Hi new to the forum here. I'm originally from Toronto but currently working in Hong Kong.
Recently picked up a really nice 2008 JDM AP2 in berlina black with only 2 previous owners and around 40,000km on the clock. Wound definitely love to keep the car in the long run.
The thing is, I might move back to Toronto (likely permanently) in a few years time... and would love to bring the car along.
Does anyone have any experience in importing a right hand drive car into Canada? What's the process like and the associated costs?

 

There are places that import them. Never seen someone do it themselves. Just google there are a few around. Which ones are good or bad I have no clue.

 

If you move back in 2023, the car will be 15 years old and you won't need to deal with RIV. While not that difficult to do, its less work for you. If you're moving to Ontario, you'll need to have a safety done and pay your provincial and federal tax.

You will need to find an importer who can put the car in a shipping container for you. I would aggressively use some undercoating product to spray on metal parts to prevent rust on the trip over. Remember, the car will be exposed to a salty environment for who knows how long while on the container ship. I'm just shooting from the hip here but I'd perhaps contact a Canadian JDM importer for more advice- they do this all day long and will likely be a wealth of information- don't reinvent the wheel if you don't have to.

good luck and report back on the process.
darcy

 

sounds like a nice find. When you get it to Toronto just avoid turning left at intersections, lol. That would scare me enough not to use a RHD vehicle in this country. Good luck with your plan to bring it here.

 

An s2000 like yours fetch over 350,000HKD easily. That is almost 60,000CAD if you think about it. With 60,000CAD, you'd have no problem finding one that is equal (if not better) condition than the one you have currently
I know how we can be emotionally attached to cars, but I'd suggest selling it and getting a LHD s2000 back here instead.
Reason for that is because:
1) Transportation + Insurance expenses (and risk of damage)
2) Obtaining insurance for RHD here is an absolute chaos

 

Thank you guys for all the input!
ATNCHN does have a good point though. Probably not worth all the trouble and money to bring it into Canada... It's just sad coming across such a low mileage / good condition S2000 and having to part ways with it in just a few years time.
I'll give this some more thought and will update everyone in the future.

By the way, what's the price and demand for S2000 / S2000 OEM parts like in Canada? I presume its going up with time?
Currently in Hong Kong, we can still get plenty of JDM OEM parts from Japan for pretty fair prices. I'm just afraid that by the time when I'm back, good condition S2000s and original parts will be much more scarce and too expensive for me to afford hahah..
(and let's be honest, who would want to drive anything else after owning an S2000 :P)

 

Compared to similar cars of this era is say parts are fairly cheap. Except the hardtop, engine, front lip, etc...

 

There is a company in Pickering,ON does import on right hand drive car from Japan, i made a delivery to them for an old GTR (my first right hand drive), srry can't remember the name, if i hear it I'll remember type deal. I'll update if i remember, hopefully before you find them lol found it!!

 

Contacted them a few days ago, still waiting for their reply.
Been reading up on the process and costs of getting a RHD vehicle on the road in ontario, and apparently the insurance costs something like 300-500 CAD PER MONTH!?
Is that true based on your experience?
If that's the case then i'd probably sell my current car when i leave hong kong and try to find another here..
Also, was talking to a s2000 owner who moved from hong kong to california, apparently brown interior (which my car has; 08 AP2 berlina black with brown interior) never made it to north america.
He said he'd import the car just because of the brown interior alone haha. But still, if the cost of insurance is that much i'd have second thoughts.


Heres a photo of the car under the hong kong skyline:

 

Not sure how right hand drive would affect insurance rate, call n get a quote. And never heard how the interior bump up the rate. I just insure my 01 for $70 for 1 way, was told i would need an appraisal to get full coverage.