 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can't help with the buying bits. But as for restriction of driving across the border, there's none.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Take all your proof of no claims and buy a car locally in Kelowna I'd say. All insurance in BC is through the provincial ICBC insurance co so you won't get stung for being a non-national and can carry over UK no claims 6 mths with travel to the US no problem. You get plates from the insurance brokers office when you register the car and pay the transfer tax. IIRC MOT stds are only particualrly a concern in the Vancouver/lower mainland area where they smog test but don't be a sucker & buy the first car you see. Maybe worth trawling some dealers for trade-ins they have round the back. Consider buying a FWD car then buy some snow tyres (often decent 2nd hand ones available) rather than a 4WD to save on gas when you're road tripping and potentially expensive repairs. A car under $1000 is likely to cost you something during the season in maintenance /repair anyway. Buying a crappy looking domestic/Japanese car is likely to a better bet than an old BMW/Audi etc no matter how much better you think it will be becuase of repair costs.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So - to threadjack a little (me and a mate are considering getting a car for the season) - how much is a car and insurance likely to cost assuming we go for the cheap end of the range?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Car I'd budget $1500 at least as there seemed to be some real crap around at lower prices when I bought. Insurance can't remember but it didn't seem massively out of kilter with what you'd pay in the UK. Handy in Fernie when you get stir crazy and have to make a break to the big city Cranbrook  but better to go to Red, WH20, KH etc
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Second fatbob's idea.
If you can swing the cash, pay a bit more initially to get something in better shape. You can sell it when you leave and recoup some of the initial outlay. Your total out of pocket for the season might be just about the same while saving a lot of hassle and headach with the constant breakdown and cost of repair of a peice of junk.
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we lived in Vancouver for a year. I bought a 15 year old subaru justy with 260,000km on the clock for 1200 bucks! Perfect ski-bum car as 4wd/2wd, realiable as a cart horse, cheap as chips to run, insurance cheap.
look on craigslist if you are flying in to Vancouver as lots of cheap cars to be picked up there.
I sold it a year later with an extra 27,000 kms on the clock for 700 bucks. I spent about $1000 over the year on new brakes (kind of crucial)
There is no MOT in BC so you can run the car into the ground.
Car insurance was actually quite expensive compared to the UK, about 100 dollars a month
Happy days 
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Iv just booked me flights and got a great price to Seattle rather than Vancouver. So now looking to buy a motor in the USA and drive it to Canada. any ideas on how that would work?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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complicated i would suspect, as you will need to pay duty. and change registration etc etc....
way better off to buy when you get to Vancouver
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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roastingdave, my bro is getting the 4x4 he bought in NZ this season shipped to Vancouver and is going to use it for the season. No import duty as he will be a "tourist". I reckon you wouldn`t need to re-register an American vehicle.. although I think there may be potentially som eissues with insurance.. 
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You know it makes sense.
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| roastingdave wrote: |
What would an American person do when driving up to Canada on holiday? Im sure they dont re-register their car...
Is there a time limit to how long you take a car over the border? Because we fly back from Seattle (at the moment) we would be selling/dumping the car near there.
Roll on the snow.  |
It's 30 dyas for the insurance. (or maybe 90, doesn't matter, since you'll be there longer than that anyway)
Technically, it's 7-10 days for the registration IF YOU MOVED (vs. travel).
In brief:
First, you need an address for the insurance if you plan to get your insurance in the US. Same for Canada, I believe.
Then, if you move, you need to change both the registration and the insurance to reflect the correct address.
That's the by-the-book way of doing it.
If you have a mate in Seattle to handle the paper work that comes in the mail, you're fine. You just have to remember, if you ever in an accident or got stopped by police, that you LIVE IN SEATTLE!
Unless there's a distinct advantage of buying at Seattle, I don't see why you want all that bother.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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roastingdave, I'm also working as an instructor at Big White this season Are you working for the adult or kids ski school?
Me and my friend are heading out to Vancouver on Wednesday, but heading up to Kelowna around the 20th November. When are you flying out? When were you planning on being in resort? I'll give you my Canadian number if you're interested - would be great to meet some new people before we head up the mountain.
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Poster: A snowHead
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PurplePenguin, Welcome to  s. If roastingdave doesn't pick up your post (as the thread is a few weeks old) you can PM (Private Mail) him.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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PurplePenguin, I sit across from RoastingDave (his name ain`t Dave though.. I don`t understand).
I have prodded him.
I am also heading to Van.
I land on 17th Nov and then heading up to Silver Star via Kelowna.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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In my opinion, car insurance here is VERY EXPENSIVE, so be prepared.
I bought full proof of my noclaims, which ICBC excepted thankfully, and still paid $2000 for a years insurance, a similar car in UK was costing me £300. Be aware!
But certainly it was not a problem to get insurance with my UK licence. (although i have since taken the BC driving test and got a BC licence)
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FAQ
