US Citizens to Land in YYZ - Rent Car to Michigan - CPB to Harass?
Dec 31, 2010, 1:09 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Up in the air far too often.
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Posts: 354
(though I guess Canadian Border Patrol can also be "CBP" 
Jan 9, 2011, 11:04 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ORD & MKE
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Or CBSA, that's their abbreviation. I find the only place I've been hassled has been in Canada, flying in for a day meeting or day trip. I've returned to the US completely plastered after a flight and the worst thing to happen to me is getting laughed at.
Jan 10, 2011, 4:19 am
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
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Note that the converse, a Canadian citizen driving a rental car with U.S. plates into Canada is something the CBP's counterparts in Canada do care about. Unless a Canadian is a legal U.S. resident, when renting a car to travel to Canada, request a vehicle that has Canadian plates. If none is available (usually because the rental car facility is too far from the border), then swap cars at an agency near the border. In the past, Canadian customs has seized vehicles with U.S. plates if driven by a Canadian citizen.
My worst border experience was with the Canadians, but the US treats people the worst as a rule.
Jul 26, 2014, 8:50 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: IAH
Posts: 25
Note that the converse, a Canadian citizen driving a rental car with U.S. plates into Canada is something the CBP's counterparts in Canada do care about. Unless a Canadian is a legal U.S. resident, when renting a car to travel to Canada, request a vehicle that has Canadian plates. If none is available (usually because the rental car facility is too far from the border), then swap cars at an agency near the border. In the past, Canadian customs has seized vehicles with U.S. plates if driven by a Canadian citizen.
Jul 26, 2014, 2:59 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
I was just at YYZ a few weeks ago, and as I was grabbing a car (National) one came in from the wash area. The manager yelled "Michigan plates" and said they keep them separate and only rent them back to one-ways going to the US. It's pretty common out of YYZ, so you may be able to get a car with US plates.
That said, coming into the US in a rental car can be a hassle. I've done it twice, and both times got secondaried. Once coming across the bridge north of Niagara Falls, the second time at I-87. I was driving solo, so maybe that was it, but from what I've been told, the boys guarding Fortress America seem to associate a solo driver in a rental car as a drug smuggler. The cars were rented at the airport (Buffalo and Burlington VT), so it was US plates re-entering the US.
That said, coming into the US in a rental car can be a hassle. I've done it twice, and both times got secondaried. Once coming across the bridge north of Niagara Falls, the second time at I-87. I was driving solo, so maybe that was it, but from what I've been told, the boys guarding Fortress America seem to associate a solo driver in a rental car as a drug smuggler. The cars were rented at the airport (Buffalo and Burlington VT), so it was US plates re-entering the US.
Jul 28, 2014, 6:42 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
Just have a copy of the rental car agreement with you and you passport with you and you'll do fine, but...
because I96 is closed between Telegraph and I275, I94 (and all the other parallel roads) are carrying heavier traffic than normal, so I would allow a little extra time once you get north of the border.
Bob H
because I96 is closed between Telegraph and I275, I94 (and all the other parallel roads) are carrying heavier traffic than normal, so I would allow a little extra time once you get north of the border.
Bob H
Jul 29, 2014, 5:30 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2004
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There is also the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia, ON and Port Huron, MI as an option to cross the border.
I've driven rental cars Canada to USA and USA to Canada and got searched at Pembina, ND en route from YWG to MSP. I cut thru Ontario from DTW to BUF in a rental car and was sent to Immigration and searched and held up for about two hours in Windsor, ON (should have gone thru Sarnia) and upon returning to the USA in Buffalo I had no problem.
I've driven rental cars Canada to USA and USA to Canada and got searched at Pembina, ND en route from YWG to MSP. I cut thru Ontario from DTW to BUF in a rental car and was sent to Immigration and searched and held up for about two hours in Windsor, ON (should have gone thru Sarnia) and upon returning to the USA in Buffalo I had no problem.
Aug 31, 2014, 8:12 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: IAH
Posts: 25
I don't know if it is just me, but it seems CBP officers usually let you keep more of your dignity at the airport pre-clearance facilities. They are posted in Canada, so have to live amongst us - I imagine it is harder to hate your neighbors?
Aug 31, 2014, 3:40 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Kitchener, Canada
Posts: 164
There is also the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia, ON and Port Huron, MI as an option to cross the border.
I've driven rental cars Canada to USA and USA to Canada and got searched at Pembina, ND en route from YWG to MSP. I cut thru Ontario from DTW to BUF in a rental car and was sent to Immigration and searched and held up for about two hours in Windsor, ON (should have gone thru Sarnia) and upon returning to the USA in Buffalo I had no problem.
I've driven rental cars Canada to USA and USA to Canada and got searched at Pembina, ND en route from YWG to MSP. I cut thru Ontario from DTW to BUF in a rental car and was sent to Immigration and searched and held up for about two hours in Windsor, ON (should have gone thru Sarnia) and upon returning to the USA in Buffalo I had no problem.