Importing converted bus from US to Canada

Cerise · January 25, 2011, 08:04:35 PM

Hi
Just looking for information on importing a bus from the USA to Canada. There seems to be alot more busses for sale in the States then there are in Canada.
We have seen a few that we like. However we want to make sure that we can Import.
We are looking at a 79 Eagle.
Any advise out there?

Iver · January 25, 2011, 08:40:16 PM

Look up the RIV....Registrar of Imported Vehicles...
It will tell you what is importable and what is not into Canada.
I believe most Eagles are not importable.
Iver

Seayfam · January 25, 2011, 08:44:27 PM

I had a gentleman that had an intrest in my bus, he told me because of the age, there would be no problem importing into Canada.
The bus you are interested in is ten years newer though, so I'm not sure if that is going to be the same. Also as mentioned above mine is not an Eagle.
I'm sure that someone that knows for sure will chime in and let you know.
Good luck

Gary

Timkar · January 25, 2011, 10:06:25 PM

As mentioned by Iver check RIV.ca section 6 Here is the link http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/roadsafety/vafus.pdf
Any bus built after Jan 1971 is supposed to be "as original" unless it was done by an approved converter (Liberty, Marathon, etc)
That being said, I know of others who have brought newer converted coaches in.

bobofthenorth · January 26, 2011, 09:38:11 AM

There's a variety of advice and opinions regarding what you can and can't import to Canada. My understanding is that no Eagles can be imported and that any other coach will require a certificate of compliance from the original manufacturer (MCI/Prevost). That certificate needs to state that all safety features in place at the time of manufacture are still in place. Since a converted coach can never meet that standard the manufacturer will never sign that certificate for a converted coach. The one loophole in that rule is that some (very few) professional converters can also sign the certificate. I think there are some workarounds on that rule and I believe that some members on this board have actually imported busses to Canada using those workarounds. I would however be very careful about whose advice you follow and make sure that the border crossing point you plan to use is in agreement with your interpretation of the rules.

When we were buying 8 years ago now I researched this all very carefully and decided that for me it wasn't worth the risk of having a lot of money invested in a bus that ended up sitting in an impound lot on the US side of the border. For that reason we eventually limited our search to coaches that were already registered in Canada. At that time it appeared to me that there was likely a time frame when the rules existed but were more "fluid" because computerized VIN registrations couldn't be easily checked between provinces. In that earlier time I expect that you could have showed up in Regina claiming that your coach had previously been registered in Halifax and successfully obtained a Canadian registration for a US coach. That's not possible anymore.

But my wife says that I am a "glass half empty" kind of guy so consider that my advice may be worth exactly what it has cost you.

white-eagle · January 26, 2011, 05:24:59 PM

Bob, your advice is always worth at least a shot of good Scotch... or at least i'll listen as long as you are pouring.

i got my Eagle partially due to the previous owner planning to stay in the US for awhile, but 2001 happened and he had to go back to Canada. Unfortunately for him, the bus had to stay. Even though he converted it and had bought it seated. No way an Eagle goes to Canada permanantly. We did take ours to Ontario this past summer, with S. Dakota tags. Don't know how long we could have stayed before we got exported (or is that deported) back to the US.

Maybe you could buy it in the US, title it in the US, and just "visit" Canada every once in a while for a few years.

bobofthenorth · January 26, 2011, 06:50:50 PM

Quote from: white-eagle on January 26, 2011, 05:24:59 PM
Maybe you could buy it in the US, title it in the US, and just "visit" Canada every once in a while for a few years.

When we were buying I phoned a lawyer in Montana to ask about that because I had my heart set on owning an Eagle. He said that they had done a lot of corporations for Canucks prior to 9/11 but they had stopped doing it by the time we got interested because it was getting too difficult for the Canadian owners to get back and forth across the border. And I can see how that would be true. Canadian passport, Saskatchewan drivers license, Montana plates on the coach, towing a vehicle with SK plates and the coach titled to a Montana Holdco - - what could the officer possibly find wrong with that situation, no matter which direction you were headed? In this new era of pseudo security I want to keep as low a profile as possible.

zubzub · January 27, 2011, 03:39:56 AM

pre 71 coach no problem...if later get a letter from the RIV saying you can do it before you try.

busshawg · January 29, 2011, 03:48:52 PM

I went through this a few years ago. RIV has bugger all to do with it. Busses fall into transport Canada's regulations. Buses must be factory original with the exception of two US convetors that are approved by Canadian autorities. Bruce Coach in salmon arm BC is very imformative. It was explained to me like this...you can buy the coach, you can get it accross the border, you can safety it and license and insure it. This when the serial number will hit transport canada. They will give you 30 days to prove it has left the country or they will send a hook. As a result I very very regretfully was forced to buy my coach north of the border. Be sure to check with Transport Canada before you buy.

