Can my son or daughter drive my car from the US into Canada and back?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 380
Can my son or daughter drive my car from the US into Canada and back?
Can my son or daughter drive my car from the US into Canada and back?
I read somewhere that if it was a friend, then I need to give them a signed
letter giving them permission to use my car to drive into Canada. Just
wondering if it's the same for son or daughter. (or for that matter, anyone
I'm related to by blood?)
They sometimes use my cars, so my policy has their names added to it as
well.(oddly, it had no effect my insurance rates) Their names are shown
on the policy as additional drivers.
Thanks!
I read somewhere that if it was a friend, then I need to give them a signed
letter giving them permission to use my car to drive into Canada. Just
wondering if it's the same for son or daughter. (or for that matter, anyone
I'm related to by blood?)
They sometimes use my cars, so my policy has their names added to it as
well.(oddly, it had no effect my insurance rates) Their names are shown
on the policy as additional drivers.
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
Posts: 884
A few years back I drove my mom's car to Canada and back. Had a letter and copy of her driver's license, just in case, as sometimes I've been asked "whose care are you driving?" etc. But they didn't care to see it. It's obviously a YMMV thing, as you can't predict what the specific CBSA or even CBP officer on the way back will want to see or ask. If it's an expensive car or one that draws attention, you might expect more suspicion.
Doesn't take much time to write something up, or use a template found online, but could potentially save a lot of time compared to going to secondary if they have any suspicion the car might be stolen.
Doesn't take much time to write something up, or use a template found online, but could potentially save a lot of time compared to going to secondary if they have any suspicion the car might be stolen.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 380
#5
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The rental restrictions have been loosened but I think private cars were and continued to be restricted. The restrictions were on not citizens but residents. Non-resident citizens are free to drive U.S. vehicles into Canada.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 1,037
Back in the 80's we 16-20 (especially 19-20) year olds drove our parents' cars into Canada from the Detroit suburbs all the time.
I know the border has tightened, but I expect it is about people not cars.
Different Era Story: A friend was driving us to Canada. Canadian customs asks for proof of citizenship. My fried offers a drivers license. The customs officer says that he needs a voter registration, passport, or birth certificate. My friend looks sheepish. The customs agent says he should make us turn around, but "Welcome to Canada." We had no trouble getting back either. It was a different world.
I know the border has tightened, but I expect it is about people not cars.
Different Era Story: A friend was driving us to Canada. Canadian customs asks for proof of citizenship. My fried offers a drivers license. The customs officer says that he needs a voter registration, passport, or birth certificate. My friend looks sheepish. The customs agent says he should make us turn around, but "Welcome to Canada." We had no trouble getting back either. It was a different world.
#8
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If you're a member of AAA, call your largest local office and ask. They're usually pretty good at stuff like this.
Be sure to check whether your insurance covers your kids driving in Canada as well as rules about minimum age for drivers, etc. Check also whether there's a curfew for young drivers similar to the cindarella licenses that some states in the USA offer.
Be sure to check whether your insurance covers your kids driving in Canada as well as rules about minimum age for drivers, etc. Check also whether there's a curfew for young drivers similar to the cindarella licenses that some states in the USA offer.