Insurance ... Nobody likes to talk about it and yet it takes a good one for his van or any other vehicle when one decides to realize a road trip in more or less long term. This is even more true in North America where, in the event of an accident, the sums invested can become astronomical!
As you have seen, for those who read our article "Buying a Van in Canada"we made the choice to buy our "Popo" van on the spot.
We will therefore give you the following steps for the following cases:
- Case 1: I bought my vehicle in Canada, it is plated in Quebec.
- Case 2: I bring my vehicle by boat with its European plates,
- Option 1: and I assure it with an American insurance
- Option 2: and I assure it with a Quebec insurance
With a French + International license (do not forget to do it a few months before leaving), and a tourist visa, the thing is not necessarily easy at first. As for insurance in France, Quebec insurances take into account years of experience. But your years in France having no value in Quebecthey will not be taken into account and you will be considered without experience and with a foreign license. Nearly all companies refuse immediately in this case, make sure you do not have a Quebec driver's license. (If you arrive with a PVT no worries you just have to exchange your license with the SAAQ and this article does not really concern you, just choose your insurer since you are a temporary resident).
For our part, we have from the summer 2015 call a broker : DPJL Insurance. At the time, they found us insurance for 1 year for our Van plated in Quebec and with our French licenses. The price was a little excessive, around $ 1000 CA the yearbut we had no choice. The only other company we had directly on the phone and able to secure us was asking us for $ 4,000 CAD (haha the joke ... no, actually they were serious ...).
We had therefore taken this option which thanks to the favorable exchange rate was not so much worse ...
After this year of insurance, we asked to renew the contract, but it went to 1400 $ CA ... Hum, no thank you ... Remembering the assurances that we had refused 1 year ago, we had the good surprise to see that this times, and after one year of experience on the North American roads, they agreed to make sure no problem by noting our number French license! A priori in the meantime insurers in Quebec have also relaxed their requirements towards expatriates.
In short for our Volkswagen T3 Westfalia from 1984, insured in all risks ("Both sides" in Quebec), we are paying now $ 550 CA per year, with 6 months per year allowed in the USA and a refund of the van to its expertise value + 3% per year in case of accident.
A priori, it is now possible to find an insurer more easily and even if you only have the French (and international) license and a tourist visa. Try to call them directly before going through a broker.
If you still have rejections, read the last part of this article, there is an effective solution that works every time!
- As for license plates (see article "Buying a Van in Canada"), you can stow the vehicle when it is not in use (maximum of 6 months per year). The insurance then reimburses you for the overpayment and keep a minimum insurance theft / fire. Ideal when you go back and forth to your home country for a few months.
- Similarly, if you go to Mexico at least a month, by preventing insurance and providing the photocopy of the Mexican Customs entry and exit stamp, thea company will refund the time spent outside Canada and the USA.
In the last news, it's more and more complicated. So much so, that we met several travelers crossing Canada and the USA without insurance ... No problem for them fortunately but hey ... We are never safe, an accident "it does not happen only to others" ...
The approach will be a little different with the French or European license plates but not impossible either.
At the moment and according to our information, the only insurance that accepts to insure Canada and the USA it is Thum Insurance (Tel: +1 (616) 957-2400).
If you arrive by boat via SeaBridge, know thatthey have agreements with Thum so you can ask directly to SeaBridge to take care of the insurance in addition to transportation. The price is a priori the same ...
Well, it's still pretty expensive, mostly for recent vehicles... We have no price to give you so much they are variable from one vehicle to another ... You can make a quote request online on their website: ThumInsurance.com
Insurance is valid for a period of 6 months or 12 months renewable on demand. They can also insure you for Mexico, but there are other insurances that only cover that country and they are generally a little cheaper. We will make an article on it soon!
A recent source (said like it looks like we're secret agents haha), told us that Progressive Insurance in the USA would only provide recreational vehicles (RV for "Recreative Vehicule" in the USA): motorhomes and other vans equipped with a VASP registration certificate.
Exit at home, the pick up with removable cell or the van fitted with a classic gray card, or the beautiful 4 × 4 Defender with roof tent (one day we will have this one!).
The process is simple and is done online BUT it takes indicate an address in the United States (friends, family, hotel?). In addition you will be obliged to contract for 1 year minimum but it is possible to terminate at any time and the prorate will be refunded. Next address that you will give, conditions may change since they apply differently for each state.
If you choose to arrive by Canada, another solution is available to you! We planned to do this before finding our broker. And we've been confirmed since, and many times, that this solution works.
Here's what to do:
We'll have to call 5 different companies in Quebec (Google is your friend) Ask to make a "quote" (a quote) to each of them, and get a refusal every time ... Yes, until then it's normal ... Think about note the company, the day of the call, the time and the name of the person that you had on the phone.
Then call him Insurance Bureau in Canada at +1(514)288-4321 and say no insurer wants to insure you with your French plates. They will ask you some info and they will compel the first company that you contacted to make sure!
