Canadian-US Customs, engines

[erice1984]

Anyone ever imported a canadian engine into the US?  Particularly the AAZ motor?

I am trying to figure out if it will get through, how easily it will get through, and what kind of fees we may be talking about.

Thanks
-Eric

[theman53]

I have  a short block. No customs stuff needed for me, but I didn't take them across. I THINK from what I have heard if it is parts and not an entire car you should be ok.

[erice1984]

I read in some Customs EPA thing found here: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/ and the exact document here: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/420b10028.pdf

Pretty much says if it is not installed in a car the EPA doesn't care, for what we would be using the engine for.  Some other uses are not approved and would be in violation.

3.2 Engines Not in a Vehicle or Chassis

EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, medium duty passenger vehicles (MDPVs), chassis-certified HDVs, and motorcycles. If an engine is not installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an automotive part. Anyone may import a non-chassis-mounted light-duty engine for use in a motor vehicle which is currently covered by an EPA certificate or will be covered by an E PA certificate prior to introduction into commerce. No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA. However, importers should be aware that several engine uses are violations of the Clean Air Act:
●
Mounting an engine to a chassis to "manufacture" a vehicle without proper certification of conformity from EPA;
●
Mounting a non-identical engine to a certified vehicle; and
●
Importing an engine for use in an engine-certified heavy-duty vehicle or heavy-duty tru ck without a proper label indicating that it is covered under a certificate of conformity, or was built prior to 1970, or is otherwis e excluded or exempted.
To import an engine for use in a car, light truck, MDPV, ch assis-certified HDV, or motorcycle, the importer must file with Customs, upon entry, an EPA Form 3520-1 and declare code "W" on the form. For an engine-certified "heavy-duty vehicle" or "heavy-duty truck," EPA regulates the engine, whether or not it is installed. EPA considers a vehicle or truck "heavy" if it has a gross vehicle weight rating of m ore than 8,500 pounds, or a curb weight of more than 6,000 pounds. To be imported, such an engine must be either excluded, exempted, covered by an EPA certificate of conformity, or imported by an ICI. Note that EPA Form 3520-21 is used to import heavy duty highway engines.

[erice1984]

I haven't found any definitive information on taxes that may apply, but from my understanding is if the total price was under $400 dollars it is tax exempt because of some $400 dollar tax exemption for returning citizens.

Still need more information on that.

[catlin_cava]

Get the receipt to say VW 1.9 Industrial motors and have them all torn apart and you shouldn't have problems...Trust me on this

[the caveman]

I had to fill out all kind of EPA forms to send a complete engine on a pallet by a trucking company. If it's in pieces it can be shipped by UPS etc without any issues except normal tax and duty

[erice1984]

I will be "walking" the parts over the border.

I am trying to find some kind of proof that gives tax exempt or anything like that.  I don't want to disassemble the engine to claim it as "industrial engine"

I keep seeing NAFTA pop up, the North American Free Trade Agreement.

[erice1984]

More Information

www.cbp.gov - Customs Border Protection Agency Website

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/duty_free_reduced_rates.xml

Duty-Free or Reduced Rates

(08/21/2009)Items from Certain Countries
The United States gives duty preferences—that is, free or reduced rates—to certain developing countries under a trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they come from a GSP country. (For details on this program, as well as the complete list of GSP countries, please look for it on the CBP Web site.

Similarly:

    * Many products of Caribbean and Andean countries are exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin Initiative, Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
    * Many products of certain sub-Saharan African countries are exempt from duty under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
    * Most products of Israel, Jordan, Chile and Singapore may also enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free trade agreements with those countries. Check CBP.gov for details on these programs.
    * The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico, your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Additional information on these programs can be found on the CBP Web site. ( Special Trade Programs )

Household Effects
Household effects are duty-free. These include such items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments.

You may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if:

    * You used them for at least one year while you were abroad.
    * They are not intended for anyone else or for sale.

Clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age. All vehicles are dutiable.

This line;

   * The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico, your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

The engine was manufacturer in Canada, am I correct?  or did it originate from Germany.  At any rate I think it would have to be declared by the manufacturer that it was in fact manufactured in Canada.

The engine and vehicle in its entirety were assembled in Mexico.  Mexico is part of NAFTA.

[erice1984]

Get the receipt to say VW 1.9 Industrial motors and have them all torn apart and you shouldn't have problems...Trust me on this

How far disassembled?

[erice1984]

Webpage
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm

Document
http://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/1100c87.pdf

On page 9

This is for purchasing complete automobiles.  There are several pages later that discuss taxes on specific parts but I have yet to figure out which one is an engine by their wording.

8703 (con.)
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading 8702), including station wagons and racing cars (con.):
  Other vehicles, with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel):

8703.31.00
  00 Of a cylinder capacity not exceeding 1,500 cc . . . . . No
  2.5%
  Free (A+,AU,B,BH, CA,CL,D,E,IL,J, JO,MA,MX,OM,P, PE,SG)
  10%

8703.32.00
  Of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1,500 cc but not exceeding 2,500 cc
  2.5%
  Free (A+,AU,B,BH, CA,CL,D,E,IL,J, JO,MA,MX,OM,P, PE,SG)
  10%

Under Rates of Duty
Here you see "General," "Special," and "2"

General means any country that doesn't have restricted trade, and isn't listen under the "Special" column.
This is the tax that is applied, in the case of these engines, 2.5%

Special means any country that is listed, by country code, and describes the taxes charged.
In this case, Country code "CA," Canada has Free, meaning to me, that no tax is charged

The 2 column is the tax imposed on restricted trade countries, places like N. Korea (I guess)


So this is where I think it is.




I believe this is why catlin says this works.  I have not found any tariff on a complete engine.  I have found that EPA documents will need to be filled out for a complete engine.  From the screen shot of this document it shows that if the engine is defined as "parts"  no EPA documents are needed and no taxes apply.

[macka]

so get a receipt for 100 dollars as an "as is where is" piece

[erice1984]

so get a receipt for 100 dollars as an "as is where is" piece

Not sure what you mean by "as is where is"

I figured it out by using the almighty Google.

[Baron VonZeppelin]

I went up to Markham Ontario this past summer, and brought back a complete 1985 1.6TD engine/tranny package. Plus a later 80's TD longblock, and some miscellaneous mk2 pieces.

No Probo's coming back across border.
Took about 2-3 minutes.
I had buyer/seller receipts, and VIN #s from both cars, they never asked to see any of it - nor asked any questions at all. No fees.

Taking things INTO Canada could be different.

Getting into Canada was the only tough part for me.
Border Patrols are fiesty at 2am.
Spent about 2 hours with them.

FWIW:
Road speeds are posted in Kilometers - so be mindful.
NO cell phone use while driving.
Diesel fueling stations were scarce.
NO alcohol sold at convenience stores.
Traffic is impossible to bear in the morning and afternoon - "rush hour" lasts about 3 hours both times. Standstills mostly.

[erice1984]

Gotcha, I think I will take my chances and just go through.  I am passing through at Port Huron so hopefully there won't be much traffic.  Also about 3-4pm local time.

[Runt]

I've only done it from the US into canada, but under nafta, it should be the same both ways.
I was told USED auto parts are duty free.  I have had boxes of used auto parts, declared them as such, never had a problem.  I would not refer to it as an engine, just as used auto parts, unless they ask specifically what parts.
Good luck.