Taking a rental car into Canada...
Jul 21, 1999, 11:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Athens, AL, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Delta PM, AA Plat
Posts: 122
Taking a rental car into Canada...
Is there any kind of insurance that would be mandatory for taking a rental car across the canadian border? I normally don't get the optional insurances since I have a platinum card that covers the difference...
[This message has been edited by DougC (edited 07-21-1999).]
[This message has been edited by DougC (edited 07-21-1999).]
Jul 21, 1999, 12:33 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
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had 3 (weekly) rentals in the last20 months from Hertz SEA-TAC (and did drive to Vancouver-Whistler and back again). Canadian Immigration/Costums did never ask for any car-/insurance-paper.
But my Hertz infos (in Switzerland) state, that I should expressivly ask for a car "fit" for Canada (which I always did and Hertz confirmed).
But my Hertz infos (in Switzerland) state, that I should expressivly ask for a car "fit" for Canada (which I always did and Hertz confirmed).
Jul 21, 1999, 1:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Everywhere
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I don't know of any special requirements on insurance for taking a rental car into Canada. A lot of people here in Buffalo rent cars at the airport and drive them into Canada to see Niagara Falls and even Toronto. A couple of my coworkers did that a few months back and had no problems, Hertz even helped them out when they got a flat in Canada with their car. Do bring some proof of citizenship, as you might get hassled on your way back into the US, especially if you're not Caucasian. (I'm not implying that they're racist or anything, just that in my personal experience as an Asian, I get asked for my passport about 50% of the time and my white buddies maybe 5%.)
Jul 21, 1999, 3:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Washington DC
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A word of caution to those who take rental cars into Canada. Some provincial police will demand (and apparently have the right to) for written proof of insurance - i.e. an insurance card specifically valid for Canada. Now if you rely on credit cards for insurance this is not possible. Therefore, it would be advisable to have a Canada Proof of Insurance card from your own insurance company (you could just keep it as back up and not actually use the coverage). Of course this is all moot if you're never stopped.
However, from personal experience if you get a stubborn officer you may end up paying the fines on the spot - the actual violation + no insurance fine.
this only has happened once out of 25 - 30 trips so i guess it could have just been bad luck.
drive safely and take care.
However, from personal experience if you get a stubborn officer you may end up paying the fines on the spot - the actual violation + no insurance fine.
this only has happened once out of 25 - 30 trips so i guess it could have just been bad luck.
drive safely and take care.
Jul 21, 1999, 4:29 pm
#7
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Rochester, NY USA
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Okay, something that I really know about. If you are leaving the USA and going to Canada, you should make sure that the car that you are driving has a Canadian Inter- Provincial Insurance Card. A card from your own personal insurance company, will NOT work. The card that you need specifically lists the VIN, year and make of the car that you are driving. I have been an insurance agent in western NY (Rochester, specifically) for the past 25 years, and I know personally of several people that were stopped and their cars impounded for failure to produce the correct card. I have overnighted the cards to clients to enable them to continue their trips. It is usually not a problem, but when there is "conflict" between the officials in Canada and the US, sometimes the rules are closely enforced.
Ask the rental company for a Canadian Insurance ID card.
Larry
Ask the rental company for a Canadian Insurance ID card.
Larry
Jul 21, 1999, 4:29 pm
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Rochester, NY USA
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Platinum
Posts: 1,424
Okay, something that I really know about. If you are leaving the USA and going to Canada, you should make sure that the car that you are driving has a Canadian Inter- Provincial Insurance Card. A card from your own personal insurance company, will NOT work. The card that you need specifically lists the VIN, year and make of the car that you are driving. I have been an insurance agent in western NY (Rochester, specifically) for the past 25 years, and I know personally of several people that were stopped and their cars impounded for failure to produce the correct card. I have overnighted the cards to clients to enable them to continue their trips. It is usually not a problem, but when there is "conflict" between the officials in Canada and the US, sometimes the rules are closely enforced.
Ask the rental company for a Canadian Insurance ID card.
Larry
Ask the rental company for a Canadian Insurance ID card.
Larry
Jul 22, 1999, 8:17 am
#9
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 8,564
One other thing I didn't see listed here, remember that CANADIANS (I think that's Canadian residents) cannot take a U.S. rental car into Canada! Sounds unlikely I know, but if you were from Vancouver, visiting Rochester, you couldn't take that Hertz car into Niagara Falls Ontario.
One exception is one-way truck rentals, which are explicitly allowed.
andrew
One exception is one-way truck rentals, which are explicitly allowed.
andrew