Who is eligible for an IDP?

Anyone who is 18 years or older and has had their driver’s license for at least six months is eligible. However, car rental in Canada requires you to be at least 21 years old.

Who do I have to show my IDP to?

You will have to show your IDP to the car rental agency along with your original driver’s license. Even though you need a valid driver’s license to get an IDP, you still need to present both in order to rent a car in Canada. You may also have to show your IDP to law enforcement in case you get pulled over.

How long is an IDP valid for?

An IDP is typically valid for one year. However, people who regularly travel overseas can get an IDP that lasts about two to three years. The countdown begins the day you get the IDP, soyou should order it shortly before leaving (while giving yourself enough time to ensure you receive it).

How quickly can you get an IDP?

If you’re in need of an IDP at the last minute, there is an option to receive your IDP electronically. You can complete an online application and fast track your IDP for an extra fee.

1. Consider a fly-drive package from home

The cost of renting a car may vary based on factors such as the time of year, type of car you’re renting, and how long you’re renting it for. Booking a fly-drive package from home can get you the best deal on car rental. You can also potentially get a better deal if you book in advance. You may also want to rent a car in the US instead because car rental is usually cheaper there. Flying into Seattle and driving into Vancouver may be the cheaper option if you’re visiting Western Canada.

2. Know the age restriction

What is the driving age in Canada? The driving age in Canada varies from province to province, but most places have it set at 16 years of age. However, the minimum age to rent a car in Canada is 21 years of age. You also have to have a minimum of one year of driving experience to qualify in renting a car. If you’re between the age of 21 and 24, you will also be charged a “Young Renter Fee” in addition to your rental rate. You may also be restricted to specific car classes if you’re within this age range. But, if you’re a member of certain programs, you can potentially avoid the added fee.

3. Bring the proper documentation

In order to rent a car in Canada, you must present a valid driver’s license. If your driver’s license is not in English or French, you must also have an IDP. You may also be required to show your passport and a return airline ticket when you’re picking up your car. They will also require a credit card for the deposit, and it must be in the same name as your driver’s license. If you’re traveling with children under 18 kg, they will require a child seat fastened with a seat belt. You can request one in advance from most car rental companies for an extra fee.

4. Consider what type of car you want

Bigger rental companies will offer you a choice from a really wide range of vehicles. Most of the cars you’ll rent in Canada will be automatic, although some will have a manual transmission. The biggest consideration you’ll face is whether or not you want a 4WD. A 4WD will be really handy if you decide you want to drive the northern gravel highways or backcountry roads, as these will require a bit more traction. A 4WD costs quite a lot more than a regular car, so only choose this if you absolutely need it.

5. Pick your insurance wisely

Auto insurance is a requirement to drive in Canada, and basic insurance is automatically included when you rent a car. Driving in Canada with US insurance is an option if you have car insurance, but most Canadian car rental companies will offer you a collision damage waiver (CDW) and personal accident insurance as well. However, they will charge you an added fee for this additional coverage. A CDW will cover losses from the theft of or damage to a rental car. You can potentially get CDW for free by using your credit card to pay for the rental, as certain credit card companies offer that as a perk.

6. Beware of extra fees

There are several extra charges that can help you rack up a significant bill for your car rental. These include fees for one-way drop-off, additional drivers, and drivers under 25. You may even be charged a premium location fee for renting at places like airports. If you don’t get unlimited kilometers, you may be charged by the kilometer. You may also be charged a higher rate if you’re traveling outside the province where you rent the car. There are also certain taxes that may be added to your bill including the 5% Goods and Services Tax and the Provincial Sales Tax.

7. Know where you’re allowed to drive

Certain car rental companies restrict where you’re allowed to drive their rental cars. For example, some companies won’t allow you to drive across borders into other provinces or into the United States. They’ll track your route through your GPS, so be careful. Most of the major car rental companies also won’t let you drive on gravel or dirt roads. You will be taking on the risk and be liable for damage if you choose to do so.

8. Consider renting a motorhome

Renting an RV may be one of the best ways to travel to Canada. An RV will give you convenience and flexibility when checking out different campsites or parks. Be careful of the rules pertaining to driving RVs in Canada as certain areas have time and length restrictions. You may also not be allowed to camp on private property, national or Provincial Park, or wilderness areas. You may find overnight stays to be limited outside of rest areas and certain mall car parks, so be sure to reserve spaces in advance.

