I am planning a trip for four of us for mid September 2008. We intend to fly into Seattle and rent a car. One of the areas we are really looking forward to visiting is Victoria and Vancouver. My intention was to visit Olympia Nat'l Park and stay in Port Angeles, Wa for the night, taking a ferry to Victoria the next day. We were going to spend the next day in Victoria and the following day take the ferry to Vancounver. We would spend a night in Vancouver before returning to Seattle. Is it a hassle to cross the border on a ferry if you have a rental car? Do the major rental companies allow this? Is the problem with the rental company or the border police? This might put a damper on our plans. Thanks for any input.
jim

No, it isn't a hassle. Though I suggest that you take care to rent from the top-of-the-line rental agencies. Their cars are typically good to go into Canada without any surprise or special notifications needed.

If you have your own documentation for border passage, and matching rental car documentation, you will have no problems.

We took our rental back to WA and Seattle after 3+ weeks in July on the Coho from Victoria to Port Angeles. No problems with the car - no one even asked about it. American border agent was a jacka--, but that didn't have anything to do with the car, either. I guess I would not stay in Port Angeles, which is one of the unscenic places I have ever been, but perhaps someone will have a good suggestion for you there.

Thanks for the input on the rental car and the Port Angeles headsup.

jim

Port Townsend is a much more charming place. I remember when my family vacationed in Port Angeles back in the 90's and it seemed like a blue collar town that was rough around the edges, and not much to offer a tourist. Port Townsend was so picturesque and "quaint" by comparison.

Hi,
Just getting back to this board. Thanks for the info on Port Townsend. That was an area I was looking at as well.
jim

Read the fine print of the rental agreement. I've noticed that some are now disallowing travel across the border and some charge an extra daily rate for every day you have it over the border. The terms can also change depending on the city where you are renting the car.

I don't think you'll have any trouble with your rental car at the border, we are currently living in Blaine, WA which sits on the border crossing on I-5. We have a rental car from Avis we picked up in Seattle on our arrival here in June 2007, we are here on a job assignment of 1+ years and the car is a long term rental. We have also taken our personal vehicle with Texas plates into Canada several times, never have we been asked to see the car rental papers or anything relating to our own vehicle. Just be sure to have your passport with you. Beware when crossing the border, whether going into or out of Canada, it can be lengthy. Sometimes we get thru in 30 minutes, other times it can be 2-3 hours, it's just a crapshoot, you never know, so judge your time with the worse case senario.

sorry about the spelling....I think it would be scenario