Getting a Canadian non-resident insurance card
Jul 2, 2023, 10:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 66
Getting a Canadian non-resident insurance card
I have just picked up a rental car in Sacramento and asked for a Canadian non-resident insurance card so that I can take the car into Canada as part of my trip. However the counter said they do not have any and that I would have to pick one up closer to the border.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
Jul 4, 2023, 10:49 am
#2
Join Date: May 2009
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I have just picked up a rental car in Sacramento and asked for a Canadian non-resident insurance card so that I can take the car into Canada as part of my trip. However the counter said they do not have any and that I would have to pick one up closer to the border.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
We're renting a car in Victoria and I believe my own auto insurance plus my Amex cc will cover me. Rented in Calgary a few years ago with the same suppositions.
But your post has me wondering...
Jul 4, 2023, 3:53 pm
#3
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The Canadian non-resident insurance card is only an issue if you're driving a U.S.-plated car (your own or a rental) across the border into Canada. If you're renting a car in Canada, you're fine.
Jul 4, 2023, 5:19 pm
#4
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Thank you.
Is this new?
I've driven from Oregon up to Vancouver in my own car and never got one (early 2000's), and I also recall driving my own car from New Jersey to Niagara Falls (1980's) and never got one.
Is this new?
I've driven from Oregon up to Vancouver in my own car and never got one (early 2000's), and I also recall driving my own car from New Jersey to Niagara Falls (1980's) and never got one.
Jul 4, 2023, 5:43 pm
#5
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https://www.consolidatedinsurance.co...of-the-border/
("Go Canada: Does Your Insurance Cover You North of the Border?")
Jul 4, 2023, 5:51 pm
#6
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Thanks again.
Still confusing "you don't need anything but your own insurance if staying less than 180 days"...but..."you should have this card"...and it also says for "interprovincial" travel, which to me means going from BC to Alberta, etc.
Oh, remembered another one - up to NS, NB, PEI, in our us-plated rental car. This was in 1996.
I'll be on the safe side and get one next time I head north.
Still confusing "you don't need anything but your own insurance if staying less than 180 days"...but..."you should have this card"...and it also says for "interprovincial" travel, which to me means going from BC to Alberta, etc.
Oh, remembered another one - up to NS, NB, PEI, in our us-plated rental car. This was in 1996.
I'll be on the safe side and get one next time I head north.
Jul 4, 2023, 6:16 pm
#7
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Thanks again.
Still confusing "you don't need anything but your own insurance if staying less than 180 days"...but..."you should have this card"...and it also says for "interprovincial" travel, which to me means going from BC to Alberta, etc.
Oh, remembered another one - up to NS, NB, PEI, in our us-plated rental car. This was in 1996.
I'll be on the safe side and get one next time I head north.
Still confusing "you don't need anything but your own insurance if staying less than 180 days"...but..."you should have this card"...and it also says for "interprovincial" travel, which to me means going from BC to Alberta, etc.
Oh, remembered another one - up to NS, NB, PEI, in our us-plated rental car. This was in 1996.
I'll be on the safe side and get one next time I head north.
Even though the card says "inter-province," I think you still need it even if you're just going to visit one Canadian province from the U.S. It's essentially proof of valid insurance for a U.S. vehicle driven into Canada.
Jul 5, 2023, 3:54 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 182
Data point, Avis LGA did not provide one when asked earlier this year. They said they don't issue them at all any more. Hertz told me the same thing back in 2022. CBSA did not ask for anything at the land border both times, not even the rental agreement.
Jul 5, 2023, 3:59 pm
#9
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I did some looking, too, and the opinions are all over the lot. One said to ask when you land in Canada and go to get the car - they will either give you one for free or tell you that you don't need one. That sounds like a plan for my situation, even though the car rental in Calgary didn't say anything.
Jul 6, 2023, 7:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 335
I asked this question through different CBSA agents and all of them told me that it was not required to carry that card, as long as the car is a properly insured.
