Schmlloyd: Je me souviens - Importing a car to Québec

"I remember" - this is the slogan on our new Québec license plate. I'm not sure that I understand completely what it means - perhaps a reminder of French heritage and of the struggle to maintain that heritage. But I do know that I will always remember the long journey for importing and obtaining our license plate:

Week 1

We spend several hours at the customs house. Customs agent VS 1xxx8 (for protection of privacy) charges us a $400 deposit (for what, we are not sure), completes the vehicle import form (a.k.a. Formulaire 1) and the temporary admission permit (a.k.a. Formulaire E-29B), and explains the necessary steps for completing the importation and registration process. We find out that we need appointments, a work permit, and a bill mailed to our new address to obtain drivers licenses. K gets an appointment the following week. Mine is scheduled for mid-September (ARGH!).

Week 2

We spend several hours at the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (a.k.a., SAAQ or hell). $76 gets K a temporary drivers license. They assure us that the annual fee is worth it, because insurance is included. However, nobody can really explain what it insures - and our auto insurance will most certainly be higher here. My appointment is moved up to the following week.

Week 3

I spend several hours at the SAAQ. $76 gets me a temporary drivers license (complete with insurance).

Week 4

We receive our actual drivers licenses in the mail.

Week 5

I spend several hours at a mechanic getting the car inspected so that we can obtain an acertificat de vérification mécanique. We fail the inspection - no day running lights. I am told I have 48 hours to have them installed. I pay him $100 and go across the street to another mechanic to have them installed. He tells me he cannot do it because he needs the national inspection form, which I received at the border. I explain that we did not receive any forms at the border and that I just need him to install day running lights. He yells at me in three different languages. I leave. I go back to the original mechanic, who calls the jerk mechanic - they decide I need the national inspection form. I go home, call customs - they tell me to send a copy of the Formulaire 1, a letter from the manufacturer confirming that there are no outstanding recalls, and $204 and in 5-7 days, they will mail the national inspection form. I explain that the box named "not required to enter the registrar of imported vehicles program" is checked on Formulaire 1. He says, "oh, then I guess you don't need to complete the national inspection form." I call a third mechanic to have the day running lights installed.

Week 6

We pay $171 to have the day running lights installed. I go back to the first mechanic. He tries to charge me $28 to verify that the stinking day running lights work. I argue. He charges me $5 for the inspection sticker. We go back to the SAAQ. They won't register our car because we don't have the document du Ministère du Revenu du Québec (a.k.a. Revenue Québec .... IRS). I have a meltdown and curse Québec under my breath. K sends me to the car.

(Historical reenactment of the meltdown)

Week 7 (this week)

We take a trip to the Revenu Québec, expecting the worst. Surprise - no taxes are charged (however, we suspect that we will be required to pay taxes on the car at some point, perhaps when we become permanent residents). We go to a different SAAQ and after several hours, pay $305, and surrender the "title" to our car, we receive our registration and drivers license.

What happens when insanity (driven by bureaucracy) and victory collide ...