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Importing a Tacoma/Tundra from Canada/Mexico

Discussion in 'General Automotive' started by TireFire, Mar 3, 2017.

  1. Mar 3, 2017 at 11:56 AM
    #1
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    Need some insight please, sorry if it's the wrong section.
    Does anybody have experience buying a Tacoma or Tundra is Canada or Mexico and registering it in the US?

    I'm looking at a good deal in Tijuana but I live in San Diego. I figured since it's a model that is sold here also I won't have to do crash testing lol. Is it as simple as bringing the bill of sale and smog cert to the DMV?
     
  2. Mar 4, 2017 at 6:15 PM
    #2
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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  3. Mar 4, 2017 at 6:18 PM
    #3
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    Note in that CBP document that you will have to pay a tax of 25% of the truck's value. So it probably won't be the deal you think it will.
     
  4. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:21 AM
    #4
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    Seller would bring the car to San Diego. But it has Mexico plates because he lives in Tijuana.

    I'm more concerned about how do I find out about the prior history (does Mexico use VIN/carfax?) and how to register it at ththe DMV in my name. Seller has clean Mexican title
     
  5. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:22 AM
    #5
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    I couldn't suffer thru all that gibberish. Seller will bring truck across border. The 25% tax is no problem because I'd get it so cheaply
     
  6. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:28 AM
    #6
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    To register it at the DMV you will need a title. To apply for a CA title, you will need a copy of the Customs and Border Protection form HS-7 that you, the buyer, fills out for the truck to come across the border. Remember the current owner of the truck can drive it across the border if you'd like, but cannot sell it to you in the US. You have to buy it from the current owner in Mexico. So the process goes like this:

    1) Seller meets you with truck on Mexico side of border.
    2) You buy truck, seller gives you bill of sale and MX title.
    3) You take truck to border with filled out HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 (YOU MUST SCHEDULE MEETING WITH CBP IN ADVANCE!!)
    4) You pay the 25% tax on the value of the truck at the border.
    5) Once you pay and CBP clears your documents, you cross border with truck.
    6) Take your HS-7 to title office for a CA title.
    7) Take your truck to get SMOGed.
    8) Get CA registration.
     
  7. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:29 AM
    #7
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    If you're not willing to "Suffer through all that gibberish", you are not bringing that truck into the US.
     
    cruxofthebisquit likes this.
  8. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:30 AM
    #8
    DavesTaco68

    DavesTaco68 Well-Known Member

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    That 25 percent tax is kinda screwing guys over, if we bring a truck from the states into Canada as long as it was made in North America we don't pay duty, just regular sales tax.
     
  9. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:31 AM
    #9
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    That's right, the 25% tax is a US tax on imported goods specifically for pickup trucks. It's known as the "chicken tax". You can look up the history. It's annoying but it's not going away any time soon so just gotta suffer with it.
     
  10. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:32 AM
    #10
    DavesTaco68

    DavesTaco68 Well-Known Member

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    Even if the truck was built in Texas ? that sucks
     
  11. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:32 AM
    #11
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    Thanks, that sounds easy enough so I gotta check out those two forms you mention. Though they seem geared at true import vehicles and that Tundra was built in California and the exact model is being sold here in the US too. It's even possible that it was first sold in the US before being moved to Mexico. That's why I asked how do I go about finding the prior history?
     
  12. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:35 AM
    #12
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    I know the chicken tax but it's retaliation against Europe and pretty sure NAFTA is excluded anyway. THIS TRUCK IS BEING MADE AND SOLD IN THE USA. It just had a Mexico title now and I want to buy it and own it here in CA
     
  13. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:36 AM
    #13
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    It's a 2006 Tundra
     
  14. Mar 6, 2017 at 11:58 AM
    #14
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    It won't matter where it was built, if it was built in the US and then shipped to MX to be sold as a new vehicle in dealerships, you have to go through the same import process as any other used MX vehicle.

    If it was sold in the US but at one point exported to MX, you STILL have to go through the import process to bring it back to the US!
     
  15. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:02 PM
    #15
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    That sucks. Does anyone have first hand experience with this??
     
  16. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:06 PM
    #16
    gainman

    gainman Semper Fi

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    If it was so easy and cost effective, don't you think everyone would do it?
     
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  17. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:07 PM
    #17
    TireFire

    TireFire [OP] Superunknown Member

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    Go away Florida. You don't even have a land border with another country
     
  18. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:10 PM
    #18
    gainman

    gainman Semper Fi

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    .

     
  19. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:12 PM
    #19
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    Yes.
     
  20. Mar 6, 2017 at 12:17 PM
    #20
    mrbadwrench

    mrbadwrench Well-Known Member

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    I see what you're saying, it's possible it is excluded from the 25% tax, but you should check with CBP to be certain!
     

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