A Road Trip to Canada: The Canadians Are Serious About Their Regulations

It has been an American tradition for 50 years now, for young people fresh with a license to drive, or for other people who miss the impulsiveness of their youth, to assert their freedom by looking to Canada as a great frontier to conquer in their cars. The soaring beauty of Canada's open country to the north is especially alluring for the fact that this great wild northern country is as close as it is, just an hour from many American cities. Canada may be within sight of many major American cities; but reaching Canada is somewhat more regulated today than before. Many road-trip warriors find about the new regulations to entering Canada the hard way, making it all the way to the checkpoint, only to be turned back for want of a simple document.

Border-crossings may be somewhat more regulated today than before, but the new regulations are not that much, still. The first and most important Canadian border-crossing requirement at any Canadian checkpoint is to possess a passport. A valid photo ID and a valid driving license comes next. It may seem that it is no business of a border checkpoint whether you can drive; but since you are demonstrating every intention of driving in their country it does make sense for border control to make sure that you are qualified to do so. Every member of a travel party is required to display a valid passport, and photo identification in addition. Children too young to have any of these are required to be shown birth certificates for.

Canadian border-control requirements ask for travelers to be aware of the latest notifications on items not permitted. It is always a good idea to read up on these before taking a trip. People often find that they are refused entry for carrying some sort of contraband, even innocent contraband, if it happens to be on their list of disapproved items. The Canadian government website has up-to-date information on items that are not to be brought in.

Crossing over into another country is not a matter to be taken lightly. Canadian border-control requires that the vehicle you are in, be properly registered and insured in your local state in the U.S. Expired insurance or insurance that won't last the duration of your trip will cause problems at the checkpoint. There will be the usual formal questions about the purpose of your visit, and the time you will be staying in the country. To answer these simply and truthfully will get you across with few problems. Any answer is acceptable usually: a visit to just drive around and take in the scenery, to visit people, to shop, or anything.

There will be a few words of sensible advice from the authorities at the Canadian border-control checkpoint, on things to keep in mind in your new environment in Canada. There will be a few pointers to the strict seat-belt requirements in Canada, and some cautioning on driving in open country that has large protected populations of wildlife. You will be asked to be mindful while driving, of sign boards that warn you to be prepared to brake at a moment's notice for animals that could cross the road or highway. Deer and moose are large and heavy animals and a head-on collision could do more than kill the animal - it could seriously damaged any vehicle. Canada is a relaxed and easy-going country with a wonderful environment. These pointers are aimed at making your trip as trouble-free as possible; these really are about the simplest rules that any country could have to help make visitors feel welcome.