Transport Canada · Motor Vehicle Safety Act
Built to Canadian standards new vehicles and Canadian vehicles coming back
New vehicles built to Canadian standards come in through a pre-cleared importer (Appendix F) or a pre-cleared foreign manufacturer and vehicle class (Appendix G). A Canadian vehicle returning to its original owner needs proof the owner bought and registered it in Canada.
To import a vehicle built to Canadian standards
Before you buy
- New: check the importer is on Appendix F, or the manufacturer and vehicle class are on Appendix G. Appendix F lists importers. Appendix G lists foreign manufacturers and the classes each is cleared for.
- Buy it new, directly from the manufacturer. Fully compliant with Canadian standards, and never sold at retail, owned, titled or licensed.
At the border
- Returning to its original owner: proof the owner bought and registered it in Canada. It must still meet Canadian standards, unaltered.
- Case by case: Transport Canada's authorization. Apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
Find your vehicle's route
Pick the one that matches the vehicle.
Appendix F
Pre-cleared importers. Commercial importers bringing in more than 2,500 vehicles a year, listed by Transport Canada. Any class of vehicle.
Appendix G
Pre-cleared manufacturers. New vehicles from a foreign manufacturer Transport Canada has pre-cleared for that class of vehicle. For importers bringing in fewer than 2,500 vehicles a year.
Returning
Back to its original owner. A Canadian vehicle that left Canada, unaltered and still meeting Canadian standards. You'll need proof the owner bought and registered it in Canada.
Case by case
Approved by Transport Canada in advance. Apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead. You'll need the case-by-case authorization and ownership documents, such as the title.
Check a vehicle by its VIN
Enter the VIN from the title or the registration. See the vehicle, whether it's 15 years old, what Transport Canada's lists show for its make, and what to check next.
It's on the title, the registration, and the dashboard where it meets the windshield.
Documents you may need
| Document | When you need it | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer's certificate of originFrom the manufacturer | Appendix G vehicles whose certificate is in a dealer's name: endorsed on the back to the importer of record | If it applies |
| Case-by-case authorizationFrom Transport Canada, before shipping | Vehicles approved case by case. Its authorization number goes on the declaration. | If it applies |
| Vehicle title or other proof of ownershipThe original ownership document | Returning and case-by-case vehicles; another ownership document, such as the registration, can stand in | If it applies |
| Manufacturer's letter of complianceFrom the manufacturer | When the vehicle has no compliance label | If it applies |
Questions
Does the importer need to be on Appendix G?
No. Appendix G lists foreign manufacturers and the vehicle classes each is cleared for, and both must be listed. Appendix F, for importers of more than 2,500 vehicles a year, lists the importers themselves.
Do these vehicles go through the Registrar?
No. Vehicles imported under Appendix F and Appendix G don't qualify for the Registrar of Imported Vehicles.
What if a Canadian vehicle changed owners abroad?
Wherever it was sold, the new owner must get Transport Canada's case-by-case authorization before it ships (apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead) and declare it on the Vehicle Import Form (Form 1), or the electronic declaration that replaces it. A used vehicle shipped from a country other than the US or Mexico is also prohibited under the Customs Tariff unless an exemption in Memorandum D9-1-11 applies, such as a settler's own vehicle.
Sources: Transport Canada, CBSA, Global Affairs Canada, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Registrar of Imported Vehicles
- Pre-clearing a vehicle as a commercial importer, Transport Canada, modified 2020-03-03
- Memorandum D19-12-1: Importing vehicles into Canada, CBSA, modified 2026-09-02
- Memorandum D9-1-11: Importation of used or second-hand motor vehicles, CBSA, modified 2016-08-25
- Frequently asked questions: Appendix G pre-clearance program, Transport Canada, modified 2025-07-09
- Importing a vehicle from countries other than the United States or Mexico, Transport Canada, modified 2018-08-23
- Frequently asked questions: importing vehicles purchased in countries other than the United States, Transport Canada, modified 2019-10-04
- Registrar of Imported Vehicles Compatibility List, Transport Canada, July 14, 2025 edition
- Canadian commercial importers of new Canadian-specification vehicles (Appendix F), Transport Canada, read 2026-11-10
- Foreign manufacturers of new Canadian-specification vehicles (Appendix G), Transport Canada, read 2026-11-10
- Explanations on mandatory compliance, Transport Canada, modified 2025-07-14
- Notice to importers 1168: electric vehicles from the People's Republic of China, Global Affairs Canada, modified 2026-08-28
- Check for recalls, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Recall clearance, Registrar of Imported Vehicles, no date shown, checked 2026-11-10
- Stay informed about recalls: vehicles, tires and child car seats, Transport Canada, modified 2019-03-18
Reviewed November 10, 2026.
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