Do US riders still need a Canadian Insurace Card?

[tcfjr]

Every year when I renew my motorcycle insurance, I ask them to send me a Canadian Insurance Card, which I laminate to the back of my registration docs along with my California insurance card.

This year (for the first time), GEICO says the Canadian Insurance Card is no longer needed, and that a U.S. insurance card is all you need. Google has some results that seem to confirm this, but others that say you still need the Canadian card.

GEICO will still send you the Canadian card, so I requested it again this year.

Do US riders still need to carry a Canadian insurance card when visiting Canada?

 

[OregonRider]

For my 2012 trip I was told the same thing. Since it's not a hassle, I got one anyway.

Better safe...

 

[Ignacio]

Do US riders still need to carry a Canadian insurance card when visiting Canada?

I have never found a definitive source on this question, but my insurance provider has said for 4+ years now it's not required and they do not offer the option anymore, have never been asked by Canadian border officials to provide any insurance papers (dozens of crossing) nor have PoPo asked me to provide any other documentation than my regular proof (once in 2012)--to which they only cursorily checked and handed back to me.

I've also never found a definitive source to say that I have to carry my

 

[airboss]

Dairyland also says the Canadian insurance card is nor required, but then they also say it's a good ideal to have one.

 

[Spud]

I go across at least once a year, most recently in June. Never been asked about insurance.

 

[Fred W]

They don't ask you until after the accident.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Crossed the border at least 30 times in the past 4 years. Never been asked.

 

[Ignacio]

They don't ask you until after the accident.

Is that just commentary or do you know of a specific case that a U.S. citizen was in an accident in Canada, specifically asked to provide Canadian-approved proof of insurance at the accident, and something happened as a result?

 

[Fred W]

Good question.

For all the years that I have been urged vehemently by my insurance carriers to make sure that I procure a Canadian POI card, I was never asked at the border for one. I have been asked if I am carrying a weapon, mace, foreign plants, or animals, but never proof of insurance of any kind. Therefore their failure to ask now does not give me any particular "assurance" that an accident in the GWN will be handled any more swiftly, or easily than it ever was in that past.

Make your own determination.

And no, I have not been so "lucky" as to have a crash in Canada... though I expect I would have received a huge apology from the other driver.

 

[sapest]

You do not need/require any proof of insurance to cross the border.

You MAY need it when you are in an accident in Spuzzum BC and the local LEO has no idea what the law really says.

Again, this is NOT a border crossing issue. As Fred says, its something to have after the accident.

This is a better safe than sorry deal.

From the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators website -

Canadian Non‐Resident Inter‐Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Cards (Yellow Cards)

The Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Power of Attorney and Undertaking (PAU) was established in 1964. Generally, this document is filed by insurers in the United States who issue motor vehicle liability policies outside of Canada.

An insurer that files a PAU protects its insureds who drive their private passenger vehicles in Canada. Companies which have filed a PAU can issue a Canadian Non-resident Inter-provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Card (commonly known as a "yellow card" or "Canadian ID Card") to their insureds for driving into Canada. These insurance cards are used as evidence of insurance coverage if stopped by enforcement officials or involved in an accident in Canada. In addition, signatories to the PAU agree to certain conditions if an insured is involved in a motor vehicle accident in Canada. For example, the company agrees to meet the minimum third party liability limits required in the province or territory where the accident took place. (In most Canadian jurisdictions, the compulsory third party liability limit is C$200,000.)

Iggy

I know of a rider who asked about obtaining a yellow card from her US insurer. She was informed that she had NO insurance when riding in Canada. She was, as you can guess, very happy to know this before entering Canada. Maybe thats a good enough reason to ask your carrier?

-Steve

 

[HotRodZilla]

Wouldn't it vary from company to company? One may insure their clients in Canada while another may not.

As an example, with State Farm, I didn't used to have to buy insurance for Mexico because SF coverage extended to the interior borders. Puerto Peñasco was easily covered. Now, I have to have Mexican insurance because SF does not cover Mexico at all.

I could see an insurance company refusing to pay a claim due to a crash happening in Canada. I'd check with my individual company.

 

[sapest]

HRZ

I agree.

You may have a policy that excludes coverage in Canada.

You may be dealing with carrier that never executed a PAU with the CCIR.

-Steve

 

[AlleyCat]

As the operator of a motor vehicle (you don't need to be the owner), you need to show proof that the vehicle driven is insured..... either at the request of a police officer (ex. traffic stop) or after an accident. If a police officer can show that the vehicle is not insured, it can be towed. At least, this is the case in the province of Quebec.

 

[Nanahanman]

From Geico site...

Proof of Auto Insurance – In order to provide proof of auto insurance at the border, your standard GEICO insurance ID card will work. Canadian ID cards are not necessary if you’re visiting Canada as a tourist.

 

[Ignacio]

This thread is drifting with off-topic posts. Remember to keep it on topic--which is listed as the thread title at the very top. It's Rule #10 on this forum and applies to most areas of the forum. It's not about Florida, it's not about Iceland, it's not about rental cars, it's not about what it was like in the Great White North years ago. It's about whether riders still need Canadian insurance cards.

If you want to talk about something else--feel free to start another thread! It don't cost nuthin'

Thanks.

The Management

 

[Ignacio]

IggyI know of a rider who asked about obtaining a yellow card from her US insurer. She was informed that she had NO insurance when riding in Canada. She was, as you can guess, very happy to know this before entering Canada. Maybe thats a good enough reason to ask your carrier?

I asked Progressive and confirmed very specifically that I am insured while riding in Canada as well as reading a line in my policy, that a special insurance card is not needed for U.S. riders while in Canada, and won't send me a card no matter how much I ask as they say they don't have a mechanism create them anymore.

Whether somebody is covered in Canada is a different question though.

Me thinks this whole subject of special cards for US riders in Canada has now crossed into a lingering myth perpetuated by forums like ours, advrider, and others that are then echoed by cursory Google searches. I don't know the exact year, but think it was somewhere in the 2010 timeframe insurance companies became more unified in ceasing the service.

 

[Fred W]

You may be right.

I have Allstate, so I just checked on their web site:

More good news. If you have Allstate auto insurance, you're covered if you have an accident anywhere in the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada. Coverage restrictions apply when traveling in Mexico, so contact your agent for more information.

But then I found this here

International car insurance coverageDriving in Canada

When crossing the U.S. border into Canada as a nonresident tourist, all United States-based auto insurance carriers will still cover your vehicle while you are in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs.

"The personal auto policy that you and I and everyone else in the United States has defines the coverage area as the U.S., its territories and possessions, and Canada," says Kevin Foley, a New Jersey insurance agent with PFT&K Insurance Brokers.

However, you should contact your insurance provider before your trip to obtain a "Motor Vehicle Liability Card / Canada Inter-province" insurance card, which is available at no additional charge from your insurance carrier. If you do not have the Canada-specific insurance card, you may be liable for a fine if a Canadian police officer requests your proof of insurance.

 

[ionbeam]

You may be right.

I have Allstate, so I just checked on their web site:

More good news. If you have Allstate auto insurance, you're covered if you have an accident anywhere in the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada. Coverage restrictions apply when traveling in Mexico, so contact your agent for more information.

I have Allstate insurance also, and before I went to several events North of the border I checked with my agent and she said to just show them my insurance card and the Frost Back in the Mountie Hat will respect me and my documentation (but perhaps not my actions).

 

[sapest]

Will try to stay "on topic".

Canadian LEO's want to see 'proof of insurance' when they ask for it. Thats what the 'yellow card' is for.

Nothing else.

- Steve