Hi,
I was planning to visit Canada from USA for a couple of days during thanksgiving. I have my PR card with me. The initial plan was to drive to Canada using my personal car. However, I recently had a pretty big accident which has put the car out of the question. I can take a rental car, but I am not getting a clear picture about the rules involved. I could find out that Canadian citizens are not allowed to rent cars in US even if they intend to return it. Does the same rule apply for PRs. I tried searching in charcha but got about 250 hits. I tried the first few and couldn't find anything relevant in those discussion threads. So if anyone can answer this question or provide a like to a prior discussion or a government website that would be very helpful.

Regards,
Souvik Kar

What is your status in USA? I don't think there is any rule that prevents citizens or PRs renting a car. If your rental agreement says you have rented a car from this location and returning at the same location and if you tell the officer same thing there is nothing wrong.

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A Proud Indian Canadian

US or Canadian law do not prevent you to cross the border by using a rental car. Though, most of the rental car companies will not allow you to cross the border with the rental car. If your rental company is OK with the cross border traveling thn Government agencies wont have any problem. Being a Canadian PR living in the US you must be prepared to answer some tough question from Cadnadian Immigration Officer.

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Souvik,

You can rent a car to travel from us to canada. I haved done so driving from Chicago to Mississauga and back to Chicago for landing purpose. I used Hertz Rental. You are covered under your US auto insurance during the drive. Some insurance companies like American Family can give you a temporary insurance card, which will be valid during the travel. It has more details on it and can be shown to cops if you have an accident on Canadian side. It can be a one way rental if you wish.

Thanks
Prash

I had the same question. I am a Canadian PR currently residing in the US. I want to rent a car in Detroit and want to try the Windsor Detroit shuffle for a couple of weeks before deciding my course of action.

Would it be better for me to rent a canadian plated car in Windsor instead of A Michigan plated car in Detroit ?

Any significant differences in price ? Will I get less of a hassle by Immig Canada by driving a Canadian plated car ?

At the time of rental you have to mention that you will be crossing the border, so that they can cover you properly.

Windsor or Detroit? I think it should be better to rent it from Windsor and just mention that you will not be crossing the border. The best thing is try their online rates. Go to any website and get a quote

I crossed the border once on rental car, I rented from Windsor and went to Troy MI.

While travelling on my own car, quite often I was asked by officers on both the sides - is it a rental car? Just because I have an american car and a desi face?

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A Proud Indian Canadian

renting a car in either country and traveling to the other is no issue from a customs/immigration perspective. It is purely upto the rental company.
I have done both. Renting a car in the US and traveling to Canada and renting a car in Canada and traveling to the US without issues.