I may be moving next summer from Ringgold, Ga to Vancouver, BC. My 87 Formula will never pass an emissions inspection again, which is fine in Ringgold because they don't require the test here. But what about Vancouver? I have read a lot on the government sites about bringing a car from US to Canada but I keep getting the run around on what is required and what isn't.

Has anyone here brought a third gen from the US to Canada? Into Vancouver or any other part? Do I need to change anything on the car? Is an emissions inspection required? What was your experience like?

bump

Don't take my word for it here, because its been a long time since I checked, but since all 3rdgens are now over 15 years old, they can be brought in under 'antique' status or something like that - which makes them emissions exempt in that they don't have to pass a sniffer test or a visual of the emissions system.

IIRC, basically they only have to pass a legal safety inspection to be able to be registered. Thats the case here in SK anyway.

I'm pretty sure 25 years and unmodified is the requirement for antique status. I'd assume the out of country requirements for a vehicle would be about the same as an out of province, which is stupidly strict in Alberta (I've heard of new vehicles failing because of a spot of oil underneath), although there's no emissions testing here. I couldn't say for certain whether there is emissions testing in BC.

Welcome to the bureaucracy. I know Revenue Canada has a pamplet at their border crossings. I'll try to get one today. I looked on their web site but it's a mess. As far as I know in Ontario '87 is the first year no smog test is required. I don't know about BC. You'll have to do some searching on the BC Ministry of the environment site.

Your best bet is to call a "Canadian Tire" store and talk to the guys in automotive. Around here they do the safety & e-tests for guys bringing in cars from the US. They'll be able to tell you what you need to do.

think im taking mine to MA and worry about the same thing.

its not very earth friendly =]

I'm sure it was 15 years old, just not sure on the terminology... because thats what lead to the massive importing of all the RHD cars from Japan (Sylines, 300ZX, etc) over the last couple of years - the fact that they only really had to pass a basic safety inspection to make them legal here.

In ontario it's 20 years to be exempt from emissions and 25 to be historic.

It appears this is their website and req's:

http://www.aircare.ca/inspinfo-overview.php

Further browsing revealed:

and

So they are stricter than Ontario, most don't even do a visual here.

Good to know, thanks. I have a cousin who lives somewhere in canada, he once had a '79 Trans Am, and now likes my '84 Trans Am.

I contacted some place (don't remember the name) that has all the information on this. In BC if a car is 15 years old or older it does not need any modifications or emissions inspection. Just bring it in and have the safety inspection done.

Hm....I used to live near Vancouver (Now live on Vancouver island which has no emissions testing.) and can assure you that isn't how it is.

From the Aircare website:

All that is information directly from Aircare (Emissions testing) and ICBC (The one and only car insurance company in BC.)


You'll need to make your car pass aircare once if you want to get it insured and that's with collector plates meaning you can't drive your car to work/school, only for pleasure. You'll also need to wait until 2012 before you can get Collector plates. You can always get temp tags but it really wouldn't work in the long run.