If you are looking for the driving rules in Canada, your search ends here. Canada is a beautiful country, worth visiting any time of the year. Canadian roads and highways share the convenience of their USA counterparts plus the pragmatism and beauty of European roads.
Driving in Canada won’t disappoint you by any mean. This guide will summarize everything you need to know when driving in this great country. Read on
Getting into the basics:
First things first, there are some elemental driving rules in Canada that you should be aware of:
- In Canada, you drive on the right. This is a big plus because doesn’t represent a barrier for most European, Asian and American tourists.
- In the eventuality of requiring road assistance, you can call the emergency number 911 that gives you access to all important services like ambulances, police, and fire department. This number works nationwide.
- Canada uses the metric system which means that distance is measured in Kilometers and speed is measured in KPH (Kilometers per hour).
- As in most countries, you can only use mobile phones in hands-free mode. Take this warning seriously, motorists who are caught using handheld devices while driving will be fined.
- In Canada, unlike most other countries, the majority of cars use an automatic transmission instead of a manual one.
- Similar to the USA, in most of Canada regions, turning right is permitted on red lights, unless a sign indicates not to do so.
Legal requirements for driving in Canada
In a similar way that the United States, there are two types of law in Canada, national laws, and province/territory laws. National laws apply to the entire country while province and territory laws can vary from one region to another. It’s really important to take this into consideration, especially if you plan to drive in different territories. Speed limits, drinking ordinances, and even driver’s license validity can change depending on the region you are visiting. That said, in general terms, the legal requirements for driving in Canada include:
- You need a valid driver’s license. As said above, driving rules in Canada can change from one region to another. UK and USA driver’s licenses are valid in Canada, but for the rest of the countries, a valid driver’s license issued by your country of origin may not be enough. It’s highly recommended to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your own country license. Our advice is contacting the authorities of the region you plan to visit for specific information regarding this matter.
- Insurance Certificate. Besides the driver’s license, you need a valid insurance certificate as well as the vehicle registration. If you are renting a car the insurance certificate will be issued at the desk. In case you are driving from the USA, your insurance certificate is valid in Canada. Our suggestion is keeping documents safe at the glovebox.
- Minimum Driving Age. Regarding the minimum age, driving rules in Canada indicates that you should be at least 18 years old for taking the wheel. However, most rental car companies require to be 25 years old to hire a car.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). In most territories of Canada driving with 0.08 grams of alcohol in every 100ml of blood (0.08% BAC) is considered a crime. However, keep in mind that this can vary in some territories where the maximum BAC is only 0.05%.
Speed limits in Canada
The speed limits could vary depending on territory. As a reference the average speed limits within Canada are:
Rural freeway: 80 kph (50 mph).
Highways: 100 to 120 kph (62 to 75 mph).
Urban areas: 50 kph (31 mph).
Remember, the above is only a reference, our suggestion is being careful and check the speed limit signs each time you cross a state border.
The fines for speeding in Canada are really high, so try not exceeding the speed limits. Each region has its own regulations, but you can expect fines as high as $10,000 in most of them. If you plan to drive in Alberta be aware that speeding fines can go up to $25,000 in some cases. Besides the fine, you can end up in jail depending on the level of your offense. Our recommendation is to take seriously speed limits and avoid unnecessary inconveniences.
General safety regulations while driving in Canada
An important part of the driving rules in Canada has to be with the safety controls. Laws related to safety are really strict in Canada, be sure to follow them to the letter.
- Using the seatbelt at all times is obligatory. This is true for all passengers, including children. However, in the case of children, you will need using a child safety seat that meets US Federal regulations.
- Depending on the territory, during winter time using snow tires may be mandatory. Keep this regulation in mind if your plan is spending the holidays in Canada.
- In most Canadian cities, the headlights must be on while driving regardless of the time of the day. A quick tip, ensure that you turn on the headlights as soon as you start the engine.
- Fines and penalties in Canada
During this article, you had the opportunity to learn the most important driving rules in Canada. However, as a tourist, is also pertinent a basic knowledge regarding the potential sanctions you may face. As mentioned before, fines in Canada are really high. Below is a roundup of the most common infractions:
- Exceeding the speed limit in urban areas will cost you up to $10,000-$25,000. As said earlier, besides the fine you could go to jail too.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol can be fined with a minimum of $1,000 all the way up to $2,500 depending on the BAC result. In addition to the fine, first time offenders should be imprisoned 30 days.
- Hiding or artificially altering your speed limit by using any electronic device (like radar jammers) is considered a crime. As you can guess, you may go to prison for this kind of crime. Fines depend entirely on the situation but can be as high as US$10,000 on severe cases.
- If you get caught using a handheld device while driving you could be fined from $50 to US$250 depending on the situation. In Ontario, this could escalate up to $1,000.
- The fine for driving under the influence of alcohol also vary from one state to another. First-time offenders may face imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $600 to $10,00, or both.
- The failure in using seatbelts will cause you fines as well. Depending on the region, you can expect fines ranging from $25 to $150.
- Finally, running a red light could cost you $100 (average).
Regarding speeding, is good for you to know that using cameras (both mobile and fixed) is a common practice across roads in Canada. We encourage you to enjoy your vacation and avoid unnecessary fines.
Wrapping Up
Driving rules in Canada are not distant from those used in the USA or Europe. Is a country that takes safety very seriously, and enforces traffic rules passionately. Wrapping up, following the basic driving rules in Canada will guarantee you an enjoyable stay in this wonderful country.