Moving to the USA with leased car

findtom · 07-05-2007, 10:02 PM

I'm not moving immediately but have accepted a job for a company based in California.

Any idea what my options are? Can I do it officially? or bring it temporarily and return it in Canada when the lease is up?

I'm going to call BMW Finance tomorrow but somehow I don't think I'm going to like their official answer. I know I could probably buy out the lease, but I really don't want to (it has had bodywork done twice, plus I drive the car like it's a stolen rental pretty much)... plus I would like to get a new car in just over a year when the lease is up anyway.

halB · 07-05-2007, 10:06 PM

It says clearly on your lease that you cannot export the car to a different country including USA. Besides, you cannot register it there because the ownership paper says BMW Financial is the owner, you only own the license plate. IMO your best bet is to find someone to assume your lease and get something else once you are down there.

findtom · 07-08-2007, 12:29 AM

What about just bringing it down there and returning it in Canada when the lease is up?

My lease will be hard to transfer...

GuyOh · 07-08-2007, 01:27 AM

dont move

Bimmerista · 07-10-2007, 10:02 AM

I am 99% sure that the export prohibition has an exception where the original leasee moves to the US.

From memory someone else did the same the opposite direction (going to Alberta).

But best bet is to call them.

Besides, since you prepaid, how are they gonna do anything about it? At the dealer in Calif for service just say you moved there and are a new customer-they will take care of you.

Hawkshaw · 07-10-2007, 10:57 AM

I'm actually in the process of interviewing for jobs in Charlotte, NC. However, my 330 is financed, so I can either bring it with me or sell it before going. With the exchange rate what it is, I can probably sell it and use the revenue to pay cash for a similarly equipped 335i when I get there.

I'd bring it with me, but I'd be concerned about finding a buyer when I go to sell eventually - who down there wants a car whose speedo is in KM/h???

I'm actually thinking of doing the unthinkable...selling the 330 here and paying cash for a G35 in Charlotte...about 10K cheaper (USD) than the 335.

!Xoible · 07-10-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by findtom

I'm not moving immediately but have accepted a job for a company based in California.

Any idea what my options are? Can I do it officially? or bring it temporarily and return it in Canada when the lease is up?

I'm going to call BMW Finance tomorrow but somehow I don't think I'm going to like their official answer. I know I could probably buy out the lease, but I really don't want to (it has had bodywork done twice, plus I drive the car like it's a stolen rental pretty much)... plus I would like to get a new car in just over a year when the lease is up anyway.

it shouldnt matter. i *think* you can return the car to any certified bmw dealer.
call up your dealer to make sure.

findtom · 07-10-2007, 01:15 PM

Thanks guys, I'm still waiting for the contract to come through for the job but I'll call BMW and find out when it does.

findtom · 07-10-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

I'm actually in the process of interviewing for jobs in Charlotte, NC. However, my 330 is financed, so I can either bring it with me or sell it before going. With the exchange rate what it is, I can probably sell it and use the revenue to pay cash for a similarly equipped 335i when I get there.

I'd bring it with me, but I'd be concerned about finding a buyer when I go to sell eventually - who down there wants a car whose speedo is in KM/h???

I'm actually thinking of doing the unthinkable...selling the 330 here and paying cash for a G35 in Charlotte...about 10K cheaper (USD) than the 335.

Unless you love the car and want to keep it a long time I would sell the car in your position. Given the current exchange and price difference you'd be taking a hit on the value the minute it crosses the border.... plus the car being of canadian origins probably wouldn't help the value even relative to similar cars in the US.

selmar · 07-10-2007, 07:44 PM

I stand to be corrected but I believe you'd probably be ahead of the game if you sold your current car and picked up the same thing in the US as it is cheaper to buy/lease one down there regardless of the exchange. All those taxes and stuff.

Hawkshaw · 07-11-2007, 06:59 AM

Definitely ahead of the game. Sticker on a new 335i similarly equipped to my 330i is about $47k in the states, and a fully loaded G35 is around $37k. I'd hope to get more than $47K for my 330i (13,000 km, prem, sport, nav, bluetooth & bmw assist, 6MT), which would make the whole thing almost cost neutral if I bought a 335i, and I'd even "make" $10k if I went with the G35.

kalch · 07-11-2007, 03:05 PM

get rid of the car on leasebusters, or finance the buyout and sell-it and purchase a car down there.

Don't think about what you paid, and if you're losing any money, that'd hurt too much. Just take the money, and get the car you want down there. A guy's gotta drive, y'know.

