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trailrunnerx · 03-03-2011, 11:27 AM

Hi everyone.
My husband (Laurent) and myself (Alexia) bought a 1994 21' Sovereign in Florida late December and it's currently sitting in storage in Miami until we make the trip from Vancouver, BC to pick it up mid-April!

We are pretty well informed about importing the airstream into Canada but I was wondering if anyone has info on how and where we can obtain temporary tags from the state of Florida in order to make the long trip back to the west coast. I checked the Florida dept of transportation website and can't find the info I'm looking for... any ideas?

Anyways, we are super stoked to join the Airstream community and can't wait to take our (new to us) Airstream on the road...

Cheers

BlueBaron · 03-03-2011, 12:34 PM

Hi Guys -

Good luck with the trip - sounds like a lot of fun. You are one step ahead of me - I've been looking for an AS for a while, still not found the right one. I'm also in Vancouver so will follow this thread as I'm sure I'll be importing too....

Could you have found one any futher away!? Was the deal so good or are there other reasons? I'm finding the further south I go the better the deals look.

Cheers, Paul.

trailrunnerx · 03-03-2011, 12:50 PM

Hey Paul!
We originally started looking south from WA to CA and east as far as the mid west & Texas, but we really wanted a 21' with double axles and we had to expand the search further, then just before christmas, I found exactly what we we were looking for, a killer deal but near Miami! I don't think we would have gotten this kind of deal on the west coast, plus it's a good excuse for a road trip!

Cheers
Alex

**moosetags** · 03-03-2011, 01:11 PM

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Congratulations on the new baby.

Assuming the Airstream has a Florida title, I would think that you would be able to obtain a temporary Florida paper tag for the trip home.

You said that you checked the website of the Florida Department of Transportation. That would be the road department here and does not administer vehicle registrations. The department you are looking for is the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Within that department your will be looking for the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Brian

trailrunnerx · 03-03-2011, 10:11 PM

Moosetags,
I actually checked w/ Hwy safety & motor vehicles, but can't find any info, on the website or over the phone (tried to call today, no luck).
I have the title and a bill of sale in hand, but I'm not sure where to go for the permit (offices where they issue titles & tags, or the "tax collectors" offices, or elsewhere???) I'd love to figure this out before we get there if possible....

cheers
Alex

**moosetags** · 03-03-2011, 10:37 PM

In Florida tags are issued in the Tax Collectors Office in the seat of the various counties.

Brian

Silverfoxrae · 03-04-2011, 07:14 AM

If FL won't issue a temp tag, you should be able to get one in BC. Having the title is excellent. Are you going to register it in BC? I guess I'd go ahead and do that. Get your temp tag or get a real plate.
Rae

trailrunnerx · 03-04-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverfoxrae

If FL won't issue a temp tag, you should be able to get one in BC. Having the title is excellent. Are you going to register it in BC? I guess I'd go ahead and do that. Get your temp tag or get a real plate.
Rae

BC won't issue anything until we cross the border and get some additional paperwork from Canadian customs...

**moosetags** · 03-04-2011, 08:31 AM

I would try calling the Tax Collector's Office in the county where you will be purchasing the Airstream.

Brian

trailrunnerx · 03-04-2011, 08:52 PM

I'll try calling a tax collector office.
We already purchased the Airstream, it's sitting in storage in Miami...

TouringDan · 03-04-2011, 10:15 PM

Congratulations on your purchase. I think the most important aspect of the purchase is to get the one that you wanted. The fact that it involves a long road trip is just another plus. Good luck and enjoy your first road trip. Oh and welcome to the forum.

Dan

zedex · 03-04-2011, 10:37 PM

What you have to do is go to any icbc insurance and get a binder for owners interim certificate of insurance for the dates the trailer will be on the road from miami to bc.You will need title and vehicle serial #.Your trailer will then be insured.When your in miami you will go to any licence agency to get a licence for the trailer. I think its either a 1 day or 10 day permit.Hit the road.
At customs you will need the original title + bill of sale etc. You will open your wallet wide and pay the taxes and duty.You will fill out an importation form 1 which will be forwarded to RIV when you get home.RIV will do their thing and fax you form 1 back which you take to crappy tire and get your rig inspected. After that your done. Go insure your vehicular.
I imported an AS a while back from Seattle and it was a huge hassle getting a permit because no one in Seattle knew what to do.We took about an hour driving around until finally someone guided us to a licence agency.Other than that the road trip was excellent.Have fun.

trailrunnerx · 03-12-2011, 11:16 AM

Thanks Zedex.
I certainly hope I can get more than a 1 or 10 permit...30 days would be ideal.

Any suggestion on which lower mainland ICBC office to go to? The last one I went to had absolutely no clue about trailers and out of the country purchases...

oops, didn't realize your were in Penticton...

LomedIvrit · 03-12-2011, 12:44 PM

If it would help I'll go by the tag office on Monday and get what you need. Let me know via PM...

LomedIvrit

trailrunnerx · 03-12-2011, 03:35 PM

pm sent

au_ee · 03-12-2011, 03:58 PM

Have you considered having it shipped? May be simplier to let the shipper handle all the details and considering the distance, would save you an extremely long round trip.

Michigander · 03-12-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zedex

What you have to do is go to any icbc insurance ................Other than that the road trip was excellent.Have fun.

Wow, what we won't do to in the name of Airstream! Sounds like the voice of experience speaking from xedex. Good luck on your travels. Please keep us posted on your journey. What do you plan to use as your tow vehicle?

trailrunnerx · 03-12-2011, 09:32 PM

We're actually looking forward to the trip...so no, we won't ship it!

trailrunnerx · 03-12-2011, 09:33 PM

Our tow vehicle is a 2010 F-150 Raptor!

LomedIvrit · 03-13-2011, 08:49 PM

Laurent and Alexia,

I didn't receive your pm but I just sent you one and it shows up in my sent folder(so I'm think you probably got it).

I'll check back tomorrow a.m. if I don't get a phone call from you.

LomedIvrit