Can I cross the US-Canada border to retrieve my car?

September 29, 2020 1:43 PM

I am in Canada. My car is in the US. I want to rent a car in Canada, return that car in the US, then drive my car back to Canada. My concern is crossing the land border. Is this allowed/essential travel? Is there an official contact to ask? I am a US Citizen and Canadian PR.

I entered Canada over the summer without my car because I didn't have the title in hand to import it properly. It is parked in an airport parking lot, and I'd like to go get it as soon as possible, both so that I have the use of my car and so that I don't rack up an even higher fee.

I understand that I would have to quarantine for 14 days after this adventure; that is no problem. I'm just really stressed out trying to read the rules and not being sure if I'll be allowed to cross in each direction while the border is still closed. I'm not in the "definitely no" category of recreation/tourism, but I'm also not sure if this could be essential because it's not for work.

In case it matters: I'm in Vancouver; my car is in Bellingham, WA.

posted by triscuit to Law & Government (10 answers total)

The Canadian government says:

Landed permanent residents without symptoms of COVID-19 can travel to Canada.

So in theory, according to policy, as a permanent resident you should be allowed to enter the country for any reason. Of course this comes with the caveat that entry for noncitizens is always at the discretion of border control agents and they are not required by law to admit you.

But also:

You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada.

I don't know whether planning to pick up your car and then immediately leave the country satisfies the quarantine requirement. You may have to quarantine for 14 days inside Canada. Maybe someone else has insight into this aspect.
posted by mekily at 1:51 PM on September 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: As a US citizen, you can definitely cross the border to enter the US, regardless of your reason for travel. So you are, at least, definitely good in the southbound direction.


You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada.

I don't know whether planning to pick up your car and then immediately leave the country satisfies the quarantine requirement.

If I'm reading the OP correctly, the country they are picking up the car in and immediately leaving is the US (which has no blanket quarantine requirement), not Canada.

In other words it's a Canada>US>Canada trip, and the OP has said that they have no problem with the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon returning to Canada.
posted by andrewesque at 2:02 PM on September 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Hit post too soon -- for documentation, here's the DHS fact sheet on the US-Canadian border closure.

Near the bottom it explicitly notes "U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and certain other travelers are exempt from this action."
posted by andrewesque at 2:04 PM on September 29, 2020

Oops, you're right, I misread the OP.

Yes, US citizens can enter the US for any reason, there's no quarantine requirement for Washington State, and Canadian permanent residents can enter Canada for any reason, so this trip should be possible.
posted by mekily at 2:30 PM on September 29, 2020

I want to rent a car in Canada, return that car in the US
I feel like this is going to be a difficult thing to arrange, especially now, but even in normal times. Ignore if you already have the okay from a rental company, but if not, you may be disappointed. Can you fly to Bellingham?
posted by soelo at 2:41 PM on September 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: To avoid the cross-border car rental, it may make sense to walk across the border at Blaine, and take a taxi or towncar to the Bellingham airport to pickup your car.
posted by ShooBoo at 2:54 PM on September 29, 2020 [5 favorites]

A few years ago, I was unable to find a company that would let me rent a car for a one-way trip across the Canada- US border, so it would probably be easier to fly if you can.
posted by bighappyhairydog at 3:07 PM on September 29, 2020

fwiw there is a ferry now from pt roberts to bellingham, that might potentially meet your needs : https://www.portofbellingham.com/943/Point-Roberts-Emergency-Ferry
posted by dum spiro spero at 4:04 PM on September 29, 2020

Response by poster: THANK YOU SO MUCH. Having other people look at the rules has made me so much less stressed about this. Huge feeling of relief.

Also, you're all correct about the cross-border car rental not working out. Crossing at Blaine & taking taxis looks like the best option. (thanks ShooBoo!)
posted by triscuit at 5:32 PM on September 29, 2020

I wonder if you could get someone on the US side to drive your car to the Peace Arch Park and meet you there, if you mailed them the keys.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:47 PM on October 1, 2020