Canadian Trailer Pre-Clearance program

Transport Canada has a pre-clearance program for boat trailers entering Canada. To meet the program requirements, importers must:

  • Be distributors in Canada of the OEM
  • Meet the obligations of other government departments
  • Use the NVIS (New Vehicle Information Statement) as the only titling document for pre-clearance

Following is the complete list of requirements for phase one of the boat trailer pre-clearance review:

  • Submission of essential registration documents (the same documents requested in item 1 of the pre-clearance application):

o   Foreign Manufacturers Registration Form

o   Canadian Importer Registration

  •   Formal declaration on the U.S. company letterhead confirming that:

o   The company’s designation as a Designated Importer(DI),

o   The effective date of the agreement

o   Acknowledgment that the DI will be responsible for all certification documents and compliance records and the issuance of Notice of Defect (recalls) on behalf of the OEM.

  • Authorization from the OEM directing Transport Canada to:

o   Remove all current retail dealers associated with the manufacturer on Transport Canada's pre-clearance list

o   Replace them with the DI

o   Detail how the foreign manufacturer will advise their current pre-clearance companies of the change (dealer notification letter).

  • A list of the retail dealers to whom the DI will be distributing vehicles in Canada
  • Confirmation that the DI (with their import business number) will appear as the importer and as the purchaser on all Customs documents including the Coding Form (B3), the Canada Customs invoice and the Vehicle Import Form, (Form 1).
  • A copy of the NVIS document that will be sent with each vehicle (in lieu of U.S. titling documents such as the Manufacturers Statement of Origin (MSO)or the Certificate of Origin (COO).)

*for more information regarding trailer manufacturing please contact Transport Canada:

Information Centre, Motor Vehicle Safety
Transport Canada / Government of Canada
[email protected]
Tel: 1-800-333-0371 / TTY: 1-888-675-6863

Trailer Guidance Document

NMMA has created a document to help guide trailer manufacturers selling in Canada. The document outlines the federal and provincial trailer regulations. To read this guidance document click here.

The following documents outline federal and provincial trailer regulations to help guide trailer manufacturers selling in Canada.