Thanks to anags (Alissa) for submitting this info on importing her car:
You must have the title, because you have to go to US Customs at the border to export the car. They need 48 hours notice. They will check the title against the VIN on your car, stamp the title, keep a copy (bring copies with you, it makes them happy) and give you the original back. This effectively "cancels" your title. Call RIV first (1-888-848-8240), if you tell them where you are landing, they will give you the number of the US Customs office. US Customs will accept faxes of your title to speed the process.
If you lease your car, or have a lien outstanding, contact your financing agent. They will provide you with a letter stating you have their permission to export your car. RIV will explain this to you, as well. Get a letter from your current insurance company listing your claims history. Almost all insurance companies know exactly what you need. This will be given to your Canadian insurance agent (in BC it is ICBC). I brought a fax and that was fine.
When you import the car, you will have to go to a broker (they're right at the border of all "designated port entries" - go to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) at www.riv.com for a list) and pay $210 Canadian. Credit cards are okay. Bring: the title, the Form 1 (which you will receive from customs when you immigrate), the mileage on the car and the manufacture date (on the label on the door of your car), your driver's license.
After a few weeks, you will receive Form 2 in the mail. Make an appointment at a Federal Inspection Centre and bring: Form 1, Form 2, the title, the recall clearance information. You will pay anywhere from $80 to $150 for the federal inspection, If you need to get daytime running lights installed. Otherwise, I believe it's "free" - it's actually $75, but that's included in the $210 you paid initially. Get the daytime running lights installed at the RIV Inspection Centre, it's much cheaper than a dealer.
Then you need to get the provincial inspection done. This depends on your province. THEN take your - title or if the vehicle has an outstanding US loan, bring anything the lienholder sent you to prove you have their permission to export it to Canada. - Form 2 (and anything the inspection centre attached to it) - Provincial inspection paperwork - Customs form B4E (which you get from Customs when you land and lists your goods to follow) - Insurance claims history letter - Canadian driver's license - US Registration Go to an insurance broker and pay through the nose for your insurance. Lesson learned the hard way: as soon as you walk in, ask them if they have ever done an *immigration* import before. If they say no, find another broker. Park near the broker, they have to confirm the VIN.
If you are importing your car, it is expensive, so you have to weigh the cost of buying a new car, and what you can sell your car for in the States, versus the expenses. In my case, I'd only have been able to get abut US$3000 for my car (on a good day), so it was definitely worth it to import it. My costs for importing my 1992 Jeep Cherokee to British Columbia: $210 (these are all Canadian $$) import fee, which includes the $75 federal inspection $120 to have daytime running lights installed $140 for the provincial inspection $1000 to ICBC for insurance and license plates. Insurance will vary of course, depending on your record (I had 3 years "no claims" - actually 4, but they held a no-fault claim paid against me, and a perfect driving record), type of vehicle, location and purpose of vehicle.
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