Driving — Canada

How long your US licence is good for depends on the province, not on Canada. Ontario lets a visitor drive for under 3 months; British Columbia gives 6. Ontario also requires an International Driving Permit past 3 months - and you have to get it at home first, because you cannot apply for one once you are here.

Ontario publishes no single figure: "Penalties range from fines to having your licence suspended or your car taken away (impounded)." In British Columbia, failing to produce a valid licence on police request results in a Notice of Driving Prohibition.

Right on red is legal across Quebec - except on the island of Montreal, where it is banned outright. Cross onto the island and the rule flips on you: $100 to $200 and 3 demerit points, treated the same as running the light.

Drivers: CAD $100 to $200 and 3 demerit points. Cyclists: CAD $15 to $30 and 3 demerit points. SAAQ treats it the same as running a red light.

Quebec's winter-tire mandate does not apply to your car: the law expressly exempts vehicles registered outside Quebec - though a Quebec rental IS covered, because rentals are named. British Columbia is the reverse. Its winter-tire rule is posted on specific highways rather than province-wide, it runs from October 1, and it does bind out-of-province vehicles, at $121.

British Columbia: CAD $121 for a passenger vehicle without winter tyres where required; CAD $598 for a commercial vehicle bypassing an active chain-up area; CAD $196 for a commercial vehicle not carrying chains where required. Quebec: CAD $200 to $300, but the requirement does not apply to a vehicle registered outside Quebec.

Canada's criminal limit is 0.08, but police can demand a roadside breath sample without suspecting you of anything at all - and the provinces punish well below the criminal line. Blow 0.05 in British Columbia or Ontario and you lose your licence for 3 days on the spot. In Ontario every driver 21 and under must be at zero, even though they can legally drink at 19.

Federal mandatory minimum fines for a first offence: CAD $1,000 at 80-119 mg, $1,500 at 120-159 mg, $2,000 at 160 mg or over, and $2,000 for refusing a lawful demand. Provincial roadside sanctions start at 0.05: British Columbia publishes a total cost of CAD $600 for a first Warn and CAD $1,430 for a Fail or refusal; Ontario imposes an immediate 3-day suspension in the warn range and 90 days over .08. Quebec: CAD $300 to $600, 90-day suspension and 4 demerit points for a driver under 22 with any alcohol.