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  #1  
Old 16 Feb 2018
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BC makes it easy to buy, register and insure, but beware
It would be difficult to find the motorcycle of your choice in the maritimes provinces, Manitoba and Saskatchewan because they have a small population

Forget Alberta and Ontario. They request the provincial driver's license to register and insure a motor vehicle.

Forget Quebec, you would have a very difficult time to get insurance.

Yes it is possible to buy register and insure a motorcycle in British Colombia and no need of a provincial driver's license if you are a tourist. It's straight foward. If you buy new, you only need the bill of sale, if you buy used, just show up with the seller

You can register and buy insurance for terms of 3,6,months in 15 minutes with ICBC mandatories.

Make sure you bring with you a statement of your insurance to get a rebate, otherwise, newbe raate, and it's costly.

Make sure you pay with a credit card if you want to be reimburse instlantly when you sell the motorcycle or you no longer require registration and insurance.

Never pay cash or by debit card, because they send you a refund to you mailing address.
Last edited by poorbuthappy; 16 Feb 2018 at 02:52.
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  #2  
Old 17 Feb 2018
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Thanks very much to all of you. I must admit I thought I'd come with some cash to any place in Canada and would easily buy and register a bike...

Originally I wanted to start the trip in Quebec in order to ride West across Canada, then South along the Pacific coast.
So this would be feasable only if I can get an insurance in Quebec - which is impossible, is that correct?

I could change the plan and start the trip from British Colombia. However in that case I'd be able to vsit Canada only on my way back. If I ever get back

Please help me understanding that ad for a DR650 in BC:

- The ad highlights CAD$ 6299
- The small prints show FRT/PDI/Doc $900 combined. Total price $7199 plus taxes.

What is that FRT/PDI/Doc? How much will I end paying if I buy this bike?
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  #3  
Old 17 Feb 2018
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FRT is freight, PDI is pre-delivery inspection, DOC is documentation.
These guys think they can bill you to complete a Bill of Sale, quite common in Canada. For me, if I am buying from a dealer (not often), is the part I am going to haggle on.
Taxes are 12% in BC.
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  #4  
Old 3 Mar 2018
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I am planning on doing the same, buy a KLR from a dealer in Montreal and ride up to Alaska.
I spoke on the phone to insurance companies and some sort of administration responsible for all the insurers in QC specifically emphasizing that I'm a EU citizen . They all tell me it is very well possible to insure a bike as a foreigner in QC. Some MIGHT not cover you for theft though.

I got an online quote for said KLR of $22 CAD per month.
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  #5  
Old 3 Mar 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bell driver View Post
I got an online quote for said KLR of $22 CAD per month.
If that's true, they sure have a lot lower rates in Quebec than here in BC. I'm paying about 4x that for basic liability on my 650, and I have a 43% safe drivers discount from the base rate. Damn you, ICBC!
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  #6  
Old 6 Mar 2018
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Some good info here.

I too want to buy in Canada and BC would suit me as a start and finish point since I have huge loop of North America planned as opposed to one way ride.

By chance would anyone be from BC and have suggestions on a dealership I might enquire regarding buyback arrangement or the best online bike sales site for private sales.

Thanks.
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  #7  
Old 15 Mar 2018
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Things are going forward - slightly.
I've spotted an ad for a DR 650 in BC that has many accessories I'd fit anyway: larger tank, squid plate, rear rack - and even a lower comfort seat...
I don't think I'll come again across such a nice combination.

Alas, I won't be in BC before end of June.
I'm trying to negociate by email with the seller that she (lady) stores the bike in her garage until early this summer, but realize it's rather unexpected.

What can I do? Is there a garaging option near Vancouver/Victoria that I could use? Someone collecting the bike and keeping it for me during 3 months?
Or maybe I can ask the owner to drop the bike at a dealer who could also perform a service on the bike?

Hmm Any suggestion?
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  #8  
Old 20 May 2018
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Originally Posted by poorbuthappy View Post
Forget Alberta and Ontario. They request the provincial driver's license to register and insure a motor vehicle.
Alberta: i had zero issues insuring my G650X Challenge with my Hong Kong (& international) drivers License, albeit i had to pay a higher price due to non Albertia license, but it was still cheaper then changing over.
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  #9  
Old 20 May 2018
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I would recommend not buying in Canada, but buying in the USA instead. With a US bike, you can sell it in any country to anyone from any country and they can get a new title and registration and plates in their own name by mail from anywhere. That's a really big deal!
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  #10  
Old 20 May 2018
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Originally Posted by VicMitch View Post
...they can get a new title and registration and plates in their own name by mail from anywhere....
This is not true. It may be possible to get a new title and registration by mail in some of the 50 US states, but it is certainly not possible in all of them. Caveat emptor.

FWIW, I also suggest buying in the USA, all things being equal. Prices are generally lower, availability is generally better, and transfer and registration are generally easier--again, depending on the specific state.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #11  
Old 15 Aug 2018
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I'm now in Vancouver and picked up the bike yesterday, thought I'd post a quick follow-up.

What I can say is that the whole process was pretty easy: within an hour or so I was riding the bike on open roads with plate number and insurance.

So buying a bike in BC as a foreigner is easy, but one thing to keep in mind: insurance in BC is the most expensive in Canada and cost me a kidney although I have a clean claim history. A kidney, I mean it.

If I had to do it again, I'd look at buying the bike in Quebec. Prices in general are lower in Quebec but insurance is harder to get when you're a foreigner - from what I heard. Potential savings are probably worth the extra effort.
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  #12  
Old 9 Sep 2018
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Sorry you got caught in our dumpster fire!
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  #13  
Old 19 Jan 2019
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Prices in QC are lower, but the annual registration costs about $550.
I tried that trick...
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  #14  
Old 9 Jan 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NicoGSX View Post
I'm now in Vancouver and picked up the bike yesterday, thought I'd post a quick follow-up.

What I can say is that the whole process was pretty easy: within an hour or so I was riding the bike on open roads with plate number and insurance.

So buying a bike in BC as a foreigner is easy, but one thing to keep in mind: insurance in BC is the most expensive in Canada and cost me a kidney although I have a clean claim history. A kidney, I mean it.

If I had to do it again, I'd look at buying the bike in Quebec. Prices in general are lower in Quebec but insurance is harder to get when you're a foreigner - from what I heard. Potential savings are probably worth the extra effort.
Hi Nico,

Can I ask how much the insurance cost you? Im thinking of doing similar and buying in Vancouver.
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