Apr 17
Another Success Story!
I just finished importing a 2008 S60 with little issue.
Here’s my experience.
Called Volvo Canada to confirm admissibility.
They verbally acknowledged all 2008 as admissible but I had to submit a request to get a letter.
I was told I needed to send them the Title/MSO to get the letter
So I took a chance and bought the car from a Volvo dealer.
Submitted a request on-line Volvo Canada to get admissibility letter
Called Vovlo North America to get Recall Letter
Both places were very nice to deal with.
I was later told that I did not need to send in the Title/MSO and my letter came in less than a week
Recall Letter was received by fax as soon as my admissibility letter was processed.
The dealer took care of all the paperwork, I took care of all my import documentation.
Dealer sent me the MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin), I called the US customs where I was crossing to confirm what I needed to fax to them ( Each US crossing seemed to have diiferent requirements) they needed only the front of the MSO faxed at least 72 Hours prior to exporting. Keep your fax receipt as proof.
Flew down, was picked up at the airport by the dealership and brought to the dealer
Met my saleperson, was given my package of info and keys
Salesperson did a walkaround and inspection of the vehicle (It was a demo)
Salesperson showed me all the options
I left to come home … so I was only there about 20 minutes :>
Got to the US Customs office with all documentation in hand, was told the MSO was not the right document and the I needed the Title.?? So after finally explaining to them that this was the right document, and having them check their website.. they finally accepted it and stamped it.
Went to the Canadian Customs .. no issues there .. they checked a few things told me to do the RIV online payment as it’s quicker .. paid my GST/Duty and was on my way home.
Next morning I paid on-line the RIV fee and Faxed over my letter of admissibly to one phone number and my recall letter to another number ( I suggest calling and confirming receipt of both faxes)
I booked an appointment with the local Vovlo dealer for the import inspection. It cost $270 for this, which also included a provincial vehicle safety inspection and another recall letter?. There were NO modifications required for the S60 model.
I received form 2 via email and printed this, brought form 2 to Canadian Tire, they inspected and stamped form 2, brought this along with the other paperwork to the MTO and registered it and plated.
I received my sticker from RIV a few days later and put it on the car.
It was so easy and I saved so much money I am looking to go back and pick up an 08 XC90 :>
I would say that each person must do their due diligence when importing a vehicle and know all the risks, ie is there duty or a green levy (gas guzzler tax -V8 SUVs can be a lot), any modifications etc etc these can add up. Having other people who have imported and shared their experience is helpful to all those interested in following suite.
Cheers
Thx
April 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Thanks for the account. I am really encouraged by your account.
Small question. Which Canadian area are you from? I am from Toronto neighborhood and am going to pick up my 2008 C70 next week. I am reading that some dealers are charging $1850 to $2000 for inspection. Really dreading it.
PS: Will post my experience once I am done… I find these really helpful so I am hoping mine will be helpful to someone else.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Got my new GMC Sierra SLE plated last week with Ont. plates. Canadian tire made me do a safety check and an emission test. Thx, did the Volvo dealer do an emission test on your car????????? This is rediculous having to do a safety and emission test on a brand new truck with only 3,700 miles on it. Roger Delorme
April 18th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Perhaps Canada is a freer country as a result of the efforts of CWB. As a result of the facility of the internet, CWB has provided a forum for Canadians to oppose the tyranny imposed by special interest groups who have set the agenda to benefit their self-serving interests and in so doing have for many years disadvantaged “ordinary” (in the parlance of Ottawa mandarins) Canadians. Why do Canadians have to pay more in Canada than an American does in the U.S. for almost everything……even the petroleum exported by Canada to the U.S. costs more in Canada than in the U.S.? OTTAWA - WAKE UP THERE IS A NEW GUN IN TOWN!!!!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Does Volve honour the manufacturers warranty in Canada?
April 19th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Yes - you there is a warranty coverage for Volvo’s (Standard warranty only - not an extended one)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Robert,
You are very fortunate to have been only charged $270 for the Volvo dealership to inspect it. What part of the Canada are you from?
Verda,
I was in the same boat as you - except out in the praries (Saskatoon) the dealership here wanted $2700 to inspect a 2005 XC70!!! What’s their shop rate $1800/hr? I confronted the dealer about the cost and he bascially came out and said they had bills to pay and were trying to discourage people from importing from the US. Needless to say I will never deal with them - went and bought a 2007 Subaru Outback instead.
I heard through someone working at RIV, that Volvo and other dealers are facing a class-action lawsuit because of such actions.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I just checked Volvo Canada website, and they dropped prices for V70 by around $7500! When you price out V70 with sunroof and heated seats it’s only $700 more than US similar model. That’s actually a first time I see canadian price to be that close to US. Good move Volvo!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I am from Kelowna,, just talked to Aaron the service manager at the Volvo Dealership here and YES he told me the cost is $1,950.00 for their inspection and then I can obtain the ” Compliance Letter ” as required by RIV . He told me they have to protect their Canadian Market from imports ????? Anyone else with more information PLEASE post so all can see !!!!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Sent: April 25, 2008 1:56 PM
To: trembpo@tc.gc.ca; BAINJ@tc.gc.ca; Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca; Dan Davies(DAVISDA@tc.gc.ca); Jean Carol Pelletier pelletj@tc.gc.ca; Lachance, Martine; ramK@tc.gc.ca; RANGERL@tc.gc.ca; Regulations Clerk - ASFB - Commis aux règlements; ROYC@tc.gc.ca; Skripsky, Patricia
Cc: Sylvie and Serge Bergeron (sylvie@bergeron.ca); info@UCanImport.com
Subject: Importing a Volvo - we need Transport Canada’s Help
To Pierre O Tremblay and all the kind folks at Transport Canada.
Here is another case,(refer to the email below) where you folks at Transport Canada have trusted that the Canadian Car Companies would do the right thing.
Out West, Volvo Dealers are gouging Canadians, thanks to the rules you have established. They are charging $2,000 for an inspection that takes at most 30 minutes.
Montreal and Toronto area dealers are charging around $200.
Please do something!
Thanks
Robert Lamb and Serge Bergeron.
http://www.CarsWithoutBorders.com
Sent: April 25, 2008 1:50 PM
New comment on your post #644 “Another Success Story! ”
Comment:
I am from Kelowna,, just talked to Aaron the service manager at the Volvo Dealership here and YES he told me the cost is $1,950.00 for their inspection and then I can obtain the ” Compliance Letter ” as required by RIV . He told me they have to protect their Canadian Market from imports ????? Anyone else with more information PLEASE post so all can see !!!!
You can see all comments on this post here:
http://www.carswithoutborders.com/2008/04/17/another-success-story/#comments
May 4th, 2008 at 1:52 am
I live in Edmonton & unfortunately there is only one Volvo dealership…Anglo Canadian…their fee for the inspection is also $1950. If this is the way they treat their “customers” I’d be very reluctant to conduct any business with them . Until the rule change they will continue to gouge consumers.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hello,
I am new on the forum and am looking at importing a late model 2004+ volvo into Vancouver.
I’ve read here that the Volvo dealerships are gouging for the inspection. My question is this:
Is one required to go thru a Volvo Dealership for this inspection OR can one go thru an authorized
Volvo repairshop that is Aircare certified??
May 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I just imported a 2005 XC90, I got the admissability letter just fine and when I got form 2 back from RIV they require the Letter of Compliance. We all know the vehicle needs nothing to comply and the dealer here in Regina said so. But he charges $2,500 for the inspection anyway except that because he is not certified to do the provincial Inspection he said he would deduct $125 because I would still have to get a provincial inspection elsewhere.