You've spotted the perfect motorcycle camper or cargo trailer and you'd like to add it to your garage. But it's in the U.S. and you're in the beautiful Great White North. So what do you need to do to get it across the border? And what will it cost?
Let's break it down. To get a camper or trailer from the factory to you, you'll pay:
- Crating and shipping costs
- Customs brokerage fee
- Provincial taxes
- A trailer import fee
Shipping Costs
Considering the vast expanse that is the Great White North, shipping expenses can vary a lot. One obvious factor is distance, but a more important factor is manufacturer volume.
Here's a recent example. I recently shipped a Time Out camper to Edmonton, Alberta for $350 USD. That's not a bad rate when you consider the distances involved. However, a recent quote for shipping a Mini Mate camper to the same destination came in at $776 USD, more than double. This happens because Time Out is a larger manufacturer and ships a higher volume of units. As a result, they're able to negotiate higher discounts on shipping rates.
Alternative: If it makes sense, you can arrange to pick up your trailer or camper at a U.S. freight terminal, assemble it and tow it home, or have it loaded on your truck/trailer. If it would cost you several hundred dollars in missed time at work and travel expenses, it might just pay to have it brought to you.
Customs Broker
Before your trailer can be shipped, you'll need to appoint a customs broker. You'll create an account with the broker and sign a limited power of attorney form that will allow them to collect the applicable tax amount from you and pay it on your behalf. They'll follow your shipment through the customs clearance process and notify me and you if there are any issues.
As part of my job, I prepare three pieces of documentation for the customs broker. One is a commercial invoice, which reflects the full and accurate sale price of the trailer. The second is a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) certificate of origin, a document that is similar in purpose to the certificate of origin provided by the manufacturer. The NAFTA document certifies that the trailer or camper was manufactured in a NAFTA country (Mexico, the U.S. and Canada). The third document is a scanned and signed copy of the certificate of origin from the manufacturer, a document you could consider to be a camper's birth certificate.
A customs broker will charge about $100 USD for their services. I like using Borderbee.com. They specialize in helping private citizens import vehicles (a camper or trailer is considered a vehicle). They're helpful and reasonably priced.
Alternative: If you have your trailer shipped to a U.S. terminal or commercial address and bring it across yourself, you are the customs broker. You'll pay the taxes, complete the paperwork, and bring the trailer across yourself. Not complicated, many people have done it. You'll need just a regular bill of sale (or commercial invoice), and the manufacturer's certificate of origin. You won't need a NAFTA document.
Provincial Taxes
This one's pretty simple. You'll pay your standard sales tax on the value of any trailer or camper that you import or bring into the country. Most provincial rates run between 10 to 15%, although Alberta checks in at a thrifty 5%. How's that eh? That must explain why I ship a lot of units to Alberta.
Alternative: Hah. An alternative to not paying The Man? Get serious.
Trailer Import Fee
This one surprises some people because it sometimes comes a month or two after they've had their camper. I've also found this fee to be inconsistently enforced over the years. In the last few, it seems to be more uniformly applied. Probably because of upgraded computer systems that make it easier to track these things. Damn computers.
Anyway, once you've brought your trailer into the country, you'll need to take it to an inspection station to make sure it's legal to tow. All the campers and trailers I sell are legal to use in Canada. As a token of your appreciation for that rubber-stamp inspection, you'll pay around $200 CDN.
Alternative: None.
If you have questions about the import process, exact shipping costs, or any other questions about motorcycle campers or trailers, feel free to contact me.