Border Crossing Question

H

Hard Idle

Active member
Jan 15, 2005
4,952
21
38
North York
I'd like to consider getting some car repairs done on the other side of Niagara Falls. I have found the parts prices for my vehicle are anywher from 150%-400% higher in Canada.

I haven't gone there since 1991 and don't feel like going through the cost and hassle of obtaining my documents from the government and going through some of the security paranoia at the border which I've heard about from others who have gone recently for the first time in a decade.

I know people who go to NY state regularly and who'd be willing to run the errand for me in exchange for me doing the designated driving to and from NF, (where they can spend the rest of the day at the casino & SC's).

My question is: Can they go across the border in a car that belongs to somebody else without being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle. And do I have to provide a letter or affidavit for it?
 
make sure they have the obvious,insurance,license,ownership and turn them loose.One thing though,make sure they do not have a record of any sort,it may cause them and you grief.If they are asked on the way back if there was any vehicle work done,they must be willing to lie,and make sure there is no paper trail in the vehicle,or on their person.It may be risky if they cave in.A good poker face is needed for sure.
What kind of car is it that the cost is so much here,seems odd there is as much difference as you claim?
 
Hard Idle said:
I'd like to consider getting some car repairs done on the other side of Niagara Falls. I have found the parts prices for my vehicle are anywher from 150%-400% higher in Canada.

I haven't gone there since 1991 and don't feel like going through the cost and hassle of obtaining my documents from the government and going through some of the security paranoia at the border which I've heard about from others who have gone recently for the first time in a decade.

I know people who go to NY state regularly and who'd be willing to run the errand for me in exchange for me doing the designated driving to and from NF, (where they can spend the rest of the day at the casino & SC's).

My question is: Can they go across the border in a car that belongs to somebody else without being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle. And do I have to provide a letter or affidavit for it?
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I would be hesitent on that one. My guess is it woyld raise a flag.
 
It seems like they scan the license plate and look up the owner. I've been asked a couple times "Do you know who owns the car?" I reply "Avis I hope! Or National depending which rental car using. Been getting Avis at huge discount via Priceline last few trips including or end of October.

When they ask purpose of trip just have guy say he is getting car reparied for you in NY. Maybe even give him a letter authorizing him to be driving your car if their is any question. I wouldn't think it would be a problem if honest and have documentation.
 
personally, I would never drive someone elses car ,nor would I let someone else drive my car across the border, unless we were good friends, and we were together.
 
have crossed the border many times in someones else car and never had a problem. as long as drivers has proper id shouldnt be a prob. make sure owership and insurace is in the car Dont mention the car repiars may cause them to send for inspection just to break balls
 
Dave in Phoenix said:
When they ask purpose of trip just have guy say he is getting car reparied for you in NY. Maybe even give him a letter authorizing him to be driving your car if their is any question. .
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Sorry Dave, been laughing at your stuff for a while now "Dave in Phoenix".

Sorry, its too funny......I'll stop laughing soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o
 
Hightop said:
have crossed the border many times in someones else car and never had a problem. as long as drivers has proper id shouldnt be a prob. make sure owership and insurace is in the car Dont mention the car repiars may cause them to send for inspection just to break balls
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Ditto.
 
I've crossed the border many times...

...in my car (US Plates), my car (Canadian Plates), rental cars (US Plates), rental cars (Canadian plates). Dozens of times.

The one time single time I had trouble was when I proudly annouced I was now a permanent resident and whipped out my PR card...only to be asked by the Canadian agent why I was driving a U.S. plated car. When I said "well, its my car...why not" I got a lecture on how as a PR I wasn't allowed to drive a car that was not registered in Canada while in Canada (turns out this is REALLY the law - wife got a tad bit of a lecture from the police when she got rear ended in my U.S. car...interesting law...). I had to go to the "woodshed" and explain myself....took about 30 minutes....but then I drove on...

I have crossed the border many, many times, in various states of legal and illegal condition. I've concluded that the best way to cross hassle free is to

a) Offer up whatever document they might ask you for in the normal course without being prompted. I ALWAYS offer my passport (extend it with my hand). More often than not it never leaves my hand...they never look at it. It just shows I have nothing to hide.


b) Offer as little information as possible without seeming like an ass (the old lawyer trick of answering the question asked - not the question you assume...."Do you know what time it is? Yes I do"...not "5:15pm").


c) Look "sincere". Look them in the eye without staring; resist the urge to cast your gaze a certain way when answering (that whole upper left is truth, lower right is lying thing). Just look natural...like you have nothing to hide or be concerned about. This also ties with b)...answer every question as truthfully as you can, but with as little information as possible. If you don't lie, you don't have to worry about being caught in a lie. "Why are you traveling today? I need to meet someone and conduct a little business" (True). "What type of business? Well, they have automotive knowledge and expertise I need to kinda pick their brain about...I just can't get this thing I am working on done by myself, so I offered to drive over and chat with them about it" (True). "Are you importing any goods? No" (True).

