Don’t count on it. Border and provincial rules on registration vary, so ask CBSA before you drive across. A lapsed registration or missing plates don’t stop a carrier from loading a car, because plates and registration are driving rules. Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup. We handle transport only.
- Registration and plates prove a car is legal to drive. Border and provincial rules on registration vary, so ask CBSA before you drive across.
- Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup (title or bill of sale).
- This applies to cars going to Canada and cars coming back.
- Import paperwork, customs and duties are the owner’s to handle. We handle transport only.
Can I cross the border with expired tags?
Don’t count on it. In Canada, every motor vehicle needs valid registration and displayed plates as proof it is legal on the road. Border and provincial rules on registration vary, so ask CBSA before you drive across.
It runs the other way too. For a Canadian-registered car with expired registration or missing plates, ask CBSA before you cross.
What are registration and license plates for?
Registration proves your car is legally registered and allowed on the road. It shows the taxes and fees were paid and that any required inspections or emissions tests were done. Plates identify the car and show which state or province it belongs to.
All of that is about driving the car.
Can I ship a car with an expired registration to Canada?
A lapsed registration doesn’t stop a carrier from loading a car. Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup (title or bill of sale).
Whether Canada will accept the car is a separate question, and it belongs to the owner. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is the place to ask. A visitor (someone who is not a resident and stays no more than 12 months) can bring a vehicle in without meeting Transport Canada’s import requirements. Check with CBSA first. If your case is unclear, an experienced customs broker can walk you through it.
What happens if I drive with expired registration?
If you have an accident or a traffic stop, your insurance coverage may be compromised. That can leave you personally liable for damages. Expired paperwork also makes a car harder to sell, since buyers tend to back away from a car without valid documents.
Can I ship a car without license plates to or from Canada?
Missing plates don’t stop a carrier from loading a car, in either direction. Plates are a driving rule, and a shipped car rides on the truck. A car that won’t start or drive needs a carrier with a winch, so tell your advisor up front.
If you are buying, selling or transferring the car, your local motor vehicle department can tell you how to get new or temporary plates for the state or province where it will be driven.
What paperwork do I need to ship a car with no plates?
Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup (title or bill of sale). A salvage title changes nothing about how we dispatch the car.
What if I can’t renew my registration in time?
You have two routes. One is to get a temporary registration or transit permit from the authorities where the car is and where it is going, then drive it. Each case varies with the jurisdictions involved, the condition of the car, and any unpaid fines.
The other is to ship it. We assign the carrier. Every shipment is approved and dispatched by the owner. Our network of vetted, licensed and insured carriers handles the haul. Enclosed shipping is available too. Your advisor keeps you posted.
Who handles the Canada paperwork?
You do. Importation, customs clearance and duties are the owner’s to handle with the border agencies.
Before you book, ask CBSA or a customs broker what Canada needs for your car. Check with your state or provincial motor vehicle office about registration on your end.
Questions people ask
Can you cross into Canada with expired tags?
Don’t count on it. Border and provincial rules on registration vary, so ask CBSA before you drive across.
Can I ship my car to Canada with expired registration?
A lapsed registration doesn’t stop a carrier from loading a car. Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup (title or bill of sale). Any Canadian import paperwork is yours to handle. We handle transport only.
Can I ship a car from Canada to the US without plates?
Missing plates don’t stop a carrier from loading a car. Ask your advisor what proof of ownership they need at pickup (title or bill of sale). Import paperwork is the owner’s to handle.
Can I ship my car to Canada from California?
Your advisor keeps you posted. We handle transport only, so import paperwork stays with the owner.
Do you handle customs and import for Canada?
No. Import paperwork, customs clearance and duties are the owner’s to handle with the border agencies. We handle transport only.
When do I pay?
No deposit. No upfront fees. No payment until pickup. At pickup, we charge the card you gave when you booked. There is nothing to pay the driver.
Call (800) 997-4181 or get a quote. No deposit. No upfront fees. No payment until pickup.
