Every fall, thousands of Canadian snowbirds start panicking about the same thing: “Do I need to import my car into the US? Do I owe duty? Do I need an RIV number? What forms do I fill out?” Reddit’s r/snowbirds is full of people who delayed booking a carrier for weeks because they assumed cross-border car shipping required the same paperwork as a permanent import.
It usually doesn’t. If you’re a Canadian snowbird taking your own car south for the winter and bringing it home in the spring, you’re doing a temporary personal-use entry, not a permanent import — and that’s a much simpler process than most people expect.
Direct Answer: What You Actually Need
If you own a Canadian-registered, Canadian-plated vehicle and you’re shipping or driving it to the US for a winter stay, you generally need: your vehicle registration, proof of insurance valid in the US, your driver’s license, and a passport or other approved ID at the border. You do not need to go through Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) process or pay US import duty, because you’re not importing the vehicle permanently — you’re bringing it in temporarily for personal use. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treats this as a visitor bringing a personal vehicle, not a commercial import. If you’re using a carrier or broker instead of driving yourself, the transport company typically handles the border paperwork on their end, but you still need your own ownership and insurance documents ready.
Temporary Stay vs. Permanent Import: The Distinction That Matters
Almost all the complicated-sounding requirements you’ll read about — EPA Form 3520-1, HS-7 declarations, compliance bonds — apply to permanently importing a foreign vehicle into the US so it can be registered and plated there long-term. Snowbird car shipping is almost never that. You’re keeping your Canadian plates, your Canadian registration, and your Canadian insurance (or US coverage layered on top); the car goes home with you in the spring.
| Situation | Paperwork Needed | Duty/RIV? | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowbird temporary stay (your own car, round trip) | Registration, insurance, ID/passport | No duty, no RIV | Up to 1 year on a temporary basis per CBP guidance |
| Someone else drives/ships the car for you | Above, plus a signed owner authorization letter | No duty, no RIV | Same as above |
| Permanently importing into the US | CBP Form 7501, EPA 3520-1, HS-7, DOT compliance | Possible duty, EPA/DOT compliance bond | 120-day EPA compliance window |
You can keep a Canadian car in the United States for up to 1 year at a time on a temporary basis for personal use, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). At the one-year mark, you would either need to bring the car back to Canada or permanently import it to the U.S.
Don’t Forget Insurance — It’s a Shorter Clock Than the Border Rule
The one-year CBP window is not the same as your insurance window. Auto insurance is a different story: you should contact your auto insurance company before you leave to find out how long they will insure your car in the United States. Typically, auto insurance providers will only cover you in the U.S. for up to 6 months. If your snowbird season runs November through April, confirm with your insurer in writing that coverage extends the full trip, and ask specifically about coverage during the transport itself if you’re using a carrier rather than driving.
If You’re Shipping (Not Driving) Your Car Across the Border
Many snowbirds don’t want to drive the car down themselves — they fly, and have the vehicle shipped by an auto transport company instead. If that’s your plan, two documentation details matter more than anything else:
- Owner authorization letter. If you aren’t the one behind the wheel or riding in the truck cab, the driver must be able to produce a copy of an agreement to transport the vehicle, signed by the registered owner, and the driver needs to show the vehicle owner’s signed authorization to enter the United States and drive the vehicle to the destination address.
- Proof of ownership, ready to hand over. Carriers moving vehicles across the Canada-US border as cargo still need a bill of sale or proof of purchase, and title and registration that verifies vehicle ownership for each car on the trailer.
Reputable cross-border transport companies handle the carrier-side customs coordination — the entry documentation CBP typically reviews for Canada-to-USA imports includes CBP Form 7501, a bill of sale (if applicable), and the foreign registration or title — but that paperwork is about the carrier’s cargo manifest, not a personal import declaration for your vehicle. As the vehicle owner, your job is to have your registration, insurance, and signed authorization (if you’re not traveling with the car) ready before pickup.
Best Care Auto Transport: Coordinating Your Snowbird Move South
Best Care Auto Transport works with vetted, FMCSA-licensed carriers experienced in Canada-to-US snowbird routes. We can’t quote cross-border customs duty for you (that depends on your specific situation and should be confirmed with CBP or a licensed customs broker if you’re doing anything beyond a standard temporary personal-use stay), but we can match you with a carrier who already knows the documentation a driver needs at the crossing, help you time your booking around border wait patterns, and keep you updated while your car is in transit. If your situation is unusual — financed vehicle, recent purchase, non-Canadian registration — tell your transport coordinator up front so the right paperwork is lined up before pickup day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay duty to bring my Canadian car to the US for the winter?
No. If it’s your own vehicle, registered and insured in Canada, and you’re bringing it for a temporary personal-use stay rather than permanently importing it, CBP does not charge import duty on that entry.
Do I need an RIV number to ship my car to the US?
No. Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program applies to vehicles being imported into Canada, not vehicles leaving Canada temporarily. You won’t deal with RIV for a snowbird trip south.
How long can I keep my car in the US before I have to bring it home or import it?
Canadian snowbirds can generally keep a car in the US for up to one year at a time on a temporary basis for personal use before needing to either return it to Canada or go through the permanent import process.
Will my Canadian car insurance cover me the whole winter in the US?
Not necessarily. Many Canadian auto insurers only extend US coverage for up to six months, which is shorter than the one-year CBP limit. Confirm your exact coverage window with your insurer before you leave.
What if I’m not driving the car myself — can a shipping company take it across the border for me?
Yes. Auto transport companies regularly move vehicles across the Canada-US border as cargo. You’ll need to provide proof of ownership (registration/title) and, since you won’t be present, a signed authorization letter allowing the driver to transport and cross the border with your vehicle.
Do I need to fill out Form 3299 or Form E-15 at the border?
Not always. Many snowbirds cross without completing these forms and have no issues, but border officers have discretion in how they enforce them, so it’s worth having them filled out in advance if you want to avoid any back-and-forth at the crossing.