Exporting a Classic Car to Canada: The 15-Year Rule, Duty and GST

What is the Canadian 15-year rule?

Transport Canada says vehicles older than 15 years are generally not regulated under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at the time of import, so they can come in if they meet the entry requirements of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Age is based on the month and year of manufacture. For a vehicle built in stages, such as a motorhome, it is the date the final-stage manufacturer finished it; for a replica, the date it was completed, not the model year it copies. Buses qualify only if built before 1 January 1971.

If you cannot prove the age, CBSA assesses the vehicle under the normal rules and it can be refused at the border. Keep a photograph of the build plate, the V5C and, where you can, a dating certificate from the manufacturer's archive or an owners' club.

What about cars under 15 years old?

A vehicle from outside the USA and Mexico that is under 15 years old and does not meet Canadian safety standards is not eligible for permanent import, which rules out most UK-market cars. US-specification vehicles under 15 years old go through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) programme instead: they must be certified to US standards, have no open recalls and pass an RIV inspection before provincial registration.

Canada's line at 15 years is the reason it takes British cars that cannot yet go to the USA, where the rule is 25 years.

Taking a vehicle to Canada: visitors, temporary residents and permanent import →

Duty and GST on a classic car in Canada

Over 25 years, original configuration

Duty-free under tariff item 9966.00.00. Age is the actual month and year of manufacture, not the model year

Original configuration

The car must look and be configured as it was when built. Hot rods and street rods generally do not qualify; changes made to meet safety or provincial registration rules do not necessarily disqualify it

15 to 25 years old

Customs duty may apply, depending on where the car was built; we confirm the rate for your car before you ship

GST

5%, charged on the value plus any duty

Excise tax

Applies to some vehicles and to vehicle air conditioners

Provincial sales tax

May be charged in your province

Which classics go to Canada?

The British classics shipped to Canada are much the same as those going to the USA: the MGB, Triumph TR6 and Spitfire, Jaguar E-Type, Mini, Morris Minor and Austin-Healey, all well past 25 years and so free of duty in original form. The 15-year rule also opens the door to later cars such as a Jaguar XJS, an MG RV8 or a Land Rover Defender built 15 years ago this month or earlier. For those under 25 years old, budget for duty as well as GST.

Right-hand drive needs checking first. Importing a car successfully does not guarantee it can be registered: Transport Canada warns that some provinces will not licence right-hand-drive vehicles, so ask your provincial licensing authority before you ship.

RORO or container to Canada?

RORO

Typically £1,240–1,340 in sea freight for a car from a UK port, and £1,340–1,810 for a 4x4 such as a Defender. The car travels inside the ship's enclosed hold; port drivers drive it on and off

Sole-use container

Sealed from loading to unloading. Best for a high-value or concours classic, a non-runner, or a car shipped with spares

Shared container

Container security at a lower price, shared with another shipper's vehicle

RORO ranges are the lower and upper quartiles of our own customer quotes over the last 90 days. Container prices are quoted for your car and port.

Your classic car policy usually does not cover the sea voyage. We arrange marine cargo insurance, from €200 for a single trip for a value up to €25,000; higher values are quoted individually. Older vehicles can be more difficult to insure, so tell us the value and condition early. Marine insurance is not included in shipping prices unless stated.

How exporting a classic to Canada works

1. Check the build date and whether your province will register the car; we confirm the rules for your vehicle before you ship.
2. Get instant pricing in about 2 minutes, then book RORO or a container.
3. Tell DVLA the car is leaving permanently, using the permanent export section of the V5C.
4. Clean the car inside and out: Canada refuses soil and organic matter.
5. The car sails to Halifax or another Canadian port and we send you the bill of lading.
6. At arrival the car is declared to CBSA with its ownership documents, duty and GST are paid, and it is released, with customs clearance support through our broker, a local agent we introduce, or your own broker.

Exporting a car from the UK →

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