Do I need to register my Canadian car in US when I’m on working visa?

[Xi Chen]

Can anyone answer this question for me? 
I am on a 3 year contract working in US as travel nurse from Canada. I have TN visa. When I crossed border, no one ever asked me about my car’s information, no form required me to fill. When I tried to register my car in Nebraska where I need to stay for one year working in hospital, they asked me to have a CBP form, ETA and DOT form to register my car. Because those are what required if you ate importing a car from foreign country. Nebraska DMV requires non resident to register their car if they stay more than 30 days. we don’t use “Title” in Canada. Plus, as it says online, Canadian cars are good for up to one year in US with a Canadian plate as many Canadians are Snowbirds. So, what should I do? Drive thousands miles back to Border to get the form filled? 

[hypnotizer90, BSN, RN]

Hi. What did you end up doing? 

In 2019, I crossed the border to Maine getting TN visa and and clearly stated I am importing my car as well. 

These were the forms given to me by the border to give to DMV: 

1. CBP Form 7501

2. EPA Form 3520

3. DOT Form HS 7

I went to register my car first then endorsed my Ontario driver's license after my SSN was released.

You may need to check first if your car "conform to U.S. safety and emission standards". You can "obtain a letter of compliance from the vehicle manufacturer" in Canada. (I emailed the car maker and got the compliance letter thru email). Whatever the result of the compliance letter will tell you if your car can be imported or you need to return it to Canada after 1 year.

A link that hopefully helps:

a. https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/how-permanently-import-your-car-us-canada

b. https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

[Xi Chen]

Ah thank you. My company told me that Canadian car is good with Canadian plate for one year. So at least this year I’m okay. I’ll get a chance to go to border service at the end of this year to get all those forms. They do have all these forms at border service right? 

[hypnotizer90, BSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, Xi Chen said:

They do have all these forms at border service right? 

Yep. The forms should be at the border. Did you end up endorsing your driver's license?

[Xi Chen]

Yes. I took the written test still, but they waived my road test. 

[hoyeshi]

On 4/2/2021 at 10:26 PM, hypnotizer90 said:

Hi. What did you end up doing? 

In 2019, I crossed the border to Maine getting TN visa and and clearly stated I am importing my car as well. 

These were the forms given to me by the border to give to DMV: 

1. CBP Form 7501

2. EPA Form 3520

3. DOT Form HS 7

I went to register my car first then endorsed my Ontario driver's license after my SSN was released.

You may need to check first if your car "conform to U.S. safety and emission standards". You can "obtain a letter of compliance from the vehicle manufacturer" in Canada. (I emailed the car maker and got the compliance letter thru email). Whatever the result of the compliance letter will tell you if your car can be imported or you need to return it to Canada after 1 year.

A link that hopefully helps:

a. https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/how-permanently-import-your-car-us-canada

b. https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

hello, If I bought my car from a private seller, Can I still ask the company/manufacturer for a compliance letter? how should I go about it?

[hypnotizer90, BSN, RN]

On 6/13/2021 at 9:43 AM, hoyeshi said:

hello, If I bought my car from a private seller, Can I still ask the company/manufacturer for a compliance letter? how should I go about it?

Yes, just go on the car manufacturer website I.e. Subaru Canada, Honda Canada et cetera and message them to request for a compliance letter to import for the US.