It will be basic insurance of course. She can go from 3 months to 1 year depending on the case, with possibility to spend up to 6 months in the USA. This is not the best solution, especially for travelers with a brand new campsite that want to ensure all risks ... But it may be suitable for some.
All this information is given as an indication, they can of course change at any time. Moreover, each case being different we can not guarantee you that what worked for us or someone else will work for you ...
In any case, make inquiries and take steps well BEFORE you leave. The vehicle insurance is still a major expense item on a long trip!
A big thank you to Denis for the additional information and to all those (they will recognize each other 😉), who gave us fresh information to write this article.
We will try to update the article if new information reaches us.
If you have even more fresh news, other names of insurance companies that have insured with your French plates, do not hesitate to share in comment!
This is the article we needed! It was a bit difficult for us, we did not know where to look or how to do it, and you answered all our questions, thank you for all this information!
Kisses, friends!
With pleasure friends! We realized that we started writing this article two years ago so it was about time! Do not hesitate if you have any questions 😉
Hello
I read with interest your article. We leave this month by boat for Halifax with our camper and visit the USA. Comparing the premiums paid by others in 2017, the costs have increased significantly (apparently almost tripled). Thum 's proposal is about $ 3,000 for 6 months for information.
Good travel suite
Hello Danièle!
Thank you for your experience sharing, it will help a lot is on.
What type of camper and what year is it?
You will love visiting the USA, the national parks are amazing!
Looking forward to meeting each other on the road, and if you need more info, don't hesitate 😉
Hello,
Does your Quebec insurance allow you to stay more than 6 months outside the province of Quebec? I try to get quotes from insurers and brokers but as soon as I mention that we would like to be more than 6 months out of Quebec, no one wants to insure us (while we have allowed to drive Quebec and plate Quebec).
Thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Nicolas, unfortunately not more than 6 months but in our case we usually have tourist visas of 6 months maximum so it's not too disturbing ... But we must still ask the conditions. Is it 6 months a year? 6 months at each crossing of the border? Is leaving 6 months early July and for one year I use the 6 months of the first year and the 6 months of the second year after? Is it the van that counts or the stamp on the passport, because in this case it is different if you leave the van in one place and make a round trip by plane for example. In short, you understood ... We realized that the conditions vary depending on the insurance ... And once in Mexico and Central America we had to take insurance for each country since we were no longer covered anyway.
Here we hope that it gives you an answer (a tip anyway) and that it will help you.
Hello,
Thank you for all the info !
My girlfriend and I are on tourist visas in Canada from May to October 2019 and we galen a little to find an insurer for our vehicle, bought in Montreal and plated with the SAAQ.
We wish to visit Canada from East to West as well as part of the United States and temporarily stay with a friend in Montreal for the moment. Do you think we can force an insurer to insure our vehicle via BAC? Or to find a tip to ensure the vehicle 3 months in Canada and 3 months in the United States?
While waiting to read you, thank you.
Maxim.
Nice project that you have there! Apart from going through a broker or using the technique via the BAC there are unfortunately not 36 solutions the first year. Without experience on site and with a tourist visa insurers are cautious. We advise you to try first via the BAC before a broker, it will certainly cost you less if it works for you!
Hello everyone, thank you for your blog and the wealth of information it contains! I am in the midst of quotes to find the best insurance for my van. And I out of curiosity, I would have liked to know with whom you were insured? For now, the best quote I have is 66$ / month (taxes included) to be insured on both sides, with 50 days allowed outside Canada. Thank you for your response and have a good trip! Oriane
Hello Oriane! We are at Desjardins for our van plated in Quebec. We are entitled to 6 months per year excluding QC 😉
Hello Joana and Eric!
A big thank you for this feedback which is of great help!
When you arrived in Montreal, how many months did you have a tourist visa?
And how many months has Desjardins insurance agreed to cover you in total (the 6 months excluding QC included) please?
Thanks again,
Alexis & Léa.
Hi Léa & Alexis! We had a tourist visa of 6 months for Canada (this is what is given basic to all European nationals).
We are still insured with Desjardins today, so it's been over 3 and a half years. We had paused this insurance for Mexico and Central America since they do not cover us there. Insurance must be taken on site (or possible also online for Mexico).
Hi Joana & Eric!
Thank you for your super fast response in the middle of the holiday season 🙂
So if I understand correctly, it is possible to pay for a year of auto insurance with a tourist visa of 6 months only?
We have one last question: since you had a 6 month tourist visa to Canada, we imagine that you left the country for the US and Mexico after this period.
Coming back, did the Canadian authorities easily give you back a 6 month tourist visa?
And does this update the counter for the 6 months of validity of the foreign driving license?
Thanks again for your answers 🙂
Alex & Lea.
That's right, the duration of the visa does not matter to insurers, but be careful as we say in the article, the first year it is not easy to directly find an insurer with this status and without experience on site.
Yes, no worries about getting 6 months again if you spent a little time in the USA, sometimes you have to prove that you have the sufficient resources to live 6 months without working there. The driving license when it is attached to the current visa, so yes it leaves for 6 months of course 😉
Hello everyone, and big thank you for your blog, a real mine of information!
