What must I know before driving my car into Canada?

Question

I'm planning a summer road trip and I'll be driving into B.C. from California. What happens to my insurance coverage once I cross the border? Do I need to purchase Canadian automobile insurance if I'm only going to visit for 3 weeks? And how reliable is roadside assistance in case I get a flat tire or develop engine troubles? Finally, how are gasoline prices in B.C. and Alberta? Thanks!!

Answer 1

You can check with AAA but as far as I'm aware, the AAA and CAA have reciprocal coverage. CAA is available in most areas outside of extreme wilderness. (The hard part may be phoning them - look for cellular coverage maps - and oh, yeah - not all cellular companies have the same coverage outside of the heavily settled areas).

Prices aren't that ridiculously different for repairs, etc. but gas is more expensive. Typically, gas hovers around $1/litre, at 3.8L/USgal, that's $3.80/gal. which in real dollars (assume 90 cents US to Canadian $1) is $US 3.42.

Keep in mind that beyond the stretch near the American border, you can get into sparsely settled areas of Canada. You may find yourself up to 60 miles or more from the nearest gas station if you get right into the middle of the mountains backwoods. You don't want to run out and you don't want to have to pay the tow if you break down. Along the more travelled routes, it's no different than driving across Montana or Idaho.

I have never heard of insurance problems going across the border. I've driven all over the US from Canada, too. The only problems won't affect you - things like Americans renting Canadian-registered vehicles and driving back to the US, commerical vehicles, etc. If you're from California, it's not a problem like some of those hillbilly states that allow as little as $25,000 minimum insurance, but even they have no problem visiting. (I believe the minimum here is $200,000).

Nobody gives you a hassle unless you stay more than 6 months. Obviously, you can't work without getting the proper visa. As for health insurance - that depends on your provider. Health insurance is free for all Canadians (Depending on whether you call our taxes "free"). Travellers have to pay - they'll put you in the hosital, fix you up, then you get the bill for $50,000, just like in the USA.. If you're under 50, you can probably get a year's travel health insurance from somewhere like Blue Cross for $100. For "oops-I-sliced-my-hand" stuff, there's hospital emergency rooms -which will take all day unless you're dying).

(Because each province runs it's own separate health plan, and treatments like hospital stay costs can vary between provinces, it's usually recommended even for Canadians to get travel health even if just visiting other provinces).

Also keep in mind that one of these days you'll need a passport - not to get into Canada, but to get back into the USA.

Answer 2

Canadian and US motor vehicle standards are especially close so on maximum automobiles ( that are already offered in the two worldwide locations ), all you may desire to do is to alter the speedo/tool cluster to an imperial unit. yet whilst a motor vehicle replaced into in no way qualified on the marketplace in the U. S., that differences each and every thing. through fact the motor vehicle replaced into in no way examined by using the U. S. government for crash standards, emissions, lights, and so on., the U. S. would possibly not enable it to be registered for American public roads.