Cross-Border Travel
Taking a Rental Car into Canada from Spokane
Yes, you can take our vehicles across the border — no surcharge and no extra paperwork from us. Here's what to have at the crossing, which border station to use for where you're headed, and what changes once you're driving in Canada.
Allowed?
Yes — no extra permission needed
Extra fee
None
Insurance card
In the glovebox
Roadside
24/7 assistance works cross-border
What to Have With You
Four things. Two of them are already in the vehicle when you pick it up.
Passport or enhanced ID
Every person in the vehicle needs one, including children. A standard driver's license is not enough to re-enter the United States.
Your rental agreement
Keep a copy on your phone and, ideally, printed. Border officers routinely ask who owns the vehicle, and the agreement answers it in one document.
Vehicle registration
It's in the glovebox of every vehicle we rent. Don't remove it. Officers occasionally ask to see it alongside the rental agreement.
Insurance card
Carried in the glovebox alongside the registration, issued in our name as the owner of the vehicle. Leave it in the vehicle — that's the document officers ask for.
Which Border Crossing to Use
Four crossings cover almost every trip out of Spokane. They are not equally convenient, and the closest one isn't always the right one.
Paterson / Rossland
The fastest crossing for most Spokane trips and the one to use for Red Mountain and Rossland. Small, rarely busy, and open limited hours — check before a late arrival.
Nelson / Nelway
A quiet crossing that opens up the Kootenays and Nelson. The Washington approach is scenic but slow, with no services for long stretches.
Oroville / Osoyoos
The gateway to the Okanagan, Kelowna and Big White. Busier than the eastern crossings, especially on summer weekends.
Roosville
Used for Fernie and the route toward Banff. The Montana leg is long with sparse fuel — fill in Kalispell or Eureka.
What Changes Once You're Across
- Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers. 100 km/h is roughly 62 mph.
- Fuel is sold by the liter and priced higher than in Washington. Most stations take US credit cards without issue.
- British Columbia requires winter tires on most mountain highways from October 1 through March 31 — our 3-peak mountain snowflake tires satisfy that.
- Daytime running lights are mandatory in Canada; every vehicle we rent has them.
- Cell roaming can be expensive. Download offline maps before you cross, or confirm your plan covers Canada.
- Our vehicles are for maintained roads only — off-road driving is not permitted under the rental agreement, in either country.
Heading to a Canadian ski resort? Our winter driving guide covers the drives to Red Mountain, Big White, Fernie, Revelstoke, Banff and Whistler in detail.
Ski Season Promo: 20% off + Yakima® ski rack installed for your trip at no extra charge Use code SKIPNW7 at checkout on your cross-border ski trip.
See the Ski Promo detailsCross-Border Rental FAQs
Do I need to tell you before taking the car into Canada?
No. Every vehicle leaves with current registration and insurance documents in the glovebox for every trip, so there's nothing extra to arrange before you cross.
Is there an extra fee or a cross-border surcharge?
No. There's no additional charge for driving into Canada, and no mileage penalty for the distance.
Is there an insurance card in the vehicle?
Yes. Every vehicle carries a current insurance card in our name in the glovebox, next to the registration. That's what border officers and Canadian authorities ask to see.
What if I break down in Canada?
Our 24/7 roadside assistance covers you across the border. Call the number on your rental agreement — the same one you'd use in Spokane.
Can I drop the car off in Canada?
No. The vehicle has to come back to the Spokane area. One-way drop-offs across the border aren't something we can accommodate.
Which crossing should I use?
For Red Mountain, Rossland and the Kootenays, Paterson is usually the fastest and least crowded. For the Okanagan, Kelowna or Big White, use Oroville/Osoyoos. Check CBSA border wait times the morning you travel — they change a lot by day and hour.
Do rental cars get extra scrutiny at the border?
Not usually, but officers do ask about the vehicle more often than they would with a personal car. Having the rental agreement ready alongside your passports makes the stop routine.