Canada trip

[Lee Senn]

We are planning a trip to Canada this summer. Passport cards are in hand but am wondering about two things Auto insurance , and medical coverage. Norma and I currently have Medicare and AARP supplemental in effect Any help would be appreciated. Lee and Norma,

[gordon2]

What a coincidence.. I just got my "Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province MV Liability Insurance Card" from my agent yesterday. I was under the impression that the card was not required, but it was advised. My agent seemed to think I needed it. It is in English and French and says I have the required coverage in every province of Canada.

Minimum liability coverage is required of course (card or not) but my insurance and perhaps most , if not all, include that coverage as a standard feature.

Anyway, call your Auto Insurance company or Agent and they will take care of getting you want you need.

I can't help with the medical end however.

[thrifty bill]

You need to have a Canadian insurance card for both your TV and trailer (two cards), your US provider can give you one if you ask.

Be sure to have all prescriptions in the original bottles or a copy of the prescription.

You will need a recent health certificate on any pet you take with you.

Lots of restrictions on food.


Realize if you go to Canada, you have a minimum of TWO border crossings. One into Canada, and one back into the US. Both have rules! On our upcoming trip to Alaska, we will have SIX border crossings. You never know which one will take the longest and be the most involved. They have the right to go through every single container/drawer/storage bin in your TV and trailer. I tend to figure border days will be short mileage days.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

You need to have a Canadian insurance card for both your TV and trailer (two cards), your US provider can give you one if you ask...

Can you provide a link to a Canadian governmental web site that documents the insurance requirement for the trailer? In the US of course, generally no insurance at all is required for the trailer apart from the tow vehicle's coverage.

[John in Michigan]

Lee, your medical insurance coverage while out of country will depend on your particular policy. You will need to check with your insurer.

We recently vacationed in Italy and determined our medical insurance coverage in advance by checking with our insurance company.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Can you provide a link to a Canadian governmental web site that documents the insurance requirement for the trailer? In the US of course, generally no insurance at all is required for the trailer apart from the tow vehicle's coverage.

I can't speak to the requirements for US citizens in Canada, but in Alberta, Canada, there are no requirements for insurance on a trailer. One slightly higher then $100 (cdn) life time registration fee, and I am done. Since I have towed my uninsured trailer from BC to Ontario, I have to guess that it is not required for an Alberta resident anywhere in Canada. But I really am just guessing.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

I can't speak to the requirements for US citizens in Canada, but in Alberta, Canada, there are no requirements for insurance on a trailer. One slightly higher then $100 (cdn) life time registration fee, and I am done. Since I have towed my uninsured trailer from BC to Ontario, I have to guess that it is not required for an Alberta resident anywhere in Canada. But I really am just guessing.

I have $3 million liability insurance on my trailer - $5 million on the tow vehicle. If your trailer somehow causes injury to another party, you will be sued for damages and will need that insurance.

[John in Michigan]

If you have an umbrella (broad) liability policy as I do, look into whether it provides coverage when out of country. My umbrella liability policy is provided by the same company that insures my autos, and the two policies are coordinated.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by John in Michigan

If you have an umbrella (broad) liability policy as I do, look into whether it provides coverage when out of country. My umbrella liability policy is provided by the same company that insures my autos, and the two policies are coordinated.

Same here.. Auto, Home, and Umbrella liability all from the same company with a separate comp policy from Progressive for the camper. IMHO, Umbrella liability policies should be obtained in an amount based on a risk assessment and in proportion to your net worth.

But the question here is about insurance (and documents) needed for for a summer trip to Canada. So call your agent.

The topic of suggested insurance coverage over the minimum is a debate we could have for years.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I have $3 million liability insurance on my trailer - $5 million on the tow vehicle. If your trailer somehow causes injury to another party, you will be sued for damages and will need that insurance.

As I understand it, when the trailer is hooked up to my car, it is covered by my automobile liability insurance. When it is parked on my property, it is covered under my house insurance.

I suppose there are circumstances that I would not be covered, but none come to mind.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

As I understand it, when the trailer is hooked up to my car, it is covered by my automobile liability insurance. When it is parked on my property, it is covered under my house insurance.

I suppose there are circumstances that I would not be covered, but none come to mind.

Best read your policies. My trailer is not covered by the vehicle insurance in BC.

[Rod D]

So we're all going to Canada this year, eh! Jane and I hope to get to Nova Scotia in September so we're also checking in with our insurers, phone providers, credit card folks, etc. Our auto insurance agent first thought we would need a "Canadian" card, but called back to advise that Safeco says our "regular" card is good as long as we can show proof of ownership (hopefully that means our registration cards for both TV and TT). Haven't heard back yet on health insurance, but Consumer Cellular is also good to go (although there will be some extra charges when I connect to the internet). Still listening to all the other comments here though, as I always learn something new.

[Rod D]

Forgot to note that our auto policy covers both Santa Fe and Scamp when together or parked separately at a campground or at home. The Scamp was just added to the policy for a very small additional fee. It does seem that every state has different coverage.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Rod D

So we're all going to Canada this year, eh!

... but Consumer Cellular is also good to go (although there will be some extra charges when I connect to the internet). ...

Yes it seems we all are headed north!

I hate to go even further off topic, so I apologize in advance.

But I understood that my Consumer Cellular phone would NOT work in Canada and was designed that way to prevent unexpected charges.

This site says:

Our customers also don’t have a roaming problem. They are never charged a roaming fee for domestic U.S. usage, and that includes Alaska and Hawaii. And their Consumer Cellular phone will not work beyond the U.S. borders, thus protecting them from any outrageous international roaming fees, which are mostly unregulated and can vary widely.

Did you have to authorize coverage in Canada?


I was just planning on not having cell phone coverage in Canada.