Will my car be searched when driving across the Canadian border?

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thinkingtime

Our (boring middle aged) Canadian friends got the whole (boring sedan) car worked through. They think it was because it was right before Christmas and the guards didn't believe their truthful answer that they hadn't bought anything in the States.

kent_shakespear

in the dozens (maybe 100) times I've crossed the border, I've had my car searched once in each direction. no dogs - but that was also the early 90s (both). Canadian searchers (in BC) were polite and almost apologetic, but made a real mess of things. US searchers (in Michigan) seemed annoyed not to have found anything.

And yes, passports are not needed this year.

tuppenybitz

if you are American and are driving into Canada you do not yet need a passport

it is re entering the US that you need proof of residency eg Green card ,license,birth certificate
car checks are usually random unless customs suspects something

Bluelady...

Hello,
I'm Canadian and have been checked on a matter of about 5 times over a 10 year period.
(All were random checks after coming back from states side on the Sumas Border, Aldergrove/ Douglas Border into Abbotsford, BC.)
All 4 checks were very professional, not really friendly just doing their job. All coming back on to Canadian soil.

But the worst was one of of the 5 times had to be the States side going to the states! Checking my car, they torn it apart, questions like, "Why do you have a blanket in trunk. Who car is this really?" The one state line I never had one problem at was the worst I have encountered and kept my social insurance card!!!

They can check and will check, that is their right and job to do so. In all accounts, I'm not letting the one time get me down.
But they never found anything, nor did they fix or clean up anything.

PS. I don't look out of the ordinary, just your average older lady.

I hope this helps you out, thank you.
Sandra, Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada.

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitizenborder.htm

JuanB

I go 1 to 4 times a year, not all by car, but usually half the time. US Customs have popped the trunk and rifled through stuff taking less than 120 seconds and not even bothering to pull you over. They do it right at the both. I wont call that a search.

So I have been searched once. It was at a secondary crossing where they were twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do. And it was a hotshot punk snot-nose college boy filling in for the summer. I was driving up lost through the woods, and first sign of life I saw and talked to all day. I practically heard dueling banjos play, or expected them to take a club to my taillight and say it was broken and write me a ticket or something.

So, I'd agree - they do random check, but your chances of that are slim. AND if you make them suspicious anyway, they will search. They haven't looked in the trunk since I got rid of my old sports car beater and bought a new more of a family car.

toby

If they have reason to suspect something, they can... went over once on the way to a Grateful Dead show in Toronto...need I say more??....anyway was riding in a 77 Impala, green with yellow hood and blue doors, plastered with dead stickers and reeking of patchouli. Yeah, they gave us a hard time!! Searched the car, and us. But found nothing despite their belief I was still hiding something, which I wasn't...they didn't have a female officer around to prove it...but yeah, with probable cause, they will....depends on their mood too.
Good luck, be careful...and bring a passport, I believe it's required now.

sorry, my bad, looks like you have till the end of this year for passports

Sly

People I know just went through a couple of weeks ago, and were searched in both directions. It was a group of men in their 30's and 40's, driving in a fairly new pickup with a lot of camping gear in the back. Their stuff was pulled apart, the seats removed from their vehicle, and they were frisked but not 'cavity checked'. They had nothing but alcohol, but it took a couple of hours to deal with. As for the passports, I believe you have to have them to fly between the two countries, but not to drive across the border.

MelissA

If you are an American you should have no trouble either way. My dad is a OTR truck driver and I have travelled with him since I was 5 years old. Dogs, have their shots up to date, their medical record or proof of shots wouldn't be a bad idea, usually the line into Canada isn't that bad, unless you're really suspicious I doubt they'll request a search, I've never been searched. A passport is not required because of the recent surge of applications, the original deadline would be impractical because they wouldn't have time to process them all (I can only confirm this on the Canadian side, US requiring Canadians to have passports). Going back into the U.S, have your documents prepared (like drivers license, passport if you have one, any other piece of ID) If you have children with you, birth certificate is necessary. You will most likely have more questions asked of you at the U.S border, the last time we were searched was by the National Guard at 11:30 at night and they wanted to look in the trailer and everything. That was a rare instance, but don't rule it out. As long as you aren't carrying anything illegal or questionable, you should be able to sail right through.
Good luck, it ain't so bad!

Alletery

They do spot checks. Sometimes you are just chosen because they have to do a check after so many cars. It is more likely that this occurs going into the States. They are stricter in combatting terrorism.

softball_chic_2009_15

I'm half Canadian and my dads Canadian, and we really never have a hard time. just don't have a car loaded down with stuff it will look bad. and no fruits, veggies, or pets.

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