Crossing the border to Canada - OK to take siblings car? (rental car, rental)

[JobQueNow]

I’m planning on taking my sibling’s leased car to cross the border to visit Montreal for few days with my mom. Do border personnel ask for car insurance and/or car registration? We have passports.

He has many unused mileage wanted to take advantage of the 5-6 hour drive.

Thanks!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by JobQueNow

I’m planning on taking my sibling’s leased car to cross the border to visit Montreal for few days with my mom. Do border personnel ask for car insurance and/or car registration? We have passports.

He has many unused mileage wanted to take advantage of the 5-6 hour drive.

Thanks!

No, but when you approach the booth, a photo of the license plate will generate the information about the car registration/owner, including any negative legal information in the system, onto the computer that the border guard is looking at. Don't know if they'll ask questions.

Once I drove a rental car over. They didn't ask me anything.

[markjames68]

I would, just to be safe - assuming he won’t be with you - bring a letter stating you have approval from him to take the car over the border, and have a copy of his registration and insurance (and his DL too.) He should confirm with his insurance company that there’s no problem with you driving it to and from Canada.

It’s quite possible you won’t get asked any questions. Or you’ll get questions and verbal answers are fine. But do you want to take the chance and get turned around at the border?

Rental cars are a bit different, as they’ll come up as owned by Hertz or whatever.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by markjames68

I would, just to be safe - assuming he won’t be with you - bring a letter stating you have approval from him to take the car over the border, and have a copy of his registration and insurance (and his DL too.) He should confirm with his insurance company that there’s no problem with you driving it to and from Canada.

It’s quite possible you won’t get asked any questions. Or you’ll get questions and verbal answers are fine. But do you want to take the chance and get turned around at the border?

Rental cars are a bit different, as they’ll come up as owned by Hertz or whatever.

This. Always better to have letters handy with copies of identification and contact methods. Just in case.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

This. Always better to have letters handy with copies of identification and contact methods. Just in case.

As an example, when I took my son with me to Toronto and crossed at Niagara Falls I brought with me a notarized letter from my wife and I stating it was ok. My son and my wife and I are married and reside in the same residence.

I wasn’t asked for anything than our passports but in the 1% chance that I was I wanted to be prepared. I’ve crossed over the border dozens of times and over half I get no questions other than the basic ones. But a few times I was grilled.