Rules for overlanding in Canada

You can drive temporarily on a valid licence from your own country, for up to three months and for a period that varies by province and territory; beyond that an international permit is required. Carrying a 1949 Geneva International Driving Permit is strongly advised in any case if your licence is not written in English or French, and failing to produce the required documents can mean fines and having the vehicle impounded.

Third-party liability and personal injury cover is compulsory for all vehicles, with a minimum of 200,000 dollars, or 50,000 in Québec. A policy issued in the United States is valid in Canada only if it covers at least 200,000 dollars.

A motor vehicle can be imported temporarily for up to 12 months, with the customs inspector at the land border or port issuing an E99 temporary import permit. Where there is doubt about re-export a deposit of 100 to 500 dollars may be required, on form E29B; an FIA carnet de passages can replace E29B and avoid the deposit, but the ministry suggests the E29B because inspectors are not always familiar with carnets. A temporarily imported vehicle may only be driven by the importer, or by a passenger while the importer is present.

The general limit is 0.08%, but provinces can set it lower, for instance 0.05%, and it is zero for drivers aged 16 to 21; Ontario applies zero tolerance to under-21s, newly qualified drivers and professional drivers. A first offence brings a 600 CAD fine, possible licence suspension and even a prison sentence, and police can fine you, suspend the licence on the spot, impound the vehicle and lay criminal charges, including for driving under the influence of cannabis. Taking a breath test when asked is compulsory: refusing is itself a criminal offence.

Handheld phone use at the wheel is banned throughout the country. A driver who causes a crash while using a phone can be prosecuted for dangerous driving, with an aggravating charge if anyone is injured or killed.

Seatbelts are compulsory front and rear in every province, an approved child seat is required nationwide, and helmets are compulsory in all provinces for the rider and passenger of a scooter or motorcycle, and on a snowmobile in Yukon. Two-wheelers must run with headlights on day and night except in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and every vehicle built after 1990 must show daytime running lights, with Yukon legislating separately as it has no daylight for six months of the year. A broken-down vehicle must show its sidelights.

The permitted season differs everywhere: no restrictions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Yukon; 1 October to 30 April in British Columbia and Manitoba; 1 October to 31 May on Prince Edward Island; 16 October to 30 April in New Brunswick; 15 October to 30 April in Nova Scotia; 15 October to 1 May in Québec for vehicles under 3,000 kg; 1 November to 30 April in Newfoundland. Studs are banned all year in Ontario, and vehicles running them face no special speed limits.

From November to April expect snow, ice and temperatures down to -35, and use snow tyres. Driving outside built-up areas in winter, keep the fuel tank topped up and carry clothing for the cold, blankets and a phone. The ministry also suggests taking comprehensive cover when hiring a vehicle.

The only toll motorway is Highway 407, the Toronto bypass. Every other motorway is free.

Carrying an open bottle of wine, beer or spirits in any vehicle is prohibited, campers included. Any alcoholic drink has to travel in an unopened container with the seal intact.

Recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, with up to 30 grams bought from provincially licensed outlets and a minimum age of 19, or 18 in Alberta. Carrying it across an international border in either direction is a serious criminal offence, and bringing in cannabis or CBD products is prohibited even when prescribed medically elsewhere, unless Health Canada has authorised it.

An eTA obtained before boarding is required for arrivals by air, transit included, and it is no guarantee of entry: border officers decide, and can shorten your stay or refuse you if they doubt the stated purpose, for instance with no return ticket or insufficient funds, with arrest or immediate return possible. Border agents may ask for the passwords to your laptop or phone; you can refuse, but that refusal can itself contribute to being turned away.

Dogs and cats from Italy need an original valid certificate in English or French from an official vet, identifying the animal with its microchip number and stating the rabies vaccination, including the vaccine brand, serial number and validity; with no validity stated it counts as one year. Pit bulls are not allowed into Ontario.

A visitor can bring a foreign-owned vehicle into Canada without meeting Transport Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Act import standards, for as long as their own visitor status allows. Only the vehicle's owner may use it, and it can't be sold or given away while it's in the country. (Transport Canada — FAQ: Visitors, Tourists and Temporary Residents Entering Canada with Foreign Owned Vehicles)

Foreign pilots can't register a drone in Canada. To fly one weighing 250 g or more you need a Canadian drone pilot certificate, even if you are authorised to fly drones at home, and you may also need a Foreign Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS). Drones under 250 g don't need an SFOC unless you fly them at an advertised event. (Transport Canada — Get permission to fly a drone as a foreign pilot)

In Canada's national parks, ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles aren't allowed, and every motor vehicle must stay on hardened, paved or gravel roads. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds; sleeping in your vehicle at a roadside pull-out, trailhead or day-use area is prohibited. (Parks Canada — Visitor guidelines)

British Columbia's financial services regulator (BCFSA) states that the Canada Non-Resident Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card, which foreign car insurers can provide to policyholders who want to drive their cars in Canada, may be needed to prove insurance coverage that meets Canadian requirements when a Canadian police officer or other authority asks for it. It adds that being unable to prove adequate insurance coverage can lead to heavy fines and/or impoundment of the vehicle until adequate coverage is available. (British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) — Powers of attorney and undertakings)

The Government of Ontario states that camping is allowed for free on most Crown lands in Ontario (Crown land, or public land, excludes provincial parks and conservation reserves), and that anyone camping for private, non-commercial purposes can stay in a camping unit for up to 21 days on any one site in a calendar year. It also states that most non-residents of Canada need a Crown land camping permit to camp on Crown land north of the French and Mattawa Rivers, and lists some exemptions. This is Ontario's rule; the page does not cover other provinces. (Government of Ontario — Camping on Crown land)

In its conditions of licence for mobile-satellite service (MSS) earth stations operating below 3 GHz (appendix N3, condition 3.4, “Roaming”), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) states that subscriber radio equipment brought into Canada by visitors for use while temporarily located in Canada must meet any applicable Canadian radio equipment standards and be certified for use in Canada, or be type-approved by an administration that is a signatory to the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite Memorandum of Understanding (GMPCS-MoU) and carry the GMPCS-MoU mark. (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada — Conditions of licence appendix N3: Generic Earth Stations (MSS earth stations below 3 GHz, condition 3.4 Roaming))