Canada, California, Insurance and driving across the border?

So here's the deal:
I'm thinking about moving to Vancouver, Canada, I have a 2001 Vintage Spyder and I keep reading about the nightmare of getting the car into Canada and/or getting it registered.
It is currently registered as a 2001 in California, smogged, insured, etc.

How the hell do I get my car to a new home in Canada?
Can I just drive across the border and say 'I'm visiting friends'?
Can I stick it in the back of my trailer without a license plate and say 'it's a race car'?
Who insures these things in Canada?

Please don't tell me I have to disassemble it into small pieces and ship it as a kit, or sell it....

Anyone have any serious/accurate info about doing this?

Thanks in advance.

Joe

Getting it into Canada isn't so bad actually. Why not contact Henry at Intermeccanica and see what he knows about this. The car will require a safety check and since you are moving with the car and that it has already been licensed you will just need to drive it over or tow it over no problem. You will have 3-6 months to change the plate to a BC plate. So when you move you won't have issues. I think that since it's already licensed it'll be a snap. Canada is concerned about meeting the minimum safety standards on the roads.

As for insurance, Ron, Ron....can you guys help?

I don't know much about newer cars, but I know you will have to have it B.C. tested (at a registered garaged) and have it comply with B.C. standards before you will get insurance, which is run by the B.C. government. If you live here you will need B.C. plates and insurance.
Henry, at Intermeccancia, (as Mike mentioned) is a good source for information on this topic.
Ron

I would certainly advise you to check with the Federal government regarding bringing your car into Canada. Kit cars have special regulations re: importation into Canada, but as you are moving to Canada and bringing the car with you, this may vary. I have a feeling that you may have trouble trying to bring in a new 'kit car', as our government calls them.

To quote from the FAQ's:

"If I am an American moving to Canada and am bringing my car, what are the regulations for importation?

If you are moving permanently to Canada from the United States, your vehicle(s) must still meet the regulations for admission that Transport Canada sets. For more information contact the Registrar of Imported Vehicles at 1-888-848-8240."


Here is the URL

www.tc.gc.ca/pacific/faq/road/importation.htm#16

It will likely be classed as a you-built and not a kit car. There are restrictions for a Canadian bringing in a car that is less than 15 years old, but it you are moving to Canada, I don't think they apply.

Hey Ron and Bruce: I know that it's a little ways off, but are you two going the the VW show this year? If I don't sell my single cab by then I'm going to put it in the show, with a '4 sale' sign on it. Even if I sell it before that and end up 'aircooled'less, I still plan to go. Some old habits die hard (an old nun proverb).
Ron (the one with no speedster)

RON O , Do you know many old nuns. I had one in grammar school, we called her Sr. Mary Thunderbird.

Ron, I'm planning on going. I'm hoping to go to the drags Friday night too and see how my car does. Bruce?

What day is it? Darren was telling me about the drags on the Friday before. I thought it would be fun to get a time to. Imagine two speedsters head to head, 2332 Vs. 2275.

Bruce, it's Aug 13-15 this year.
Ron

Maybe I'll bring my single cab and show you two what 'real' acceleration is. The only problem is that it takes me 2 seconds to shift from 1st to 2nd gear (and that's even slower than Bob's shifts!!)
Ron

Shift this....

:-)

Bob, are you sticking up your middle finger? Shame on you!
Ron