07-05-2007, 10:02 PM	#1
findtom Colonel 129 Rep 2,658 Posts Drives: E60 545i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 545i [0.00]	Moving to the USA with leased car I'm not moving immediately but have accepted a job for a company based in California. Any idea what my options are? Can I do it officially? or bring it temporarily and return it in Canada when the lease is up? I'm going to call BMW Finance tomorrow but somehow I don't think I'm going to like their official answer. I know I could probably buy out the lease, but I really don't want to (it has had bodywork done twice, plus I drive the car like it's a stolen rental pretty much)... plus I would like to get a new car in just over a year when the lease is up anyway. __________________ http://www.eyesonwalls.com 1991 Suzuki Sidekick -> 1996 Nissan Altima -> 1997 Volvo S70 -> 2006 BMW 325i -> 2005 BMW 545i -> 2008 Mercedes ML550 -> 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
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07-05-2007, 10:06 PM	#2
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	It says clearly on your lease that you cannot export the car to a different country including USA. Besides, you cannot register it there because the ownership paper says BMW Financial is the owner, you only own the license plate. IMO your best bet is to find someone to assume your lease and get something else once you are down there. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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07-08-2007, 12:29 AM	#3
findtom Colonel 129 Rep 2,658 Posts Drives: E60 545i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 545i [0.00]	What about just bringing it down there and returning it in Canada when the lease is up? My lease will be hard to transfer... __________________ http://www.eyesonwalls.com 1991 Suzuki Sidekick -> 1996 Nissan Altima -> 1997 Volvo S70 -> 2006 BMW 325i -> 2005 BMW 545i -> 2008 Mercedes ML550 -> 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
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07-08-2007, 01:27 AM	#4
GuyOh Colonel 1067 Rep 2,313 Posts Drives: 2016 LB M2 / 2020 X5 40i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver B.C. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M2 [10.00] 2020 Bmw X5 40i [0.00]	dont move
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07-10-2007, 10:02 AM	#5
Bimmerista Major General 83 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	I am 99% sure that the export prohibition has an exception where the original leasee moves to the US. From memory someone else did the same the opposite direction (going to Alberta). But best bet is to call them. Besides, since you prepaid, how are they gonna do anything about it? At the dealer in Calif for service just say you moved there and are a new customer-they will take care of you. __________________ __________________________ 2016 435 xdrive GC white on black leather interior, Msport1, Msport2, premium package 2015 Lincoln MKX, silver on brown leather, premium package - that's right! Techno-Groovy baby
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07-10-2007, 10:57 AM	#6
Hawkshaw Major 100 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I'm actually in the process of interviewing for jobs in Charlotte, NC. However, my 330 is financed, so I can either bring it with me or sell it before going. With the exchange rate what it is, I can probably sell it and use the revenue to pay cash for a similarly equipped 335i when I get there. I'd bring it with me, but I'd be concerned about finding a buyer when I go to sell eventually - who down there wants a car whose speedo is in KM/h??? I'm actually thinking of doing the unthinkable...selling the 330 here and paying cash for a G35 in Charlotte...about 10K cheaper (USD) than the 335. __________________ Paul
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07-10-2007, 01:15 PM	#8
findtom Colonel 129 Rep 2,658 Posts Drives: E60 545i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 545i [0.00]	Thanks guys, I'm still waiting for the contract to come through for the job but I'll call BMW and find out when it does. __________________ http://www.eyesonwalls.com 1991 Suzuki Sidekick -> 1996 Nissan Altima -> 1997 Volvo S70 -> 2006 BMW 325i -> 2005 BMW 545i -> 2008 Mercedes ML550 -> 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
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07-10-2007, 07:44 PM	#10
selmar Private First Class 1 Rep 134 Posts Drives: 335i 2dr MT Sapphire Black Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	I stand to be corrected but I believe you'd probably be ahead of the game if you sold your current car and picked up the same thing in the US as it is cheaper to buy/lease one down there regardless of the exchange. All those taxes and stuff. __________________ 2007 335i - 2dr/MT/Sapphire Black/Saddle Brown Dakota/Brushed Aluminum/Sport pkg/19" OEM 230/35% Tint/Clear face mask Retired: 2004 330Ci - 2dr/MT/Silver Grey/M Sport
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07-11-2007, 06:59 AM	#11
Hawkshaw Major 100 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Definitely ahead of the game. Sticker on a new 335i similarly equipped to my 330i is about $47k in the states, and a fully loaded G35 is around $37k. I'd hope to get more than $47K for my 330i (13,000 km, prem, sport, nav, bluetooth & bmw assist, 6MT), which would make the whole thing almost cost neutral if I bought a 335i, and I'd even "make" $10k if I went with the G35. __________________ Paul
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07-11-2007, 03:05 PM	#12
kalch Lieutenant 23 Rep 528 Posts Drives: Gracie:E92 335 19" S/P/FL/CA Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: TORONTO iTrader: (0)	get rid of the car on leasebusters, or finance the buyout and sell-it and purchase a car down there. Don't think about what you paid, and if you're losing any money, that'd hurt too much. Just take the money, and get the car you want down there. A guy's gotta drive, y'know. __________________ E92 335 SPACE GRAY/BLK; 6MT; PREMIUM 19" SPORT PACKAGE;6FL;COMFORT ACCESS
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