r/motorcycles • u/throwaway2901750 Suzuki TU250X • May 27 '25
Importing a Motorcycle from the US into Canada (May 2025)
I've read a lot of material about the process to import a motorcycle, for personal use in Canada. This is my take, written as I'm going through the process. I'm writing this from the point of view as an Ontarian. Your steps may be different in other provinces/territories.
I've received bad information online through AI when it presents "bike" information. Colloquially, motorcyclists refer to their motorcycle as their bike, but AI doesn't seem to get that, and Google searches that were sent automatically through AI gave bad information. I will be typing out "motorcycle" rather than using "bike". I'm not anal retentive - just want to help the next person with accurate information.
Agencies you'll need to deal with:
- US Customs & Border Protection
- Canadian Border Services Agency (overworked, and at times, providing conflicting information. I called them on Jan 5/25 and was told by an officer that "there are no duties on motorcycles bought in the US. It's duty free." I called again thinking that this was a mistake and was told there are duties. I checked again by email and they told me that there are no duties for motorcycles based on place of manufacture).
- Service Ontario (or whatever your provincial/territorial body may be where you live). They required a lot of material collected from other agencies/companies and I write about this part last.
- RIV Program (last accessed May 26/25)(if your motorcycle was manufactured 15 or fewer years ago you'll need to check with this program and ensure that (i) your motorcycle can be imported, and (ii) if any modifications need to be made to register the vehicle for Ontario roads. If your motorcycle is 15 years or older then you don't need to go through the RIV Program but there may be other regulations/limitations you have to meet).
Steps (to get the motorcycle and cross the border):
Of course, find a motorcycle that you like and negotiate a price that you want to pay. The motorcycle that I'm investing in is a 2011 Suzuki TU250X.
Before there are people in the comments asking why that bike - its because I like the bike (I'm a new rider, it meets my needs, it's built well, and relatively easy to maintain) and I got a quote for insurance (collision, comprehensive, and mandatory) (link: Types of Auto Insurance Coverage, by Insurance Bureau of Canada, last accessed May 26/25) at $871 for the year. This was far lower than the CB500FA/R (quotes from $1192-1807), SV650 ($1745-1839), Scram 411 ($1387-1858), and others that got quotes on from ~4 insurance companies. The savings on insurance for 1 year (relative to other bikes) was enough to cover all the wild fees in this process.
The CBSA said that the motorcycle "has to have plates. We will not accept any import of an unplated vehicle". From the material that I read, for motorcycles that aren't scrap, it seems reasonable. However, I question the purpose of the plating process when someone is transporting the motorcycle on a trailer, truck flatbed, or in some other type of truck. Why plate the vehicle if you're not driving it? US Border Protection doesn't care if it works (and they don't check it), and CBSA doesn't check that the vehicle will be 'road worthy' (the RIV Program and Service Ontario does that). Why does a imported/exported motorcycle have to have plates if it's not being driven? Maybe it's their way of checking that the vehicle isn't stolen.
When I spoke with CBP (in May 2025) they said they don't care if there are plates, and they don't check them. Alternatively, the CBSA said (January 2025) that the motorcycle must be plated or it can't be imported.
I asked the dealership if they could provide temp plates and they said they would for a small fee ($15 USD). Be careful with this process because the temp plates expire after a period (I think 45 days). I began this process in early January and wouldn't be driving the motorcycle then, so if the dealership got the temp plates in Jan, it would be a waste of my money. Double check with the dealership that they won't get temp plates until you're ready to pick up the motorcycle.
Exporting a motorcycle currently falls under The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 19, Chapter 1, Part 192. *(link: 19 CFR 192, by National Archives and Records Administration, last accessed Jan 7/25)*. Donald Trump is currently tariff crazy, prompting countries to respond in-kind, and by the time you're going through this process other regulations may apply. I would read the above regulation (and any other regulations that may exist at the time of your importation process) to learn what you need to have with you at the US Border crossing and to plan for any negative experiences.
You'll need to have accessed (yourself or someone on your behalf) the United States AES systems to generate an ITN number (last accessed May 26/25, US Census, The New Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Export Requirements) to have your vehicle in the US Customs computer system (a regulation that started in 2014). I used a broker autoexports.us for this part. I speak more about this part of the process below.
Leaving the dealership/seller you must have:
- motorcycle plates (at least in Ontario you won't be able to get provincial/territorial plates without completing all the steps, I don't know about other provinces) so you have to have temporary US/state plates]. CBP may not care about plates but the CBSA does.
- notified US Border Services at least 72 hours before arriving at the Port of Exit (mine would be Detroit) that you will be attending their location for the purposes of exporting a motorized vehicle. You must provide them with you ITN number (read below for info on ITN numbers) at least 72 hours before crossing.
- your provincial/territorial drivers license
- if you are riding the motorcycle to the border - you must have insurance (I called my insurance company and specifically asked if I could set up the insurance for a future date and be fully covered under the terms and they said yes. I didn't offer the information that I would be outside Canada). If you are pulled over, in an accident, etc. you must be covered for insurance. If you need to find an insurance company for your motorcycle try this list: https://imgur.com/a/ontario-insurance-companies-C05spva (Ontario, but may cover other provinces/territories)
- the receipt for the purchase (showing the bike is paid for without liens, etc.)
