wliwl

The title says it all...What do you think?

Budman

I would think so, especially if you plan to return it in Canada -- but why don't you check with your rental car agency?

I know if you rent in Europe with autoeurope there are stipulations that you can't take it to some countries.

dwooddon

I've done it several times with no problems. Each time the border officials wanted to know why I was doing it but accepted my explanation (flying into and out of Montreal but wanting to tour in Vermont).

earl30

probably not if you mean alaska by the us.
there's only one answer to this question. check with the agency you want to rent from.

bob_brown

This idea is fraught with difficulties. I know, from bitter experience.

On the two occasions I rented a car in Calgary and drove it to Yellowstone, I was given the royal 3rd degree at the US border crossing. Passport, rental contract, and tickets for a return airplane flight from Calgary were barely sufficient.

If you decide on this move, I strongly recommend that you have a written addendum in your contract that specifically permits you to drive your rental car into the US.

Make sure that the addendum is specific to that vehicle and to you as an individual.

That said, note that some rental companies in Canada change the terms of the rental when the car is driven into the US. Enterprise, for example, changes the kilometer cap. I had to obtain a specific waiver just to drive over the Alberta BC border to Yoho National Park!!

So check out the fine print. Having been rather rudely grilled by TSA forces at the border crossing on two separate occasions, I cannot emphasize enough the need for special documentation.

Bear in mind that TSA is hostile these days to Americans returning from Canada. Why? I don;t know, except Bush and buddies have stirred the pot with our Canadian friends and there is sort of a cold war going on at the border. What used to be a routine, polite crossing has turned into a confrontational experience.

djkbooks

Check with the rental car companies. It can be done, but you have to know what you're doing. Your rental agreement must contain a "permission" clause for driving into the US, and you should have this handy at the border crossing. If you want to drop it off in the US, all bets are off.

Keith

I've crossed the border a number of times in rental vehicles with no problems, though I was doing the renting in the US. You do need to have permission from the rental company, and some may not permit it.

Keith

janisj

I read another thread (sorry - don't have the link) where it was explained about Canadians having issues about renting cars to cross the border. Something about the excise taxes in Canada.

Little foggy w/ the details but maybe a search will turn it up.