Here are the major road types in Canada:

Local roads
These roads provide access to private property. They are usually found in either the suburbs or the rural parts of Canada. They are known for having low traffic speed and for requiring at least one sidewalk.

Collector roads
These are made to connect traffic to larger arteries. Collector roads are usually signaled at intersections with arterial roads and require sidewalks on both sides of the road.

Minor arterial roads
Minor arterial roads are mainly designed to facilitate the movement of traffic. They also sometimes provide access to certain types of property. There are no stop signs on these roads, but they do have traffic lights at intersections. They also require sidewalks on both sides of the road.

Major arterial roads
These are mainly designed for traffic movement but they’re also subject to access controls, which means you’ll have to wait before entering the flow. Usually, these have sidewalks on both sides of the road.

Highways
These are the same as American highways. They don’t provide property access and are off-limits to pedestrians and cyclists.

Buckle up

Like in the US, everyone in the car needs to wear a seat belt. This is true regardless of age, and children under 18 kg require a car seat. You’ll be subject to a hefty fine if you’re caught breaking this law, not to mention the fact that a seat belt is a basic safety precaution that can save your life.

No smoking with minors

Smoking while driving is legal in Canada, although there have been certain legal efforts to try to ban it. Smoking with a minor in the car is illegal in many provinces. These include British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and more. Since this law is so widespread in Canadian provinces, it’s safest just to comply with it everywhere to avoid getting a ticket.

Cell phones must be hands-free

It is illegal to text while driving in Canada, and it’s also illegal to talk on the phone without a hands-free technology. If you get caught, the fine you’ll receive will depend on the province you’re in. You’ll also receive demerit points, which will stay on your record for two years from the date of the offense.

Daytime running lights

Every Canadian car comes equipped with headlights that automatically run during the daytime. This is really helpful if you’re renting a car from a Canadian rental company, as many provinces require you to have your headlights on in the daytime. If you’re driving your own car into Canada, make sure that you check the laws of the province you’re visiting. Or to be safe, you can just leave your headlights on during the day in every province.

British Columbia

British Columbia has a couple of laws that are a little oddball, but they are enforced nonetheless. When going downhill, it’s illegal to put your vehicle in neutral. While some drivers do this in order to save a little bit of gas mileage, it is outlawed in British Columbia. The Motor Vehicle Act states that when you are traveling downgrade, you can’t coast with the vehicle gears in neutral or the clutch disengaged.

Another interesting law in British Columbia imposes a $167 fine on anyone who blocks the left lane. The law states that if you’re in the left lane and another vehicle approaches in that lane, you must exit the lane if it’s safe to do so. Drivers who violate this law are subject not only to the fine but also up to three demerit points.

Montreal

On the island of Montreal, you are not allowed to turn right when the light is red, while this is legal in other provinces such as Quebec, Montreal specifically outlaws this. There are some intersections in other provinces that disallow a right on red, but a sign prohibiting it will mark these.

Ontario

In Ontario, any driver who is overspeeding at 50 km/h above the speed limit may have their car confiscated, towed, and impounded for up to 7 days. While most people may not ever speed at quite an extreme rate, it can be tricky near highway construction zones where the speed limit temporarily dips. Be cautious and abide by the posted speed limit or you may find yourself without a car.

Alberta

Alberta is known to have many inconspicuous photo radar units that are constantly monitoring speed on the highway. Very often a police unit will be monitoring from care parked on the side of the highway, but they also monitor speed while driving. Because radar detectors are illegal in a lot of provinces, you should avoid speeding to keep from getting an expensive ticket.

Quebec

Quebec has one quirky little law that will add two demerit points to your driving record if you’re found violating it. Under Quebec’s laws and regulations, you are not allowed to break suddenly without any cause. While this may seem like an unnecessary law, it’s important to drive as steadily as possible to avoid getting ticketed.

Turning right on red

Outside of Montreal, it’s legal to turn right at a red light unless there’s a sign prohibiting it. Turning right on red in Canada requires extra caution in order to exercise your responsibility to keep pedestrians safe. Before making your right turn, you must stop your vehicle completely. Pedestrians will always have the right-of-way if there is a pedestrian crossing light that allows them to cross. If there’s no pedestrian crossing light, they will have the right-of-way when the light is green.

