Driving Someone Else's Car Across US/Canada Borders
What are the ramifications of driving someone else's car across borders?
I'm planning a road trip from the US into Canada and back. My girlfriend has offered to let me use her car but I am not listed on her insurance as a driver and she will not be coming with me.
This question has already done a good job of covering the issue of driving someone else's car without insurance, but it does not address the issue of actually crossing the border in someone else's car.
Will customs officials take issue with the fact that the car I'm driving is registered to someone else?
Could I be denied entry or arrested for this?
legal borders driving-licenses
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
|
show 1 more comment
What are the ramifications of driving someone else's car across borders?
I'm planning a road trip from the US into Canada and back. My girlfriend has offered to let me use her car but I am not listed on her insurance as a driver and she will not be coming with me.
This question has already done a good job of covering the issue of driving someone else's car without insurance, but it does not address the issue of actually crossing the border in someone else's car.
Will customs officials take issue with the fact that the car I'm driving is registered to someone else?
Could I be denied entry or arrested for this?
legal borders driving-licenses
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36
|
show 1 more comment
What are the ramifications of driving someone else's car across borders?
I'm planning a road trip from the US into Canada and back. My girlfriend has offered to let me use her car but I am not listed on her insurance as a driver and she will not be coming with me.
This question has already done a good job of covering the issue of driving someone else's car without insurance, but it does not address the issue of actually crossing the border in someone else's car.
Will customs officials take issue with the fact that the car I'm driving is registered to someone else?
Could I be denied entry or arrested for this?
legal borders driving-licenses
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
What are the ramifications of driving someone else's car across borders?
I'm planning a road trip from the US into Canada and back. My girlfriend has offered to let me use her car but I am not listed on her insurance as a driver and she will not be coming with me.
This question has already done a good job of covering the issue of driving someone else's car without insurance, but it does not address the issue of actually crossing the border in someone else's car.
Will customs officials take issue with the fact that the car I'm driving is registered to someone else?
Could I be denied entry or arrested for this?
legal borders driving-licenses
legal borders driving-licenses
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52
Community♦
1
1
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
asked Sep 7 '16 at 14:21
SlavatronSlavatron
12315
12315
Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36
|
show 1 more comment
Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36
Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
1
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
1
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Border guards could suspect that you have taken the car without permission. For that matter, so might police if you get stopped for any reason. You could try to rely on your ability to persuade them that you have your girlfriend's permission. You could also try to rely on your ability to reach your girlfriend by telephone. In the vast majority of cases, this strategy will succeed.
It would be safer, however, and probably faster, to have written permission. It would be safer still if that written permission were in the form of a notarized letter. Many banks offer notary services free of charge; some even do so regardless of whether you are a customer of the bank.
Here's what the US CBP has to say on the matter:
If the car or vehicle is loaned or being brought into or taken out the United States on behalf of a friend or relative, the driver might want to have a notarized copy of a permission letter addressed to the "Officer In Charge of Customs and Border Protection" to drive the car across the border.
(Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/248/~/taking-%2F-bringing-a-car-%2F-vehicle-into-or-out-of-the-u.s.-that-belongs-to-a)
I didn't find anything from CBSA about this; the only information I could find concerned Canadian residents. But it shouldn't hurt to address the letter to both the CBSA and CBP, or to all law enforcement generally. I would most likely address it "to whom it may concern."
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
add a comment |
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Border guards could suspect that you have taken the car without permission. For that matter, so might police if you get stopped for any reason. You could try to rely on your ability to persuade them that you have your girlfriend's permission. You could also try to rely on your ability to reach your girlfriend by telephone. In the vast majority of cases, this strategy will succeed.
It would be safer, however, and probably faster, to have written permission. It would be safer still if that written permission were in the form of a notarized letter. Many banks offer notary services free of charge; some even do so regardless of whether you are a customer of the bank.
Here's what the US CBP has to say on the matter:
If the car or vehicle is loaned or being brought into or taken out the United States on behalf of a friend or relative, the driver might want to have a notarized copy of a permission letter addressed to the "Officer In Charge of Customs and Border Protection" to drive the car across the border.
(Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/248/~/taking-%2F-bringing-a-car-%2F-vehicle-into-or-out-of-the-u.s.-that-belongs-to-a)
I didn't find anything from CBSA about this; the only information I could find concerned Canadian residents. But it shouldn't hurt to address the letter to both the CBSA and CBP, or to all law enforcement generally. I would most likely address it "to whom it may concern."
