Countries › Canada
Canada
At a glance
- Traffic
- on the right
- Currency
- CAD
- Plugs
- types A, B · 120 V
- Emergency
- 911
Entering the country
- US citizens: passport, passport card or NEXUS at a land border. No eTA needed by road. Firearms, pepper spray and firewood: strict rules.
Driver and insurance
- Your Canadian or US licence is enough for a visitor.
- Insurance: your Canadian or US proof of insurance is enough.
Speed limits
| Town | Road | Motorway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, light RV | 50 | 80–90 | 100–110 |
In km/h. Signs always take precedence. With a trailer, check the limit for combinations.
Tolls and vignettes A few tolls
Few tolls. Ontario: Highway 407 ETR, billed by licence plate (US plates too). Quebec: bridges on Highways 25 and 30, free-flow, billed by plate. Confederation Bridge (PEI) and Cobequid Pass (NS): tolled.
Low-emission zones
None known for cars and RVs.
Boondocking Depends on the region
Crown (public) land: free camping is often allowed up to 21 days (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta…), with each province setting its own rules. Elsewhere: store parking lots depending on the store, rest areas depending on the province.
Mandatory equipment
Nothing special for a visitor.
Good to know
- Right turn on red allowed everywhere except on the Island of Montreal (and where signed).
- Insurance: your Canadian or US proof of insurance is recognised across the country.
Quebec
- Winter tires required from December 1 to March 15 (mountain-snowflake symbol); plan on them if you drive there in winter.
- Road signs in French only.
- Winter tires required from December 1 to March 15.
British Columbia
- Winter tires (M+S or mountain-snowflake) or chains required October 1 to March 31 on most mountain highways (to April 30 on some).
- Winter tires required from October 1 to March 31.
Ontario
- Highway 407 ETR: no booths, the bill follows the plate. Avoid it if you don't want to pay.
Famous routes
- Icefields Parkway and the Canadian RockiesCalgary to Jasper via Banff, Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefield: turquoise lakes, glaciers, elk and bears.
- Cabot TrailThe Cape Breton Highlands loop: cliffs over the Gulf, Acadian Chéticamp, whales and Celtic fiddles.
- Gaspé Peninsula loopRoute 132 around the peninsula from Québec City: Kamouraska, Reford Gardens, the Chic-Chocs, Forillon, Percé and Chaleur Bay.
- Whale RouteRoute 138 from Québec City to Havre-Saint-Pierre: Charlevoix, the Saguenay Fjord, Tadoussac's whales and the Mingan monoliths.
Frequently asked questions
- Canada: what do you need to enter the country with your vehicle?
- US citizens: passport, passport card or NEXUS at a land border. No eTA needed by road. Firearms, pepper spray and firewood: strict rules. Your Canadian or US licence is enough for a visitor. Insurance: your Canadian or US proof of insurance is enough.
- Canada: what are the speed limits?
- Car and light RV: 50 in town, 80–90 on rural roads, 100–110 on motorways (km/h).
- Canada: do you need a vignette or pay tolls?
- Few tolls. Ontario: Highway 407 ETR, billed by licence plate (US plates too). Quebec: bridges on Highways 25 and 30, free-flow, billed by plate. Confederation Bridge (PEI) and Cobequid Pass (NS): tolled.
- Canada: are there low emission zones?
- None known for cars and RVs.
- Canada: is wild camping allowed?
- Depends on the region. Crown (public) land: free camping is often allowed up to 21 days (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta…), with each province setting its own rules. Elsewhere: store parking lots depending on the store, rest areas depending on the province.
- Canada: what equipment is required in the vehicle?
- Nothing special for a visitor.