Buying a Boat in Mexico (or any country outside of Canada)

Prairie Virgin Sailor

Prairie Virgin Sailor

.
Feb 3, 2021
71
West Wight Potter 19 Lloydminster
I am Canadian. I want to drive to Mexico and buy a sailboat. I do not plan on ever bringing the boat back to Canada. Is it possible to buy a boat in Mexico (or some other country) and register, insure, etc. it there? I have no intention of ever sailing the boat back to Canada, but would like to sail around the Caribbean a bit. I do not want to register/insure the boat in Canada because of the additional taxed I would have to pay for a Canadian registration. My understanding is, you need appropriate insurance, registration, etc. on your boat before entering other countries. Could I get everything I need on a Mexican bought boat? Can anyone offer up any knowledge, advice, or experience re this matter?
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,016
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Prairie Virgin Sailor said:
I do not want to register/insure the boat in Canada because of the additional taxed I would have to pay for a Canadian registration.
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Not true. You can license (provincial) or register (Canadian Federal) without paying import tax. The tax is only due if you bring the boat into Canada. That might be the easiest way for you to do what you plan.

My experience: I moved from SF to BC in 2016, and brought my boat up from California later that year. I kept my California State registration until it expired in Dec. 2017. I went back and forth between the Gulf and San Juans in 2016 and 2017, no issues. In early 2018 I licensed (BC province) my boat here in BC. I had to pay the import tax then; I was reminded of this by the Canadian CBSA when I returned from my first trip to the San Juans in 2018.


 
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Prairie Virgin Sailor

Prairie Virgin Sailor

.
Feb 3, 2021
71
West Wight Potter 19 Lloydminster
Stu Jackson said:
Not true. You can license (provincial) or register (Canadian Federal) without paying import tax. The tax is only due if you bring the boat into Canada. That might be the easiest way for you to do what you plan.

My experience: I moved from SF to BC in 2016, and brought my boat up from California later that year. I kept my California State registration until it expired in Dec. 2017. I went back and forth between the Gulf and San Juans in 2016 and 2017, no issues. In early 2018 I licensed (BC province) my boat here in BC. I had to pay the import tax then; I was reminded of this by the Canadian CBSA when I returned from my first trip to the San Juans in 2018.
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Very helpful information. Thanks a million, that does indeed solve a significant concern I was having. Much appreciated.
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,100
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Stu Jackson said:
I had to pay the import tax then; I was reminded of this by the Canadian CBSA when I returned from my first trip to the San Juans in 2018.
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Oh my. I presume that you are out on parole these days!
:)
 
Kaysirin

Kaysirin

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Jun 5, 2022
11
Hunter 25-2 Vancouver BC
Prairie Virgin Sailor said:
I do not want to register/insure the boat in Canada because of the additional taxed I would have to pay for a Canadian registration.
Click to expand
If it's a pleasure yacht with a 10hp engine or lower, You could still insure the boat and not be required to register and pay the pst/gst. If it's trailer able, the only registration and tax required, would be for the trailer itself for its use on the roads.

:beer:Cheers from BC, best of luck to you in your endeavors!
 
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