Should I decide to fly into Calgary for my trip to Glacier NP (MT) are there any issues crossing the Canadian - US border with a Canadian car rental?

I called Alamo and the reservations clerk read something that seemed to say it's ok. However, is there something I can get/need from them to show to US customs?

Any issues getting back into Canada?

I think the main thing is just to keep a copy of your rental agreement. If you are ever stopped you need that anyway.

You'll need a Passport. I think in a foreign country, you might want to have a copy of your Insurance(from your local agent).

We didn't have any issues crossing the border at Niagra Falls a few years back. We had rented the car in Buffalo and crossed over and stayed a couple of days. I think the big issue would be if you happen to be one of those they really decide to give a thorough check. Usually, they just ask a couple of questions and you pass thru.

The worst thing that ever happened to me was at the California/Oregon border check. California has strict laws about bringing produce into their state. I was attempting to cross with some cherries and apples that I had bought in Oregon. I had no idea I couldn't do that. You would have though I had committed the crime of the century. The guy then wanted to look over everything in my car, luggage,etc.
The other thing that really struck me odd in Oregon was the fact that it is mandatory that an employee fill your car up. I got really mad at the first guy that filled up my car. I thought he was just someone off the streets trying to get money. LOL

As long as the rental car company permits it, you should be fine. I have travelled between Canada and the USA a number of times in both Canadian and American rental cars with no border problems.

One thing many people don't think about is carrying proof of insurance when renting cars. Many states and provinces require all motorists to display proof of insurnace if you have an accident or are stopped for a violation. The rental car insurance, if you buy that, does not satisfy that requirment since it covers the car but not your personal liability. You need to have the proof of insurance issued by your personal insurance company and, if you are a US resident driving in Canada, you need a card from your isnurance company that shows your insurance is valid in Canada.

I suspect many police officers would cut you some slack if you're in a rental car and cannot provide proof of insurance but they don't have to. In my city, the fine for not having proof of insurance while driving is $345 for the first offense and higher for subsequent offenses.

Well, I'm a US resident but a citizen of both. So I guess I have that part covered.

I've never thought about dual citizenship. I'm not sure how that even works. Do you get to vote at both places or none at all? This gives me something to google.

I'm not sure if voting is a residency thing as well as a citizenship thing.

We vote in the US because that's where we live. We never consider voting in Canada.

I know Canadian healthcare is a residency thing. But residency doesn't require time. It's a decision and where you want to live most of the year. I wonder how often you can change your mind?

The main thing about citizenship is that you cannot be denied entry. So I can't be denied entry into both countries.

Of course, the border agent could stop me or anybody from entering (in either direction) but I can insist on appearing before an imigration judge and I'll win.

There was a time that Canada recognized dual citizenship but the US didn't.

As far as the US was concerned if you were a US citizen you were nothing else. In the US they would ask if you revoke all others. You could say yes but that only had weight in the US and nowhere else.

Now you don't have to revoke. We were a bit surprised about that.

Taxation is a different issue. Canada taxes you on money you earn in Canada. The US taxes its residents on worldwide income.

You better hope the country where you earn income has a good treaty with the US.

We actually do better on Canadian Old Age Pension (maybe they should change that to Senior pension or Champions Pension (ala golf)) than Canadians do since we aren't subject to the clawback. Canadians earning too much have this pension reduced.

In addition, it's treated as Social Security payments in the US and only 85% is taxable.

Canada (according to the tax treaty) doesn't withhold taxes on government pensions.

And on. . . .

The Alamo website says that U.S. rentals can be driven into Canada, and Canadian rentals can be driven into the U.S.

It states that Canadians cannot rent in the U.S. then drive into Canada, however, which seems odd.

I wonder if the concern is that if you rent in the other country and go back to your own country, they may never see the car again.

We've done the exact trip. No problems.

But the contract must say that it permits cross border travel, and you cannot drop it off in the other country.

If you are a US resident, your insurance agent can get you a "Canada Card" for free or a nominal sum. This shows that you are covered across the border for the period of your trip. Something similar is needed for Mexico, so it is not anti-Canadian discrimination.

I was in Banff last year.

I rented a car for 5 days. I never even thought of bringing with insurance cards, etc.

Now that I think of it I'll do things a bit differently.

Going to Montreal for a week in May.

Why are you flying into Calgary when you can fly into the Glacier Park airport?

I haven't decided yet between Calgary, Kalispell (Glacier) and Great Falls.

Kalispell & Great Falls are a 3 hour drive to Many Glacier and Calgary is 4 hours.

From Calgary I have to cross the border which could be a bit of a hassle.

On the positive side I could use AA air miles since AA goes to Clagary and not the other airports.

Also, the AA flight is much better. One stop as opposed to 2 stops. The flight leaves here 3 hours later (8:20 vs around 5AM) but only arrives about 1 hour later (1:30PM vs 12:30).

So Calgary has its share of positives.

I think Kalispell puts you much closer than your other two options. But, I can certainly see the positives of using your AA points and an easier/quicker flight. That extra stop could certainly cause a delay or lost baggage too. I wouldn't think the border crossing there would be much of a big deal at all(of course, I could be wrong).

spiro,
Since my first two days are at Meny Glacier, Kalispell isn't closer. GTF and FCA are both 3 hours and YYC is 4 hours.

I rechecked the various flight and unless I pay an exhorbitant amount (over 1,000) flights to all 3 places arrive in the range of 1:30.

However, Clagary leaves here about 3 hours later and has one plane change.

The problem with Kalispell, Great Falls, and even Missoula is the limited number of flights. Thunderstorms or equipment failures can put you a day behind. Ask me how I know this.

YYC is a major airport with a lot of options. If four hours to the border sseems too long, you can stop at Head-smashed-in-buffalo-jump. I won't tell you what it is, but it is worth the stop.

Did you check flying to Spokane Washington? Either rent the car there or take the Empire Builder out at about 1:30AM .
You can get a rental car at the Whitefish station. For the east side of the park you have to go all the way to Cut Bank for a 300 mile/day limit rental car.

tom,
Yes, I checked Spokane. That's well over 5 hours drive.

According to google maps
Kalispell airport to Many Glacier Hotel 135 miles
Great Falls to MGH is 171
YCC to MGH is 187

Of course, most of the miles from Kalispell could be very scenic on the GTSR. I know I would use the free miles though. Especially if you factor in delays that are more likely the more transfers you make. I would imagine the other two drives would be fairly scenic as well. I like to leave as early as possible though. It seems like mid-day are more delays(maybe that just me though).

Ackislander,
I must have experienced the same problem you did. Except I never made it there last year at all. A major hailstorm in Denver damaged about 40 planes and I couldn't get a flight for 4 days, so I just got my money back on the airfare and ate the $1800 I had paid for my VRBO cabin.

I plan on going in 2013, so this has me reconsidering how I might fly. It would be much easier for me to fly to Calgary. I have AA points and Southwest Point, but nothing on United or Delta. And they seem to really hold you to a premium to fly into FCA.