You may drive your Canadian car with a U.S. licence only while the car is lawfully imported, registered and insured; the licence alone is not enough, and Ontario/B.C. sellers do not need to keep Canadian driving privileges just to transfer ownership.

Temporary importation by non-U.S. residents

Nonresidents of the U.S. (including U.S. citizens living abroad) may temporarily import nonconforming motor vehicles into the U.S. for personal use, for a period not to exceed one year. The vehicle must be registered in a country other than the U.S. at the time of entry, must not be sold while it is in the U.S., and must be exported when the year is up. If you wish to import your vehicle under these conditions, you should check Box 5 on the HS-7 Declaration Form to be given to Customs at the time of entry.

Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards; Documentation

Importers of motor vehicles must file form HS-7 at the time of vehicle is imported to declare whether the vehicle complies with DOT requirements. As a general rule, motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in order to be imported permanently into the United States. A vehicle must be imported as a nonconforming vehicle unless it bears the manufacturer's label certifying that it meets U.S. standards. If it is a nonconforming vehicle, the importer must contract with a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS. You will also be required to complete EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7, declaring the emissions and safety provisions under which the vehicle is being imported.

Use EPA Standard Form 3520-1 (pdf) (285.93 KB, August 2024) to import passenger vehicles, highway motorcycles, and the corresponding engines into the United States.

Vehicles

If you bring a vehicle into California that was previously registered in another state or country, you must register it within 20 days of becoming a resident or bringing it into the state.

You have 30 days from the time you move here to register your vehicle in the state. New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state.

§§1.2 and 1.4.1, pages 2 and 4

This policy covers you and other insured persons for incidents occurring in Canada, the United States of America and any other jurisdiction designated in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, and on a vessel travelling between ports of those countries. All of the dollar limits described in this policy are in Canadian funds. You agree to notify us promptly in writing of any significant change of which you are aware in your status as a driver, owner or lessee of a described automobile. You also agree to let us know of any change that might increase the risk of an incident or affect our willingness to insure you at current rates. You must promptly tell us of any change in information supplied in your original application for insurance, such as additional drivers, or a change in the way a described automobile is used.

Statutory Condition 1(1)

The insured named in this contract shall promptly notify the insurer or its local agent in writing of any change in the risk material to the contract and within the insured’s knowledge.

You're covered in Canada and the U.S. on vacation

Your Autoplan insurance covers you anywhere in Canada and the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. But it’s important to check with the place you’re visiting to make sure you’re complying with its registration requirements. You’ll need to change your insurance policy if that jurisdiction requires you to register or licence your vehicle there, even if you’re on vacation. Also, if your vehicle is outside of B.C. and it won't be operated in B.C. at any point during your insurance policy period, then you will need to register, licence and insure your vehicle where you're living or visiting.

Sell a used vehicle; Register a used vehicle

When you sell your vehicle, you need to give the buyer: the Used Vehicle Information Package ( UVIP ); a signed Bill of Sale with your name, the buyer’s name and address, the date and purchase price; a completed and signed Application for Transfer — this is found on the back of an ownership permit, under the vehicle portion; a certificate that verifies the vehicle meets safety standards (if required). To register the vehicle, you need to visit a ServiceOntario centre and bring the following: proof of insurance; your Ontario Driver’s Licence.

Transfer ownership; Complete the sale

To officially transfer ownership, you'll need to provide the following to an Autoplan broker: Your original signed insurance and vehicle registration. The insurance and registration are actually two parts of the same document (APV250). You need both parts. A Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T) … all four pages must be complete and original signatures are still required. Remove your licence plates from the vehicle you're selling. Remove your insurance and registration. After you've been paid, fill out and sign the Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T) in full if you haven’t already. Bring the registration and Transfer/Tax Form to an Autoplan broker.

Requirements; How to Exchange

You must exchange your out-of-state driver license (from another U.S. state or territory, a federal district, or a Canadian province) within 30 days of becoming a resident of New York. You will need to: pass a vision test at the DMV or bring a completed Eye Test Report (PDF) (MV-619); bring and surrender your out-of-state license.