All of the third party websites or rental agencies could not provide the source of that requirement, so it could be outdated.
It is very interesting that you just couldn't find any information regarding the yellow card requirement from the government website, CBSA, or the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators website.
All of the third party websites or rental agencies could not provide the source of that requirement, so it could be outdated.
It is very interesting that you just couldn't find any information regarding the yellow card requirement from the government website, CBSA, or the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators website.
Jul 16, 2023, 7:23 am
#11
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Here's an informative article:
https://www.consolidatedinsurance.co...of-the-border/
("Go Canada: Does Your Insurance Cover You North of the Border?")
https://www.consolidatedinsurance.co...of-the-border/
("Go Canada: Does Your Insurance Cover You North of the Border?")
If you Google "Canada yellow insurance card," and click on images, you can see samples of this card.
Even though the card says "inter-province," I think you still need it even if you're just going to visit one Canadian province from the U.S. It's essentially proof of valid insurance for a U.S. vehicle driven into Canada.
Even though the card says "inter-province," I think you still need it even if you're just going to visit one Canadian province from the U.S. It's essentially proof of valid insurance for a U.S. vehicle driven into Canada.
https://www.ccir-ccrra.org/PrivatePassengerAutomobiles
US insurers regular proof is sufficient.
I asked this question through different CBSA agents and all of them told me that it was not required to carry that card, as long as the car is a properly insured.
All of the third party websites or rental agencies could not provide the source of that requirement, so it could be outdated.
It is very interesting that you just couldn't find any information regarding the yellow card requirement from the government website, CBSA, or the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators website.
All of the third party websites or rental agencies could not provide the source of that requirement, so it could be outdated.
It is very interesting that you just couldn't find any information regarding the yellow card requirement from the government website, CBSA, or the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators website.
I have just picked up a rental car in Sacramento and asked for a Canadian non-resident insurance card so that I can take the car into Canada as part of my trip. However the counter said they do not have any and that I would have to pick one up closer to the border.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
Can anyone confirm that I will be able to visit any Avis counters in say Montana and get one of these cards? Ideally I would pick one up before then as it will be more convenient. I am heading east towards Salt Lake City, then up to Yellowstone, Glacier national park and across the border near there.
It does not appear Avis/Hertz etc is a party to this. So that would imply if you don’t normally have insurance (eg don’t own a car), Avis/Hertz coverage provided liability may not necessarily extend into Canada unless their liability coverage is offered by another company that is part of PAU.
Last edited by seawolf; Jul 16, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Mar 24, 2024, 1:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
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I too will be renting a car in the U.S. and driving it into Canada for a few days before returning the car in the U.S. So it seems like all I need is proof that I have liability insurance through my own insurance company (Allstate). But all my Allstate insurance card shows is my policy number, make and model of the own car, and the expiration date of my coverage. No $ amount of liability insurance is shown, in fact liability insurance isn't even mentioned. Is this sufficient to drive a rental car into Canada?
Mar 24, 2024, 2:13 pm
#13
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I too will be renting a car in the U.S. and driving it into Canada for a few days before returning the car in the U.S. So it seems like all I need is proof that I have liability insurance through my own insurance company (Allstate). But all my Allstate insurance card shows is my policy number, make and model of the own car, and the expiration date of my coverage. No $ amount of liability insurance is shown, in fact liability insurance isn't even mentioned. Is this sufficient to drive a rental car into Canada?
Apr 1, 2024, 4:18 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2012
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I was advised to get one when driving from Detroit to Windsor; the DTW Avis didn't have them at the Preferred Counter, so I had to go to the main building.
They also suggested it wasn't 100% necessary, but I insisted and they gave me some little paper insurance card to throw in the glovebox. It seemed to contain no personal information.
They also suggested it wasn't 100% necessary, but I insisted and they gave me some little paper insurance card to throw in the glovebox. It seemed to contain no personal information.