Why import trucks from Canada to US for sale?

Pardon my ignorance, but I've seen several trucks for sale stateside that have been imported from Canada - why would a car dealer do this? I mean, what's the advantage or disadvantage of doing so? I would think it would just add to the expense of the vehicle moving it across the border, or is that really only a disadvantage going the other direction?

Years ago, there was a negative stigma around GM vehicles that had been acquired the same way. I don't know any details about it, I was just warned off of a few trucks that had been imported from Canada.

I don't know the reasoning behind it, but have had a few reasons suggested and am curious if there is any truth to it.

The biggest reason, I'm told, has to do with washing a title. I know of a car dealership owner that has been permanently banned for doing shady things with titles by moving vehicles from one state to another and "grooming" a title without washing it. One state, for example, has several classifications of title status (ie: salvage, branded, rebuilt, clean, etc) where another state has only two - salvage and clean - so pulling anything but a salvage title from the first state to the second state results in a clean title status.

What's involved in moving a title from Canada to the US? Could doing so affectively accomplish the same result of grooming a title?

Second reason is simply USD vs CAN; historically the US dollar is stronger so there is more purchasing power. But from what I've heard recently on the forum about Canadian Tundra availability and pricing leads me to believe this isn't really the case right now.

Third would be options/packages. There are certain colors or packages that are more available in Canada or flat out not available in the States. One that I can think of (but haven't thoroughly researched) is Voodoo blue double cab NON-TRD pro trucks. They are a rarity stateside; I don't think I've ever seen but maybe one NON-TRD pro voodoo blue tundra. Yet it was a standard color option for a couple of years in Canada.

I've heard a few other reasons, but was hoping somebody here was more in the know. Thanks.

 

Just a guess, but maybe a clean Carfax report is generated by doing so. I have seen stories that said no vehicle history was available only a note of the transfer was documented. The balance of business and ethics must be challenging when in the car business.

 

Somebody really wants park sensors on a pro?

 

Trucks are being sent down all the time. Our dollar is garbage right now. I bought a '24 Limited TRD OR for 74k CAD which is about 50.8k USD. Right now there's a huge advantage for anyone buying in Canada with USD. Most everyday things are a similar price before a 44% exchange rate. Say that same truck here as a '22 used model is ~54k CAD which is 37.5k USD. There's a lot of money being made shipping trucks down. If I were to trade in right now with my dealer they don't even offer a price, they put it in an auction and see what they can give. Depends where you are in the states but the only downside would be corrosion. Also, they're apparently not allowed to import Mexican made Canadian market trucks, only US or Canada made. I doubt there's anything shady going on as a whole. Just money being made. It's easy for the dealers here as well. Don't have to hold inventory, advertise, higher used prices, more incentives for customers to buy new.

I should mention we get packages not options so that limited is about 65k usd msrp new with the same options as we get.

 

There’s also a much bigger market in the USA compared to Canada .

 

Wouldn't matter if they're not paying more. In 2008 the CAD was worth more suddenly. Many trucks flowed in to Canada. Right now there's thousands to be made per vehicle by shipping them to the states.

We pay $1.25 for a medium MacDonald coffee. That's $0.87USD. A big Mac meal is $9.19 or $6.38USD. The only things more expensive here are gas, alcohol, tobacco and maybe homes.

 

Keep in mind anything you buy from Canada is going to have rust on it. They use salt on absolutely everything. I was interested in an 2006 Acura TL about a decade ago, and when I saw it in person in 2014 it was already rusty at that point. As a Texas boy I am not use to seeing rust at all and because of that I did not buy it.

 

You don't get the warranty when you buy these canada trucks. Do NOT buy a truck from canada without getting something in writing. That is a big reason you were warned not to do it in the past.

Do NOT buy a car from canada thinking you are getting a deal on a slightly used car. You are getting no warranty from the dealer/OEM, unless it is in writing that they will still cover it.

Sure the sellers can make a lot of money, but the buyer is left in a crap spot thinking they got a deal. Should be a big warning on every single vehicle from there sent down.