Hot Rods Bringing Anglia from Canada to US

I have found some older threads, but wondering if anyone had brought a hot rod across recently. I am wanting to purchase a 51 Anglia and bring it on a trailer across Ambassador Bridge crossing in Detroit. Not sure what the requirements are or if it's simple or a big hassle. I am 800 miles away in GA and don't want to get there and find out it will be a problem. Any helpful insight will be greatly appreciated

 

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

 

I brought back a `32 5 window body through that same crossing in 2006, with out any taxes involved,
but that was before a passport was not even required. Maybe to be extra safe you can have the seller bring it across to you. and load it onto your trailer in the USA.

 

Have the Seller meet you at a location
on the US side of the border to take
delivery after you check with your
DMV to see exactly what is required
to title and/or register the vehicle
where you intend to use it.

Jim

 

If it was manufactured in the U.S. you fill out 3 forms and just bring it through after they x-ray your tow vehicle and trailer/car.
Make sure you check to make sure you have everything you need to get into Canada with the current affairs

 

That is the wrong way to do it.

 

I was told by US Customs that the purchaser has to import the vehicle, Canadian can not bring it across. Not sure if they can drive together across border, didn't ask.
This was conversation with US Customs in July 2024.

 

I really don't think Anglias (Ford of UK) were EVER made in the states....

 

Engine or no engine? Year of engine? If it has a pre smog era engine and you have documentation as to exactly what the engine left the factory in that helps. Smog era engines in a hot rod with no smog equipment on them might get some inspector's undies in a knot.

Clean title in seller's name With a notarized bill of sale.
This shows a couple of forms you have to fill out

To import a motor vehicle into the U.S., you'll need to complete and submit the EPA Standard Form 3520-1 (Declaration Form - Importation of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Engines Subject to Federal Air Pollution Standards), and the DOT HS-7 Declaration Form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Here's a breakdown of the forms and process:

1. EPA Standard Form 3520-1:

• Purpose:
  This form is used to declare the emissions and safety provisions under which the vehicle is being imported.
• Where to find it:
  You can download it from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.
• Important Note:
  If the vehicle doesn't meet all U.S. emission requirements and isn't eligible for an exemption, it must be imported through an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI).
• Offroad vehicles/engines and heavy-duty engines must use form 3520-21
  

2. DOT HS-7 Declaration Form:

• Purpose: This form is used to declare the safety provisions under which the vehicle is being imported.
• Where to find it: You can download it from the Department of Transportation (DOT) website.
• Important Note: You must file this form at the time the vehicle is imported.

 

Wow! There have been a few cars that I have considered buying that were in Canada. Never quite realized just what a hassle the transfer would be.

 

If you get into a jackpot, I am on the Canadian side about 45 minutes from the border if you need a place to keep it while things get sorted out. Hopefully the seller will support you. My only experience is moving things the other way in less turbulent times.

 

Requiring that the Seller meet you on
the US side of the border ensures the
vehicle can legally be exported from
Canada and imported into the states.

Any international seller of a vehicle
expressly intended to be imported
into the states by a prospective buyer
who resides in the states should have
no issue with doing that - if they do
then they should sell it locally.


Jim

 

Call the boarder and ask them, then you won’t have to guess. People do it all the time

 

It's really not a hassle as long as you do your homework on what's needed to bring it back. I bought my Henry J in Canada, like I said it was 3 forms and the drive through x-ray, took about an hour total, no duty paid. You can cross at any border crossing but if you use one that's familiar with the forms you could probably do it in 30 minutes.
There's 3-4 border crossings in my area, I chose the Peace Bridge because it was a straight shot to my house, they tried diverting me over to Lewiston because they get the majority of car imports. I had done my homework and it states any border crossing so they had to find someone that was familiar with the forms and how to fill them out.

 

It's not really a hassle, you just have to plan ahead and have the proper paperwork. I know going from US to Canada you have to send the paperwork at least 3 days in advance and only certain border crossings can handle it.

Did you think you could just drive it across?

As long as you follow the procedures they lay out it's not really a hassle.

 

As far as I'm aware that's not the legal method of importing the vehicle. I thought the buyer or someone on their behalf had to bring it across.l the border.

People I know that have done what you uggest going the other direction have had to take the car back out of the country.

 

Some good advice here, mainly to educate yourself on the paperwork. Any official wants the red tape.
I'll also mention the current affairs are going to make international transfer or contacting officials more challenging. I'll stop there.

It will depend on what you are dragging back too. A show winning, chromed out, obviously valuable car is going to get more scrutiny than a rusty engineless, wheelless hulk, although both are a serialized vehicle, so will get a minimum level of interest.

As far as the emissions, that along with safety and other EPA and DOT stuff should be fairly easy to bypass, since an Anglia is obviously more than 25 years old and older than emissions standards. Still, have the paper with those exemptions in hand.

I wish you much luck on this. I hope you report back Great Success!

 

I imported a vehicle from Japan once. The paperwork is the same from Canada or Mexico. Bottom line is as long as as the engine is at least 21 years old and the car is 25 years old, than it is considered exempt…. I’ve heard of people just crossing the border from Canada and not getting hassled but i wouldn’t do it without the right forms at this point in time.


