What do i need to ride to Canada?

[Mexican]

Hello guys and girls,
Im planning a long trip but i need to get the facts straight before i get in trouble.
The plan is to leave Tulsa and ride to Ensenada Baja California, spend a day there, cross the border to Cali and head north, stop in San Jose for a day or 2,, keep going north to and stop in Oregon, and finally get to the border, once i get there,,,, do i just sneak across? you know i can do it
My final destination will be Vancouver and surrounding areas, do i need a permit for the spyder and the bikes?
I know crossing south if you don't cross the free zone you don't need car permits, crossing north i have no idea.
I have a few months to plan it so i hope i can get it right from now till then:doorag:

 

[ThreeFeet]

Hello guys and girls,
Im planning a long trip but i need to get the facts straight before i get in trouble.
The plan is to leave Tulsa and ride to Ensenada Baja California, spend a day there, cross the border to Cali and head north, stop in San Jose for a day or 2,, keep going north to and stop in Oregon, and finally get to the border, once i get there,,,, do i just sneak across? you know i can do it
My final destination will be Vancouver and surrounding areas, do i need a permit for the spyder and the bikes?
I know crossing south if you don't cross the free zone you don't need car permits, crossing north i have no idea.
I have a few months to plan it so i hope i can get it right from now till then:doorag:

Warm clothes and a passport!

 

[DougB]

You need a passport. The govt. now has a passport just for driving. Can't be used to fly.

 

[SpyderSteve]

Warm clothes and a passport!

I think it's more like rain suits and a passport for bc, but for sure NO guns :yikes:

 

[Firefly]

Hello guys and girls,
Im planning a long trip but i need to get the facts straight before i get in trouble.
The plan is to leave Tulsa and ride to Ensenada Baja California, spend a day there, cross the border to Cali and head north, stop in San Jose for a day or 2,, keep going north to and stop in Oregon, and finally get to the border, once i get there,,,, do i just sneak across? you know i can do it
My final destination will be Vancouver and surrounding areas, do i need a permit for the spyder and the bikes?
I know crossing south if you don't cross the free zone you don't need car permits, crossing north i have no idea.
I have a few months to plan it so i hope i can get it right from now till then:doorag:

Just remember -- just because you are granted a passport (a full one or the new drivers-license version) - does NOT guarantee entry into Canada.
If you've been arrested for anything within the past 10 years --- basically no entry. On my nor'east trip this summer two of the 5 riders could not enter Canada. One was for some stolen identity issue (they thought he was someone else) - the other was a DUI -- which they consider a felony and won't allow entry for 10 years.

As a group - we decided not to split up the 2 'felons' from the 3 'angels' --- just turned around and spent the rest of our money right here in the USA..... :thumbup:
Best to have a back-up plan just in case you can't get in.

 

[Mexican]

what about for the spyder, and bikes

 

[teadave]

original ownership, current insurance papers, and a valid drivers licence. and the aformentioned passport.

 

[NancysToy]

Passport, vehicle registration, and international certificate of insurance (contact your agent). You may also want to contact your health insurer to find out about coverage across the border. Sometimes you need to purchase coverage, and sometimes you must pay and be wholly or partially reimbursed later.

 

[Fire Joe]

Not sure if this will be much help but the few times I have ridden to Canada on my Spyder, all they asked to see was my passport. Now granted I wasn't towing anything such as other bikes, as far as my Spyder goes, they didn't ask to see any proof of insurance or ownership. Just handed them my passport, had to answer questions and pay the fee to cross the bridge (I have only crossed over through Detroit at the Bridge to Canada).

 

[NancysToy]

Not sure if this will be much help but the few times I have ridden to Canada on my Spyder, all they asked to see was my passport. Now granted I wasn't towing anything such as other bikes, as far as my Spyder goes, they didn't ask to see any proof of insurance or ownership. Just handed them my passport, had to answer questions and pay the fee to cross the bridge (I have only crossed over through Detroit at the Bridge to Canada).

Crossing the border is one thing (and that is variable), but if you are involved in an accident while you are there, there are additional considerations. As the Boy Scouts say..."Be prepared!"