Flashing green light

In Canada, there are two green lights: the standard green light and the flashing green light. The standard green light is the same as it is in the US in that you are able to drive straight through an intersection but must yield to oncoming traffic if you’re trying to turn left. If the light is flashing green, however, you have the right-of-way to turn left. This can be really handy for crowded intersections where turning left is a nightmare. But if you don’t know you have the right-of-way, you may be a danger to the person driving behind you who doesn’t expect you to stop suddenly.

Right turn, left turn, straight ahead…

When driving in the city especially you’ll often see road signs indicating where your lane is taking you. This can tell you where you’re allowed to go in any situation. For example, a sign can indicate that you must turn right or continue straight but that you aren’t allowed to turn left. While in the US you may be used to seeing this painted on the lane itself, in Canada you’ll want to keep an eye out for signs that indicate this information.

4-way stops

Many times in Canada you’ll come across an intersection that’s a 4-way stop. In this situation, the first car to stop is the first car to go. If two cars arrive at once, then you yield to the car to your right. To ensure the safety of yourself and the other vehicle, try to make visual contact with the other drivers on the road if you intend to go through the intersection.

Brush up on your French

Many of the road signs in Canada are in French, so you may want to look up a few key phrases before you hit the road. This can help you to navigate highway exit signs, especially the ones in Quebec. Many road signs in Quebec are only written in French, so keep that in mind if you plan on doing most of your driving there.

Keep an eye out

While the signs and symbols used in Canadian road signs are pretty much the same as they are in America, they’re a lot less conspicuous than they are elsewhere. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for signage while driving in Canada to stay aware of any potential hazards such as wildlife crossing.

Drunk Driving Law in Canada

Throughout Canada, the maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that you’re allowed to have is just under 0.08 mg/ml. Anything 0.08 mg/ml or above is a criminal offense that comes with severe punishment including arrest, fines, and potential jail time. Ontario has even stricter laws, with a “warn range” for BACs between 0.05 and 0.08 mg/ml which may come with serious consequences if you’re found to be in it.

If you’re 21 or under, you’re a commercial driver or you’re a novice driver of any age (with G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses) then you’re subject to a zero-tolerance rule. This means that you aren’t allowed to have any alcohol present in your blood when you’re driving.

Can the police check to see if I’ve been drinking?

The police are allowed to make you do a roadside breath test if they suspect you’ve been drinking alcohol. If you refuse to do a breath test, you can receive a harsher penalty for impaired driving. If they have reasonable grounds to think you’re over the legal limit. They can take you to the police station to do a breath test there. The police can also ask you to do a physical sobriety test on the side of the road.

What is the penalty for drunk driving?

If you’re found to be in the “warn range” of 0.05-0.08 mg/ml and you fail a roadside sobriety test, you can be subjected to penalty. First-time offenders get a 3-day license suspension and a $250 penalty, while second and third-time offenders receive longer suspensions and heftier fines. If your BAC is over 0.08, you get a 90-day license suspension, a $550 penalty, and a $281 license reinstatement fee. In addition to this, your vehicle will be impounded for 7 days.

Pullover

You need to pull over as quickly as possible when the police signal you to. Make sure that you park safely, as you don’t want to endanger yourself or the officer by stopping in the middle of the road on a busy highway. After pulling over you can stay in the car with the interior lights turned on. Be sure to roll down the windows and keep both of your hands on the steering wheel in view of the officer.

Stay calm

Remain calm and polite at all times. Continue to comply with the police officer even if you feel like he or she is being unfair. Getting angry will only exacerbate tensions, and abrupt movements or fidgeting can make the officer suspicious and think you’re looking for a weapon.

Follow orders

If they suspect you’ve been drinking, they may require you to undergo a field sobriety test. Comply with any orders given and refrain from lying, as doing so can be considered obstruction of justice. If you don’t agree with any charges you receive, you can fight the ticket later in a court of law. If anything happens that you feel is unfair, note the officer’s name and badge number to complain later. Fighting at the moment will only result in things working out worse for you.

Know your rights

That being said, you do have several rights that you’ll want to keep in mind. While the police are allowed to pull you over for no reason in Canada, you are protected from unreasonable use of power by the police. You have the right to remain silent if you don’t want to answer questions, and you don’t have to let them search your car if you don’t want to. You also have the right to call your lawyer before agreeing to anything or giving your permission. It is not prohibited to record the police, but you can’t willfully obstruct them. They can’t stop you from filming them or take your phone or camera, and it’s illegal for them to delete any recordings you took.