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Does anyone know if you can drive in Ontario with a 14 day temporary tag from one of the US states. More specifically, if I buy a car let's say in Buffalo, they would give me a new york state temporary 14 day tag, now, is that tag valid to drive in Ontario to get the vehicle home?

Thanks all!

Assuming you have gone through all the border requirements (72 hrs wait, paperwork) you need to go into any Ontario Ministry of Transportation and they will give you a "Special Permit". It's just like a temporary permit, but for out of province vehicles. You still need to provide proof of insurance...the permit and insurance might cost you $50. Your temp permit for NY is only good in NY...I don't even think you take it to another state.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.

You'd have to wait like the above poster said, 72 hours to complete all the paperwork and so the border has the info of the import. Then go to the RIV here to get the temporary.

Yes, the temp tag is legal to drive in Ontario on for the 14 days.

Remember to call your insurance agent beforeahand to get insurance on the imported vehicle. You have a little work to do after you import it to get it licensed (typically a safety, potentially an etest and any modifications done to pass a RIV -- DRLs and such), but you are good in the short-term.

Thanks!

I am familiar with the rest of the process but I was getting stumped at the tag part. So, RIV at the Canadian border will give me the temporary tag to drive?

Devious, you think the NY tag is valid in Ontario?

Who can I call to confirm?

I drove on my 30 day temp tags from Vermont without issue.

Call the MTO.

I drove on Maryland tag for full 30 days before registering it locally.

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Archana & Ravi

Jobsearch

Yes, you can drive a vehicle in Ontario on a temporary tag from a us state. But be careful if you have to pay local tax to get the tag, that you can get it back! If you buy a vehicle in Michigan, and want a tag, you have to pay non-refundable state tax!

Make sure the make, model and year of vehicle can be imported without any safety issues. There are lock out devices that are required in Canada that not on some vehicles built for the US. Check with RIV first!

RIV verifies the info and will tell you what is required to bring a specific vehicle in. You do the RIV work AFTER you leave the border. Customs will charge you GST and give you the Form 1 that you send/take to RIV(with $120.00) to get the Form 2. From there it is off to Canadian Tire for a safety and completing the Form 2 paper work. Then your off to MTO to register and pay the PST.

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Geer

Thanks All:

We are also looking into leasing a vehicle but my question is how anal are the dealerships in terms of maintenance on the vehicle. Do I have to do every single maintenance that is recommended and does it have to be done at a dealership.

Be Careful, Most insurance companies will not allow a car to be insured until it has been RIV approved. If its Buffalo, consider a tow truck. Also if the car is a replacement you automatically have coverage for 7 days. if it is an additional car, that does not apply. As for the permit or not it's at worst a $150 ticket. the process is simple. Inform the US border 72 before departing all the vehicle particulars. Arrive at border with US proff of sale and old title. Then claim the vehicle at the canadian side and pay the Federal portion of the HST on the invoiced vehicle price. Have any mods, safety and e-test and a clearence letter completed, then register the car with the province then you will pay the provincial portion of the HST on the book value.

I wouldn't try driving through customs with out a tag or plates. You might just get turned around by customs and end up stuck in no mans land as US Customs may not let you back with re-importing the vehicle into the US. Best bet is to tow or flat deck it across the border.

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Geer