Will I have issues bringing a Canadian bike in the US?

The bike is just over the border in Canada. It was a US bike that has never been titled or registered up there. It has a valid US title from Minnesota, the purchaser in Canada never signed his name to the title. The previous owner is his brother in law who lives in Mn.

Do I just need a bill of sale from his brother in law since he never did anything with the title work?

What kind of issues, if any, can I expect at the border?

Thanks for any insight.

 

As long as you can prove ownership, I can't see any problems you'd have...
Hell if they needed a story you could always say you're picking it up after it broke down in Canada, and you're just returning it.... or something like that...

 

If it was a U.S. version in the first place and you have the documentation for the bike, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, especially if the bike is 25 years old or more. Now if it's something that was never street legal in the U.S., like some of the small Honda and Yamaha 2-stroke sport bikes, it may be more complicated.

 

I have an 82 Seca from Canada that I registered in CA. No problem at all. I had the CHP inspect/verify the VIN, then applied for a CA title and registration.

I have been told that there are small differences in parts #'s but so far I have had no problems.

 

If the bike has been in Canada for any length of time your biggest problem will be trying to keep the bike from guzzling all of your beer.

 

Thanks, Gentlemen!

Will I need to pay a tariff or something at the border? What kind of paperwork should I have on hand? I've never been through a border crossing before. I don't have a passport. From my research, all I need is my DL and birth cirtificate to get through.

I wonder if the bike will need a few ounces of Molson in the tank for optimum performance?

 

Yep, Molson it is.

 

since you brought up beer, do you know what Moose Head is in

Canada and what Moose Head is in the states?

In Canada its beer
in the states its a felony :lol:
Sorry for hijacking the post

 

Juss dat yer Cunn-ade-yenn bike, huh, izz gunna mizz lizz-nenn to demm hockey games, eeh?

 

I went to a concert in Canada last summer so I looked into crossing the border.
What you say is true license, birth certificate can get you acrossed.
But the actual officer that stops you at the crossing makes the decsision if you get in or not.
A DWI, DUI is more then enough reason not let you in, again at the guards discretion.
He's having a bad day he tells you to beat it.
I was informed by the canadian consulate that the only sure way to get in is to write them with your itinerary, date, length of stay, reason for entring the country ect.
So it can be reviewed, this should take 6 to 8 months.
8O
If they find you worthy you're cleared to go.
They said a passport was a much better form of ID and I would be less likely to be turned away.
So I got a passport.

Having said that.
The reason I was so concerned was that a good friend of mine was on his way to a family reunion in Canada, 7, 8 years ago.
He was traveling Amtrack with his mother and father.
They got to the border and he was turned away for a DWI conviction.
Something to think aboot.

 

First off if you're getting a bike from Canada, and its been here a while, it's probably going to want a better beer than Canadian (Molsons to you Yank-ee folk) to make it run I suggest Keiths or the aforementioned Moosehead

Living in Ontario (and a short stint in BC) I've done far more boarder crossings than I can even count for various reasons. Honestly, its not as bad as people make it out to be. Really, all you need to do is make sure everything is "Yes sir/mam, no sir/mam" you know, really play into their whole power trip ego bullshit. You still only need drivers license and birth certificate but that is soon to change so I suggest you grab a passport ASAP. This also helps to alleviate any of the border woes.

Other things to remember, dont give them a reason to be a dick. Have EVERYTHING ready when you pull up and make sure you have all the info you need. Where you're going, why you're going there and duration of stay.

As for bringing the bike across, as long as you have all the paperwork with you (ownership and bill of sale etc.) you should have no problems. Make sure that the bill of sale states that it is under your allowance or you WILL have to pay duty on it.

Follow those steps and it'll be a cakewalk.