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Canada by Car: Auto Insurance & Driving Tips
From Vancouver to Quebec, from the mountain ranges of Banff to the Boundary
Waters-- there are many sights and recreational opportunities that attract
Americans on short drives and longer driving trips to Canada. If you're
going to do any driving in Canada, there are several things you should
know about auto insurance coverage and driving safety before you go to
ensure a hassle-free trip.
Auto Insurance and Other Legal Requirements
U.S. drivers licenses are valid in Canada, as long as you're just visiting
Canada and are a resident of the U.S.
Your American auto insurance is also valid for driving visits in Canada.
When you cross the border, you just have to produce proof of your auto
insurance, which you should always keep with you when driving.
As in some U.S. states, radar detectors are not allowed in the provinces
of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, or the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
If you're caught driving with a radar detector, even one that isn't being operated,
you could receive a fine of $1000 and your device may be confiscated.
No one should drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs anywhere
in the world. This is a particularly serious offense in Canada and is
grounds for exclusion from the country. Non-Canadians may be excluded
from reentering Canada if caught driving under the influence and may even
be prohibited from entering Canada for prior DUI convictions that have
taken place outside of Canada.
It takes several weeks to obtain a waiver of exclusion from Canadian
Consulates in the U.S. should you want to enter Canada with a prior DUI
conviction. Check with your nearest Canadian consulate for driving regulations
and auto insurance information.
Driving Pointers
Though winter sports attract many to Canada, parts of Canada have long,
harsh winters, well beyond what many people are used to in the U.S. If
you're planning to travel in winter months and have not already done so,
be sure to prepare for winter driving. (Don’t know what winter driving
might entail? Check
out our winter driving and vehicle preparation tips.)
Year-round, the abundance of wildlife in Canada's scenic rural areas
draws tourists, but can also be the cause of severe and sometimes fatal
accidents. Be alert for deer, elk, and moose on or near such roadways.
(Find out about
other precautions you can take to avoid this preventable auto insurance
claim.)
If you do run into any kind of trouble on the road and are a member of
the American Automobile Association (AAA), you can contact the Canadian
Automobile Association (CAA). The CAA covers AAA members while they're
traveling in Canada.
More Auto Insurance & Driving Information
If you have any questions concerning auto insurance or other driving regulations
in the Canadian provinces, contact the Department of Transport, Motor Vehicle Division
of the province(s) you will be visiting or the nearest Canadian consulate. Canadian consular
offices are located in many large American cities and can answer your auto insurance and
driving regulation questions.
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