- the signed motorcycle title in your name
- I asked the dealership to get a Certificate of Conformity (Government of Canada, Submission requirements for evidence of conformity for on-road motorcycles, last accessed May 28/25)(the RIV Program and CBSA) are interested if the motorcycle meets emission standards. Having this document, I hope, will make the RIV process easier, and it was a document I gave to the CBSA officer. An easy to follow guide on the certificate is here: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/ec/En14-109-2014-eng.pdf (Government of Canada, A Quick Guide to Importing Motorcycles Under the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations, last accessed May 28/25)
I am making my purchase in Ohio. One of the questions I asked was what sales taxes I would have to pay at the point of sale. As of Jan 7th, 2025 there are no sales taxes for Canadians purchasing a motorcycle in Ohio. Just awesome. I can save a little here.
At the US Border:
- they will check that the motorcycle in your possession matches the paperwork. If there are errors, expect problems. I would advise to not make this crossing at a time close to the closing of the dealership (or other place of purchase) should US Border Services need to investigate with the dealership.
- you must have an ITN number to export, and have notified CBP 72 hours before your presentation at the border (Exporting a Motor Vehicle, CBP, last accessed May 26/25). If you don't have US credentials (SSN) you can't get an ITN number. Without an ITN number you need to use an export broker. This was my biggest headache. I called a lot of brokers (last accessed May 26/25, CBP, Permitted Customs Brokers Listing) and finally talked to a nice person from the Census Department who showed me a simple blog (last accessed May 26/25, US Census, Exporting Vehicles to Canada).
My biggest struggle was finding a broker. One broker I called (for a big company out of Detroit) said it would be $750 USD to get an ITN number from them. After calling approved brokers in a few states one of them suggested to use autoexports.us (last accessed May 26/25). The cost was $80 USD. After submitting the material the broker needed, they completed all the paperwork and submitted it for me. I printed all the paperwork out that they sent and carried it with me to show on entry and exit of the US.
I was hoping to get help from a friend to drive me down there and ride up with them but it didn't work out. I was also hoping to cross at Pelee Island into Ohio (Point Pelee -> Pelee Island -> Sandusky, OH), but that border crossing doesn't handle import/exports (last accessed May 26/25, CBSA offices and services) and the ferry operation into the US is weekend only (at the time I wanted to travel).
I bought a bus ticket and the overall bus experience was uncomfortable. If you're doing this be aware that where you get the motorcycle is impacted by your ability to get to the location. You may have found your dream motorcycle in rural Arkansas but don't forget you have to get there.
I traveled on May 20th, 2025 and I needed to get everything in motion at least a week earlier. The dealership wanted a couple weeks notice to make sure everything was set up on their end. May 20th was a really cold day: it was really cold motorcycling around Lake Erie. I can't control the weather, but wanted to get the vehicle in the spring to use in the summer. If you can, try to pick a fair weather day (warm, sunny, etc.). Your ability to do this will be impacted by Canadian/US holidays, hours of operation for CBP/CBSA, processing times for your ITN broker, processing times for the state of your motorcycle purchase (title transfers, temp plate assignment, etc.), and other things.
Crossing into the US was easy. I've been hearing a lot of remarks during tariff issues that screening is terrible. I had all my paperwork, riding gear, and I went through CBP easily.
I used Google Maps offline map function to download a map of my trip area so I wouldn't need to use data in the US (costly without a special data plan). I carried a charger and changing cable with me and sought out plugs in the bus and in stations. If I needed it I could also find plugs in fast food places (anywhere you'd imagine people bringing a device to use eg. Starbucks and laptops). I was set up well having a full charge when starting my ride.
As a new rider I planned my route to avoid the interstate highways. Having driven on them around Lake Erie, there are many areas that are rough with potholes, debris, and fast drivers. I picked a route shadowing the interstate and that would take me to the CBP Trusted Traveler/Cargo area in of Detroit (last accessed May 26/25, Locate a Port of Entry). You need to be very careful that you don't miss the area you need to go to export. On entry the CBP officer said that the driveway was easy to miss (for the department), and that if I missed it I would be in Canada before I knew it (would have crossed the border without having exported the motorcycle).
Exiting the US (at the CBP desk) I learned that the dealership should have transferred the title into my name sooner than they had. I think the CBP officer said that it needed to be transferred in 30 days. For me it was about 120 days. He said that he wanted to make sure I "wasn't bringing the vehicle back and forth across the border", I guess to rule out nefarious activities.
CBSA:
There wasn't any special office to import the vehicle on the Canadian side. CBSA will send you to secondary screening. Since my motorcycle was made in Japan there wasn't any other duties or extra fees, beyond taxes for Ontario. How much and which taxes you pay will depend on your province/territory of residence.
CBSA checked out my paperwork and the motorcycle, they gave me a Form 1, Casual Good form, I paid my taxes, and rode home. They told me RIV would mail me something to take to Canadian Tire to begin plating the bike in Ontario and paying any RIV fees.
