Driving in the US and Canada

[docjan]

I figure someone here may know the answer... (crosses fingers)

Should be off to Canada in a week or two and my friend is willing to give permission for me to drive her car.
Now, afaik the UK licence is fine in the US and Canada for a few months, question is that I'll be taking that Canadian car into the US on a roadtrip so anyone got any comments on:
a) how to deal with insurance in Canada( how do I know if Im covered/how to get coverage if Im not)
b) would this coverage stretch to the US or any other issues?

[adamh]

I believe that, strictly speaking, you need an international drivers licence in the US - £4 from a post office last time I got one. You also need to take your UK licence to support it.
The law may have changed now so maybe you don't need an international licence - best to check though.

[up-the-dubs]

REnted cars in the States the last four years running. Always got one of those Intl licences but never had call for it.

Can't help on the insurance though, sorry. Ask your friend to enquire on her side if you're covered.

[JMGS4]

docjan said:

I figure someone here may know the answer... (crosses fingers) Should be off to Canada in a week or two and my friend is willing to give permission for me to drive her car. Now, afaik the UK licence is fine in the US and Canada for a few months, question is that I'll be taking that Canadian car into the US on a roadtrip so anyone got any comments on: a) how to deal with insurance in Canada( how do I know if Im covered/how to get coverage if Im not) b) would this coverage stretch to the US or any other issues?

Absolutely no problems as CDN cars are insured for the US and vice versa..... I'd take an international driving license if you have one, if not usually an english language one is OK. The only laughs I've had is when an ignorant US border guard tried to read (never mind understand) my 40 year old german driving license!!! I "helped" him by showing him my GB one as well when I realised he'd got his knickers in a twist!!

[mcflurry]

Hire car companies and a local car dealer were more then happy to accept my uk licence.

They were amused at the expiry date being in 2040, the hand written points and the dog-earred-ness of the paperwork

[targarama]

I've been renting cars in the US with my normal UK license for years. I've never had anyone mention the need for anything more than the full UK license. In the past few years nobody has even asked to see the scrappy paper part of the license and I just show the credit card part. Even the Police :ahem:

I guess your friend would need to make sure you're covered on her insurance though (or is the car covered as long as drivers are over a certain age?).

[docjan]

Thanks for the replies guys, basically this is her mothers car, her mothers in Lebanon at the moment but shes given her blessings on the car... I'm really not sure what her policy says, I guess if she makes a quick phone call to the insurance company they could inform whether I'm covered or not (and I assume once covered in Canada you'd be covered in the US also).
Also I'm guessing the mother could send a covering letter saying she gives Mr xyz permission to use her car registration abcd1234 between the period of xyz?

[pdV6]

docjan said:

I'm really not sure what her policy says, I guess if she makes a quick phone call to the insurance company they could inform whether I'm covered or not (and I assume once covered in Canada you'd be covered in the US also).

I think the system works rather differently in the US/Canada to the way we do things in the UK. Bascially, the car itself is covered, so as long as the documents are to hand and you have your licence on you, it should be ok AFAIK.

[docjan]

Suhweet, cheap tickets, free housing and car, cheap petrol split 3 ways... here comes one mother of a road trip!

[ec1 eex]

The international driving license is nothing but a translation of your proper license - so it's a waste of money for the US/Canada.

My family used to have a holiday home in California and we bought a Jeep. We all had to get local driving licenses for insurance purposes, and we were all named drivers on the insurance. That said, California is "sue capital" of America so the insurance may work differently.

[modernbeat]

Driver's license issues aside, you might have a problem bringing a Canadian titled car, not titled in your name, into the USA. I'd talk to US Customs to get the skinny on what you'll need to bring the car across.