With my friend, we too are considering a Canada and USA road trip, we wonder, after reading your experience, where it is better to buy a van: Canada or USA.
Have you considered buying a van in the USA?
Thank you in advance for your response and good luck!
Hello Nicole and thank you! Nice project 🙂
Buy a van in the USA and of course also possible.
The first question you need to ask yourself is: where are you going to land? For our part we were planning to start our trip with Eastern Canada, Quebec was therefore obvious for the purchase of the van. More practical, the ease of the language, and the habit of seeing French people buying vehicles here.
The other question is: what type of van? Some models are more or less easy to find depending on the States / Provinces.
Beware of rust if you plan to buy in Canada or the USA in the snowy states in winter!
Thank you very much for your quick response !
Indeed, your advice to buy in Quebec is very wise.
The type of van: same size as the Volkswagen T4 for 2 people for a minimum duration of 3 years of travel, therefore relatively recent.
Without wanting to abuse, can you tell me, how can we pay when buying the vehicle? If it is in cash, must you have opened a bank account in Quebec or transport money from France, knowing that we are limited to 10,000 € by customs, a little fair, perhaps for the purchase desired?
Thank you and see you soon
In short, what is the best way to deal with this financial issue?
Thank you
If you are looking for a T4, they are called VW "Eurovan" in North America 😉
Beware of rust, really ... It's a big big problem in Quebec.
We paid in cash by withdrawing for free from the distributor at a partner bank of our bank in France (BNP / Scotia Bank). We asked to raise the ceiling of our card exceptionally for this purchase by calling two days before. You can also pay by bank transfer!
Hello to both of you,
What a joy to have found your site… It is really the one we needed.
If the context - Covid - allows it, we will hope to leave next March.
We hesitated for a long time between or bought our mobile home, the choice is made it will be a Canadian vehicle
A Toyota carrier preferably + Cell.
I have 2 small questions: If sometimes you have the answers
1 - Can we go to the different states in South America and is the B permit also valid - the whole will exceed 3.5 T
2 - Can we then resell the vehicle in AM?
A big thank you to you 2.
Hello ! Super project the Pan-American, we will not say the opposite 🙂
1. No problem getting where you want to go, no matter where the vehicle is coming from. Insurance level you will be covered with your Canadian insurance only in Canada and the USA. For other countries, you will need to take out insurance at each border crossing. No problem to drive with the B license the rules are different, there we talk about class. For example you can drive a huge multi-ton coach / bus as long as it is downgraded for recreational use.
2. You can resell the vehicle in another country, yes, but be aware that as there are additional steps and the vehicle comes from Canada (not known to be well maintained and rust problem due to winter), you will have more difficulty and the price will have to be revised downwards… The ideal is to resell to new travelers arriving in the country where you will be.
Hello,
Thank you for your great articles, which help us greatly in our project. If all goes well, we fly to Montreal on April 30 with the mission of finding a van and leaving for 6 months between Canada and the USA. Your article on insurance is really great. I just read on a facebook group that insurance could be chilly if there was a gas installation in the van not installed by a professional. Is that something you looked at when buying your vehicle? Hope to see you on the road this summer!
Beautiful day
Jess and Roman
Super project, we necessarily validate 🙂 So on our side the van was already fully equipped so we didn't even have the question from the insurer. To see indeed, with the craze for fitted vans it is possible that they will now ask…
Hello,
we are on the eve of our family departure in a van. We start from Quebec and head towards Central America. We found auto insurance for the United States and Mexico, but nothing for Guatemala and other countries. Do you have companies to refer us or other tips?
A big thank-you !
Karine
Hello Karine, maybe we'll meet then 😉
For Mexico we strongly advise you Baja Bound Insurance
In Belize, insurance is compulsory and can be taken at the border.
In Guatemala it is inside the country, if you arrive from Belize the first insurer is in Flores. It is referenced on the iOverlander application where you will find all the information for the borders among others.
Do not hesitate if necessary!
A huge thank you for your help. Thank you for creating this place of exchange and support. Looking forward to meeting you!!
Hello,
Nous sommes dans les démarches pour assurer un petit motorhome que nous achetons à Calgary en Alberta et que nous ramenons à Halifax par la route (pour qu’ensuite il prenne le bateau, diretion la Belgique puis la France, ouf! enfin!). Un petit road trip de 5000 km en 3 semaines en septembre prochain. Auriez-vous des conseils/pistes pour l’assurer pendant ce voyage. Nous avons cintacté Desjardins à Calgary et ils ne prennent plus de nouveaux assurés auto en ce moment…
Many thanks in advance for your valuable advice. Your site is very well done and useful (I think I know it by heart…)
Hello, alors dans ce cas, à part utiliser la technique des 5 refus, il n’y pas vraiment le choix !
Bon courage, l’administratif c’est toujours compliqué partout dans le monde 🙂