importing ST1100 from Canada to US

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


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You might want to message Adam on this thread as it sounds like he bought a FJR in Canada.

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?150227-Buying-a-bike-in-Canada-and-bringing-it-back-to-the-US&highlight=Importing

Back in 1999 I bought a V45 Sabre in Canada and brought it in to the US. No I didn't follow the rules, I had to have the guy that I bought it from ride it across the border and I picked it up a few miles below the border.

It might be a PIA....

Once you get it past the border, it will be up to your state to "tag it".

For what it's worth I decided not to buy a US bike because of the hassle of importing.
I think SuperSabre is on the right track.

Though having the previous owner drive it across the border for you may not be feasible.
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Karen did it easily a few years ago. Maybe she'll chime in.

Thanks suprasabre.... yes I actually have the bike in Maryland... as US customs let me drive it down to Maryland and once I have the DOT paperwork ... they said just go to Baltimore CBP to Import the bike officially .... so that I can then register it in Maryland....

The twist is that the bike has EPA STICKER but no DOT sticker... so I need letter for DOT compliance which Canada Honda can’t give me and US Honda seems clueless..... grrrrrrrrrr

DeanR said:

Karen did it easily a few years ago. Maybe she'll chime in.

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thanks... I did message her.... she imported the exact same bike!!!

danmauer said:

thanks... I did message her.... she imported the exact same bike!!!

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Did she have to produce the DOT letter? If so, does she still have it?

Just so I haven't lost the plot:
Dan buys a 93 ST1100 from a Canadian who delivers it to Maryland.
Dan can't register said bike because it doesn't have a DOT sticker.
Contact is made with Karen as she imported a bike from Canada a few years back.
Karen tells Dan that she imported that exact motorcycle i.e. same VIN.
Have I missed something or did Karen import a different 93 ST1100?

If it's the exact same bike that has to be some kind of cosmic coincidence.


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DavidR8 said:

Just so I haven’t lost the plot:
Dan buys a 93 ST1100 from a Canadian who delivers it to Maryland.
Dan can’t register said bike because it doesn’t have a DOT sticker.
Contact is made with Karen as she imported a bike from Canada a few years back.
Karen tells Dan that she imported that exact motorcycle i.e. same VIN.
Have I missed something or did Karen import a different 93 ST1100?

If it’s the exact same bike that has to be some kind of cosmic coincidence.


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Click to expand...

???

My take... "exact same bike" equals same exact same model/year, not same VIN.

paulcb said:

My take... "exact same bike" equals same exact same model/year, not same VIN.

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Same here. I saw that as 'exact same model'.

SupraSabre said:

Did she have to produce the DOT letter? If so, does she still have it?

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I'm guessing either she was female vs male or her state did not require the DOT letter.

Females get away with lots to a male border patrol officer. I always need to carry my get out of jail free card when I cross the border

If nothing has changed you will need a completed and signed U.S. D.O.T. HS-7 form. It is available from their website. Because you are importing the vehicle in to the U.S. you also require a compliance letter from Honda U.S. The U.S. division of a given manufacturer has to state that the vehicle meets the U.S. standards. The letter must include the vehicle model, year and VIN number and state that it is compliant with U.S. D.O.T. and E.P.A. standards. They will probably write it in fancy legal-ease but the required information really is that basic. To get this compliance letter you need to contact the Honda U.S. Customer Relations Department in Torrence California at 1-800-999-1009.

Again, fair warning, the above is if nothing has changed- it has been a while.

Called Honda US to request compliance letter and was told they do not do that...said they receive 3 calls a day regarding this...they did not give any solution to obtaining dot compliance letter. I was told to go to an importer. Some of the worst customer service I have ever seen.

DavidR8 said:

Just so I haven't lost the plot:
Dan buys a 93 ST1100 from a Canadian who delivers it to Maryland.
Dan can't register said bike because it doesn't have a DOT sticker.
Contact is made with Karen as she imported a bike from Canada a few years back.
Karen tells Dan that she imported that exact motorcycle i.e. same VIN.
Have I missed something or did Karen import a different 93 ST1100?

If it's the exact same bike that has to be some kind of cosmic coincidence.


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Click to expand...

Maybe Dan needs to sell it to Karen, let her register it, then resell it back to Dan and he can take the Title that Karen got to get it registered!

Have a look here- Vehicle Importation Guidelines (Canadian) (September 2017)

The section of this document that applies to you (Box 2B of the U.S. D.O.T. HS-7 form) was last updated September 2017. It looks to me like nothing has changed and as I wrote in my previous post it is the manufacturer's responsibility to provide the compliance letter. The U.S. government even provides the contact information for each manufacturer in the document I linked to above. I agree with you- crappy customer service. Maybe try the Honda Canada contact listed in this document- hopefully you might have a little better luck.

SupraSabre said:

Maybe Dan needs to sell it to Karen, let her register it, then resell it back to Dan and he can take the Title that Karen got to get it registered!

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I like you guys thinking... lol.... got to hear back from Karen....

Andrew Shadow said:

Have a look here- Vehicle Importation Guidelines (Canadian) (September 2017)

The section of this document that applies to you (Box 2B of the U.S. D.O.T. HS-7 form) was last updated September 2017. It looks to me like nothing has changed and as I wrote in my previous post it is the manufacturer's responsibility to provide the compliance letter. The U.S. government even provides the contact information for each manufacturer in the document I linked to above. I agree with you- crappy customer service. Maybe try the Honda Canada contact listed in this document- hopefully you might have a little better luck.

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thanks for all the effort and figuring this out... YES... Crappy Honda Customer Service.... Had no issue getting that letter from Suzuki and i brought a Vstrom over to US.. If anyone has previous experience with an Importer..... that will shorten my search.... thanks again to ALL for your help....

josiewales said:

Called Honda US to request compliance letter and was told they do not do that...said they receive 3 calls a day regarding this...they did not give any solution to obtaining dot compliance letter. I was told to go to an importer. Some of the worst customer service I have ever seen.

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Ya.. talk about hitting your head against a wall.... again i say... Suzuki... i light years ahead of Honda in that department... LOL...