As someone who's done it twice, I can tell you it's not a simple thing but it can be done. You may want to check the price difference between a new (or barely used) Murano in Canada and what you paid in the US. My guess is the car either cost the same thing, or less, in the US, so you're probably better off importing it.
This
website has the basic info to help you out. Basically you need to export the car out of the US (which has its own set of requirements), then you need to import it into Canada (2nd set of requirements), then you need to get plates/register it in a province (3rd set of requirements -- these obviously differ from one province to another).
Export car out of the US, you need:
- Title (in some states, means you can't have a lien registered on the vehicle otherwise you won't get it; in other states, you may have the title but also need a letter from the lienholder saying they let you move to Canada)
- Send the original title to the CBP center you'll be crossing the border at. They need to get it 72 hours before you cross. Call to make sure they get it.
- Bring bill of sale as well, though we didn't need it last time. Make sure VIN on title and bill of sale matches what's in the car.
- Get there, show the car and ID, they stamp the title and give it back to you, that's it. No cost.
Import car to Canada, you need:
- Stamped title
- Recall clearance letter from Nissan USA (with VIN)
- Make sure vehicle can be imported at
www.riv.ca.
- Show up at border, you can then pay the (IIRC) CDN$195 RIV fee, along with 5% GST on assessed value, which will either be the price you paid minus 10,000 or blue book value minus 10,000 (not sure how much leeway border guards have there). You may also have to pay 6.1% duty if the car was made outside North America, if the guards think about it (didn't happen last time with our Japan-built Mazda). You may also have to pay other taxes (CDN$100 if your car has A/C, more if it's not fuel-efficient enough)
- They'll give you a stamped Vehicle Import Form 1. 10 days later they'll send you a Form 2 through regular mail. Take both, along with title, recall clearance letter, bill of sale to a Canadian Tire for federal inspection. That part is supposed to be free, but they'll tell you if you need to have anything done on your car to pass inspection (including safety stuff, automatic day lights, and other Canada DOT things)
- If you pass federal inspection, that's it, you car is imported. They'll give you a stamped form 2 back.
Registration, every province is different but roughly:
- Take the car to a mechanic for provincial inspection (some provinces including Quebec have a rather short list of authorized mechanics for that). They'll basically do much of the same stuff as federal inspection did but may charge you for that (Quebec = $100). They'll give you a stamped form.
- Go to a provincial DOT office to register you car. You need everything you got along the way. You may need to pay PST on the assessed federal value as well, along with any 'regular' registration costs.
So basically, (all $CDN)
Sure costs = RIV fee ($195) + GST (5% over $10,000) + provincial inspection + regular registration fee
Possible costs = PST + any changes needed to comply to Canadian standards + 6.1% duty for cars built out of NA.
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