Fourteen to twenty-two weeks from first conversation to plates on the car. We quote twenty-two and aim for eighteen. Here's what happens in between, and who's responsible at each point.
The car, the budget, the timeline — and whether it exists in the condition you're picturing. If it doesn't, we say so early.
You and usA written agreement sets the scope and the ground rules: we never take title, you are the importer of record, and we market the service rather than a car.
You and usWe work the European market directly — dealers, specialists and private sellers. Dealers usually mean cleaner deregistration and origin paperwork already on hand; the right private car is often the better-kept one, so we take it on and do the extra diligence the paperwork needs. You get a shortlist with our honest read on each car.
UsAn independent inspector — TÜV or DEKRA in Germany, and the equivalent authority wherever else the car sits — goes to see it while we read the paperwork: registration, service history, inspection records, Carfax EU. For the right car, our people on the ground in Europe go and see it in person. On rare or high-value buys that's often the only way to be sure.
Independent inspector, or our team in EuropeWe negotiate direct, and nothing is agreed without your approval. The invoice is issued in your name, because you're the buyer.
You approve, we negotiateThe seller handles deregistration. We coordinate export documents, the bill of sale and the origin declaration used to claim CETA relief where a car qualifies.
Seller and usThe car moves to Bremerhaven, Rotterdam or Zeebrugge and is booked onto a vessel with marine insurance. Freight and insurance are passed through at cost, invoices attached.
Freight forwarderTwo to three weeks at sea to Halifax or Montreal, plus scheduling either side. Nobody controls this stage — vessels get delayed and sailings roll. We build slack in rather than quote a date we can't hold.
Shipping lineWe handle the customs clearance. The entry is filed in your name — you stay the importer of record — but preparing and submitting it is our job. At fifteen years or older the car is exempt from CMVSS and the RIV programme, so no compliance work is required.
Us, filed in your nameThe car moves inland to you and you register it provincially. Requirements vary by province and we walk you through yours. Then it's just a car, and it's yours.
You, with our supportOur wholesale European parts account stays open to you — no expiry, no minimum order — for the components a Canadian counter can't find.
Us, indefinitelySend the car, the budget and the timeline. We’ll tell you honestly whether it can be found.
