To export a car from Canada you need proof that you own it (your provincial registration or title), a bill of sale or invoice showing its value, a lien release if the car was ever financed, and photo ID. If the car is going anywhere other than the United States, an export declaration quoting the vehicle identification number (VIN) must also be filed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before the car is loaded. Below is what each document is for, when it is due, and what the destination country will usually ask for.

The short checklist to export a car from Canada

• Original ownership document – the provincial vehicle registration or certificate of title in the exporter’s name.
• Bill of sale or purchase invoice – shows the value of the car and how you came to own it.
• Lien release letter – from the lender, if there is or was a loan or lease on the car.
• Government photo ID – passport or driver’s licence matching the name on the ownership.
• Export declaration – filed electronically with CBSA for non-US destinations, quoting the VIN.
• Destination paperwork – import permits or approvals, passport and visa copies, proof of residence, depending on the country.

Proof of ownership and title

Everything starts with ownership. The shipping line, the export declaration and the destination customs office all rely on the name on your registration or title, so it must match the person or company exporting the car. If the car is registered to a spouse, a parent or a business, either transfer it first or provide a signed letter of authorization from the registered owner along with a copy of their ID.

Keep the original. Many destination countries register the car based on the export-country ownership document, and a photocopy is often not enough at the other end. Your forwarder will usually need clear copies before booking and will tell you when (or whether) the original has to travel with the shipping documents.

Bill of sale

A bill of sale or dealer invoice backs up the value you declare. That value goes on the export declaration and, more importantly, it is often the starting point for duties and taxes at the destination. If you have owned the car for years and no longer have the invoice, tell your forwarder; a fair market value can still be declared, but some countries will ask how you arrived at it.

Lien release

A car with money owing on it is not fully yours to export. If you financed or leased the vehicle, get a letter from the lender confirming the loan is paid out and the lien is discharged, or written permission from the lender to take the car out of Canada. You can check for registered liens through your province’s personal property registry using the VIN. Sorting this out early avoids one of the most common last-minute delays on vehicle files.

CBSA export reporting: what is required and when

CBSA’s rules for exporters are set out in Memorandum D20-1-1, Exporter Reporting. For vehicles, the key points are:

• Vehicles are “conveyances.” Cars, motorcycles, boats, ATVs and off-road equipment that leave Canada permanently must be identified by their VIN (or hull or serial number).
• Going overseas (anywhere but the US): an export declaration quoting the VIN in the proper field must be filed with CBSA.
• Going to the United States: no declaration is normally needed, but you must be able to show CBSA documents identifying the VIN if asked.
• No personal-effects shortcut: the exemptions that let people export personal and household effects or gifts without reporting specifically exclude permanently exported conveyances, and the personal-effects exemption does not cover emigrants. Moving abroad with your car still means a declaration.

Filing through CERS and the 48-hour deadline

Export declarations are filed electronically, and CBSA names the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) as its primary reporting method. For goods leaving by ship, the declaration must be filed at least 48 hours before the car is loaded onto the vessel. Once accepted, the declaration produces a proof of report number, which the shipping line needs before it will load your car. Without it, the car can miss its sailing.

Filing in CERS requires a business number with an export program account. Most private owners do not have one, which is why the declaration is normally prepared by your freight forwarder or a customs service provider on your behalf. CBSA allows this, but the exporter stays responsible for the information being true and complete, so check the VIN, value and your name carefully before it is filed.

Where the car is presented

For an ocean shipment you do not drive to a border crossing. The car is delivered to the port terminal (for RoRo) or to a warehouse where it is loaded into a container, and the export is reported electronically. CBSA may still choose to examine the car before it sails, so make sure the VIN plate is visible and the car matches the paperwork.

Bought the car in the US? The 72-hour rule

The “72-hour rule” people often mention is a US rule, not a Canadian one. US Customs and Border Protection requires that documents for a vehicle leaving the United States, including the original or certified copy of the US title and the VIN, be submitted at least 72 hours before export. For a car driven or trucked across a land border, the vehicle must also be presented at the time of export. If you buy a car in the US to ship overseas from Vancouver, that US export step has to be completed before the car crosses into Canada, and Canadian import rules then apply on arrival. Leased cars or cars with a lien need written permission from the lienholder on the US side too.

If you are shipping a US-bought car straight from a US port to an overseas destination, the CBP rules apply instead of the Canadian ones. Ask your forwarder which route is simpler for your situation.

Destination documents: what the other country will ask for

When you export a car from Canada, clearing Canadian customs is usually the easy half. Every country has its own rules for importing a used vehicle, and some can stop a car at the port for weeks if a step is missed. In general, expect to need:

• The original ownership document and bill of sale for duty assessment and registration.
• An import approval or permit in some countries before the car is shipped. Australia, for example, generally requires a vehicle import approval before shipping, and cars arriving without one are held under customs control.
• Proof of identity and residence (passport, visa, proof of address) if you are claiming a returning-resident or transfer-of-residence relief.
• Compliance or approval paperwork showing the car meets local safety and emissions standards. In the UK, for example, imported vehicles need vehicle approval before they can be registered with the DVLA.
• A clean car. Countries with strict biosecurity rules, such as Australia and New Zealand, inspect for soil and plant material.

Check the destination’s official government site before you book, or ask us for the requirements for your country. Our car shipping team can help you work through them.

Common mistakes that delay a car export

• The name on the ownership does not match the exporter.
• An old loan was paid off but the lien was never discharged.
• The VIN on the declaration has a typo.
• Documents arrive less than 48 hours before loading, so the car misses its vessel.
• The destination import approval was not applied for before shipping.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an export declaration if I’m moving abroad with my own car?

Yes, if the car is going to a country other than the US. CBSA’s personal-effects and gift exemptions do not apply to permanently exported vehicles, so a declaration quoting the VIN is required.

Can I export a car that still has a loan on it?

Only with the lender’s written permission. In practice, most people pay out the loan and get a lien release letter before shipping.

How far ahead do the documents need to be ready?

The CBSA declaration must be filed at least 48 hours before the car is loaded on the ship, but your forwarder needs your documents well before that to book space and prepare the file. Aim to have everything ready when you book.

Does the 72-hour rule apply when I export a car from Canada?

No. The 72-hour rule is a US Customs requirement for vehicles leaving the United States. Canada’s deadline for ocean exports is 48 hours before loading.

If you are planning to export a car from Canada, send us the year, make, model and destination and we will tell you exactly which documents your shipment needs. Request a quote through our Vancouver car shipping page or the shipping quote form, or call 604-305-0337.