Import and Labeling Changes for Vehicles

Summary#

These are the final regulations titled SOR/2020-22 that change the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations and related safety rules. They were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on February 19, 2020 and make it easier to import certain used vehicles from Mexico and the United States, update labels and definitions, and set out rules for temporary importation and tires.

What it does#

• Updates the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to allow certain used passenger vehicles from Mexico to be imported into Canada under specific conditions (the vehicles must meet particular requirements before they can be registered in a province).
• Renames and expands the prescribed class restricted-use motorcycle to restricted-use vehicle, and adds a minimum speed threshold so very slow off‑road machines are excluded from federal regulation (vehicles with a top attainable speed below 32 km/h are excluded).
• Clarifies what “date of manufacture” means by defining it as the day the vehicle’s main assembly was completed.
• Adds and clarifies paperwork and label rules for imported vehicles, including new content for compliance labels and what importers must provide before importation.
• Sets out specific permitted reasons for temporarily importing vehicles, tires, and child restraints (for example: exhibition, demonstration, evaluation, testing, and certain entertainment or construction uses), and allows, with conditions, that a temporarily imported vehicle may be donated to a museum or qualifying school.
• Allows used vehicles from the United States and certain vehicles from Mexico to be imported for dismantling into parts (they cannot then be registered for road use).
• Moves the national safety mark for vehicles and tires into the regulations and sets technical rules for how it must be applied.
• Gives tire makers the option to use the United States 13‑character Tire Identification Number (TIN) format so they do not need duplicate tooling.
• Creates exemptions and timelines in a few places, for example an importer who brings in at least 2,500 vehicles a year has streamlined reporting duties.

Note: The regulations set different coming‑into‑force timings. Many changes come into force when related amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act come into force; some labelling and the expanded restricted‑use‑vehicle rules come into force on the first anniversary of the day section 1 comes into force.

Who's affected#

• Vehicle manufacturers and importers. They must follow the changed labelling, reporting and import rules.
• Businesses that import many vehicles (those importing 2,500 or more vehicles a year get different reporting rules).
• People buying or selling used vehicles from Mexico or the United States — more used vehicles and parts may become available in Canada.
• Off‑road and recreational vehicle makers and owners, because some four‑wheeled utility vehicles are now covered by federal rules while very slow off‑road machines are not.
• Tire manufacturers, who can use the U.S. 13‑character TIN if they prefer.
• Museums and qualifying educational institutions that might receive donated vehicles imported temporarily for special purposes.

If it’s unclear whether a specific vehicle type is affected (for example some new off‑road or low‑speed machines), the regulations change the formal definitions — so affected owners or businesses should check the exact definitions in the final text or ask Transport Canada.

Why it matters#

• It reduces trade barriers by making it clearer and easier to import certain used vehicles and parts from Mexico and the United States. That may increase the supply of used vehicles and parts and could lower prices for buyers.
• It updates labelling and definitions to reduce confusion about when a vehicle is covered by Canadian safety rules (the new “date of manufacture” definition helps match regulatory language with how vehicles are built).
• Expanding the federal “restricted‑use” class brings more utility/off‑road vehicles under the federal defect-and-recall regime, which can improve safety oversight for those types of vehicles.
• Allowing the U.S. TIN format can lower manufacturing costs for tire makers and reduce duplicate tooling, which may simplify tire inventory and trade.
• The new temporary importation and donation rules make it easier for businesses, researchers, show organizers, and Canadians who own U.S.-licensed vehicles to bring vehicles into Canada briefly for testing, demonstration, or visits.