Dear Trade Chain Partners,

If you’re exporting a car, truck, or trailer from the United States into Canada, the most important step is securing the AES Internal Transaction Number (ITN) before you reach the border. U.S. rules require most vehicle exports to be filed electronically in the Automated Export System (AES) and submitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at least 72 hours before export. The ITN is the proof that your Electronic Export Information (EEI) was accepted.

What CBP requires

72-hour advance: For vehicles leaving by land, rail, or under their own power, required documents must be submitted to the CBP port of export a minimum of 72 hours prior to export. The same timing applies to air or vessel departures.

• Title or ownership proof: CBP expects the original title or, for brand-new vehicles without a title, the Manufacturer’s Statement/Certificate of Origin, along with the VIN.
• AES filing & ITN: Your AES filing generates an ITN. That citation must be provided to the carrier and presented to CBP at the port of export.
• Document imaging (many ports): CBP’s Document Image System (DIS) lets filers submit title and export documents electronically; for land borders, DIS submission is required 72 hours before the vehicle arrives at the port to export. Always check your specific port’s process.

Common pitfalls we see

• Last-minute filing: Submitting the EEI inside 72 hours can lead to holds at the port.

• VIN/title mismatches: Any discrepancy between the EEI, the title, and the physical vehicle will stop the export.

• Wrong port planning: You must file and present the vehicle/documents at the same port you’ll use to exit the U.S. CBP port pages publish local procedures and hours.

How Maska International makes this easy

• End-to-end AES filing: We prepare and submit your EEI, obtain the ITN, and share it with you and your carrier.
• Title validation: We review your ownership documents and flag issues before you travel.
• Port-specific guidance: We coordinate with your chosen port of export and align timing with the port’s local process.
• 24/7 support: Time-zone safe support for after-hours handoffs and weekend crossings.

1. Send us scans of the title/MSO, ID, and bill of sale.
2. Confirm your port of export and intended crossing date/time.
3. We file your EEI and return your ITN and port presentation instructions.
4. Present the vehicle and documents at the port after the 72-hour window has elapsed.

A correct ITN and clean document set keep your export on schedule. If you’re ready to move a vehicle, our customs team is here to help from first document review to final port presentation.

Warm regards,
Maska International Customs Broker
Anton