Guidepost

The exemption, honestly

Importing a vehicle that’s 15 or more years old

This is the one age bracket where the process genuinely gets simpler — a 15-plus-year-old vehicle skips the RIV program and its fee. But “exempt from RIV” gets misread as “exempt from everything,” and that’s where people get a surprise at the border and again at the registry.

Exempt from RIV — not from taxes or your province

A 15-plus-year-old vehicle is exempt from the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at importation, so no RIV program and no RIV fee. It still owes all CBSA charges — including the 25% surtax if it’s US-origin — plus GST and provincial registration, and your province can still refuse to register it.

What’s true for the older bracket

  • No RIV program, no RIV fee. Vehicles manufactured 15+ years ago — and buses built before January 1, 1971 — are exempt from the federal safety program at import.
  • Still fully taxed. CBSA charges still apply, including the 25% surtax on a US-origin vehicle, plus 5% GST at the border.
  • Registration isn’t guaranteed. Some provinces refuse right-hand-drive or repaired-salvage vehicles — the federal exemption doesn’t override that.

What to do now

  1. Confirm the manufacture date — the exemption is 15 years from manufacture, so pin the exact date before assuming it qualifies.
  2. Budget for the border charges — check whether it’s US-origin (surtax) and add GST; the RIV fee coming off doesn’t make it free.
  3. Check your province first — especially for right-hand-drive or once-salvaged vehicles, confirm your registry will license it before you import.

The exemption and admissibility rules are on Transport Canada’s FAQ on importing vehicles from the US. Whether the surtax applies is on our surtax reality check.

Common Questions

Is a 15-year-old car easier to import from the US?

On the federal safety side, yes. A vehicle manufactured 15 or more years ago (and buses built before January 1, 1971) is exempt from the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at importation — so there’s no RIV program to go through and no RIV fee. That removes a whole layer of inspection and cost.

So it’s cheap to bring in?

Cheaper on the RIV side, not free. It still faces all CBSA charges — including the 25% surtax if it’s a US-origin vehicle — plus GST and provincial registration. The exemption is from the federal safety program, not from taxes.

Can my province still refuse to register it?

Yes. Registration after import is not guaranteed — some provinces refuse right-hand-drive or repaired-salvage vehicles regardless of the federal exemption. Check your province’s rules before you import, not after.

Where to go from here

The US import guide →Does the surtax apply? →What importing really costs →Registering across provinces →

Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm the exemption and your province’s rules before importing. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.