MOTO CANADA receives many calls from Canadians wishing to import motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, and mopeds into Canada from foreign countries. Many of these potential importers are surprised to learn that there are regulations that must be met as a condition of admitting these vehicles into Canada. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and regulations administered by Transport Canada establish the safety standards for vehicles manufactured and imported into Canada. Under this legislation, the importer is responsible to ensure that the vehicles imported comply with the applicable standards, prior to their importation into Canada. A commercial importer is also responsible for issuing a notice of defect (recall) for any defect in the design or manufacture of the vehicle after it is sold in Canada.
The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) was created by Transport Canada to administer the RIV program. The web site provides access to information regarding the permanent importation of vehicles originally manufactured for distribution in the U.S. market into Canada.