Driving in Canada and RV road trips: Thai licence, IDP, winter tyres and park passes

You can drive in Canada on a Thai licence, but how long depends on the province: up to 6 months in British Columbia, up to one year in Alberta and under 3 months in Ontario. Because a Thai licence is not in English, always carry an International Driving Permit with it. Canada drives on the right and uses kilometres.

Can you drive in Canada with a Thai licence, and how do provinces differ?

Yes, for short stays, but licence rules are set by each province, so check every province on your route. The table below summarises each provincial government's website.

How to get an IDP in Thailand is covered in “What is an International Driving Permit, how do you get one, and can you actually drive abroad with it?”

Which side of the road does Canada drive on, and what differs from Thailand?

Canada drives on the right, with the steering wheel on the left side of the car, the opposite of Thailand. Speed signs are in km/h, as in Thailand, but you need to retrain your habits for lanes, roundabouts and turns.

• A left turn crosses oncoming traffic; a right turn is the short turn into the kerb lane
• The Government of Quebec says right turns on red are permitted everywhere in Quebec except on the island of Montreal, or where signs prohibit them
• In other provinces, follow the signs and that province's local rules
• Fuel is sold by the litre, and many Canadian stations are self-serve

Do you need winter tyres to drive in Canada?

In some provinces, yes. The rules that matter most for visitors are in British Columbia and Quebec, and their dates and conditions differ as shown here.

Do you need a Parks Canada pass to drive the Icefields Parkway?

Yes. Parks Canada says you need a pass when you stop in a national park, and on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) and Bow Valley Parkway (1A) even without stopping. Driving straight through on the Trans-Canada Highway without stopping needs no pass. A daily pass is valid until 4 pm the next day, Mountain Time. Check the current fee on the official site.

Parks Canada describes the Icefields Parkway as a remote 232 km road from Lake Louise to Jasper with limited services; fuel at Saskatchewan River Crossing is available in summer only, and there is no cell coverage. Fill the tank before leaving Lake Louise or Jasper.

What should you do when you see wildlife by the road in Canada?

Stay in the vehicle and keep moving slowly; do not stop in the lane for photos. Parks Canada says to stay at least 30 m from deer, elk, sheep and moose, and at least 100 m from bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes. Parks Canada says it is illegal to feed, entice or disturb any wildlife.

What should you know before an RV or campervan trip in Canada?

RVs can use ordinary highways, but they cannot park everywhere, and fuel and parking need planning in advance.

• Parks Canada does not allow RVs in the paid Lake Louise lakeshore lots, and Moraine Lake Road is closed to all personal vehicles year-round, so use the Parks Canada shuttle
• In British Columbia, RVs follow the same winter tyre signs as cars, with M+S tyres as the minimum
• Big rigs burn a lot of fuel, so top up in every larger town before a remote stretch
• Practise reversing and judging the vehicle's height in an empty car park before driving into town

The 407 ETR toll road in Toronto

The 407 ETR around Toronto is all-electronic with no toll booths; cameras read the plate. For rental cars, 407 ETR bills the rental company, which passes the toll to the renter, sometimes months later, with extra camera, account and rental admin fees. To avoid it, set your navigation app to avoid tolls.

Why do you need data and offline maps for a Canada road trip?

In towns you need data for navigation, road conditions and calls to the rental company, but many mountain roads have no signal at all, so you need both live data and offline maps.

1. Download offline maps of the whole route over hotel Wi-Fi before you set off
2. Screenshot your Parks Canada pass, rental contract and the rental company's emergency number
3. Share your live location with a friend before entering a no-signal zone, with your expected arrival time
4. In an emergency where you have signal, call 9-1-1

An eSIM installed before the flight gives you data from the moment you collect the car at YVR, YYC or YYZ, so maps work straight away without Wi-Fi.

See eSIM options for Canada