I just got off the phone with someone at Q-L US Customs and they told me that due to the huge volume of US Titles they are searching, they now need 10 days, not 72 hours to process and search your US title. I just bought a BMW Motorcycle in the US and they made it quite clear that they would not let my bike out of the USA if I came in 72hrs after faxing them the title. They told me to call on Friday and see if it was done.

Just a heads up. This only applies to the QL Bridge.

FOR A MOTORCYCLE

NOT A SLED

I just got back yesterday from the rainbow bridge... first off there is nowhere to stop at US customs at that crossing & 2. the rainbow is the same port of entry as the QL so I don't see how their policies could be different.

they never asked about the title search and this was all on a sunday so they aren't even open to do it - I did fax 72hrs and nobody ever said anything about 10 days. from what I gather Canada Customs looks at sleds differently and they dont get "inspected" like cars do.

nobody even looked at the sled, only the paperwork.. they did search dootalk where I found it though...

The rule of thumb is that if it doesnt have wheels, they arent as concerned about them. That being said, a bike or an ATV has to go through US Customs, no question.

They are definitely seeing a lot more traffic. Right now at 9:00pm on a Monday it is a 3.5 hour wait to get back into Canada!
Last Friday afternoon when I crossed there must have been 50 cars pulled over to the secondary inspection.

niagarafallsbridges

The pic on the right is the Lewiston / Queenston bridge.

Just what we need more paper work..

Next thing will be more costs for getting that paper work.

Cheers!

Just great!! I have to cross into NY on Thursday for business and back again on Friday Morning. Not looking forward to it at all!

go to the rainbow! I was in and out with my declaration in 40min. without there was no wait at all. this was on sunday at 3pm too.

Is Rainbow the one that crosses at Buffalo? I usually take a left at the split when heading South on the QEW to get on the I-190.

I'd swim the current isn't that strong this time of year.

Just kidding ..The rainbow seems to be alot faster.Funny thing is the wife and I are going over Christmas shopping tomorrow .

Weusually take the Q/L bridge but I already planned on crossing at the Rainbow bridge and this definatley reaffirmed my idea!!

no Niagara. spits you out right at the 420.. take I 190 towards the falls and get off at the Robert Moses State Pkwy its exit 21 on the right - RIGHT at the bottom of the bridge and you just follow it thru niagara NY.

you will take some city streets to get over to Niagara St which leads directly onto the rainbow.

just print a map like this and you're all set

Click to view attachment

Buffalo is the Peace bridge.

I see it now on google maps, thanks.

Cry me a river! lol
I do it every day, my friend. Work in St. Catharines and live in Lockport.
Morning traffic is usually ok. When I cross into Canada at 6:00am there in almost never a lineup but going home can be hit or miss. Right now it’s busy in the evening because of all the shoppers coming home. The traffic pattern has really changed since the U S dollar has gone down in value.

We will be hitting it probably around 8:30-9:00am on the way over (likely right at rush hour ) and then at about 1:00pm on the way back Friday (should not be too bad). I will use the link you posted to check wait times and see which bridge to hit. LOL!

It seems map quest takes you to the Queenston bridge, I think that’s why they are so busy. Rainbow is usually a much better choice.

There is no real rush hour on the bridge because there are few commuters. Most of the people that cross are going shopping so the bridge seems to get busy into the states about 10 or 11 and busy into Canada around 3 or 4.

Where are you going?

It's top secret!


LOL! just kidding. Syracuse

Na na na you gots it all wrong, yous goes to Lees St and Siccimoe ands yous asks for Ruffus, Ruffu's old lady Saychandra works for the man at the bridge on the American side. For a fifth o Nightrain ana rack of Winston Reds Ruffus's girl Saychandra will waves yous through on to Canada wit yous's papers stamped all official like you see.

Is there a weather convention going on or something?

Damn, and it was supposed to be top secret!!

The first spilt is the QEW - 405. The 405 takes you to the Queenston /Lewiston bridge. The next split is the QEW - 420. The 420 takes you to the Rainbow bridge into Niagara Falls. Staying on the QEW will take you to the Peace bridge in Fort Erie and into Buffalo.

