when you have been out of Canada for less than 48 hours? Any tax issues at the border?

Obviously the rental car agency has to allow their vehicle across the border, but most of them do so this is not the issue.

I'm considering doing this as the flight into the Seattle is 60% the cost of a flight into Vancouver so I'll fly into SEA and just rent a car and drive up; I need a rental car in Vancouver anyway. There seems to have been a change in Cdn policy last year (I didn't even know it was prohibited before that!).

Here's the backgrounder in case anyone's interested:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/re...h048e-6704.htm

Appreciate any insight from someone's who has actually done it since June 2012. If I have to pay taxes at the border, coupled with the hassle of driving and border crossings, it might make it not worth it so looking for some insight. Enjoy-la!

What tax issues are you concerned about?? The web site that you mention says pretty clearly " yes you can".. If you are worried about Customs you have an amount you can bring back which ever is the going back to country. Amounts differ for each. Are you coming to visit? Are you leaving the car in Canada? Do you have proper ID to get back into the States? Dr. Lis. is not good enough..Has to be Passport or Gov't issued picture ID..Papers in order for the car and no impediments from the rental company..If all the ducks are in a row Come on up and enjoy BC..

Thx for your reply. This is the quote from the article that got me:

"...Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 will also eliminate taxes on these vehicles for Canadians who have been outside of Canada for at least 48 hours, effective June 1, 2012."

I will just be flying to Seattle from the eastern USA (i.e., not out of Canada for 48 hours). My interpretation of the above is if you are out of Canada for less than 48 hours, the taxes apply. Do they tax you on the whole cost of the vehicle? or what taxes - duty? GST/HST?

I am not concerned about customs/duty on my personal goods nor ID for crossing the border. I'm planning on flying into Seattle, renting a car, driving up to Vancouver, visiting Vancouver, driving back down to Seattle, returning the rental car and then flying out.

Was hoping someone who'd done this recently could tell me whether they had any tax issues with the rental vehicle.

Appreciate feedback from anyone with experience with this - enjoy-la!

Your post makes no sense-what <i>'tax issues'</i> ?

Again, from the article (bold is mine):

"...Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 will also <b> eliminate taxes </b> on these vehicles for Canadians who have been outside of Canada for at least 48 hours, effective June 1, 2012."

I don't know what tax issues, that's what I'm trying to figure out but it seems no one knows.

Enjoy-la!

Why not just take the Amtrak train from Seattle to Vancouver and rent the car there just when you need it?
You now have to detour to get to the border since a bridge on I-5 will be out of service for months.

You're crossing from Canada into the US, flying coast-to-coast, crossing back into Canada, visiting Vancouver, returning to the US, flying transcontinentally again, and then crossing back into Canada?

You must be saving a lot of money doing it that way! It seems like it would be a real hassle.

Oh, I see—flight to Seattle is 60% of cost of flight to Vancouver. Still seems like it might be a lot of hassle, especially given the I-5 bridge issue that tomfuller mentioned.

Amtrak is an option I looked at but quickly discounted it with the cost being higher than a rental car, plus the hassle of getting to one more connection (getting from SEA to Amtrak) on time.

It is a hassle but I have more time than money

With the I5 out, you're right routing thru the US may no longer make sense. I was thinking about a fall trip so will monitor its progress and watch Cdn fares.

Thx for the replies.

Enjoy-la!

The good news is that US DoT will have a temporary bridge span in place on I-5 sometime before July 1 2013.
If the rental car company says you can take the car into Canada, and it is cheaper than the train, do it.
AFAIK you must return the rental car in the country that you rented it in. Can you get a NEXUS Pass?

The detour doesn't take you that much out of the way so if you have the time don't worry about it.

Just curious how much you will spend on transport to and from the airports.

Gas Seattle/Vancouver and return probably will run $50 or so. And how will you get to the airport in the eastern US for flying out (train, bus, car)? Will you have to pay for parking on the departure end?

Wow, great to hear about the bridge fix, albeit temporary. Even if I am unable to use it, I was worried for the commuters. July 1 is pretty quick - impressive. Thx for that info.

The rental will be returned to Seatac so no worries there.

For transports, to/from airports, it won't be much as I live near the border and there is Megabus that runs for $1 one-way. While I could scoop one of those fares, I'm not counting on it; I think it's usually $17 one-way, stops at the airport so no more logistics/cost. Alternatively, DH may drive me - we have friends 15 mins from the US airport and he might want to visit with them. Sounds like it might be cheaper to take the bus...LOL! Anyway, you bring up a good point to compare the Total Cost of Travel Alternatives.

Enjoy-la!