Importing and Registering a Vehicle in PEI

1. Two Separate Processes, Not One

Importing a vehicle involves a federal compliance step (Transport Canada's Registrar of Imported Vehicles, or RIV) and then a provincial registration step through Access PEI. Skipping or rushing the federal step means Access PEI simply won't register the vehicle at all.

2. Before You Buy: Check Admissibility

Only vehicles on Transport Canada's List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States (also available at riv.ca) qualify for import. This list is manufacturer-provided and can change without notice, so check it before you commit to a purchase, not after. A vehicle that turns out ineligible cannot remain in Canada and must be exported.

3. The Federal Import Sequence

1. Confirm admissibility on the RIV Compatibility List
2. Complete the Vehicle Import Form (Form 1 / e-Form) at riv.ca, print all 4 copies before reaching the border
3. Declare the vehicle to CBSA at the border, presenting the printed forms
4. Pay applicable duties and taxes to CBSA
5. Pay the RIV registration fee once the vehicle is in Canada
6. Within 45 days of import, complete any required safety modifications (daytime running lights, child tether anchorage, anti-theft immobilizer) and bring the vehicle to an RIV-authorized inspection facility

RIV maintains over 500 authorized inspection facilities across Canada; your inspection results are shared automatically with PEI's provincial licensing system.

4. The Provincial Step: Access PEI

Only after your stamped Form 2 clears the RIV inspection can you register the vehicle. At Access PEI, bring:

• Your stamped RIV Form 2
• Original bill of sale and title
• Your CBSA customs form (B3 or B15)

You'll pay HST on the vehicle's value at this point (if not already collected at the border) and complete provincial registration and plates.

5. Annual Provincial Inspection

Separate from the one-time RIV federal inspection, PEI requires a recurring provincial mechanical safety inspection to maintain your vehicle's registration going forward; this applies to every vehicle on the road in PEI, not just imports.

6. If You're Importing From Somewhere Other Than the US or Mexico

The RIV program specifically covers imports from the United States and prescribed vehicles from Mexico. Vehicles from other countries follow a different, generally more involved, Transport Canada import process; contact Transport Canada directly before purchasing if your vehicle originates outside North America.