I've been researching these things a bit. I haven't found lot of info. regarding Canadian importation issues legalities, stumbling blocks etc. Haven't actually talked to an importer yet. So far, what I've gleaned is -
The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations require that all vehicles imported into Canada comply, at the time of importation, with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date the vehicle was manufactured. Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Canada and the United States do not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, CANNOT be altered to comply and CANNOT be imported into Canada. The only exceptions to this rule are vehicles fifteen (15) years old or older as determined by the month and year in which the vehicle was manufactured and buses manufactured before January 1, 1971.
Import rules vary depending on your vehicle's age, its country of origin and the country from which you are importing it. You need a good understanding of the import regulations administered by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), Transport Canada and, for shipments from overseas, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). At the provincial level, there are vehicle-licensing, emissions-testing and sales tax requirements to be considered.
Some countries, including the U.S., have requirements that you must meet before a vehicle can be imported such as installation of speed governors. In the case of these japanese Kei-trucks, in the US they cannot be registered for on-road use. Apparently, they can be in Canada, but I would have to see one to believe it. I've not seen one on the road around these parts yet.
Paper Trail. Your copy of the vehicle's foreign registration document will establish its age and country of export. You should also have a bill of sale that clearly identifies the vehicle (year, make, model and vehicle identification number). The bill of sale should also contain the names and addresses of the vendor and purchaser and the price paid for the vehicle.
Your file folder will expand as you receive the documents generated by the companies involved in shipping your car to Canada. If you have a low tolerance for red tape, consider using the services of a customs broker. For a fee, the broker will relieve you of your paper burden and will prepare and present the forms required to obtain customs clearance for your car.
Upon arrival at Customs, a qualifying vehicle will be entered into the RIV program. The registration fee is $197 in Quebec and $182 in other provinces. Within 45 days, the vehicle must be altered at your expense to meet Transport Canada requirements (it may need daytime running lights and metric labels for instruments, for example). You won't be able to register and license the car in Canada until it is modified and inspected. The RIV Web site contains a list of eligible vehicles and detailed information about typical modification and inspection requirements.
Vehicles imported from overseas must be thoroughly cleaned before shipment to Canada in order to remove soil and plant material. The CFIA will inspect your vehicle, at your expense, to ensure that this requirement has been met. If your car fails the inspection, you will be responsible for the cost of a thorough cleaning and a second inspection.
Import Fees Vehicles that are eligible for importation will be subject to import levies including customs duty and GST. Customs duty is generally based on the price paid for the vehicle and the percentage rate of duty varies depending on the vehicle's country of origin.
If your collector car has air conditioning, working or not, you will pay an excise tax of $100. There are additional levies if your vehicle weighs more than 2,007 kilograms (4,425 pounds).
Finally, GST will be charged at the rate of five per cent of the total of the purchase price plus the customs levies.
Provincial Requirements When you have satisfied all the import requirements, a critical document called a Vehicle Import Form will be given to you by customs, your broker or the RIV program, depending on the circumstances of your importation. Without this piece of paper, you will get only a blank stare from your provincial licensing authorities.
Before heading off to your licensing bureau, you'll need to satisfy the provincial requirements. In Ontario, for example, your car must pass a safety-standards inspection. You will also need a Drive Clean inspection certificate if the vehicle is more than three model years old and less than 20 years old.
In addition to the fees for registering your newly imported car, provincial authorities may collect sales tax on the price you paid for the vehicle. Don't bother asking why provincial sales tax applies to a sales transaction that occurred outside Canada.
If you search the japanese exporter websites, 93 and older Kei trucks seem to typically command around $2000 to $2800 depending on mileage, options A/C 4x4, dump. If 7 fit in a 40' container and it costs approx $3000 to ship from Japan to NA west coast, then ship to wherever + insurance broker fees taxes, exporter fees, jap export taxes, customs inspections yada yada, you would probably have $4000 into each one by the time you get them.
I guess that is why I see them selling on Canadian importer websites for $6500 to $8500. Keep in mind, these 15 year old or more vehicles, although typically with fairly low mileage, won't necessarily be without defects either.
Do I want a container full? Yes
