I have a question about going to Canada

[Sonya]

Actually 2, lol.

1. I am going to be driving my dad's car. Do I need any sort of note from him saying it is OK to take it out of the country?

2. I know they passed a law saying you need a passport to get out of the country. Has that taken effect yet?

We are just thinking about going to Niagara.

 

[mickey65]

This will answer your questions.
I don't think the one about searching all vehicles is realistic.


http://www.necromantic.net/deadparrot/border01.html

 

[Meriweather]

The passport thing goes into effect at the end of the year....but it does make everything easier.
We have never had our car searched....but don't be surprised.
They did have the dogs out and were sniffing them all.
Not sure about taking someone else's car...I would check before I tried though.

 

[chell]

If you don't have a passport try to take along a birth certificate just in case.

Have fun and bring us back some pictures please.

 

[Jpgirl]

When we took the inlaws car to Canada we had the registration and proof in insuranc and a notarized note stating that we had permission. We also had our birth certificates. They never asked coming or going to see them but it's good to be safe. Have fun Canada is cool

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

DH and I just got back from Niagara Falls today. We brought our birth certificates and drivers licenses since neither of us have passports. We were not asked for any ID going to Canada and we were only asked for our photo IDs leaving Canada. They did ask how long we were staying/stayed and where we were and what we were doing. On the way home they asked if we had purchased anything in Canada. We were literally across the border in 3 minutes, tops. I don't think having a passport would have made any difference whatsoever. Passports aren't required until 2007.

FYI, we crossed the Rainbow Bridge both times.

 

[Nancy]

We go over all the time, of course it's in my own car, but they don't even ask about who mowns the car at the border. Questions are citizens of what country, where are you going, for how long. They then ask for picture ID (drivers license works) and it's bye, bye, have a good time. Coming home same thing, citizenship, where were you, are you bringing back anything other than personal belongings. Picture ID again, bye bye. Now that could be because we go over a lot and when you cross they enter license plate numbers so they know we go over all the time. When the kids are with me I bring their birth certificates just in case.

Edited to add: we use the Rainbow Bridge all the time to. The big bridge (Peacebridge) can get backed up really quick and it takes forever. With the rainbow bridge even if you get stuck in traffic you have the view of the gorge and Falls to keep you occupied.

 

[Mishetta]

Hi Sonya!

Bring birth certs with you for all who are traveling. I can't remember when the passport requirement starts but it's not this year.

I have no idea about the car info you asked.

Bring plenty of money ~ everything is very expensive.

Haven't been since 2001 but we used to go a few times a year. We love Niagara Falls. (We're about 5 hours from there.) Oh & one time they made us pull over & they nearly dismantled the car. I think they do that per so many cars (& naturally they also do that when they suspect something being smuggled over.) We were clean!

Have a great time.

 

[Sonya]

Thanks everyone. It has been a few years since I was up there. Glad the passport thing doesn't start yet!
Dad is going to the bank tomorow to get a notary public to do a paper for us just in case. I need to remember all our birth certs!
Now where are they....

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

We just got back from Niagara Falls. Don't forget to get your GST tax rebate at the duty-free shop right before you cross back to the US on the Rainbow Bridge! There are some rules, such as you have to have spent over $200 total, and any receipts you are using need to total at least $50 on each receipt. Try to do all your souvenir shopping in one store to get to the $50 mark--a lot of the stores sell similar or the same items.

One thing to note, if you are staying at a hotel on a package plan that includes meals, when you get your final receipt, make sure they separate out what part of the cost is for the room and what is for the food. They only refund the GST on the room cost, and since ours was combined on the receipt, they only refunded HALF our tax! (since they claimed they could not determine what was food and what was room costs). You can get your rebate at the hotel, but they will charge a fee ($10 where we stayed). Rebate is free at the Duty-Free shop! (we did have to wait in line for 1/2 an hour, though, but I shopped while Dh waited! Make sure you know your car license plate number, though--they need that to process the rebate)

Have a great time!!!