Canada honours all valid foreign driving licences. Therefore, an International Driver's Permit is not necessary. However, learner’s permits and provisional licences may not transfer over to the Canadian equivalent. You should check with the Ministry of Transportation in the province or territory in which they are studying to detDermine if they are eligible to drive.
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Car rentals are readily available in Canada. Rental companies usually stipulate that drivers must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s licence from their country of residence. Drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 may have to pay a surcharge.
1. Throughout Canada and the United States all traffic drives on the right side of the road.
2. Seat belts for drivers and all passengers must be worn in the front and back of the vehicle, and infants must be strapped into a safety seat.
3. Speed limits in city areas are usually between 40 to 60 kilometres per hour (km/h), except in the vicinity of schools where the speed limit is reduced to 30 km/h. Where no limit is posted, the maximum is 50 km/h.
4. Speed limits for rural driving vary, depending on the province and set according to local conditions. Generally, speeds are between 90 and 100 km/h. Students should always check the speed signs when crossing into a neighbouring province.
5. Pedestrian crosswalks are sometimes marked by overhanging yellow signs and an “X” or white horizontal lines painted on the road surface. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and cars must stop to let them cross.
6. Streetcars, as they have in Toronto, are public transportation vehicles that require plenty of room to allow passengers on and off from the front and rear doors. It is an offence to drive too close to streetcars.
7. Turning right on a red light is permissible at an intersection in every province except for the Island of Montreal in Quebec. Before making a turn, drivers must bring the car to a complete stop and make sure there are no signs forbidding a right turn.
8. At a four-way stop, all drivers must come to a complete stop before advancing through the intersection. They should then yield (give way) to the vehicle that has stopped first and to the right.
9. Drivers must always carry their license and vehicle documentation.
10. You should never attempt to bribe or pay a fine directly to a police officer. Attempted bribery is a very serious offence in Canada. The officer will not accept the bribe, and the person offering it will likely be charged.
11. You should not text using their phones while driving and will be pulled over by a police officer if discovered doing so. All Canadian provinces have some sort of cell phone/distracted driving laws in place with varying punishments attached to them.
12. In the case of an accident involving personal injury, the police must be notified immediately. They will file an accident report. It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident involving injury without first giving details to the police.
13. You should check with the CAA for details of accident/breakdown coverage when driving in Canada, and tips for what to do in such an event.
14. In winter, cars should be equipped with winter tires. It is illegal in some parts of Canada to not have winter tires fitted during the winter months.
Source: CCEA