaveD | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 59 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.197.246.104  Rating: N/A |
lol @ austin...true dat! | ||
| J.C.B. (Eagle)
Registered Member Username: Eagle Post Number: 136 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 166.214.10.235  Rating: N/A |
Why not have the present owner reregister the coach as a Motorhome in his name. | ||
| Syd (Sy600)
Registered Member Username: Sy600 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 64.59.144.24 Rating: N/A |
JCB: That would be fine in the US. Once it's been declared a RV, it can NEVER be allowed entry into Canada for importation purposes as a MCI. That's because, according to RIV and TC, it has changed status 3 times - a chassis to a bus and from a bus to a motorhome. It can only be changed once, apparently. John: I wish we did actually answer to a Queen - I think life would be easier as one could try to rationalize and make sense out of things! Austin: You are correct, Sir. If you're married and want to remain married, basically you're the lawn mower, chauffeur and outdoor handyman guy. You prostrate to your Queen to continue having these privileges. If not, one does not stay married for long. David: What if the seller sells the bus here in Canada and it's not on the RIV list? It would be foolish (and impossible) to try to adhere 23 biligual emergency exit stickers to a fully converted RV - there are no exits or seats for that matter. | ||
| Tim (Timkar)
Registered Member Username: Timkar Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 24.64.223.203 Rating: N/A |
Built prior to Jan 1 71 and it's ok. If the PO brings it up from the US, he would have to register in Canada prior to selling it to you. The RIV will still come after you as it has not entered the country "legally" and you cannot register it until you have the customs, hence the RIV, paperwork. I agree that it is all govt bureaucracy. As you have learned "by their rules" a highly modified bus built prior to 71 (not that there is anything wrong with them, unless you want something newer)is not subject to the same RIV rules and "is much safer than a newer conversion which has been meticulously done by the owner" [sarcasm is case you missed it] PS. CDN Tire will not even look at it until you have the RIV paperwork and all completed customs forms... (Message edited by timkar on March 10, 2008) | ||
| Syd (Sy600)
Registered Member Username: Sy600 Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 64.59.144.24 Rating: N/A |
Ok Tim, What if the owner were to drive the bus to Vancouver. It is registered AS a bus (a 1976 MCI)on his Title. As such, any bus MCI is permitted into Canada as a bus. On paper it is...so, where does that leave me? Do you think I can take the bus to Canadian Tire as a bus and then to ICBC..registering it as bus...then 'one day' later converting it officially as a RV. Yes, I cannot fathom WHY a bus manufactured before 1971 is allowed in without question. It should be the other way around. Arggh! | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 194 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30 Rating: N/A |
Once the RIV inspection has been completed the bus can be registered as a bus (that is if it is fully configured as a bus). I'm not confident you could get it through the RIV process if it has been converted. Then it can be converted and re-registered as a motor home. After that, selling and transferring it to someone else should not be a problem. The big issue is the orginal importation. When you import the bus, Canadian customs will give you the paperwork for RIV; some of it needs to be filled out at customs. You will have to pay GST on the purchase price (converted to CA$) of the bus and you will have to pay the RIV fee (in the range of $195.00 + GST) at customs as well. You will also need to provide the title or registration document to US Customs 72 hours before you cross from the USA into Canada so they can do a search on it . Both US and Canadian Customs officials will check to verify the Vehicle Identification Numbers and Canadian Customs will most likely also want to see the compliance statement the the vehicle complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect at the time of manufacture (the wording is somewhat like this - the exact wording will be on the plate in the bus). You will also need to get a recall clearance letter from the manufacturer. This is simply a matter of contacting them and they will provide it. If I recall correctly there may be manufacturer contact information in the RIV documents that can be downloaded from the RIV website. If there are any outstanding recalls these will need to be completed. It's important that you get the RIV information from the website. When I imported my MCI, I registered it as a bus, then when I had completed some of the conversion work I returned to the license bureau and changed the registration. I live in Ontario. Although I can't be 100% sure, I would expect the process to be similar in other provinces. Hope this helps. It's really not all that painful. Dave Dulmage (Message edited by DaveD on March 11, 2008) | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1218 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.132.189  Rating: N/A |
Syd, contact Bill. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Syd (Sy600)
Registered Member Username: Sy600 Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 199.212.150.17 Rating: N/A |
Sure thing, Buswarrior. He may be able to shed some light on this bureaucratic entanglement! Thx! | ||
| Tim (Timkar)
Registered Member Username: Timkar Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 24.64.223.203 Rating: N/A |
Hi Syd...I think Daved said it all. I know people that have gotten them in before, but that was before the security levels at the border were increased. In BC (from my understanding) you have to have 3 of 5 things to be re-registered as an RV. Cooking facility, bed(not an air mattress), toilet are the ones I remember. If I end up keeping mine, I'll remove seats put a bed in, a microwave with an extension cord and keep the factory toilet. After registered as an RV I'll take it all out and do it properly. (Insurance on an RV is much cheaper)Good Luck and let us know if you have any luck with Bill. | ||
| Iver (Mciv)
Registered Member Username: Mciv Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.69.181.144 Rating: N/A |
I’m sure everyone has a slightly different story on how they brought a coach into Canada. I bought a NJT MCI-9 in Washington State. I planned the import exactly by the rules set out by the RIV. I notified the US Customs well ahead of the required time of export from the US. I researched any mechanical recalls and made sure everything had been repaired as required. I arrived at the Canadian border with this fully seated coach and breezed through US customs. They just check to see if the numbers all matched on the registration. I had all the pertinent paperwork with me when I went into the Canadian customs office and I fully expected to pay the RIV fee and applicable taxes. The agent behind the desk asked me what I was going to do with this bus? I said I planned to make it into a motorhome. “Oh, he said, and called to his partner behind the desk. This guy is going to make this bus a motorhome”. His partner said he would make a quick phone call. One minute later he returned and said “ you don’t need all this paperwork if you are not going to use this as a commercial bus”. “Just pay the tax and you are ok to leave”. They didn’t even come out to look at the bus. He stamped my papers and said goodbye. I jumped in the bus and I didn’t look back….. I needed a simple gov’t . inspection for a commercial vehicle which was easy. The coach was in very good condition. I took all the seats out, installed a plywood bed with a mattress, a sink, and a propane stove,(not hooked up), and took it to our insurance agent who promptly re-registered it as a motorhome. I guess it all depends on the interpretation of the “Rules”….. Iver. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 214 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Syd Years ago I used to hear of people that would keep their motorhome in Bellingham or any place across the border, having it registered in the US, while living on the lower mainland. Could that be a possible option?? Joe. | ||
| Syd (Sy600)
Registered Member Username: Sy600 Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 64.59.144.24 Rating: N/A |
Hi Joe, Looked into that as well. The problem is that a Canadian can NEVER drive a US plated vehicle into Canada for any reason - including rentals apparently. Secondly, this would also limit trips to US only. Trust me, I have thought of keeping it in Point Roberts as the 'closest thing' but Customs will not allow it. I'm beginning to think that there is no real way to get around the RIV list conditions. Depressing. | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 197 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30 Rating: N/A |
That is: Canadian resident. However, you can drive a vehicle you are importing into Canada. My bus had a Washington State license plate on the back and a Washington State in-transit sticker on the windshield when I imported it. (Message edited by DaveD on March 14, 2008) |