Travel by car from US to Canada

[dach0507]

What is required, both for adults and minors, to travel by car to Canada? Does a US Drivers License work for the adult, and birth certificates for the minors? None of the travelers have a passport and I don't think one would come in time.

[definitelyO]

Last time I did it we needed a passport - your drivers license will not work (in my experience and research).

[macmars45]

If you have an enhanced license that will be sufficient for adults.

[candreco]

For driving, 16 and older need a passport, under 16 a birth certificate is acceptable.

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html

[cattledogkisses]

From the US State Dept. website:

Entry into Canada: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens.

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html

You can use an Enhanced Driver's License.  You cannot use a RealID license or regular driver's license for international travel.

[smock]

You can use an enhanced driver's license for the adults and birth certificates for the kids––we did this exact thing a few months ago.

[heygrey]

If any minors are traveling without both parents you also need a letter of consent to travel. I can send a link if you need for the Canadian form.

[whattheheck]

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

[cap]

May 24, 2023 14:28:30 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

I have never had this and from 2011 - 2016, when we lived in upstate NY, we passed through Canada at least twice a year when we'd drive to visit family in MI. Did you have to have show it at the border?

[InBetweenDays]

OP - looks like others have covered the question about needing a passport or EDL.

But we drive through the WA/BC border at least 3 times per year (and have for many years) and we have never been asked to show anything from our insurance company.

[NewGirlNic]

May 24, 2023 14:54:03 GMT -5 cap said:

May 24, 2023 14:28:30 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

I have never had this and from 2011 - 2016, when we lived in upstate NY, we passed through Canada at least twice a year when we'd drive to visit family in MI. Did you have to have show it at the border?

I've lived in Buffalo my whole life and cross the border at least a few times a year and I've never been asked/needed anything from insurance.

[livinitup]

We have done this a bunch of times and the advice you have received is correct. A minor detail is that a US citizen/family driving INTO Canada, they accept a drivers license as proof of ID (government issued) (not required to be enhanced) and a birth certificate for a minor. However, traveling BACK into the US, the US custom’s agent requires proof of citizenship in the form of a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver’s ID. And the only time I tested this, we were still allowed back into the US, without a passport, with just driver’s license. It just took longer.

[whattheheck]

May 24, 2023 14:54:03 GMT -5 cap said:

May 24, 2023 14:28:30 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

I have never had this and from 2011 - 2016, when we lived in upstate NY, we passed through Canada at least twice a year when we'd drive to visit family in MI. Did you have to have show it at the border?

I went in 2004 (maybe 2005) - maybe this was just something my insurance required? I’m a little fuzzy but it sounds like it’s a non-issue these days.

[dach0507]

Thanks for all the replies! I was pretty sure a passport would be required for the adult, just wanted to be sure.

[heygrey]

May 24, 2023 14:28:30 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

Did they ask for this at the border?

I moved to Canada in 2005 and have crossed the border hundreds of times since and have never been asked about my insurance coverage. I have gotten some odd questions though so maybe you just got the guard trying to liven things up.

[wise_rita]

What on earth is in enhanced driver's licence? If it is not Real ID?

[basilosaurus]

May 25, 2023 1:31:38 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

What on earth is in enhanced driver's licence? If it is not Real ID?

I think they're only available to those in states bordering Canada. Not real id

ETA From homeland.gov's site. So not even all bordering states

EDL's are available in the following states:



Michigan

Minnesota

New York

Vermont

Washington

[jennybee1018]

May 25, 2023 1:31:38 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

What on earth is in enhanced driver's licence? If it is not Real ID?

Not sure if this is helpful....

Seems like a REAL ID is for travel (domestic) if you don't have a passport.

The Enhanced ID can be used in place of a passport for border crossing to Canada, Mexico, etc.

dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/get-enhanced-driver-license-edl

[wise_rita]

May 25, 2023 1:47:40 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

May 25, 2023 1:31:38 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

What on earth is in enhanced driver's licence? If it is not Real ID?

I think they're only available to those in states bordering Canada. Not real id

ETA From homeland.gov's site. So not even all bordering states

EDL's are available in the following states:



Michigan

Minnesota

New York

Vermont

Washington

There's a biiiig swath in the middle missing here. Interesting!

[whattheheck]

May 25, 2023 0:50:45 GMT -5 heygrey said:

May 24, 2023 14:28:30 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

The last time I did that - which was many, many years ago - I needed something from my insurance company covering the car while I was in Canada.

Did they ask for this at the border?

I moved to Canada in 2005 and have crossed the border hundreds of times since and have never been asked about my insurance coverage. I have gotten some odd questions though so maybe you just got the guard trying to liven things up.

Oh I got a really pissy  guard.  He did ask for this and other documents that I didn't think we needed at the time (I don't remember clearly but I think you needed a license OR a birth certificate and he wanted both plus social security cards - somehow my Dad's baptismal record came up).  He thought I was bringing too much stuff for a few day stay and when I explained I was traveling with a baby he says -  in what I perceived to be a heavy French accent  - "I do not see zee baby!"  Well she's right there in the middle of the back seat and I had all the windows rolled down.  He asked if I was leaving anything in Canada and I said no and then he asked the purpose and I said to attend a wedding.  "What? No gift?"  In the same exaggerated accent and looking down his nose at me in disgust.  (for the record I lived in the same city as the couple currently lived and had given them their gift there).  There were already multiple cars pulled over being searched by the agents who carry really large guns and I was just silently praying that my infant would continue sleeping through this because I was certain that if she started crying he was going to be done with the whole thing and I would meet the agents with the guns.  It was . . . not fun.

[heygrey]

whattheheck, wild.

I have never seen really large guns at the border and I’ve crossed at a lot of different entry points. I know the agents have guns on their hips, but I’ve never seen anything bigger. I wonder if there had been an event recently that made them more wary at that particular point of entry?

[Susie]

May 25, 2023 1:31:38 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

What on earth is in enhanced driver's licence? If it is not Real ID?

I have one from NY.  It's "extra" beyond Real ID compliance, and can be used for land travel to Canada and Mexico and also for cruises in a lot of Caribbean ports instead of a passport, although it can't be used for international flights.  To get an enhanced license you have to bring extra layers of ID to the DMV, including proof of SSN, a passport/birth cert/green card, etc.

In addition to the 9 digit license ID number on the front (that would be on all licenses in NY) it includes a machine readable code on the back that is formatted like a passport code.  It also has a RFID tag that is readable at border crossings.

I've never used it for the "enhanced" purposes, but I got it when I had to go to the DMV anyway to get a Real ID compliant license.  I figured, why not.  I live in a border state, and could conceivably use it.

[wise_rita]

In other Real ID news I had a reminder written this past week that it was meant to start going into effect for domestic flying. I Googled and it's now in May 2025 instead.

[livinitup]

One more thing: when returning from Canada to the US (by Niagara Falls), ONE TIME I got an agent who checked my vehicle’s registration and inspection sticker. It was a non-issue since both were up-to-date but he made such a big deal about it that I have always double-checked those stickers before a boarder crossing. I have no idea what would happen if they are expired and I don’t want to know.

[loira]

I think border control is the sort of job that tends to attract the worst power trippers. My American H has always had really good experiences with Canadian Border Services but I've heard horror stories and I think CBC even did an exposé on them at some point. I won't get into all my experiences with US Border Control, 99% of which have been deeply unpleasant, but again I'm not sure it's country dependent because I think you get this sort of general unpleasantness with plenty of them independent of country.