Vehicles
Bring a car from Canada to the U.S.: auction cars, PAPS and customs
You bought a car in Canada, often at an auction, and you want to drive or tow it into the United States. This guide gives the U.S. steps in order, with a real case from November 2026.
Can the car come into the United States?
- Safety (NHTSA): a car at least 25 years old on the import date, counted from its date of manufacture, enters under HS-7 box 1. A newer car must meet the U.S. safety standards or be eligible for import through an NHTSA Registered Importer. We check this before you buy.
- Emissions (EPA): code E on EPA Form 3520-1 applies to a car at least 21 years old in its original configuration. A replaced engine must meet the EPA rules. A newer car needs a U.S. EPA label or another EPA code.
- Title: you need the title or registration, and the bill of sale from the seller or the auction.
Check before you buy
A car that cannot meet the U.S. rules can be refused at the border. Check the year, the labels and the market of the car before you pay.
What duty does the car pay?
The duty depends on where the car was made, not where you bought it. A car made in Italy and bought in Canada pays the duty for Italy. We find the customs value from the sale documents and the valuation rules. Send the full auction invoice, with the buyer fees and the Canadian taxes shown.
What does Canada require when the car leaves?
Under CBSA Memorandum D20-1-1, a vehicle that goes permanently to the United States needs no Canadian export declaration. Keep the documents that show the VIN. The CBSA can ask to see them.
What are the U.S. steps at the border?
- Choose the transport: a carrier with its own PAPS, or your own truck and trailer.
- Without a carrier, request a same-day PAPS and clearance. We file the ACE eManifest and give you the PAPS number.
- The importer signs a customs power of attorney, and we check the importer number at CBP.
- We arrange the customs bond, and file the entry with the HS-7 and EPA data.
- The driver arrives with the barcode sheet, and CBP releases the car.
- We send you the entry summary (CBP Form 7501) for the state title office.
What did a real case look like?
On November 9, 2026, a buyer brought a classic Italian sports car from a Montreal auction to Champlain, New York, on a rental car trailer. The importer had no customs bond. Allied filed the PAPS, the bond and the entry on the same day:
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| 9:02 AM | PAPS (ACE eManifest) accepted by CBP |
| 12:26 PM | Continuous customs bond issued |
| 1:32 PM | Customs entry accepted; the NHTSA and EPA messages said "may proceed" |
| About 6:00 PM | Truck at the border with the barcode sheet |
Questions
Can I drive the car across instead of towing it?
Often yes, if the car is registered, insured and eligible for import. The filings depend on the use: tell us if the car is for personal use or for resale, and if you drive or tow it. We then tell you which filings CBP needs.
Does the car need a customs bond?
Most car entries need a bond. If the importer has no continuous bond, we arrange a single transaction bond or a continuous bond through a surety.
What does the state title office need?
Most states ask for the entry summary (CBP Form 7501), often with the CBP stamp, and the HS-7 and EPA forms. We send them after release.
Bought a car in Canada?
Send the year, the make, the VIN, the price and your border crossing. We check the rules and file the PAPS and the entry.