Buying in Canada for foreigners

[stevenatleven]

I have searched the forum for an answer but could'nt find anything that really answers my question .

My brother in law lives in the Toronto area. I want to buy a bike something like a KLR and leave it at his place to ride when I go over there.

Is the best way to buy it in my name and insure it as and when I am there or register it in his name and he can add both of us to the insurance.

I would be the main rider and would possibly use his place as a base for 2/3
week tours in the summer

Any help appreciated

[scott785]

You can register it as a foreigner in Ontario. It's a bit tricky but can be done. No insurance company in Ontario will insure you unless you have an Ontario licence but American companies will insure you and as long as you have insurance of at least $200,000 cover, you can register your bike. You'll need Service Ontario to issue you a RIN number as you don't have an Ontario license. We're on the road at the moment but private message me if you need more help. Cheers and good luck.

[stevenatleven]

Thanks Scott, looks like its best If I register the bike in my brother in law's name and he puts me on his insurance.

[Riq]

Having your brother in law register the bike also allows for the possibility that he can sell it for you after you depart. Should the need arise.

[stevenatleven]

Thanks Riq, it seems to be the best solution all round. we go together buy the bike he registers it and it sits in his garage. I can go out maybe a couple of times a year and do wee tours on it.

[PanEuropean]

Steve:

Be aware that if your brother does not have a motorcycle licence, he may find it difficult to get an insurance company to insure the bike.

I recently bought a 2nd motorcycle for use here in Toronto (I keep my primary motorcycle in Europe), and despite having held a motorcycle licence for 40+ years and never having had an accident, the insurance company (same darn one that has insured my car for the past 15 years) wanted me to take a motorcycle safety course before they would insure me.

When I got the bill for the moto policy, I just about fell over... $2,500 a year for the moto. Heck, I have a $100,000 car I only pay $1,900 a year to insure.

So, perhaps do a little homework and investigate insurance requirements ahead of time. Be aware that in Canada, if you cancel a motorcycle policy part-way through the year, the insurers 'short-rate' the refund. In other words, they attribute 15% of the yearly premium to each of the 5 nice summer riding months, and divide the remaining 25% of the premium amongst the 7 winter months.

Michael

[Road Hog]

How about you buy it in the US, (Montana has permanent plates and less sales tax than Canada, so would be good to check out), Insure it with one of the big US companies for a third of what they will charge you in Canada. No temporary import needed for Canada.
Bob

[stevenatleven]

Michael
Thanks for your reply, my brother does have a motorcycle licence and usually keeps a bike in the garage. It hadn,t occurred to me that it would cost so much to add another, so will look into that.
Bob I had thought about buying in the US but the temporary import part may make it difficult to leave it in Toronto indefinitely.