Quote Originally Posted by kpaske View Post
Cool, I don't think they've ever asked me at the border if I was going to be leaving any gifts in Canada, although I've never been further than Vancouver. So if they ask, I'll explain the situation and hope for the best. If they don't let me through, I'm less than 3 hours from the border so it's not really a huge big deal to turn around and go home, but I'll probably make a couple of phone calls to US and Canadian customs in advance just to see what they have to say.

Are there RIV offices throughout Canada, or are they only at the border crossings and ports? The buyer lives about 10 hours from the border, so I'd hate for him to have to make that drive if there is something that needs to be done there.
RIV is pretty much one office in Toronto to push the paperwork. The real work is done by the approved mechanics who modify and inspect the vehicles then send in a check list saying that it meets all the requirements set out by RIV.
That's sort of the joke - the RIV instructions say to put the km/h stickers on the speedo, and put on French language air bag and seatbelt stuff (wacky Canadians) - the dealers typically laugh and will do it if the client really wants and either way check off to say that they did... The big items are DRL and child seat restraint hooks.

I agree with the last post, let him buy it first then he can pick it up and drive it through the border. Or if you can get to him and then sell it for CASH, then it's again his problem to get it approved or he'll have to sell it to an American i it has to go back to the US.

Cheers.