Bringing a Canadian RV or Boat into the United States

Updated October 18, 2026 · Canada → U.S. · RVs, trailers and boats

Whether you are selling a Canadian-built RV to a U.S. buyer, retiring south or moving a boat to a U.S. lake, the U.S. process asks three questions: does the vehicle meet U.S. safety standards, does its engine meet U.S. emissions rules, and what duty applies? The paperwork is manageable if you know which form answers which question.

This is the Canada-to-U.S. companion to Importing a U.S. RV into Canada. For an overview in both directions, see the import and export guide.

Vehicles under 25 years old must generally meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), including the bumper standard for vehicles made after September 1, 1978 and theft-prevention marking from model year 1987. The 25-year exemption is counted from the date of manufacture, which goes in box 1 of the Department of Transportation form HS-7.

NHTSA’s importation FAQs do not describe a “Canadian compliance letter” for RVs (that concept appears only for right-hand-drive vehicles), so be wary of a seller or broker who says one is required. Ask NHTSA or the manufacturer what proof they will accept. The DOT import hotline is (202) 366-5291.

• EPA Form 3520-1 covers passenger vehicles, highway motorcycles and light-duty engines. Code E is for vehicles 21 years or older. Codes EE and FF are for Canadian vehicles identical to the U.S. version; for model year 2002 and later you need a letter from the manufacturer’s U.S. representative. Code M is for immigrants, workers and students bringing in their own vehicle.
• EPA Form 3520-21 covers nonroad and heavy-duty highway engines and recreational vehicles. Marine engines fall within the nonroad categories.
• Motorhomes: the correct form depends on the chassis and engine. Do not guess; ask EPA at (734) 214-4100 or a broker.

A trailer has no engine, so the engine-emissions forms do not apply to the trailer itself. Some guides say a trailer needs EPA Form 3520-1. That is not correct: the form is for engines and vehicles with engines. What does matter for a trailer is its safety certification label, which should be on the forward half of the left side, and the DOT form HS-7 you file at entry.

• Engine: check whether EPA Form 3520-21 applies to the outboard or inboard engine.
• Trailer: treat it as a separate vehicle with its own VIN, label and HS-7.
• Ownership: bring the bill of sale and the Canadian licence or registration papers.
• Duty: we could not confirm the current rate for pleasure boats on an official page; your broker or CBP can classify the boat.
• Invasive species: clean, drain and dry the boat and trailer before crossing.

CBP’s importing-a-car page lists the general documents: bill of sale, foreign registration, EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7. Add the manufacturer’s compliance proof and, for a boat, the proof of ownership. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also requires a clean undercarriage, so wash off soil and plant material before you cross. If the vehicle is financed, bring the lender’s written consent.

CBP’s importing-a-car page lists 2.5% for cars and 25% for trucks. RVs, trailers and boats are classified separately, and the duty depends on that classification, where the unit was made and whether it qualifies under CUSMA. Some tariffs now also apply to metal content in camping trailers and to certain RV components. Read the tariff snapshot, then ask a broker for a written estimate based on the exact unit before the sale closes.

CBSA’s published exporter guidance covers commercial goods and does not address personal vehicles. For a vehicle or boat you own, phone CBSA (1-800-461-9999) to ask what it needs from you, then:

• Ask your province how to cancel the registration and return or retire the plates.
• Check any lien with your lender, in writing.
• For a boat, contact Transport Canada about closing the vessel registry entry or cancelling the pleasure craft licence.
• Cancel Canadian insurance only after the unit is across and insured in the U.S.

After entry, the unit has to be titled and registered in the state where it will live. Each state has its own requirements and sales or use tax, so ask the state motor-vehicle office, or the state boating agency for a boat, which documents it wants from the CBP entry. Keep every stamped form.

• Assuming a trailer needs an engine-emissions form.
• Not checking for a compliance label before you buy or sell.
• Using the wrong date: the 25-year rule counts from manufacture, not from the model year.
• Quoting an old duty rate for boats.
• Forgetting that the boat trailer is a separate vehicle.
• Showing up with a dirty undercarriage.

• CBP: importing a car
• NHTSA: importation and certification FAQs
• EPA: importing vehicles and engines