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
add a comment |
Border guards could suspect that you have taken the car without permission. For that matter, so might police if you get stopped for any reason. You could try to rely on your ability to persuade them that you have your girlfriend's permission. You could also try to rely on your ability to reach your girlfriend by telephone. In the vast majority of cases, this strategy will succeed.
It would be safer, however, and probably faster, to have written permission. It would be safer still if that written permission were in the form of a notarized letter. Many banks offer notary services free of charge; some even do so regardless of whether you are a customer of the bank.
Here's what the US CBP has to say on the matter:
If the car or vehicle is loaned or being brought into or taken out the United States on behalf of a friend or relative, the driver might want to have a notarized copy of a permission letter addressed to the "Officer In Charge of Customs and Border Protection" to drive the car across the border.
(Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/248/~/taking-%2F-bringing-a-car-%2F-vehicle-into-or-out-of-the-u.s.-that-belongs-to-a)
I didn't find anything from CBSA about this; the only information I could find concerned Canadian residents. But it shouldn't hurt to address the letter to both the CBSA and CBP, or to all law enforcement generally. I would most likely address it "to whom it may concern."
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
add a comment |
Border guards could suspect that you have taken the car without permission. For that matter, so might police if you get stopped for any reason. You could try to rely on your ability to persuade them that you have your girlfriend's permission. You could also try to rely on your ability to reach your girlfriend by telephone. In the vast majority of cases, this strategy will succeed.
It would be safer, however, and probably faster, to have written permission. It would be safer still if that written permission were in the form of a notarized letter. Many banks offer notary services free of charge; some even do so regardless of whether you are a customer of the bank.
Here's what the US CBP has to say on the matter:
If the car or vehicle is loaned or being brought into or taken out the United States on behalf of a friend or relative, the driver might want to have a notarized copy of a permission letter addressed to the "Officer In Charge of Customs and Border Protection" to drive the car across the border.
(Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/248/~/taking-%2F-bringing-a-car-%2F-vehicle-into-or-out-of-the-u.s.-that-belongs-to-a)
I didn't find anything from CBSA about this; the only information I could find concerned Canadian residents. But it shouldn't hurt to address the letter to both the CBSA and CBP, or to all law enforcement generally. I would most likely address it "to whom it may concern."
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
Border guards could suspect that you have taken the car without permission. For that matter, so might police if you get stopped for any reason. You could try to rely on your ability to persuade them that you have your girlfriend's permission. You could also try to rely on your ability to reach your girlfriend by telephone. In the vast majority of cases, this strategy will succeed.
It would be safer, however, and probably faster, to have written permission. It would be safer still if that written permission were in the form of a notarized letter. Many banks offer notary services free of charge; some even do so regardless of whether you are a customer of the bank.
Here's what the US CBP has to say on the matter:
If the car or vehicle is loaned or being brought into or taken out the United States on behalf of a friend or relative, the driver might want to have a notarized copy of a permission letter addressed to the "Officer In Charge of Customs and Border Protection" to drive the car across the border.
(Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/248/~/taking-%2F-bringing-a-car-%2F-vehicle-into-or-out-of-the-u.s.-that-belongs-to-a)
I didn't find anything from CBSA about this; the only information I could find concerned Canadian residents. But it shouldn't hurt to address the letter to both the CBSA and CBP, or to all law enforcement generally. I would most likely address it "to whom it may concern."
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
answered Sep 7 '16 at 16:15
phoogphoog
72.1k12158231
72.1k12158231
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Possible duplicate of What documentation is needed for a tourist to drive a US citizen's car?
– blackbird
Sep 7 '16 at 14:24
Ordinarily Border control has no reason to check the ownership of the vehicle unless they suspect it's stolen. So have a good reason why you're driving someone else's car just in case.
– Karlson
Sep 7 '16 at 15:10
your nationality is significant, as Canadians are generally not allowed to drive US-owner cars into Canada. But yes, chances are 95% nobody might ever asks.
– Aganju
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
If you end up in secondary, this will be checked.
– Michael Hampton
Sep 7 '16 at 15:16
1
@phoog: The restriction also doesn't apply to rental vehicles, as of 2012.
– Michael Seifert
Sep 7 '16 at 16:36