Buying a used trailer in Canada question

[Alicia LaVallee]

When purchasing a used trailer in Canada from a private party what are the costs involved, if any, like sales tax, custom duty fees, etc. or any other problems bringing the trailer back to the US that the buyer should be aware of?

[Carol H]

Use the search function drop down menu at the top of this site - use the bottom box (google) for best results. You will find lots of discussion on this topic.

The process and how much trouble you will or will not have depends greatly on the age of the trailer and/or if the trailer manufacture is still in biz and building trailers.

No Duty of any trailer going either way if it was made in Canada or the USA.
Sales Tax is set by the state you will be registering the trailer in.
Make sure when buying in Canada that you receive from the seller a signed copy of the Owners Registration Transfer papers! Also make sure they are the person who is listed as the Registered owner on that paper work. Without that you will NEVER get it registered in your name.

[Alicia LaVallee]

Hi there Carol, thanks very much for posting this info.


Best regards,


Alicia

[Lora]

We had more trouble bringing back the clementines and tomatoes we had packed at home for snacks than we did with the trailer! Ate the clementine (they did take the peel), gave up the dozen grapes & 2 tomatoes.
We did come back across at one of the smaller crossings and there was practically no other traffic.
We were well-prepared with all the advice from the helpful folks here (researched the posts like Carol mentioned). I visited our local DMV to make sure of what they would need and had everything in one folder so it was easy to produce (not produce) whatever was needed.
One thing I don't recall seeing mentioned was having to fill out the customs declaration upon our return to the states (hence our misadventure with the fruit).
Good luck.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Lora

One thing I don't recall seeing mentioned was having to fill out the customs declaration upon our return to the states (hence our misadventure with the fruit).
Good luck.

When driving across the line you do not normally fill out a customs declaration prior to crossing as you would if you were flying. You first make your verbal declaration at the booth and answer any of the standard questions - more often than not you will be questioned about any fruit and veggies (that goes on both ways) and if you have something you need to do some paper work on or pay duty on they will have you pull over and go into the office to do the formal declaration..... otherwise they just wave you through and say have a nice trip