Grant

zubzub · January 29, 2011, 07:37:11 PM

That is why you don't import coaches into canada, you import RVs and if they are pre '71 the serial |# will not set off any alarm bells as they weren't standardized back then (as well as the fact that RIV doesn't apply)

Paso One · January 30, 2011, 09:14:05 AM

Quote from: zubzub on January 29, 2011, 07:37:11 PM
That is why you don't import coaches into canada, you import RVs and if they are pre '71 the serial |# will not set off any alarm bells as they weren't standardized back then (as well as the fact that RIV doesn't apply)

Bingo Give the man a cigar !

That and the inter provincial barriers they set up ( designed to stop the flow of vehicles ) makes it easier.

It is not for everyone, and you need time to do all the safety's etc....

There was a company in Quebec that brought in a large amount of buses that were not allowed to be in Canada ( on Banned List )

They were rebuilt or re manufactured, given the new companies serial # and sold (Brilliant attempt to screw the Dweebs ) love that description Bob

Someone knows names

I have imported Antique vehicles into Canada hint hint nudge nudge

I have Driven in vehicles for Parts not to be registered. ( so RIV says )

Buy a bus in Canada

abacusblack · January 30, 2011, 12:05:36 PM

Quote from: busshawg on January 29, 2011, 03:48:52 PM
I went through this a few years ago. RIV has bugger all to do with it. Busses fall into transport Canada's regulations. Buses must be factory original with the exception of two US convetors that are approved by Canadian autorities. Bruce Coach in salmon arm BC is very imformative. It was explained to me like this...you can buy the coach, you can get it accross the border, you can safety it and license and insure it. This when the serial number will hit transport canada. They will give you 30 days to prove it has left the country or they will send a hook. As a result I very very regretfully was forced to buy my coach north of the border. Be sure to check with Transport Canada before you buy.

Grant

Finally some good legal advice. Grant, your information seems to jive with what I am finding in my research. I was not aware that Transport Canada would seize the Bus but if they deemed it not roadworthy in Canada I can see them authorized to do it.
This tells me that I could buy a converted coach in the USA recessed market, import it if I am lucky enough to meet an inexperienced Border staff member, register it and drive away. Now I re do the interior,rebuild motor / trans and get a new paint job and anytime down the road I may receive notice from Transport Canada to remove my coach fro Canada. Also my Insurgence coverage is void because I have a vehicle prohibited in Canada.

If that is correct then I think I will give up my plans to retire at some point in a converted coach.
I can buy a 32 foot airstream in the USA cheap and without the hassles and I`m not prepared to pay 3 times the cost for a 50 year old bus conversion in Canada.

oldmansax · January 30, 2011, 12:21:44 PM

Bluebird Wanderlodges are on the list. They are well made, they are built on a bus chassis, and, like conversions, the price is way down right now although they seem to sell for more money than regualr bus conversions.

TOM

abacusblack · February 04, 2011, 12:47:06 PM

Quote from: oldmansax on January 30, 2011, 12:21:44 PM
Bluebird Wanderlodges are on the list. They are well made, they are built on a bus chassis, and, like conversions, the price is way down right now although they seem to sell for more money than regualr bus conversions.

TOM

The Transport Canada Admissible list for Motor Homes regarding Blue bird wander Lodge states that ONLY 1995 to 2008 Models are admissible. Go figure.
This was my next plan since I could not seem to legally import one of the many GMC 4104 converted couches that I found in my price range.
I was not keen on the 5 mpg fuel mileage plus the older models are not allowed in. Another plan dashed.

RJ · February 04, 2011, 12:58:25 PM

Aba -

I really don't think you'd have a problem with a 4104 or 4106 - both are pre-1971, which, IIRC, is the furthest back TC covers.

I know of at least 3 4104s in Canada, all in BC.

Keep doing your homework!

FWIW & HTH. . .