In another thread, there was report that Americans driving Canadian rental cars were refused re-entry into the United States.

Because I plan to rent a car in Calgary and drive to the US, I checked with Enterprise. What I learned is this: Enterprise cars can be driven only to Montana or to another Canadian province. If the car is taken outside of Alberta, within the limits stated, there is a clause in the contract that must be validated. When the clause is validated, there is a distance limit placed on the vehicle of 300 free kilometers daily. (15 cent charge for each K over the total limit.)

Furthermore, if the driver takes the car out of Alberta without a validated border clause in the contract, and the driver is stopped for a traffic violation or an accident, there is a good chance that the police will impound the car.

That situation may well explain why I got the 3rd degree at the border last time. I had an Avis car, but there was no clause at all in the contract about borders. When I got the car I told the agent my intentions to drive from Calgary to Waterton to Yellowstone. He said fine.

Different companies have different policies, and the border agents don't always know which ones do and which ones don't. I guess I was lucky to get across and back with no further incidents.

So, based on my experience, get permission in writing before you attempt to cross the US border with a Canadian rental car. It will potentially save you a prolonged discussion.


At the border, there was a considerable discussion over the whole situation.

I recommend to anyone taking a rental car from Canada across the US border to have permission in writing.

I know I will because those testy discussions are not to my liking.

I was pretty concerned about this in 2003, when we fly into Calgary and did the loop through Banff-Glacier (Montana)-Waterton-Calgary. I'm not sure who we used, maybe Budget or National. I called them ahead of time for permission, booked the one I got the best response about this from, and still worried. Based on your experience, we were just lucky. I have found that Enterprise is the most restrictive company, and now avoid them. I think it's ever harder the other way around, for Canadians renting in the U.S. and trying to cross over into Canada.

I've booked with Enterprise in the past and from what I gather it's all about managing the fleet.

As to driving only to Montana how about BC residents-I'm easily able to drive anywhere in WA state but taking the car farther into the USA means I must use Enterprise insurance and agree to their terms re:long terms use-which makes sense to me.If cars are taken long distances and need transfer/servicing someone has to pay.

As to US citizens being treated badly by their own Customs & Immigration service-that's not news at all.

These are generally laws, and not just rental car policies.

To my knowledge it is simply illegal for a Canadian citizen to rent a car in the U.S. and drive it back into Canada.

And surely there would be some reciprocity in this area.

Northwest Male is correct: Canadian citizens may not rent a car in the US ant then drive it back to Canada. I have rented cars in US (I am US citizen), driven them into Canada with no problems, then back into US for return. As I understand it, a Canadian can not even do that legally.

In a couple of instances where we were stuck at LaGuardia with cancelled flights no replacement in sight, we've rented cars from Hertz one way and driven them to Toronto without any problem from either the rental company or the border. I think it all depends on the rental company agreement and the border guard you get.