Insurance for Motorhomes Out of Canada Long Term

PackerBacker wrote:
Well my experience tells me otherwise. We live on both sides of the border and I have had the issue come up a couple times.

The first time it happened, I was driving a NY plated rental car into Canada that I was going to return to the US with. The border agent would not let me enter Canada with it because I had a Quebec driver's permit.

I think the difference between simply wanting to drive a US plated vehicle into Canada and actually importing a vehicle is the main problem. If you are able to prove that the vehicle you are returning with was actually purchased in Canada and then replated in the US while you were a US resident then it's admissible.

I'm just stating what happened to me personally. I will be crossing back into NY state next week and I'll stop by the Canadian border office to ask the question.

... Eric

Well, I have driven a NY plated vehicle into Canada. It belonged to Hertz. Once customs was made aware it was being returned to the USA it was not a problem.

My rejection happened crossing from Buffalo while traveling to St. Catharines, On. I had flown to Buffalo from Montreal and was going to return to Montreal the same day. The Canadian border agent did not care that I had a rental contract or a return air flight. I had indicated that I had previously done this same trip many times before but he said I was just lucky because the regulations did not permit it.

Anyway that's what happened to me. :E

... Eric

Strange, one of the crossings I referred to was in an Enterprise rental when my coach broke down in WV.

When I told the rental agent I was driving it to Ontario they just made a note in the computer saying it was going to Canada so it wouldn't set off any alarm bells leaving the country. All the CBSA folks asked was if I had the rental contract with me, they didn't even want to read it, just that I had it.

One thing I do know is that a US plated vehicle is a "personal possession" and so you need the permission of the owner to bring it into Canada. In the case of the rental maybe that's what they put into the computer?

In cases where I've driven privately-owned vehicles across the border they owner had given me a signed letter saying I could cross with their vehicle.

It woul be interesting to see what the official word is.

Well my experience tells me otherwise. We live on both sides of the border and I have had the issue come up a couple times.

The first time it happened, I was driving a NY plated rental car into Canada that I was going to return to the US with. The border agent would not let me enter Canada with it because I had a Quebec driver's permit.

I think the difference between simply wanting to drive a US plated vehicle into Canada and actually importing a vehicle is the main problem. If you are able to prove that the vehicle you are returning with was actually purchased in Canada and then replated in the US while you were a US resident then it's admissible.

I'm just stating what happened to me personally. I will be crossing back into NY state next week and I'll stop by the Canadian border office to ask the question.

... Eric

Eric, I've done exactly that dozens of times, no issue. Both my own vehicles and others.

If you couldn't drive a US registered vehicle into Canada it would be impossible to import any US vehicle into Canada. You can't register an imported in Canada until after it's gone through the RIV system and certified and e-tested (in Ontario). That can't be done until the vehicle is physically in the country.

JaxDad wrote:

PackerBacker wrote:
Also, if it was plated with a US tag, you cannot drive it back into Canada with Canadian driver's permit (personal experience).

... Eric

What was the issue? I've done it dozens of times, no problem at all.

The only time they even inquired was when there was visible contents beyond what would constitute 'luggage'. I told them I had purchased some contents of a house being sold, it was originally Canadian goods that had been moved south years before. I declared the stuff, pointed to several 'made in Canada' labels and they said go on home.

By the word 'tag' I meant vehicle registration, i.e. licence plate. You cannot drive a US plated vehicle into Canada if you have a Canadian driver's permit.

... Eric

PackerBacker wrote:
Also, if it was plated with a US tag, you cannot drive it back into Canada with Canadian driver's permit (personal experience).

... Eric

What was the issue? I've done it dozens of times, no problem at all.

The only time they even inquired was when there was visible contents beyond what would constitute 'luggage'. I told them I had purchased some contents of a house being sold, it was originally Canadian goods that had been moved south years before. I declared the stuff, pointed to several 'made in Canada' labels and they said go on home.

Have you contacted Aviva Elite directly (Wayfarer's underwriter) and asked for their take on your situation? They'll likely just point you to a different broker who can't answer your question... but after that fails, you'll have cause to contact Aviva's Ombudsman who will be able to unearth your answer for you.

In the end, I suspect that they'll tell you that the vehicle must return within six months (and almost certainly, if its financed, the finance company will stipulate some conditions), and I have a slight suspicion that there is a requirement in Ontario's Insurance Act (or some related legislation/regulations) that the vehicle be in Ontario six months a year. Aviva's Ombudsman will be able to dig that up for you.

-edit/additional-
Of course, you may be able to register and insure your motorhome in another jurisdiction, but then there is a whole host of residency requirements that will have to be met. You may find some leniency in the territories or Newfoundland, where residents are more typically out-of-province for long periods of time.

Tripalot wrote:

super_camper wrote:

Tripalot wrote:
Above suggestion of driving to Alberta would not do any good - MH cannot be out of Ontario for more than 6 months.

Actually, since I read your post I was curious as I am planning an extended trip as well so I called my broker about this.

The broker had to call the underwriter to get figure this out as it's not a common request. They tell me their limit is 6 consecutive months in the united states, there is no limit within any province in Canada. As long as the insured RV is returned to Canada before 6 consecutive months is up they are OK. They also said it can go right back into the US and stay another 6 months.

Their recommendation to stay for a longer period is to take insurance through a US provider. Their rationale is the RV is considered primarily US based if stay exceeds 6 months.

What you found out is similar to our findings, however to get coverage with a US provider, the RV has to be registered in the US and have US plates - something we would not want to do for a one time trip.

Our insurance broker has informed us they will provide coverage under certain conditions. The RV has to be stored in a locked, monitored facility. If there is any claim, they will not provide coverage in the future.

Also they state the RV cannot be out of Ontario for more than 6 months as opposed to be out of Canada. Also this scenario cannot be repeated on a regular basis. The agent referred to it as
"declination rules". We are thinking it will be easier to drive home and then return south again when convenient.

In my very recent experience Wayfarer isn't competitive either in coverage or cost. We switched and got better coverage at much lower cost.

super_camper wrote:

Tripalot wrote:
Above suggestion of driving to Alberta would not do any good - MH cannot be out of Ontario for more than 6 months.

Actually, since I read your post I was curious as I am planning an extended trip as well so I called my broker about this.

The broker had to call the underwriter to get figure this out as it's not a common request. They tell me their limit is 6 consecutive months in the united states, there is no limit within any province in Canada. As long as the insured RV is returned to Canada before 6 consecutive months is up they are OK. They also said it can go right back into the US and stay another 6 months.

Their recommendation to stay for a longer period is to take insurance through a US provider. Their rationale is the RV is considered primarily US based if stay exceeds 6 months.

What you found out is similar to our findings, however to get coverage with a US provider, the RV has to be registered in the US and have US plates - something we would not want to do for a one time trip.

Our insurance broker has informed us they will provide coverage under certain conditions. The RV has to be stored in a locked, monitored facility. If there is any claim, they will not provide coverage in the future.

Also they state the RV cannot be out of Ontario for more than 6 months as opposed to be out of Canada. Also this scenario cannot be repeated on a regular basis. The agent referred to it as
"declination rules". We are thinking it will be easier to drive home and then return south again when convenient.