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Can I insure my car abroad and drive it in Canada?

Can a Candian citizen drive a US registered/insured car with a US license into Canada temporarily for a visit?

  • I am a Canadian citizen working in Massachusetts on a temporary work visa, US and purchased a car after obtaining a Massachusetts license. The vehicle is registered and insured in Massachusetts and I own the title to the car. I was planning using the car to visit family in Canada and will drive back afterwards to the US in this car. I have read on the Internet that Canadians cannot drive vehicles rented in the US into Canada. I have also read some information about importing vehicles into Canada. However, I don't intend on bringing and leaving the vehicle in Canada so I don't think, but am not sure that it qualifies as temporary import. Importation has certain laws, duties, and fees associated so I want to double check that my situation doesn't qualify as importation. The drive the Canadian border is also like 8 hours so I don't want to get rejected at the border or find out that I have to pay some ridiculous amount of money to use the car for maybe 2-3 weeks, because it just might be cheaper to fly then.

  • Answer:

    TN Visa huh? At the border they usually ask "Where's Home? Answer with where you live in Massachusetts. The definition of residency is where you regularly sleep for the past few months, more than 50% of the time. When they ask for citizenship, say Canadian. If questioned further, say you are residing there on th TN visa. Never give them any information they do not ask for. If they want more information, they will ask for it. Because you live in the USA you should be fine. The rule is for Canadians who reside in Canada and the governments want to ensure a Canadian resident does not cheap them out of taxes by renting a car in the USA and using it in Canada.

David at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Since you are the registered owner of the car, no problem. also, you can too drive a car rented in the u.S. into Canada and the ins. does cover. I rented a car from Hertz in Buffalo and drove it into Canada with absolutely no problem. Hertz knew about it, and it was fine with them. The Gps system was even set up for use specifically in Canada.

Charlie

Sure you can. If the registration is in your name, and all your tags are valid, there's no problem. Sometimes people try to drive rental cars across the border - you can do it with some rental cars (depends on your terms of agreement) but not with others. But as this is your car, there should be no problem.

old lady

If you are a U.S. resident, you may drive a rental car into Canada. You must let the rental company know before you do so. The car rental company must issue you a Canadian non-resident insurance card. There is no fee for this card, but you must keep it in the rental car, as you will be required to show it at the border. Canadian customs regulations prohibit a Canadian resident from entering Canada with a U.S. registered vehicle. Renters with a Canadian drivers license and a car with U.S. license plates will not be allowed to cross the border into Canada. Canadian residents planning to cross the border must be provided with a car with Canadian plates. But since you travel with a US plated car & US driver's license and are a current resident of the US, I would say, yes, you can. The questions seems to be one of "current residency", which in your case is the US. Citizenship has nothing to do with it, it is based purely on residence.

amphitryon

You might have some trouble. I have tried to RENT (I realize you own it) and I was not allowed across. You probably are better off to fly.

JL

the law in canada is you can not drive a vehicle rented in the us into canada. the reason US insurance companies do not cover us cars in canada. I recently went to canada, before i went i asked my auto insurance company if i rented a car in seattle and drove to canada would i be covered in canada..answer NO...but if i rented one in canada i would be. ODD but true, so my guess is canadian authorities want to make sure you have valid insurance. It didn't used to be this way--30 years ago i drove across in a rented car and drove back - no problems you own title to the car..it's yours..not rented.. so drive into canada not an issue (its not rented). as far as importing...that's interesting I am not sure. If you were a us citizen it is not an issue as you are driving back into us obviously. Being that you are canadian citizen, importing a car...even temporarily--...hmm check with canadian authorities. I don't think its an issue but i am not sure and I don't think anyone here will be able to answer that.

Jack Kerouac

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