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kerry4951 Former BI Member
Average Member
USA
831 Posts |
Posted - June 22 2013 : 14:42:21
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pta Thanks for the reminder. I just called Hagerty and they can either send by email, fax or send by snail mail. If you are towing a bricklin, you will also need a card for the tow vehicle as well. |
Vin 2200 (Safety white) Vin 588 (Scottsdale Police Car) |
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steve_edgar Former BI Member
New Member
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2013 : 00:01:16
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I think that you will find that your insurance is valid in all of North America.
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VIN 846 |
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kerry4951 Former BI Member
Average Member
USA
831 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2013 : 00:16:08
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Most US insurance companies do cover you in Canada, but they also recommend that you carry a separate Canada insurance ID card that they will issue you upon request. |
Vin 2200 (Safety white) Vin 588 (Scottsdale Police Car) |
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Gulwings Former BI Member
Senior Member
Canada
1139 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2013 : 08:13:32
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... interestingly enough, in my research in other things "trailerable"; if you are pulled over en-route in Canada, the "authorities" are much more interested in the trailer than what is in it or on it. It's a safety on the road thing.
Make sure your ID/rating plate for the trailer is clean and legible upon inspection... if it isn't or there isn't one; they'll pull your plates and it's off the road. Good tires and working lights are key as well.
Mike P |
2882 |
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kent0242 Former BI Member
Starting Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - June 29 2013 : 11:07:54
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A couple travel notes regarding the upcoming rendezvous .... some quick conversions to note - when traveling with an American speedometer without dual speed capability, remember that kilometers/kilometres are approximately .6 of miles. Therefore, if you have an American English-only speedometer, this is how it works out: 25kmh is 15mph 30kmh is around 20mph 50kmh is approx. 30mph 60kmh is approx. 36mph 70kmh is just under 45mph 80kmh is around 50mph 90kmh is 55mph and finally, the top speed of 100kmh is almost 63mph.
When you see many trucks running along at 65mph, that is because they are legally speed limited to 105kmh in Ontario. When you see cars whizzing by at around 74 mph, or 120kmh, that is about as fast as they can go without tripping the Ontario Provincial Police 'commin'-to-get-you' lights (you know, the flashing blue and red lights that you see when they pull you over to admire the picture on your driver's license).
For those who will travel along the Highway 401 from the east - a word of caution - I traveled along the 401 last night and ran into some unexpected difficulty as I neared a construction site. At approximately the 206km (much like the mile markers along the US highway system), the Putnam Weigh / Inspection station for trucks is being reconstructed. Normally, this causes minor delays, if any at all. Last night, with Canadians going on extended Canada Day weekend celebrating their 146 years of independence from England, there was an approximately 10km (6 mile) backup of more stop than go traffic. An easy alternative is to go north to Provincial Route #2 Highway and travel along that route, instead. PR-2 passes right through London. As in the States, where old US highways were mostly replaced with parallel Interstate expressways, old Kings Highway 2 parallels the newer Highway 401. PR-2 passes through many communities, but moves well in the outlying farmlands. If you are looking for a scenic drive, I highly recommend Ontario Provincial Route 2. It sure beats sitting in traffic, sucking up exhaust fumes while your Bricklin overheats.
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Monetary considerations: Credit cards work on both sides of the border, but debit cards sometimes do not. I usually just run my debit card as a credit card, and usually it works, sometimes not (Tim Hortons). The saving grace is that your financial institution will give you the international exchange rate for that day, usually with a minor service fee. But, it doesn't hurt to exchange some American greenbacks for Canadian. This can be accomplished at the border (Duty-free stores), at some Ontario Welcome Centres, or at most Canadian banks. Expect to pay a minor 'exchange' fee. If you do try to pass off American money in Canada, you are at the mercy of the retailer, who will often charge an additional 5-10% to take those Yankee bucks off your hands.
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Taxes: Expect to see 8% HST and 5% GST on your purchases. Ontario used to refund their tax if you sent in the receipt with their government form, but I am not sure if that offer still stands.
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Phone service: So who doesn't travel with a cell phone these days? Data roaming charges can add up quickly, so unless you absolutely need data while on the road, be sure to turn off data roaming at the border.
My experience with Sprint is that there are quite a few dead spots, even in urban areas. Unless you have International Calling added to your service, expect to see a pretty big phone bill after your trip. It's well worth it to add International Calling (cancel at any time) to your account before traveling from the U.S. to Canada. I am a current customer.
In my opinion, Verizon has better coverage and service overall. For $10 extra, you can get 900 (or was it 1000?!?) Canadian minutes added per month, cancel at any time. I am a current customer.
AT&T has great service capability in Canada, although I am not a subscriber.
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And lastly, let's talk about fuel prices. 1 gallon = 3.785 litres. When you see a typical price advertised at the pump for $1.259/litre, that works out to $4.765/gallon. That's just the way it is. Fuel up before crossing the border to save money. |
Kent #2832 birthdate 11 SEP 1975 |
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kerry4951 Former BI Member
Average Member
USA
831 Posts |
Posted - June 29 2013 : 11:27:45
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Thanks Kent.....good info to know |
Vin 2200 (Safety white) Vin 588 (Scottsdale Police Car) |
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GreenTrash Not Registered with BI or E-Mail mis-match
Junior Member
177 Posts |
Posted - June 29 2013 : 11:44:32
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Hi Kent The sales tax refund no longer exists.
A little bit of Canadian etiquette; Coffee at Tim Horton's. This does not apply to me since I like strong unsweetened black coffee.
1/ A normal dose of cream and sugar is called a regular. 2/ Extra cream and extra sugar is called a double-double. 3/ The coffee with a hint of coffee flavour is called the triple-triple. 4/ If you hate coffee and love sugar and cream order the 4X4. I personally don't know a 4X4 drinker but have witnessed these orders.
Last but not least, practice the proper annunciation of "Eh!" You will be quickly found out as a Faux Canuck if you don't get it right, Eh! Andrew
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kent0242 Former BI Member
Starting Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - June 29 2013 : 18:31:09
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One item i forgot: Radar detectors are illegal in Ontario. Just in case you need to know. |
Kent #2832 birthdate 11 SEP 1975 |
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Rick_R Former BI Member
Senior Member
Canada
1705 Posts |
Posted - June 30 2013 : 07:46:14
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and leave your firearms at home hand guns will get you a stay in the grey bar hotel here |
your mileage may vary, parental guidance is advised, call before you dig, consult your doctor, action figures sold separately, see a qualified tax professional, mind the gap, may contain peanuts, no user serviceable parts inside, offer void in Nebraska, batteries not included |
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brick75 Former BI Member
Senior Member
Canada
1843 Posts |
Posted - June 30 2013 : 09:02:55
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...and you will hear temperatures in the 20's here in summer and no, the igloos are a bit further north, that is Celsius not Farenheit.
Canada went metric in the late 60's, boomers here are still "bilingual" to miles vs kilometres, gallons vs litres, and farenheit vs celsius but the current generation are mystified when they travel south.
Also, our gallon of days gone by was imperial compared to the US gallon (160oz vs 128oz) which made pints and quarts different.
Final thought, most mainstream Canadian brews are generally stronger in alcohol than US, handle with care! Eh.
Marty
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