starting in the fall of '07 I'm gonna be working in Florida for 3-4 years. Originally i was contemplating sellign my current truck and then buying on e in the states. Now what I'm thinking is ..can I keep my truck?...Can't I just bring it down..and insure it in Florida?...do I have to keep my Ontario plates?....anyone done this? or have relatives who have doen this?...ps I am not a US citizen (yet)

 

as long as you are a resident of ontario and have proper insurance etc. it's ok. now, if you live somewhere else for longer than 6 months out of the year someone could question your true residency.

i think it depends how close they look.

 

hmm wasnt aware of anything like this...im not looking for any gray area stuff...i better check with customs

 

My truck was originally from Alberta, so it CAN be done.

 

I came from Can. to the US about 5 years ago. This information is based on what I was told coming to NY back then and may differ in your case. If you want to bring the truck to the US you need a letter from a dodge dealer in Can. (they will know what the letter is) stating that the vehicle meets the emission standards of where you're going. Take this letter to customs. They will require you to pay duty unless there is a minimum value on this requirement. I don't know what your truck is worth so don't take this personally. They will give you some kind of written authorization which you then take to DOT to get state reg.. I hope this helps and take care.

 

thanks..i was hoping i could keep the ontario plates and just insure it down in florida and pay the state whatever i need ...cause im gonna have a working visa that i will renew annually...not a green card...i'll be coming to ontario every 3 months or so

 

Check with the state of Florida, you may be overthinking this. So long as you do not intend to become a citizen, and you wont be purchasing property, it is quite possible that you will be able to keep your Ontario plates and insurance ( so long as they cover you out of country ).

You technically will not be a resident of Florida.

 

I thought you only needed to pay duty on products outside of the North America, or atleast the 3 NAFTA countries.

 

You could be right, I'm not 100% on that. I do remember something about duty though. The gov. wants to make a little off a truck you didn't buy in this country.

 

I know you need to pay GST on everything now. Wait till July or so when it hits 5%.

 

Spending 3 months in Florida with Ontario plates should not be a problem as they are all over the place due to Ontario snowbirds & retirees with condos or second homes in Fla. I would just make sure my insurance documents were in order.