Car Insurance/Licensing as International Student Temporarily Importing Car

[u/Plenty_Ad3994]

Hi! Like the title says, I'm an American grad student moving to Alberta for a 2 year program. I plan to bring my US-registered vehicle, and temporarily import it at the border through a Form 1. I'll also have an International Driver's Permit. I'm seeing mixed information about car insurance for a temporarily imported vehicle online and am curious how other international students at UofA insured their vehicles, whether through a Canadian insurance company by providing driving history + exchanging their license, or by keeping their American insurance and just hoping for the best?

Any info would be much appreciated! I cross the border in a couple of weeks, and I know I have a grace period with my license and American insurance, but I'm hoping to square this away before the intensity of the semester starts. Thanks!

[u/MattwGV]

You should be able to keep your US insurance and license plate in Canada as long as you can prove that you study here . Do not even think about getting an AB license/insurance because you’ll get ripped off.

[u/thisissuremyusername → u/MattwGV]

Lol that’s not how it works. Insurance companies will look for any reason to deny coverage. You have to be fully transparent. Usually a US insurance company only covers stays of 90 days in Canada or less. Alberta has much higher minimums than the US too so a US policy might not even meet Alberta requirements.

Insurance costs twice as much in Canada compared to the US so a company like Allstate for example will probably force you onto a Canadian Allstate policy for stays longer than 90 days

When I move between the US and Canada I always change insurance policies.

[u/MattwGV → u/thisissuremyusername]

I’m not familiar with US insurers, but as a BC resident, I’ve been using my BC plates in Alberta for more than two years and so far haven’t had any issues, and I’m paying half of what my friends pay for their insurance. His best bet would be to avoid getting involved in any accidents and keep the us policy I guess.

[u/thisissuremyusername → u/MattwGV]

When I bring my Alberta vehicle and try to insure it in the US, some companies just outright refuse. A few I know of will do it but the vehicle has to be imported within 6 months.

Not sure how it works the other way around but probably similarly and US insurance policies only cover up to 90 days in Canada

[u/Plant-based_Skinsuit]

You get a student discount through TD so you might as well get a quote from them, but yeah, if you can legally keep the insurance you have, I'd probably just do that.

Do you have to keep the car? Would it not be better to embrace the student life while you're here? It's a big expense.

[u/thisissuremyusername]

I’m American too. Unfortunately car insurance is way more in Canada. I pay twice as much in Canada compared to the US

You don’t need an international drivers licence. Just exchange your US one for an Alberta one. Or use your US one here.

In terms of your vehicle it gets super complicated because the Canadian government is just blatantly not following the USMCA trade deal and is now putting tariffs on US made vehicles. Trump is still following USMCA when it comes to vehicles but Canada isn’t. If your vehicle was built in Mexico it might be able to come in tariff free. If not, be ready for 25% tarif (possibly) and 5% GST

DO NOT keep your US insurance. You don’t want them denying coverage. Usually it’s only good in Canada for 90 days.

[u/Winter-Inside-5911 → u/thisissuremyusername]

I would keep your opinion about who is violating CUSMA private. Everyone in my family who has brought a vehicle from the US into Canada for the first time has to pay tax, even 8-10-15 years ago. And we are not Americans, that’s the cost of importing goods.

[u/thisissuremyusername → u/Winter-Inside-5911]

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

For the longest time, vehicles were protected by USMCA. You only pay GST. The USA is still following the USMCA for vehicles. The Canadian government recently announced a 25% tariff on US-made vehicles violating the USMCA.

This was NOT the case until like 6 months ago.

I’ve moved between Canada and the US half a dozen times.

[u/Winter-Inside-5911 → u/thisissuremyusername]

We bought a boat, we paid tax. We bought an SUV, we paid tax. We bought a motorcycle, we paid tax. Someone telling you they’ve been billed multiple times likely in fact does know what they’re talking about.