Importing GMC Safari from Canada

[surfsup]

Does any one have experience purchasing a GMC Safari in Canada and importing it into the US? I plan to buy a Canadian GMC Safari and later drive it back to the US clearing it through Customs & Border Patrol. As I understand it, there are 2 key import requirements for vehicles less than 25 years old:

1) EPA emissions standard. According to the EPA web site, a Canadian vehicle is acceptable for import if it has an emissions label stating that it is certified to United States EPA federal emission standards. The emissions label, titled "Vehicle Emission Control Information", is usually found along the drivers side door, under the hood, or inside the engine compartment. The label will state if it conforms to US EPA requirements.

Has anyone seen the emissions label of a Canadian Safari? Can anyone confirm if it actually states that it conforms to EPA regulations?

2) DOT's NHTSA vehicle safety standard. To be free of import restrictions, a vehicle must bear a label stating that it was manufactured to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Most Canadian vehicles will just bear a label certifying compliance with Canadian motor vehicle safety standards (CMVSS).

Has anyone seen the vehicle safety standard label of a Canadian GMC Safari? Does it state that it conforms to FMVSS as well as CMVSS?

The ease by which one can import a Canadian vehicle into the US will usually depend on whether its labels explicitly endorse these EPA and NHTSA standards. If the vehicle's labels do not provide these endorsements then one would have to go through greater effort to document that the vehicle satisfies the US government's vehicle emission and safety requirements.

Has anyone gone through this experience? How difficult was it to import a Safari from Canada to the US?

[AstroWill]

Should be quite easy as they were made for both countries, but I don't have any more information for you.

[90safari]

I'd make sure it passed Canadian emissions as some provinces are a little different on emissions like our states are. I'd also have it safety inspected (kind of like Maryland and PA do). If you do those 2 things, I don't think you'll have a problem. You might want to contact either US Custom's, or maybe an expediter, and see if there's any paper work you'll need before you pick it up in Canada. I only say this, as I've shipped a car out of the country (it went to the UK), but it was over 25 years old. I had to have insurance on it, and it had to have a current registration (legal for road use) according to the buyer.
Like Will said, they were built for both countries, and were built to North American specs.
I hope this helps.

[MechBob]

All Astros/Safaris were made in USA,Baltimore.USA and Canadian emissions and safety standards were almost,if not, identical.The biggest thing would be to make sure there are no liens against the vehicle.I would contact the port of entry/exit for current possible changes.Will leave you some links to read.Probably a good time,as the Canadian dollar is low right now,about 25 cents less than USA dollar.there is the chance,depending where you live,as vehicle is older,you may have to pay a State induced poor mileage(low efficiency) tax. https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import- ... orting-car https://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-in ... om-canada/ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-import ... da-3308369