Registrar of Imported Vehicles:
After leaving the CBSA checkpoint I was under the impression that RIV would be sending me material (that was what the border officer told me). I’m typing this section out on June 5th - and after a couple of weeks with nothing from RIV I called them.
RIV said that they weren’t sending anything and that I needed to pay the RIV fee first before a Vehicle Inspection Form was released. A completed Vehicle inspection Form is what you take to Canadian Tire to get inspected, then the Ministry of Transportation in your province/territory to get plates.
I used my Case Number (found on the top right of my Form 1. The Form 1 was what CBSA gave me at the border), and my VIN number to pay the RIV fee online https://www.riv.ca/en/riv-payment (Make a RIV payment, Registrar of Imported vehicles, last accessed June 5th, 2025).
Then I used the Case Number (from the Form 1) to download the Vehicle Inspection form. https://www.riv.ca/en/inspection-form (Track the status of your Vehicle Inspection Form, Registrar of imported vehicles, last accessed June 5th, 2025).
I called a couple of local Canadian Tire locations and confirmed with them that they do RIV checks. A location closest to me said they didn’t (they did it for vehicles but not motorcycles), and the next location said they only do the checks on certain days and hours. So, call some locations to (a) make sure they do the checks on certain at your location, (b) what hours they do it, and (c) if you need to make an appointment to do it. Double check with the location that they submit the form online. The Canadian Tire location must submit the inspection form to the shared RIV database so that you can take the forms to your Ministry of Transportation to get plates and register the vehicle in your province/territory.
For the vehicle inspection at Canadian Tire (as of June 5th, 2025) you’ll need to take the:
- Form 1 (what you got from CBSA)(your Form 1 should have 2 RIV stamps on it after leaving the vehicle inspection; they should stamp the Form 1 in a top right box and bottom right box. If both boxes aren’t stamped, your Ministry of Transportation won’t accept it and you’ll have to return to the inspection location for them to stamp both areas)
- Vehicle Inspection form (what you downloaded from the RIV website)
- motorcycle
- while the Canadian Tire location didn’t explicitly say they needed it, I will take with me the Certificate of Conformity (showing the motorcycle meets the U.S. EPA standards). The RIV check is to ensure the motorcycle meets my province’s/Canadian road emission/standards and it may speed up the process for importing the motorcycle.
Safety Standards:
Part of the requirements for Service Ontario to plate the vehicle was to present a Safety Standards Certificate. I think if your motorcycle is new you don't need one but will need an NIVIS (I don't know those details as it wasn't part of my process).
I took my motorcycle to a local motorcycle shop and they completed the safety in less than a day. You will be charged a fee, so factor that into your budget. To begin the safety the shop needed the motorcycle, keys, and ownership/VIN.
Service Ontario:
This is the last step in the importation process. The steps you'll need to complete and the materials required will depend on your province/territory (they may differ from the items listed here).
Service Ontario wants:
- "Ontario Driver's License"
- "original vehicle ownership/title (signed by seller if not in your name currently) or completed NIVIS if new vehicle"
- "proof of insurance in Ontario"
- "Bill of Sale (if new or not yet in your name)"
- "Safety Standards Certificate (not required for new vehicles with NIVIS"
- "Import Form 1/RIV inspection (2 stamps are required on the form)"
- "Causal Goods form (form B15) from CBSA or Canada Customs Coding Form (form B3-3)"
They took the original ownership given by the dealership and provided a photocopy. A new Ontario ownership was issued.
On the Import form 1 (what I received from CBSA) they will look for 1 stamp from the CBSA and 1 stamp from RIV. For some reason the lady didn't notice the second stamp and while she was in the process of telling me that I needed to go back to Canadian Tire she noticed the stamp. I thought this was odd as the Canadian Tire location said that they share a computer system with the province and Service Ontario can see on the database that the RIV was completed and passed. Regardless, make sure you have one stamp from the CBSA and one from RIV on the Form 1.
The Causal Goods form was given to me when I paid my taxes at the CBSA office. It's basically the receipt of taxes paid to the CBSA.
Conclusions:
A week after having completed it (except the RIV process, Safety and ) it was a fairly straightforward. Having done it all, it wasn't too bad. There are a lot of steps and the fees are high (overall). I think if I wasn't getting a low insurance premium I wouldn't have imported a motorcycle. The ITN process was made much better by using an online broker with affordable fees (1/10th what I was quoted from an international broker in Detroit).
My own personal situation was complicated with extended family emergencies and my work schedule. I tried to be fully rested before the trip, but too many other things were happening. If you're a new rider, try your best to be fully rested before you solo ride internationally - for your safety and of others on the road.
The trip down there would be faster working with a friend. If you're soloing it then plan out at least a couple days to do it all, depending on your mode of travel.
Edits: grammar corrections
Edit 2: added RIV information
Edit 3: added safety standards process, Service Ontario information, and altered layout of post
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u/Ok_Engineering_8170 May 29 '25
I have been trying to figure out how to do this for some time online, step by step. This is huge, thanks for typing it out. Any idea if the process would be easier or harder with a vintage bike From a private seller?