 

[Fire Joe]

Crossing the border is one thing (and that is variable), but if you are involved in an accident while you are there, there are additional considerations. As the Boy Scouts say..."Be prepared!"

I don't disagree with that one bit, and I do keep all my paperwork for the Spyder with me and insurance is good to go. I am just saying that they never asked to see any of it when I do cross over.

 

[rogerb]

I went to Canada twice this summer. You need your passport or card which they scan into the computer. I usually hand them my registration and liscense so they can record it in the computer. They will ask you where you are going and how long you plan on staying. Also the purpose of your visit. Whether you get searched or not you never know. Sometimes its like a lottery every certain number or if you act out of place you never know but they are nice people. I had my grandaughter with me they asked her all the questions.Kids don't lie. Same thing coming back into the states. Whether you get in or not is at the discretian of the person you are talking to.

 

[gnkc]

Hello guys and girls,
Im planning a long trip but i need to get the facts straight before i get in trouble.
The plan is to leave Tulsa and ride to Ensenada Baja California, spend a day there, cross the border to Cali and head north, stop in San Jose for a day or 2,, keep going north to and stop in Oregon, and finally get to the border, once i get there,,,, do i just sneak across? you know i can do it
My final destination will be Vancouver and surrounding areas, do i need a permit for the spyder and the bikes?
I know crossing south if you don't cross the free zone you don't need car permits, crossing north i have no idea.
I have a few months to plan it so i hope i can get it right from now till then:doorag:

I'm not saying this happens to everyone but a coworker rode there from LA this summer and had problems with Chase Bank inadvertently shutting off his credit and debit cards when he crossed the border. I guess you are supposed to tell them ahead of time. Very detailed and entertaining writeup.

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=121055

 

[Pennyrick]

Don't take your guns to town, son
leave your guns at home, son
Don't take your guns to town.

 

[Yazz]

Have been across some borders and found each entry different. Most want to see your passport and ask a bunch of questions. Then there's that one guy who runs your license plate, wants to see all the documentation, tries to trip you up with questions, yadda, yadda.

Glad we met him before my license plate got stolen, not after... :shocked:

We also found that calling the credit card company and telling them you are on a road trip is no guarantee they won't shut it down. For a while we were having to call them every day. Bring cash with you and more than one credit card.

 

[murphybrown]

Have gone into Canada several times...no issues, use my passport...I think what happens is they always ask me to take off my helmet...when that helmet hairdo flies out...they see scary and say just go ahead....
Seriously: make sure you notify your credit card co. and ask them if they charge international surcharge...most of them do...some don't...for ex my visa & discover do...my mastercard and ax don't...I specifically looked for cards that would not charge me international usage fee (3-6% usually). Also ALWAYS have some Canadian money UNLESS the exchange rate is relatively close...
I have found the Canadians to be very welcoming and friendly...and those Canada rockies can't be beat for us lookie loos!!!!
Have a great trip.....

 

[ARtraveler]

The previous posts have you pretty much covered.

Passport, insurance information, cc's, extra cash, no guns.

They do photograph everyones's license plate so they know when you came in and when you leave.

Be extra courteous at all entry points.

Spouse was following me--started to roll her :spyder2: ahead before they were done with me--she got the "special treatment".

 

[Mexican]

Wow!!
Thanks guys for the info, as for credit cards, i don't have any, i guess i will get one just in case, everything else sounds normal, kinda like crossing to Mexico, good thing you guys mentioned guns, i carry mine on long trips, most states honor Oklahomas concealed permit,

 

[NancysToy]

Wow!!
Thanks guys for the info, as for credit cards, i don't have any, i guess i will get one just in case, everything else sounds normal, kinda like crossing to Mexico, good thing you guys mentioned guns, i carry mine on long trips, most states honor Oklahomas concealed permit,

You should never travel on a motorcycle without a valid credit card with room on it, IMO. If you break down, and have to rent a car or stay in a motel, it could be essential. Always have Plan B ready!

 

[Mexican]

You should never travel on a motorcycle without a valid credit card with room on it, IMO. If you break down, and have to rent a car or stay in a motel, it could be essential. Always have Plan B ready!

You are correct, i will get one before the trip, i had credit card debt up to $17,000 just last year, i was lucky to pay them off, now i will use one when i REALLY need it,