Moving from Canada to the USA — 2026 Cross-Border Guide

What you'll pay

Cross-border ground transport is fundamentally different from ocean shipping — it's faster, often cheaper, and uses different documentation. Most Canada→USA moves go by truck, not container.

CBP Form 3299 — the duty-free shortcut

This is the biggest cost-saver most cross-border movers don't know about. Under CBP regulations, your used personal and household effects enter the United States duty-free if:

• You've owned and used the items for at least 1 year
• You're transferring residence to the United States
• You file CBP Form 3299 (Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles)
• The move occurs within 10 years of your last arrival in the US (25-year hard cap)

Important: the 1-year-of-use rule doesn't need to be continuous, and doesn't need to be the year immediately before the move. So items you owned 5 years ago and recently re-started using still qualify.

Form 3299 is filed by your forwarder (us) or the trucking company on your behalf. You provide the detailed inventory; we handle the paperwork.

Transit timeline

• Day 0 — Pickup at your Canadian home, packing materials supplied, inventory created
• Day 1–3 — Goods consolidated at our Oakville warehouse, CBP Form 3299 prepared
• Day 3–5 — Truck departs Oakville, customs clearance at land border (typically Windsor / Detroit, Niagara, or Lewiston)
• Day 5–12 — Drive to US destination (varies dramatically by distance: ~1 day to Chicago, ~5 days to California)
• Day 12–14 — Delivery to your US home

What you can — and can't — bring

✓ Yes:

• Furniture, mattresses, kitchen items, books, clothing (owned >1 year for duty-free)
• Most electronics — Canadian-bought TVs, laptops, kitchen appliances work in the US (both are 120V)
• Tools, bikes, sporting goods, musical instruments
• Sealed wine/spirits in moderate personal-use quantities (but tax/duty applies — declare)
• Art, antiques (proper documentation; CITES check for any ivory/exotic materials)

✗ No:

• Plants, fresh fruits/vegetables, meat (USDA biosecurity)
• Cannabis — even with valid Canadian medical use, possession at the US border is a federal offense
• Firearms — require ATF Form 6 import permit, advance approval; not handled by us
• Aerosols, propane tanks, lithium batteries above certain capacities
• Counterfeit or "knock-off" branded goods (CBP confiscates on sight)

Vehicle import — separate process

Importing your Canadian car into the USA is a separate workflow from household goods, with its own requirements:

• DOT compliance (HS-7): Vehicle must meet US Department of Transportation safety standards. Canadian vehicles are typically compliant since the manufacturer specs are the same, but you'll need the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin or registration as proof.
• EPA compliance (Form 3520-1): Vehicle must meet EPA emissions standards. Canadian vehicles ≥25 years old are exempt. Newer vehicles need the EPA certificate.
• Recall check: All open NHTSA recalls must be resolved before import.
• Title transfer: The Canadian title is surrendered; you'll apply for a new US state title in your destination state.

Most Canadian-made vehicles (Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM built in Canada) cross with minimal friction. Cars built specifically for Canada (with Canadian-only specs) sometimes need modifications.

5 mistakes that cost cross-border movers thousands

1. Vague inventory descriptions

"Household goods x 30 boxes" gets flagged at the border. CBP officers may want to open and inspect. Itemized inventory ("kitchen — pots, pans; bedroom — sheets, pillows") clears in minutes; vague inventory takes hours.

2. Cannabis at the border

Even with Canadian medical use, federal law prohibits cannabis possession at the US border. CBP can ban you from entry for life. Empty your home of any cannabis products before the move.

3. Underestimating the truck vs ocean cost difference

Some movers assume ocean container shipping is cheaper for everything. For Canada→USA, ground trucking is typically 30-50% cheaper AND 2-3 weeks faster. Use a truck unless you're shipping antiques requiring specialized crating.

4. Forgetting to register vehicles in destination state within deadline

Most US states require vehicle registration within 30-60 days of establishing residency. Miss the window and you face late penalties. Build this into your moving calendar.

5. Not factoring TN visa or other immigration issues into the timeline

If you need work authorization (TN, H-1B, L-1), get the visa BEFORE shipping household goods. Items can sit at the border for weeks if your immigration status is unclear.

Ready to move?

We move Canadians to the USA regularly — from Vancouver to Los Angeles, Toronto to New York, anywhere in between. Fill out our quote form with your move size and destination — we'll come back with a firm truck-based door-to-door price plus a clear CBP Form 3299 plan.

Questions we didn't cover? Reach out.