Geico Canada
"What it is and what it ain't!"

Geico Canada may not be what you think.


Geico car insurance Canada is for US drivers who are driving in Canada, not a genuine Geico insurance Canada service for Canadian residents.


If it's Canadian auto insurance you're looking for, you can get a free online Canada insurance quote from Kanetix Insurance.


If you are a United States resident and are thinking about driving your car into Canada, you need to have a few documents with you when you reach the Canadian border.

First, you will need some sort of evidence of being an American citizen. This might include a driver’s license or government-issued photo ID and either a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or a U.S. passport.


You used to be able to cross the border on little more than your word and your drivers license, but starting on June 1, 2009, things changed.

The United States government began requiring that U.S. citizens crossing the border into Canada have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.


You will also need a Canadian Insurance Card and possibly an Insurance Identification Card. If you are a Geico customer, you can obtain this Geico Canada insurance card online at Geico’s website or by calling 1-800-861-8380.


Finally, you will need to have your vehicle registration card with you, also. Most people keep this in their car glove box at all times anyway, but just make sure you have it with you.


If you have Canada car Geico insurance, Geico will issue you a Canadian Insurance card. However, the Canadian Government won’t recognize faxed or emailed Canadian Insurance cards. Try to plan ahead so that you can receive the official card in the mail.


If you are already on your way to Canada and you cannot reach your mail, there are agents in the northern states who can answer Geico Canada questions and supply you with the Canadian Insurance Card.


When you get to the Canada border and approach customs, the driver must roll down both the front and back windows so that the border patrol officer can not only converse with the driver, but also talk to people seated in the back of the vehicle.


The Border Services Officer at the Canada/U.S. border will ask the drivers a number of questions. These might include questions like...

• "How long you will be in the country?"
  
• "Why are you traveling to Canada?"
  
• "What is the address of the place where you will be staying?"
  

These questions must be answered truthfully and frankly.


Also, drivers need to have the car's registration available. Border officials are constantly on the watch for stolen vehicles or people attempting to steer clear of taxes on automobiles bought outside of the country.


When you get to Canada, you can expect driving to be comparable to driving in parts of the United States. However, distances and speeds are marked in kilometers per hour rather than in miles per hour. Also, some signs may be in French, especially in Quebec.


If you want to rent a car in the United States, drive it into Canada and back again, confirm with the rental car business as to whether or not they will permit you to drive the rental car across the border.


If the rental car company does allow you to drive across the border into Canada, all of the information stated above regarding Geico Canada is still valid. Your rental car company can supply you with additional details if necessary.

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