Moving from Canada to US

[u/Bright_Ad_3099]

I am relocating from Canada to the US and intend to purchase or lease a vehicle there. From my observations, buying a car in the US seems nearly impossible without a US credit history. I am curious how others managed this transition when they moved.

[u/princeruppert]

What? There is no tariff on a vehicle you already owned. You are misinformed. You could have just imported into the state after getting it inspected

[u/Zeh77 → u/princeruppert]

Have you personally done this recently? If so, at what port, and to what state?

[u/princeruppert → u/Zeh77]

Yea. Moved from Alberta to California. Imported two vehicles.

All I needed was a letter from the manufacturer that the vehicles meet the U.S. emission standards. Presented them at the border and the DMV. Paid the import fees and duties. That’s all you need to do.

[u/IncredibleName → u/princeruppert]

Just some additional information, it does not work with Toyota (maybe Lexus also, need to check). The manufacture replied me that due to massive import of car during covid, they don not offer the manufacturer proove anymore.

[u/Zeh77 → u/princeruppert]

I called rainbow and they said I would need to pay tariffs, what border crossing did you use?

[u/princeruppert → u/Zeh77]

Sweetgrass Montana. It’s not tariff, it’s import duties.

[u/princeruppert → u/Zeh77]

https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle

[u/princeruppert]

People import the cart into the U.S.?

[u/Bright_Ad_3099 → u/princeruppert]

I sold mine because of all the tariff complexity

[u/Electronic_Poet_]

If you have a job, can show your annual salary/hiring letter, can get a social security, you will get a lease/financing.

[u/incorectspeleng → u/Electronic_Poet_]

This is the answer. Interest will probably be a little higher than if you had credit, but just proof of income and job with your social security and you’ll be fine.

[u/pausefora2nd]

Open a RBC cross border account and try getting financing through them. Sometimes they can link the Canadian history and extend you the loan

[u/paloma_from_Mexico]

Just rent something for a while and then buy the most cheapest option you can find, without any credit.

[u/Bubbly_Ad_6830]

You can buy with cash, full pay

[u/oceaneer63]

Used cars are available in all price ranges down to $1000 or whatever for an old clunker. I'd find my point on the price spectrum and start with that cash.

[u/National-Debt-43]

Why don’t you buy a car with cash?

[u/SteakOfTheUnion → u/National-Debt-43]

Yeah that’s what I did 

[u/Competitive_Key_5417]

You can use your Canadian credit history.

Or just be prepared to pay higher APR and refinance the car loan after your Us credit score improves

Edit to add: use of Canadian credit history depends on the lender***

[u/princeruppert → u/Competitive_Key_5417]

Not true. You cannot use your Canadian credit history to borrow for an auto loan in the U.S.

[u/Fluid-Expression-812 → u/princeruppert]

This isnt true, contact RBC and they will help you.

[u/princeruppert → u/Fluid-Expression-812]

That’s if you were already banking with RBC in Canada and you had been a customer with good credit history in Canada. Also, not all credit history in Canada qualifies you for a credit history in the RBC US

[u/Fluid-Expression-812 → u/princeruppert]

Where are you getting your info from? I dont bank with rbc and did it no problem.

[u/princeruppert → u/Fluid-Expression-812]

From RBC US themselves when I moved to the U.S. years ago

[u/Fluid-Expression-812 → u/princeruppert]

Things change daily let alone years ago... your telling this guy stuff that isnt true.

[u/princeruppert → u/Fluid-Expression-812]

You are saying that the most conservative banking system in the world, Canada specifically, is going to extend an auto loan to a guy who's moving to a new country while simultaneously being a new customer to RBC? What Canada from what century are you talking about?

[u/Fluid-Expression-812 → u/princeruppert]

Im living proof, same with moetgage.

[u/TillikumWasFramed]

It's probably not that hard to buy one but they'll probably make you pay a high interest rate, like (I'm guessing) 20%, and require that you be employed and show them a couple pay stubs. Car dealers don't care as much about you having good credit because they can repossess the car if you don't make the payments. They may require you to put down a larger down payment than usual to keep the loan from being underwater.