Registering Canadian Bronco in US

[Agswin]

Has anyone had 1st hand experience or knowledge of registering a Candian Bronco in the US? The reason I ask because in bold letters on the window sticker it says " THIS VEH. NOT INTENDED FOR SALE OR REGISTRATION IN US"

That being said, it is being offered by a dealer in Michigan and it is the only Heritage edition for sale under $57,000 which is another red flag (only 3300 miles)

Just don't want to get into a situation where there are issues

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[RagnarKon]

It varies by state an unfortunately I don't know the process in Michigan.

Ultimately the general idea is this: It needs to abide by NHTSA, EPA, and state regulations. In addition, you need to pay any added tariffs/taxes/whatever to import it. The first three items are usually not a big deal, because Canadian law closely mimics US law when it comes to environmental protections and whatnot. And the whole tariffs/taxes thing may not even be a factor for you if the vehicle is already in the United States.

In my state I'd have to provide paperwork certifying that the vehicle abides by EPA and NHTSA regulations. And I'd also have to take it down to the DMV and pay extra for a thorough inspection and VIN verification. Not a huge deal, other than the fact that it's extra paperwork, and you have to make an appointment for the inspection.

I would be willing to bet that most dealers in Michigan are extremely familiar with what is required to get a Canadian vehicle registered in the United States... given they're literally on the border. So it may be worth just asking them honestly.

 

[huey]

I cant speak to the bronco specifically, but when I moved South of the border and imported my truck I had to get a letter from GM stating the exhaust emissions were in compliance. Everything else safety wise was fine and my dash had both kmh & mph so I was all set.

Going from Ontario to KY was actually pretty easy, especially since the KY inspection was only 5 dollars and consisted of the sheriff making sure the VIN matched and the paperwork matched my photo id.

I would reach out to dealers, especially those closer to the border as they likely trade vehicles that move across the border. @flip may be able to chime in with a dealers perspective on this

 

[Agswin]

Sorry, here is some more info to help. It is a used vehicle that is already in the US at a Michigan dealership. I am located in Texas and would ship the vehicle here and register it here but the specific wording on the window sticker has me spooked, plus it is about $8k less expensive than any other heritage 4 door out there

 

[RagnarKon]

Sorry, here is some more info to help. It is a used vehicle that is already in the US at a Michigan dealership. I am located in Texas and would ship the vehicle here and register it here but the specific wording on the window sticker has me spooked, plus it is about $8k less expensive than any other heritage 4 door out there

Looks like the Texas DMV website has all the info you need.

https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles

The vehicle must meet all federal and state importation requirements prior to titling and/or registering the vehicle in Texas.

Step 1: Properly import your vehicle
Your vehicle must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

More information concerning customs matters is available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Step 2: Obtain a Safety inspection
Your vehicle must pass a Texas vehicle safety inspection if you are going to be obtaining registration. You can have your vehicle inspected at any Texas-certified Safety Inspection Station. The inspection station will provide you with an original Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) signed by the inspector.

Step 3 Obtain a VIN inspection
The vehicle must be inspected by a trained auto theft investigator who is a law enforcement officer of this state or a political subdivision of this state. Contact local law enforcement to determine if they have a trained auto theft investigator or contact a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Grantee to find a trained investigator.

Note: An authorized employee of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) may also perform these inspections.

Upon completion of this VIN inspection, you will be provided with an original Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection (Form VTR-68-A) signed by the investigator.

Step 4: Apply for Texas title/registration
After your vehicle passes customs, federal and state inspection, take the following forms, along with proof of insurance, to your county tax office:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Form HS-7, or any other document establishing customs entry/clearance and compliance with, or exemption from, federal safety standards
• If the imported vehicle is under bond, an original bond release letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation
• Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), completed by a safety inspection station
• The inspection report on the bottom of Form VTR-68-A completed by a law enforcement agency's auto theft unit. Note: U.S. military personnel, including immediate family members, returning to Texas military bases are not required to submit a completed form VTR-68-A. Please refer to our Military Packet for more information.
• A completed Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U)
• Provide the vehicle's odometer reading if it is required.
• Present the ownership document. You must provide a certified English translation of any document printed in any language other than English.

 

[flip]

Shoot me the VIN. If it's on a dealer lot they should have the title and it shouldn't need anything else done on your part. You can always ask them if it has been registered in the US before they got it. We frequently see Canadian built units, mainly trucks, come through here and can't recall any issues on the sales side. There have been some oddball parts situations, mainly instrument clusters, and care needed to be taken to make sure we choose the right one depending on options.

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