Canadians can benefit on car purchases

[Enlarge Photo]

The unstable automotive industry in the United States can be a benefit to Canadians looking to purchase a vehicle at a discount.

With talks of automotive bailouts, dealerships closing and many workers out of business in the states, Americans are scaling back their purchases on new or used vehicles. However, Canadians could find now is the perfect time to invest in a vehicle, especially if they venture to the U.S. to do so.

Despite the exchange rate of 85 cents U.S. to the Canadian dollar, and the costs of shipping the vehicle over the border, it could still come out more affordable to buy U.S., particularly for used middle to high-end vehicles, thanks to record-low prices.

There are some things you will have to keep in mind if you're going to purchase in the U.S., including what modifications the vehicle will need when its arrived in Canada. Because the vehicle will have to be cleared by customs, it pays to hire someone who is experienced in negotiating vehicle sales in another country. He or she can take care of the shipping, title clearance (ownership), U.S. custom paper work, Canadian customs paper, car history check, emissions test and the negotiating with the U. S. car dealership on your behalf to get you the best deal.

Research the prices of the autos you're considering to truly see if you can obtain a deal in the U.S. There are several online car buying sites where you can turn to for research purposes. It may also be beneficial to check the automotive classified ads of newspapers in cities right across the border from you, therefore you can visit dealerships or private sellers in person to gauge the condition and the price of vehicles.