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Buying and registering a motorbike in Canada Buying and registering a motorbike in Canada
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  #1  
Old 13 Feb 2018
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Buying and registering a motorbike in Canada
Good day,

Like many fellow riders on this forum, I'm seriously considering doing a bigger trip on a motorbike. This year in June/July would be the right time as I could free myself from work - and as time is passing by I'm not getting any younger

I've searched answers to the questions I have on the forum and on the internet more generally, but can't get a final statement as there seems to be conflicting reports. I'm sorry if this has already been answered here.

My idea would be to buy a motorbike in Canada and register/get plates in Canada also. Then I'd take the bike South down to Argentina (and maybe back to Canada).
I'm not a Canadian citizen and I've actually never been to Canada.

- Can I buy and register a motorbike in Canada? If I buy new, can the dealer arrange for me the paperwork and get the plates so that I'm ready to start as soon as I arrive at the shop?

- Will I be able to buy a Canadian insurance? I have an international driving license. Is the standard Canadian insurance also valid in the US?

- If for example I buy this DR650 advertised here for CAD 6300, what's going to be the final cost including registration, third-party insurance and all existing taxes and fees?

Thanks for any hint!

Nick
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  #2  
Old 14 Feb 2018
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Where in Canada? It's a fairly big place, and each province has different licencing and insurance requirements.
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  #3  
Old 14 Feb 2018
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Most foreign owned Canadian vehicles down south are registered in British Colombia so they obviously make it easy to do. Mandatory liability insurance is coupled to the registration process so that is one less thing to worry about although that would not cover comprehensive insurance. That would also cover you for the USA although you might have to declare that to the insurer. In Mexico and further south you will have to get approved liability insurance either at the border or on-line - and same for countries further south.

The BC department of motor vehicles - ICBC - has full details on their web site

The flip side of easy to buy is said to be close to impossible to sell if people or vehicle are outside BC
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  #4  
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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  #5  
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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  #6  
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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  #7  
Old 20 May 2018
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Quote:
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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  #8  
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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