So how do you deal with customs when there is no VIN or registration etc?

If I bought something south of the border, how do you get it across?

I've purchased cars down there, but there's the 3-day vin search etc etc.

People must do this all the time?

We have brought a few FV's in the last couple of years into Can. from the U.S. Using a Broker (A&A) is money well spent. The process has changed considerably in the last 5, or even 3 years. If you get ANYTHING wrong on the paper work, doing it yourself, you will surely start the process over again.
I just p/u another from Phoenix on Saturday. On the way down, we were detained for search and questions for about an hour. First time for me, and not a darn thing you can do about. The only thing that really annoyed me was my Timmy's got cold.
3 things: Paper work, Patience, Broker. Priceless. Lots of luck.

Thanks for the details though!

I imported a race car from California last April and all that was needed was a Deed of Sales, original Advert with price of car and proof of payment.

Once they were satisfied that the car could never be made roadworthy, all they wanted was to collect the taxes.

Mike

Just a reminder to EVERYONE that is bringing a purpose built race car BACK into Canada......you MUST possess the ORIGINAL bill of sale to prove that the sale originated in CANADA and it is yours, or if the purchase was in the U.S. you must still have the bill of sale and the necessary import / export papers with it.
It would be in your "best" interest to declare the car before entering the U.S. and I believe the C.B.S.A. form # is E-15. This should make your return into Canada a lot smoother.
I was detained for 2 hours coming back into Canada, last Sunday morning......some say it was rookie day.....it was Mothers day......or it was just really early in the morning. None the less, it was "very informative". I have a lot of respect for these guys and gals, after all, they do wear kevlar vests. But bottom line is....they need to see proof that the vehicle is a CANADIAN vehicle, with all it's pertinent information. Otherwise, the ordeal could ruin a great race weekend just by crossing the border. And that shouldn't happen and can be prevented. Just saying my $.02

The SCCA logbook will have a couple of items which should prove useful:

1) a description of the vehicle with photos
2) there should be, on the last page, a list of owners (assuming that the information has been kept up)
3) If you have a sportsracer or a formula car, you should have received a copy of the SCCA homologation papers which identify the car.

All of the above are useful and helpful along with a signed and dated bill of sale.

Well, you definitely have a problem and I don't have anything further to offer.

Sorry about that.

Thanks Larry,

Bob Williams phoned me and suggested I take the trailer to the Canadian Tire near me (Ironwood Mall in Richmond), since there is an ICBC express office right there.

Mike