Frequently Asked Questions

In Canada, responsibility for road safety is divided among various levels of government, and falls within the purview of the provincial , territorial or federal jurisdiction. Canada's Road Safety Strategy 2025 is Canada's plan to improve safety on our roads. It provides jurisdictions with a framework of best practices to address specific road safety challenges.

This includes:

• raising public awareness and commitment to road safety, an example would the annual National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims and its complimentary campaign: Leave the Phone Alone
  
  
• improving communication, cooperation and collaboration among all stakeholders by sharing information
  
  
• supporting enforcement efforts through activities like Canada Road Safety Week, the CCMTA-Police Partnership Award and sharing information and research,
  
  
• On-going research and evaluation. Road Safety Strategy 2015 includes more than 180 promising or proven initiatives targeting key safety issues.
  
  

CCMTA does not deal with highway and infrastructure matters. To learn more, visit Transport Canada or the Transportation Association of Canada.

Collected in collaboration with CCMTA, Transport Canada annually produces a pamphlet entitled "Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics". It contains statistical information on the "Number of Licensed Drivers by Gender and Age Group", "Fatalities and Injuries by Age Group", "Fatalities by Road User Class" etc.

U.S/ citizens moving to Canada:

All Canadian jurisdictions extend reciprocity to regular passenger vehicle driver licenses issued by all U.S. states without any additional retesting.

Canadian citizens moving to the US:

Please click here to see which U.S. states extend reciprocity to regular passenger vehicle drivers licenses issued by all Canadian province/territory without any additional written or practical testing.

Other citizens, moving to and from Canada (not from the US):

Some countries have reciprocal driver licence exchange agreements with individual Canadian provinces/territories. Please click here to see which countries participate.

When entering into an agreement with another country, Canadian jurisdictions use the following CCMTA guidelines, approved in May 2004:

Undertake due diligence to ensure licensing standards are comparable.

• Determine if foreign jurisdiction has adequate internal controls, fraudulent document recognition processes, proper record keeping and security elements in the driver licence card itself.
• Determine what other jurisdictions the reciprocating jurisdiction has agreements with so as to avoid security issues.
• Verification of identity - consistent with CCMTA Oversight Committee working groups.
• Proof of residency - consistent with definition of residency developed by AAMVA - addresses situations of multiple residences, limits person to possess one licence.
• Authenticate documents presented at point of contact. (e.g. International ID Checking Guide)
• Licence surrendered or marked indicating non-valid in provincial jurisdiction.
• Notification of exchanged licences from reciprocating jurisdictions. Issuing jurisdiction agrees to cancel licence.
• Verify licence validity and status directly from foreign issuing jurisdiction to provincial jurisdiction.
• Valid licence is defined as not expired, revoked, suspended, withdrawn or cancelled by the issuing jurisdiction at the time it is presented for exchange. Expired licences may be processed through an exception procedure.
• Driver licence classification valid for exchange: passenger vehicle licences only (i.e. not commercial driver licenses or driver licences for motorcycle).
• Reserve the right to administer written and road tests.
• Retain medical and vision testing.
• Consult with Foreign Affairs Canada prior to signing agreement, if appropriate.

If importing a vehicle from the U.S.A., please contact the Registrar of Imported Vehicles toll-free at 1-888-848-8240.

If importing a vehicle from some place other than the USA, please contact Transport Canada toll-free at 1-800-333-0371.

Please go to the Transport Canada for further information.

Canadian provinces/territories model their legislation on the federal regulations /legislation for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods. Please contact Transport Canada for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations.

For further provincial/territorial information please see the agencies below:

• British Columbia
  Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General, Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement Division
  Tel: (250) 953-4016, Fax: (250) 952-0578, TDG Act

• Alberta
  Alberta Infrastructure & Transportation, Coordination and Information Centre: 1-800-272-9600
  Dangerous Goods Handling

• Saskatchewan
  Department of Justice Queen's Printers, Dangerous Goods Transportation Regulation

• Manitoba
  Dangerous Goods Handing and Transportation Act

• Ontario
  Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Provincial Dangerous Goods Coordinator
  Tel: (905) 704-2342

• Québec
  Ministère des Transports du Québec, Matières dangereuses

• New Brunswick
  New Brunswick Department of Public Safety
  Tel: (506) 453-3992
  Transportation of Dangerous Goods

• Nova Scotia
  Dept. of Transportation and Public Works, Vehicle Compliance, Tel: (902) 424-3602
  Transportation of Dangerous Goods
  

• Prince Edward Island
  Department of Transportation and Public Works, Highway Safety Operations
  Tel: (902) 368-5222

• Newfoundland
  Tel: (709) 729-3454
  
  

• Northwest Territories
  Department of Transportation, Vehicle Inspections Programs
  Tel: (867) 920-8015

• Yukon
  Department of Highways and Public Works, Transportation Services
  Tel: (867) 667-5920

• Nunavut
  Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Services & Inspections
  Tel: (867) 975-5381

Transport Canada is responsible for setting vehicle manufacturing standards in Canada. The provinces/territories have the responsibility of implementing these standards, including any requirements for retrofit.

Implementation date for retrofitting trailers:

- January 1, 2000 for all trailers built on or/after December 1, 1993
- January 1, 2002 for all trailers built prior to December 1, 1993

Rules and technical specifications on reflective tape can be found at the Transport Canada. A number of provincial governments have introduced requirements for reflective tape in their respective Highway Traffic Acts or vehicle equipment regulations.

Collected in collaboration with CCMTA , Transport Canada annually produces a pamphlet entitled "Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics". It contains statistical information on the "Number of Licensed Drivers by Gender and Age Group", "Fatalities and Injuries by Age Group", "Fatalities by Road User Class" etc.

Please click here for legislation dates.

Please click here for the recommended guidelines for Canada. For specific provincial and territorial regulations, please contact the appropriate jurisdiction.

Please click here for the radar detector status in Canada.