I’ve only done it once for a reason

 

bump

 

Hope you don't get the guy I had crossing into Canada several years ago.
I was directed to a building where they came out and removed everything from my car as well as the trunk and removed all the panels from the trunk. Left everything on the ground around my car and walked away with "have a good day"

 

Like airport customs

 

I got that guy once at the Peace Bridge, just like you said tore my car apart and left. That happened only once in many border crossings and I happened to be crossing 4 times over a long weekend, I've had other searches but not to that extreme

 

I tried calling for two days and got busy signal after busy signal. Seller in Canada was also calling repeatedly getting the same results.

 

that happened to me back in 2017. I bought a’34 ford phaeton I saw in a post here. I got a couple friends to travel with me in December trading off driving in blizzard conditions about half the 43 hours of nonstop driving to Ontario. We went through the Port Huron crossing both directions and on the way home it took us about 10 minutes to get through the toll bridge and border crossing and into the Cracker Barrel parking lot for some lunch. I had the Ontario registration/title and bill of sale and the border agent just shook his head and waved me through. To be clear, this was a non running project car. When I got home and went to get my Washington title I found this out. I was told I had to take it through customs and Fortunately I’m about an hour and a half from the border. I went up there and through the return to US route and directly into the customs office. I had a great customs agent and was out of there in about 30 minutes. I was up there with one of my friends that was with me to haul a 35 sedan in 2018 as a payback for that miserable trip and when we went into the Canadian customs office to declare the cash he had with him, they acted like nobody knew what to do. They finally just told us to go after about an hour of running him around. As always your results may vary…

 

Update On Anglia Border Crossing. Found forms needed in internet HS7, 3520-1, 7501. Called Ambassador bridge contact number for two days only getting busy signals. Canadian seller was also trying to call with same results. Decided to make the 800 mile drive. Anglia owner came across and picked me up at my hotel in his car and we went over the bridge into Canada to check out the car. Told the American side what we were doing and why I had a large amount of cash. After verifying with my bank that I had made the withdrawal the day before, we were on our way into Canada. Once more we explained what we were doing and how much cash I was bringing over for the purchase. After viewing the car and making the deal we hope in the seller's truck with enclosed trailer and my new car. Canadian side, no problem, American side not so much. Explained again what we were doing and were instructed to pull into inspection area where we were told to leave everything in truck and go inside to meet with border agents. We had Canadian registration and bill of sell along with our three required forms and were expecting to pay the 2.5% on the purchase and be on our way. After giving agent Gunlock( yep that's his real name) the documentation we were instructed to have a seat and would be called. When were called up to the counter I was first fingerprinted and told to have a seat again. When called up again we were told it didn't meet requirements of Form 3520-a because it was modified from original. Even though car met the exemption, because the engine was not original it would have to meet current EPA requirements. He was pretty cool and gave us a number for someone at the EPA to call to see what we could do about this. We turned around and back to Canada with our rejection form. Explaining again to Canada agents what was going on. Called the number given and actually got an answer from a human being. Explained the situation and was told an update bulletin had been sent out exempting 25 year and older if engine was manufactured before 1968. We asked him to send this in an email for us to have for the border agents to view. We took photos of engine id showing casting date. Back to the border we go, explaining to the Canadians what we were doing, then to the US agents. At first contact the agent in the booth said you were rejected an hour ago, what has changed. We explained and off to the inspection area we go with our EPA exemption. Again told to leave everything in the truck and head inside. We told agent that the EPA e-mail was on the phone and he said he would bring the phone inside. Had a seat again and waited. Officer brought phone inside to us. When called to counter a different Agent told us the same engine replaced requirement as before. We then showed him the EPA exemption bulletin e-mail which seemed to upset him. I told him it was a Hot Rod and he said I know I saw it. He again told us to have a seat and took the phone back to his desk. After about 30 minutes he called us back up and told us we would need to contact NHTSA by writing or e-mail and get a NHTSA form and DOT form from them Never actually told us what the issue with the car was or what did not meet US Standards, just that we needed to get more forms. Did not tell us what forms, just to contact NHTSA. At this point we are not even sure what we need to ask NHTSA for. So back to Canada we go. The seller returned my money and back across the bridge explaining to both sides why we were crossing again. This time because of the amount of cash I was bringing back, we got to stand in the cold wind for about 15 minutes while US Agents went through seller's car. This time they did let me keep my money with me while they did their search. This saga lasted from 9am to 3:45 pm. This is a super nice car that just won Pro Street division at the Detroit Autorama a few weeks ago. Just be forewarned that if the Border Agent doesn't agree with your idea of a Street Car he is judge, jury and executioner. Sorry about the long post but I am still suffering from a 1600 mile drive to not get a car.

 

Damn, that sucks! I hope you have all the agent's names and ID, to file a complaint.
I realize security is important, but if they cite requirements, they better have all the info to comply.
I'd be annoyed about them searching everything repeatedly, too. I get that they don't want to educate smuggler's where they look, but that search without your presence is how stuff goes missing or planted.
The one time I got sent to secondary at Tijuana (dead battery from start/stop in line) they required a search, but did it with me there. Empty shell of a car, 2 seats, nor other interior back to the tail lights!

 

Exactly why I don't cross the border any more... too many bad experiences going both ways. It's not as casual as it was 60 years ago.

 

Sometimes its worth the money to use a commercial hauler.They email you some forms to fill out and other than that they handle everything,door to door service