Here is another link that updates every 10 minutes - shows status of wait time for all bridges crossing into the States from Canada....

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html

Went over yesterday.

Crossed at Rainbow around 10:30 am..one or two car wait per lane---drove past the Q/L bridge out of curiosity and had to be an easy 15-20 cars wait per line.
Came back Rainbow around 3:30 pm...all lane had one car wait..went in payed the government and was in total done in under 10 mins.

How much did you spend that they made you go in and pay? Did you only have to pay the GST?

First round of Christmas shopping so spent about $600.

Most of it was kids clothes so only pay 1 tax on that and both on the other stuff....$60 total tax

Funny thing is we went to Wallmart in Welland afterwards and noticed alot of the pricing was equal

...Not taking in account the lower us dollar..god i love saying that!!

You must be happy CANAM since you live in the State but get payed in Canadian coin.

You got that right!

CAN AM is loaded now, 30% pay increase in 2 years.




Side note to the orig. post

To the people that continue to promote bringing the sleds across the Rainbow Bridge with no 72 hour check required. This is true and there is no problem in doing that, but;

Make buyers are aware that without the 72 hour check this sled has not meet the US requirements for export. Please add this into the info. that is being posted as we would hate to see someone have a problem down the road.

Since its only a simple fax I covered my a$$ by sending the stuff to the Vehicle Export Office in Lewiston but knew I was coming over the Peace Bridge straight into Canada anyway.

BTW..a 30% increase will buy alot of goat food on your lunch break over at Happy Ralph's.

that is a good point for those that want to use their sled in the states.

you can always do it after import though, so you dont get left in the cold.. literally

Would you believe in all the years I’ve worked here, I have never been over there!

FWIW or FYI

Yes yoru supposed to stop at US customes.......although, everyone is so busy dealing with shoppers you could skip it.........IMO, better to have you proper paperwork and fax it beforehand............the customs agent made a few park for 72hrs the day I crossed.

Location......red door on front of the warehouse...........big building on your left before you get to the bridge. open the red door, make a left, right, left and look for vehicle export office. Its fast if you have everything, they only want to see the title.

I dont believe.

Isn't that where you go for the Christmas goose.

this has nothing to do with bringing vehicles or sleds over but......

GET A NEXUS CARD Whoopa. then you can use the Fast lane and then just wave at the guard as they let you go! WORKS GREAT

but all persons in the vehicle have to have a nexus card or you get in crap!!
Its way worth it, even at the airport in TO I get my retina scanned and then just walk through YEE HAW!

Yep, and you can see the cute little girl in there. I think she is starting to hate her job.
No smiles anymore.

over my dead body!

Really Sled Dude? Why??

I cross the border for business almost weekly and it saves me a ton of time and hassles

I dont have anything to hide from the GOV so I dont care if they have me on file. I am curious as to why you would be so opposed to it though

nobody's taking a scan of my eye.. or my finger, or my dna.. ever, if they want it they will have to force me... or fight me for it. just to skip a line up.. no thanks

imagine what they might expose themselves to!

Just wait until they want to put microchip implants in (in everyone)! I heard on the news that they would like to do this. Over my dead body!

Government already knows too much about me IMO. Imagine that, GPS tracking with an implant. Maybe they can put an explosive charge in it while there at it.

Right on! the less the government knows the better.

CAREFULL..Big Brother is watching this site.

So we have imported 3 sleds into Canada. We know the deal. Pay the $207+ 15% taxes. We will probaly be doing a trailer soon. We have never done this 72 hour BS. So what's the deal with a trailer?

yah, cute, tall, dark hair.....nice bod.......and really freaking grumpy the day I went through...........it was 3:55PM, she was toast.


ps......trailer prices are coming down in Ontario

Thanks for the info guys. Rainbow had zero cars in the lines (well maybe 1).

Another interesting thing I noticed when coming back were the several Ford's we saw driving down the NY interstate with Ontario dealer plates on them! What could they be possibly doing with those?!