Importing vehicles and e-bikes into Canada
Transport Canada decides which vehicles can enter Canada, and the rules depend on where the vehicle comes from and how old it is. E-bikes follow a different test. Here is how to check before you buy.
- U.S. & MexicoRIV inspection
- Elsewhere15+ years old
- E-bikes≤ 32 km/h off-road style
Customs rules change — confirm with the official sources on this page or with a licensed customs broker before you ship.
Two ways to get this done
Do it yourself
Everything you need is on this page, step by step, from official government sources.
Read the guideLet a broker handle it
A licensed customs broker can clear your vehicles or e-bikes and handle the import forms. Free quote, no commitment.
Get a free quoteIn short
Which rules apply
A vehicle from the United States or Mexico must be on the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) compatibility list, unmodified and free of open recalls, and must pass an RIV inspection within 45 days after import.
Read the details
From other countries, vehicles more than 15 years old (by month and year of manufacture) are exempt from Canada’s safety-standard rules for import. Age-exempt vehicles still go through CBSA checks for ownership, soil and duty — and importing one doesn’t guarantee your province will register it.
E-bikes: since February 4, 2021, the federal “power-assisted bicycle” definition no longer applies. Off-road-style e-bikes designed for 32 km/h or less are non-regulated at import; faster ones, or ones that look like scooters or motorcycles, are assessed as motor vehicles. Provinces decide where e-bikes can be ridden.
Importing a vehicle, step by step
Check eligibility before buying
Look the vehicle up on the RIV compatibility list (U.S. and Mexico) or check its age (other countries) before you pay. Estimate the cost of any required modifications.
Clear recalls and export
Make sure there are no open recalls, and report the vehicle to U.S. or Mexican customs for export if required.
Fill in Form 1
Fill in the Vehicle Import Form (Form 1) on the RIV site, print it and hand it to the border officer — it can’t be submitted online.
Pay duty and taxes
Pay the duty and taxes at the border, where they apply.
Pass the RIV inspection
Take the vehicle to an RIV inspection within 45 days (one year for salvage vehicles). A vehicle that fails must be exported, even after you paid duty and taxes.
E-bikes: check speed and design
For e-bikes, check the design speed and features against Transport Canada’s test, then the rules of the provinces where you’ll sell them.
Which rule applies
From Transport Canada’s importing-a-vehicle pages.
- Car or truck from the U.S. or Mexico
- RIV compatibility list, Form 1, RIV inspection within 45 days
- Vehicle from another country, more than 15 years old
- Exempt from safety-standard import rules; CBSA requirements still apply
- Vehicle from another country, newer
- Must meet Canada’s safety standards — usually not admissible
- E-bike, off-road style, 32 km/h or less
- Non-regulated at import; provincial rules for use
- E-bike over 32 km/h, or scooter- or motorcycle-like
- Assessed as a motor vehicle class
A modified vehicle won’t qualify
Transport Canada says a vehicle modified from its original state will not qualify for import — including a Canadian-owned vehicle modified abroad. And a vehicle that fails the RIV inspection must leave Canada, even though the duty and taxes are already paid.
Common questions
Can I import a car from Japan or Europe?
Only if it is more than 15 years old, or if it meets Canada’s safety standards — newer vehicles from outside the U.S. and Mexico are usually not admissible.
Do I pay duty on a car from the United States?
Duty depends on the vehicle’s origin: a vehicle that qualifies under CUSMA can enter duty-free, others pay duty. GST applies either way.
Do e-bikes need Transport Canada approval?
Not if they are off-road-style and designed for 32 km/h or less — those are non-regulated at import. Faster or scooter-like models are treated as motor vehicles. Provincial rules on use still apply.
Can a broker import vehicles for my business?
Yes. A customs broker can handle the CBSA side, the Form 1 and the RIV paperwork. Get a broker quote.
Check where you stand
See which import requirements apply to your shipments.
Keep reading
The next steps most people take from here.
Importing
The whole path to importing commercial goods into Canada, in order.
Read →Do I need a customs broker?
No law requires one. What a licensed broker does, and what importing on your own involves.
Read →Import readiness
Check your import readiness: CARM, RPP security, classification, permits.
Read →Get a quote
Describe your shipments and we will connect you with a licensed customs broker.
Read →