While I still await my job offer (sigh my company is slow), I am still looking for info I will need for when I move up there.

I have been told that day time running lamps are required. True? Last time up there, I specifically looked and not every car was running DTRL's.

If I decide to sell/trade my car up there at some point, will I have an issue because the spedo is in MPH (yeah, it has the smaller inner circle with kph. But just curious)

Is there anything special I will need to do to register my car up there and get a drivers license? Will my current license just transfer? Now, will I need to do this if I am still on a work permit? Or will that wait until I get permanent residency?

Now, I doubt I can get a SI card with a work permit. So, without one am I able to do things like open a bank account, or even get an apartment and utilities turned on?

   

There are a lot of cars here with MPH spedo that gets sold (as used and new privately). So that isn't a bg issue. And as for the day time lamps, I think you can take it to the its Canadian dealer and they can add this feature to it. As for the other issues, I don't have any clue. Don't take my word or anything I said above though, I am just sharing my opinion.

What I would do to get correct answers to your questions is to call government canada 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232). I am sure they can help.

   

Reading the date of gstang's post, I imagine s/he will have arrived in Canada by now. However, for the benefit of others, I'll post my experience here. A little background to help frame my answers... I was born in Canada but raised in the U.S., and recently moved back to Canada permanently as an adult. Best decision I ever made, btw - I love it here!

Yup DTRL required. This can indeed be added on.

MPH/kPH spedometer ok. As long as the km are there somewhere. If not, IIRC there is a km sticker they can put on so you can read your speed in km's.

Before you even leave, however, you will need to do 3 things:
1) Check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles riv.ca that your car is on their list of acceptable vehicles
2) Get a recall clearance letter from the manufacturer, stating that there are no outstanding recalls on your car... or if there are, that you have taken care of them
3) Before you import it to Canada, you must *export* it from the U.S. This will require a bit of advance planning, since U.S. Customs requires advance notice of your intent to do so... if you just show up at the border without this you're going to have problems. See customs.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

There will be fees to pay to Canada Border Services Agency cbsa.gc.ca - be sure you get the latest info and have an accepted payment method with you when you get to the border.

For Ontario, a U.S. driver's licence does transfer over - just prove you're an Ontario resident and hand over your U.S. licence. Check the rules in your chosen province/territory.

As I mentioned above I'm a citizen, so I don't know about the work permit questions. But since giving people work permits without giving them any means to get a place to live or pay their bills would be silly, I'm sure this situation has been provided for. Try cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.asp

A great place to start to get help settling in after you arrive in Canada is your local immigrant services centre. Try the 800 number suggested by Techedude or check cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/index.asp

Obviously, I'm not an expert of any kind, and they may change the rules at any time, so double-check everything I've said. But you now have the basic rundown on what is required, what to expect, and where to get more info. Good luck!

   

I wouldnt worry about the lights,I used to laugh while driving through the states,when coming out of a tunnell everyone would be flashing me to turn my lights off.

   

Original Post: 2006-09-06 - yeah what's the deal in replying to this post now?? 1/yr later.

I hope the guy has made it to Canada, or he should find a new company to work for.

   

Necro?

   

Yeah I know. Well originally it caught my attention because Techedude replied to it recently. I just added to it in case it might benefit someone else... or Gstang himself, on the off chance that his company is that unbelievably slow.

Yeah except now you have to. All the CBSA documentation says so, plus they told me directly that this is now a requirement. Since when, I don't know. There's also a $100 excise tax if the car has A/C.