I can't see why there would be a problem unless you create one...
 
I remember being on a trip in the US with my dad. We had to have some emergency work done on the car while down there. When we got to the border the customs guy (after doing the where do you live, what citizenship blah blah) came out with: "Do you have the receipt for the work that was done on your car?"

Now the work that was done was not visible so the only way they could have known about it was for someone to call it in. Either the garage did it, or someone passing by that saw the Canadian plates up on the hoist.

Pretty much convinced me that there's no percentage in lying at the border.


Wierdest question I've ever been asked at the border (going to US): "Who's your prime minister?" Not expecting that question, my brain sorta stuck and my mouth took over and replied "An idiot." Fortunately the guy had a sense of humour and we both had a good laugh before he let me go.
 
Lying is not worth it...

It's always better to just tell the truth... I know from personal experience - good and bad.

If you lie, sure you might get away with it - but you also might get caught. If those "people" catch you lying - believe me they can take it very personally - and make you pay very dearly. Then every time you travel after that you will be "flagged" to be checked.

Every time I travel now I am completely honest and declare everything - and if I am over my allowence I almost never have to pay - and if I do it's usually a lot less then I would owe. One of them told me once - "consider it an honest man's discount".
 
Can you trust you buddy not to carry drugs—for personal or commercial purposes—across in either direction? Cars get confiscated.

Currently the required paperwork is still, as it has been for years, proof of Canadian residence and citizenship, though these days it'd better have your pic on it. The passport requirement you've beeen hearing about is still in the future. But it is an international border, as Americans remember every time it's to their advantage, and crossing is a right only if you're returning to your own country (and can prove it's your country). Get your passport.
 
Moraff said:
I remember being on a trip in the US with my dad. We had to have some emergency work done on the car while down there. When we got to the border the customs guy (after doing the where do you live, what citizenship blah blah) came out with: "Do you have the receipt for the work that was done on your car?"

Now the work that was done was not visible so the only way they could have known about it was for someone to call it in. Either the garage did it, or someone passing by that saw the Canadian plates up on the hoist.

QUOTE]

Unless you left the sticker on the front left fender,the customs agent was fishing,and he caught one.There is no way,ouside of you telling them,that they have access to that info,,,,,,yet!
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Moraff said:
When we got to the border the customs guy... came out with: "Do you have the receipt for the work that was done on your car?"

Now the work that was done was not visible so the only way they could have known about it was for someone to call it in.

Pretty much convinced me that there's no percentage in lying at the border.
.
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Unless you had some receipts lying arounf, I'd say you probably got bluffed by a guy taking a shot in the dark.
 
oldjones said:
Can you trust you buddy not to carry drugs—for personal or commercial purposes—across in either direction? Cars get confiscated.
.
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I am not friends with any such person. The driver in question is a relative who must have crossed the border at least 20 times in the last 3 years for both vacations and visiting NY on business for a major bank. He might also be a honorary member of the Republican caucus, if such an affiliation can be granted to a foreigner. The guy is a major Yank-o-phille, I'm only concerned with the technicality of the vehicle ownership.
 
Face it boys and girls the real question here is why the owner of the car feels they can not cross the border

Smoke and mirrors mean nothing
 
papasmerf said:
Face it boys and girls the real question here is why the owner of the car feels they can not cross the border
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Uh, no - the question was:
Can they go across the border in a car that belongs to somebody else without being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle. And do I have to provide a letter or affidavit for it?
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What you're asking is a different topic, possibly a different thread.

However since you asked:

i) I'm not good at waiting in line-ups, I get VERY stressed. I also tend to clash with authority - and there are no more anal and infuriating powertrippers on the planet than custom's officers.

ii) Lot's of people who look even remotely foreign have been hassled at the border. My co-worker and her American born husband were put through a 2 hour ordeal when going to visit his family because he's an olive-skinned Latino who "looks" Moroccan or Algerian - this was 8 weeks AFTER HE RETURNED FROM SERVING WITH US FORCES YEAR IN IRAQ.

I doubt I'd have a good sense of humour about something like that and it's safe to assume it would be a wasted trip.
 
How about you go for a long weekend...the car gets fixed.

On your way back you tell them your car did break down and was fixed and present a somewhat lower bill for the repairs. No one says you can't get your car fixed. Just get the repair shop to give you a false bill for the lower repair.

It's car stuff..they do this all the time!

M2
 
It is not unknown for customs officials to check for Canadian plates at car repair shops, tire dealers - especially the discounters, shopping centres, and of course gun shows.

In some cases people have been invited in for an interview and shown a video tape of their car up on the hoist.

So here is what you do. If you can save as much money as you claim, why worry about paying the 14 percent federal and provincial taxes when you bring it back in?
 
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