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THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE - TRANSPORT CANADA AND THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES DOES NOT GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY – Feb/10/2012 Edition

SECTION 1 - THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES (RIV)

On April 12, 1995, a new Motor Vehicle Safety Act and revised Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations were proclaimed. The new Act allows vehicles originally manufactured in compliance with U.S. laws for the U.S. market to be imported into Canada, provided they comply at the time of main assembly with mandatory Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSSs), such as CMVSS 210 - Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. The new legislation makes it possible for a vehicle to be modified in certain areas (child restraint tether anchorages, daytime running lights, and some labeling requirements).

To carry out the task of monitoring the importation of vehicles purchased at the retail level in the U.S., Transport Canada has contracted a company called the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) to establish and operate a system of inspection and compliance confirmation of imported vehicles. The program is a controlled process of federal registration, inspection and verification to ensure that a U.S. specification vehicle is confirmed compliant to all CMVSSs prior to provincial/territorial licensing and registration in Canada.

Some of the benefits of this program to Canadians are to:
- ensure the safety of vehicles on Canadian roads;
- allow vehicles that do not meet Canadian safety standards, in such areas as, daytime running lights, child restraint tether anchorages, and some labeling requirements, to be modified after they enter Canada;
- assist importers through a support system, including a
toll free bilingual public response service (1-888-848-8240);
- assist the Government of Canada to develop and maintain an accurate and comprehensive data base on such importations;
- assist Transport Canada in its enforcement efforts; and
- assist provinces and territories to enable checks of vehicles prior to licensing and registration in Canada, in compliance to federal safety standards.

Upon arrival at the border, importers must produce the vehicle's title, documents related to its purchase and a valid driver's license or passport.

There must be evidence - a Statement of Compliance (SOC) label or a manufacturer's letter - stating that the vehicle was built to comply, and complied to U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) at the time of main assembly. Importers must have the means of paying the RIV fees, customs charges and applicable taxes by Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, certified cheque or money order. A confirmation that there are no outstanding recalls on a vehicle or proof that the recall work has already been completed in the U.S. must be sent to the RIV as soon as possible before, during or after importation. To verify what types of confirmation of no outstanding recalls are accepted by the RIV, please visit their Web site at: http://www.riv.ca/english/html/recall_clearance.html. Send your confirmation of no outstanding recalls to the RIV by e-mail at recall@support.riv.ca, or by fax at 1-888-642-9899, or mail to 405 The West Mall, Toronto ON M9C 5K7.

The Registrar's fee is $195.00 Cdn (plus GST/HST) at Designated Ports and at Non-Designated Ports, in all provinces except Quebec, where the fee is $195.00 Cdn (plus GST and QST). A list of Designated Ports follows this section. The importer is responsible for the actual costs of modifying the vehicle. There are also fees and charges resulting from failure to pass the initial inspection within 45 days.

DESIGNATED CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY OFFICES (PORT #)

ATLANTIC REGION Bathurst, NB (201) Clair, NB (216) Edmundston, NB (213) Gillespie Portage, NB (219) Grand Falls, NB (217) St. Leonard, NB (218) St. Stephen, NB (211) Woodstock, NB (212)	QUEBEC REGION Armstrong, QC (329) Lacolle, QC (351) Rock Island, QC (314) St-Armand-Philipsburg, QC (328) Stanhope, QC (354)	NORTHERN ONTARIO REGION Cornwall, ON (409) Fort Frances, ON (478) Lansdowne, ON (456) Pigeon River, ON (475) Prescott, ON (439) Rainy River, ON (488) Sault-Sainte-Marie, ON (441)
SOUTHERN ONTARIO REGION Fort Erie, ON (410) Niagara Falls Queenston Bridge, ON (427) Sarnia, ON (440) Windsor, ON Ambassador Bridge (453) Windsor-Detroit Tunnel (452)	PRAIRIE REGION Boissevain, MB (507) Emerson, MB (502) Sprague, MB (505) Climax, SK (619) North Portal, SK (602) Regway, SK (607) Coutts, AB (705)	PACIFIC REGION Huntington, BC (817) Kingsgate, BC (818) Osoyoos, BC (819) Pacific Highway, BC (813)

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