Importing a Car to Canada from the UK: RIV, Duty and Provincial Rules

Most vehicles imported into Canada must be admissible under Transport Canada's rules, which generally means the vehicle was originally manufactured to US or Canadian federal motor vehicle safety standards, or is at least 15 years old (25 years for buses), in which case it's exempt from the standards requirement entirely. This makes classic and older UK cars significantly easier to import than nearly-new right-hand-drive models, which often need modification or simply aren't admissible unless they meet a specific exemption.

Before shipping, check your VIN or chassis details against Transport Canada's list of admissible vehicles, and register with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) programme, which oversees the inspection process for most imports arriving via land border crossings from the US — UK imports arriving by sea at Halifax or Montreal follow a related but distinct customs process.

Vehicles not manufactured in North America generally attract 6.1% customs duty on the declared value, though vehicles that qualify as originating under the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement may be exempt or attract a reduced rate — always confirm current eligibility with a customs broker as rules of origin are technical. On top of duty, 5% federal GST applies, and then provincial sales tax (varying from 0% in Alberta to 15% HST in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces) is charged when the vehicle is registered.

Excise tax also applies to air conditioning equipment (a flat CAD $100) and to fuel-inefficient vehicles under the Green Levy, which can add several hundred to several thousand dollars for larger-engined UK performance cars.

Canada permits right-hand-drive vehicles to be registered in most provinces, making it considerably friendlier to UK imports than some other markets, though a small number of provinces impose additional inspection requirements or restrict RHD vehicles from certain commercial uses like school bus routes or postal work. As a private import, most RHD UK cars can be registered without modification once they clear customs and pass a provincial safety inspection.

That said, some insurers charge a premium for RHD vehicles due to visibility considerations at intersections and when overtaking, so it's worth obtaining an insurance quote before committing to the purchase.

RORO and container sailings run from Southampton to Halifax, with onward container or rail transport available to Montreal, Toronto and further inland. Transit time to Halifax is typically 8–12 days by RORO, making Canada one of the faster long-haul destinations from the UK, with total door-to-door timelines of around 3–5 weeks once customs clearance and inland transport are included.

RORO costs for a standard vehicle run from roughly £900–£1,400, while a shared or sole-use 20ft container typically costs £1,600–£2,400 including UK haulage. Use our cost calculator for a tailored estimate based on your vehicle and destination province.

You'll need the original V5C or UK export certificate, a bill of sale or commercial invoice showing purchase value, and — importantly — a recall clearance letter from the vehicle manufacturer confirming there are no outstanding safety recalls on the specific VIN. This letter can take several weeks to obtain from some manufacturers, so request it as early as possible in the process.

You'll also complete Form 1 for vehicle importation at the border or port of entry, along with the standard Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) customs declaration, and pay the RIV fee where applicable (typically not required for sea-freight imports arriving directly at Halifax rather than via a US land border).

After customs clearance, the vehicle must pass a provincial safety and emissions inspection before registration — requirements vary significantly by province, with Ontario and British Columbia generally the most detailed. Emissions testing is required in some provinces for vehicles above a certain age or engine size, and a structural/mechanical safety inspection is near-universal.

Once inspected, you'll register the vehicle with your provincial transport authority (e.g. ServiceOntario or ICBC in BC), pay any applicable provincial sales tax, and obtain new plates — a process that typically takes 1–2 weeks once the vehicle has cleared customs and passed inspection.