Yes. You can ship a financed or leased car. Read your loan or lease contract first, because some bar taking the car out of the country. Before it crosses a border, get your lender’s or leasing company’s permission in writing.
- Check your contract before you book. Breaking its terms can mean penalties, fees, or repossession.
- For a border crossing, your lender or leasing company may require its permission. Get it in writing.
- Canada has its own import rules for vehicles. Those are yours to meet. We handle transport only.
- Check that your insurance covers the car in transit and in the destination country.
Can I ship a leased or financed car across the US-Canada border?
Start with your paperwork. Read your lease or finance agreement before you arrange any transport.
In many cases, leasing companies and lenders limit where the vehicle can go. Breaking those terms can lead to penalties, fines, or even repossession of the vehicle. Both countries also have their own rules for imported vehicles. In Canada, a US car under 15 years old has to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and go through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program, which inspects it for safety. Cars 15 years or older, counted from the date of manufacture, are exempt from those safety rules at import, though customs still checks them.
Miss those requirements and you may pay for modifications, or the car may be refused entry. Those rules are yours to meet. We handle transport only. Talk to your lender or leasing company before you try to move a leased or financed car across the border.
Can I take my leased car to another country?
Only if your lease allows it. Leasing companies often write specific clauses about moving the car internationally, so read yours carefully.
Check whether the lease allows international transport at all. Some leasing companies bar their vehicles from leaving certain geographic boundaries. If yours does, shipping the car without prior authorization could have severe consequences.
Then look at the money. Your lease may cover international shipping fees, import duties, taxes, and related costs, or it may leave them to you. Find out which before you commit.
Last, insurance. Leasing companies typically require you to carry comprehensive coverage for the whole lease term. Ask your insurer whether that coverage continues while the car is in transit.
Can I take a financed car out of the country?
That depends on your loan agreement. Some lenders have clauses that bar taking the vehicle out of the country, whether you are moving for good or for a while.
If your contract says no, shipping the car can put you in violation, which can mean penalties or default on the loan. It also makes things harder for the lender. If you stop paying while the car is in another country, repossessing it gets more difficult.
Insurance is the other piece. Make sure your policy covers the car during transit and in Canada. Lapsed coverage can void your policy or bring legal trouble in both countries.
What paperwork and fees come with taking a car across the border?
Start with the documents. You will typically need the original vehicle title, the registration, and any lease or finance agreements. Together they show who owns the car and that you have the legal authority to move it.
Import and export customs declarations also have to be filled out accurately. They ask for the vehicle’s value, make, model, year, and identification number. Mistakes can mean delays at the checkpoint or fines.
Fees depend on the car. Customs duties and taxes may apply based on its value, and border agencies may charge for inspections. A customs broker who works with cross-border vehicles can walk you through it. Customs is yours, or your broker’s, to handle. We handle transport only.
Does my insurance cover a leased or financed car while it ships?
Not automatically. Leasing companies usually require comprehensive and collision coverage for the full term of the lease, and lenders require the same until the loan is paid off. Shipping the car across a border can mean you need more.
Call your insurance company and ask two things: does the policy cover the car in transit, and does it cover the car in the other country? Some policies restrict international transport. If yours does, look at temporary international auto insurance or an insurer that specializes in cross-border moves.
What should I look for in an auto transport company for a cross-border move?
Start with licensing and insurance. Any company you hire should be properly licensed and carry enough insurance to protect the car in transit. Then ask what the service covers: door-to-door or not, and who handles the customs paperwork. (With us, that’s you or your customs broker.) Get the quote in writing and ask what fees could be added.
We are an FMCSA licensed broker, fully insured. Allied since 1989. Your car moves with one of our network of vetted, licensed and insured carriers, and you deal with one advisor from quote to driveway.
How do I get a leased or financed car ready to ship?
First, tell your leasing or finance company you plan to ship the car. Get their consent in writing, and ask about any requirements they have for international transport. Skipping this can mean penalties or a breach of contract.
Next, clean the inside and outside of the car, and photograph any existing damage from several angles. If there is ever a dispute about the car’s condition on arrival, those photos are your evidence.
Take your belongings out. Most transport companies don’t allow items inside the car, and you should pull valuables and important documents either way.
Finally, make sure the car is in good working order. Check tire pressure, fluid levels, and brakes. If something is mechanically wrong, fix it first so it doesn’t get worse in transit.
How do I ship a leased or financed car from Canada to the US?
Here are the steps.
- Review your lease or financing terms. Look for any restriction on shipping the vehicle internationally.
- Notify your lender or leasing company. Tell them you plan to ship the car and ask what paperwork or permission they need.
- Gather your documents. You need the vehicle registration, insurance papers, ownership documents, and a letter of authorization from the lender or leasing company allowing you to ship the car out of Canada.
- Book your transport. Get a quote from us. One advisor handles it from quote to driveway.
- Complete customs. This step is yours, or your customs broker’s: the documents, plus any duties or taxes that apply. We handle transport only.
- Set pickup in Canada and delivery in the US. Your car moves with a carrier from our network of vetted, licensed and insured carriers.
Going the other way, into Canada? Canada’s import rules are yours to meet, and so is customs. We handle transport only.
Is shipping a leased or financed car across a border worth it?
That depends on you. Shipping the car can save you from selling it or ending a lease early. You also keep the car you know.
Costs add up. Customs fees, taxes, and import duties can add up, so look into them before you decide. The process also takes paperwork, coordination, and compliance with the rules of both countries. And your lease or finance contract may restrict exporting the car or require specific insurance in transit. Breaking those terms can bring legal and financial penalties.
Get your lender’s or leasing company’s answer in writing before you spend anything.
Questions people ask
Can I ship a car that is financed?
Yes. Read your loan contract first, since some lenders bar taking the car out of the country. For a border crossing, get your lender’s permission in writing.
Can I ship a leased car to Canada?
Only if your lease allows it. Some leasing companies limit where the car can go. Look for that clause, and get the leasing company’s approval in writing before you book.
Do I need my lender’s permission to export a financed vehicle from Canada?
Get written consent from the lienholder, and ask about any requirements it has for international transport. A letter of authorization from the lender goes in your document pile with the registration, insurance papers, and ownership documents.
Does my insurance cover a financed or leased car while it ships?
Not automatically. Ask your insurer whether the policy covers the car in transit and in the other country.
Call (800) 997-4181 or get a quote. No deposit. No upfront fees. No payment until pickup.
