Exporting a plug-in hybrid from the U.S. that used federal tax credit?

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
03/04/2015 at 18:51 • Filed to: None

Here's something I've been wondering about. I've been wanting to purchase a plug-in hybrid - most likely a Chevrolet Volt. Prices in California seem much better, and I've got a friend who is able to get me a very good deal. Now if the previous owner of the vehicle purchased it brand new and applied for a federal tax credit, how does that work if the vehicle is then exported to Canada - especially if the person has already received the tax credit?

I checked the regulations for the California rebate, and it says that the vehicle has to remain in California for 30 months after purchase. So what would happen if I were to purchase a vehicle from an auction that someone else had purchased new, and applied for the rebate? Would they get a bill in the mail, or would I get nailed when importing the vehicle to Canada?

I'm almost split on whether to go for a very good deal on a 2012 Volt or to wait for the 2016 Volt. By a "very good deal", I mean a high mileage Volt for $10k+ USD. The cheapest ones I've seen up here are still $24k CAD (albeit newer and much lower mileage). At the same time, the 2016 doesn't require premium gas. I suppose if I did get the 2012, I could drive it for a bit then sell it, and go for a 2016.

DISCUSSION (14)

bob and john > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/04/2015 at 18:53

uhh, id wait for a 2016. some of the quicks will have been ironed out, and frankly, i dont trust used battery packs QUITE yet.

and (long shot here) IDK if volt does anything extra for the CAN market car...remember, cali has way different standard then even the rest of the states. So the exhaust system will be slightly different, and IDK if the batteris are messed with in any way for the colder climates

CAR_IS_MI > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/04/2015 at 18:55

Don't buy a volt. The Real world range on a FULL charge is on average 30 miles. That's if you drive "nice"

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/04/2015 at 18:58

A Volt here might be tough. Alberta has no credit for electric cars so I would look into BC and Ontario as they have the highest discount I believe.

Would be nice to see a Volt here in the 'Bridge though, think there was a black one but have not seen it in a while.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
03/04/2015 at 19:05

I realize that we have no tax credit for cars (although Ontario, Quebec, and I think New Brunswick do). I've seen at least two different ones around town at one point or another - I think one was blue and the other I can't remember. Even ones in BC and Ontario are still going for reasonably high prices. The nearest ones for sale are in Calgary, and they're asking something like $24k.

I'm just curious to know if I'm the one who would have to foot the bill if I brought it up here.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > CAR_IS_MI
03/04/2015 at 19:06

Honestly, that'd still take care of 50%+ of my driving.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > bob and john
03/04/2015 at 19:09

I've done a fair bit of reading about it, and I'm almost thinking that the first generation Volt might be handling batteries better. They allocated a very large chunk of the battery to simply maintaining the battery - keeping it the right temperature, and making sure the state of charge is never too high or too low. They haven't said anything about the newer Volt in this regard.

I'm a bit wary of buying a first model year vehicle. My Civic was new for 2001 (I bought it in 2009). There were definitely a few kinks that needed ironing out. That being said, the new Volt doesn't require premium gas, seats one more person, doesn't have a funky capacitive buttons on the dash, and has a longer electric only range. It's also potentially 3x the price of the Volt I'm looking at.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/04/2015 at 21:07

I can see you having to pay $8000 for the credit, but who know. That seems like a lot in cowtown. The funeral home had an ELR for sale not long ago!

I would be interested to see how it goes.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/04/2015 at 23:05

Not having any tax credits in Alberta is a total bummer. I too want a plug in or even better a all electric but knowing that it will cost me 8 grand more than our neighbours in BC has left me unable to even consider it.

The price without the credit is really high but with the credit it makes it about the same price as the gas counterpart.

I drive 50km's a day so a car with an 80mile range(128 kms) would be perfectly acceptable for my commuter.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
03/05/2015 at 00:35

The funeral home had an ELR?! Color me very surprised!

CAR_IS_MI > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/05/2015 at 00:55

What are you going to do for the other 50% of the driving?

pip bip - choose Corrour > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/05/2015 at 02:04

buy it and be a guinea pig.

:-)

BaconSandwich is tasty. > CAR_IS_MI
03/05/2015 at 09:57

Well, now that I think more about it, it'll be more like 75% local short trips and 25% longer trips - a trip or two per month of a 150-200 km, and maybe a trip to my parents once or twice a year (600 km one way).

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/05/2015 at 10:01

Ya, Martin Brothers, think they only had it for about a month.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
03/06/2015 at 10:15

That's crazy. I never would have guessed. I know there was another Oppo member who bought one at a pretty discounted price. I couldn't justify it, though, as I'm looking for something with four doors to replace my wife's 2-door car.

That $10k Volt is very very tempting, though.