Driving in Canada with a valid foreign licence is perfectly legal – as long as you know the rules around international licences. In this blog post, we’ll go over what you need to know about driving in Canda.
The basics
Pick the right side: Canadians drive on the right side of the road. This is the same as the US and it means that driver sits on the left side of the car (left-hand drive). Most of the world drives on the right, but if you’re from the UK, or India, or Australia, or one of the other countries that drives on the left, you’ll need to be careful the first time you get behind the wheel. The image below has all the countries that drive on the left marked in yellow.
Metric System: Speed and distances are measured in kilometers, not miles. Fuel is measured in liters. Most Canadians are quite comfortable with miles though, so if you ask someone for a distance in miles, they’ll usually be able to tell you.
Language: A note of caution: Road signs in the province of Quebec will ONLY be in French. If you plan to drive in Montreal, you should familiarize yourself with basics like “Stop”, “Yield”, “Detour” and so on. In all other provinces, road signage will be in English. Some provinces (Ontario, for example) use both English and French.
Driving under the influence: Canadian DUI laws are extremely strict, and you should never, ever risk driving under the influence of any substance that can impair your faculties. Penalties for a DUI can be very harsh, and if you’re a foreign national, you can pretty much assume you will be banned from Canada for a long time if you’re convicted of a DUI. Just don’t do it. Call a cab.
Valid Licences
You need a valid driver’s licence and proof of auto insurance to drive a car in Canada. Most provinces will allow you to drive with just a valid license (as long as it’s in English) for a certain period of time. That period varies – Ontario gives you three months, British Columbia lets you drive for six months – and if you intend to stay longer, you’ll need to have an International Drivers Permit (IDP).
You’ll also need an IDP if your licence is in a language other than English or French. It’s not a bad idea to get one even if you’re travelling for a short period of time – you can only apply for an IDP before travelling, so put that on your list of things to do.
You can read up on each province’s driving rules here – https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/new-life-canada/driving.html
Proof of Insurance
Finally, you’ll need to have proof of auto insurance to drive legally in Canada. If you’re renting a car, this is typically not an issue since the rental company will ensure you’re covered by their policy before they give you a vehicle. However, if you’re driving a friend’s car, you need to make sure their insurance policy covers additional drivers. It’s always a good idea to check with the insurance company before driving a privately owned vehicle.