Canada (CA)

Urban areas (city streets): 50 km/h default unless posted otherwise. School zones and playground zones: 30–40 km/h (signage required; reduced hours in some provinces). Rural secondary highways: 80–100 km/h. Major provincial highways: 90–110 km/h. BC Coquihalla, Trans-Canada in BC and Alberta: up to 120 km/h where posted. Speed limits are displayed in km/h on all Canadian roads. School zone fines are doubled in most provinces.

0.08% BAC (80 mg/100 mL blood alcohol) is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada — applies nationwide. Most provinces add an administrative suspension layer: 0.05% BAC (warn range) triggers an immediate 3-day roadside licence suspension (no criminal charge). Zero tolerance for new/novice drivers in all provinces (G1/G2 in Ontario; L and N drivers in BC). Zero tolerance for commercial vehicle drivers. Drug-impaired driving (including cannabis) is equally illegal under the same Criminal Code provisions — approved oral fluid roadside screeners are in use.

Using a handheld mobile phone or any handheld electronic device while driving is illegal in all provinces. Ontario penalties (2026): first offence $615–$1,000 + 3 demerit points; second offence $1,000–$2,000 + 6 demerit points; third offence $2,000–$3,000 + 6 demerit points + possible 30-day suspension. Hands-free (Bluetooth headset, phone mounted on dashboard) is permitted. Holding the phone at a red light with the engine running counts as using a handheld device — no exceptions.

Mandatory for all vehicle occupants (driver and every passenger) in all provinces. The driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers are buckled. Ontario: $240 fine for driver not wearing seatbelt; driver also fined separately if a passenger is unbuckled; passengers receive their own personal fine. No exceptions for short distances or slow speeds.

Child restraint requirements are set provincially but align closely across Canada. General rules: rear-facing seat until the child outgrows the seat (minimum age 1 year, minimum 10 kg — most guidelines recommend rear-facing until 2+ years or as long as possible). Forward-facing harnessed seat after rear-facing. Booster seat with vehicle lap-shoulder belt after forward-facing seat is outgrown. Regular seatbelt when the shoulder belt fits the child properly (typically ~145 cm tall). Ontario requires booster seats until 36 kg or proper seatbelt fit. Fines: $235–$500+ depending on province and severity.

Vehicle registration is a provincial responsibility in Canada. Ontario: register at a Service Ontario location (serviceontario.ca) or in-person office. Required: Bill of Sale, Safety Standards Certificate, proof of insurance (pink card), and OHIP/address proof for non-residents. Annual plate sticker renewal: ~$120/year. Plates stay with the owner in Ontario (not the vehicle). BC: vehicle registration and insurance are bundled through ICBC (Insurance Corporation of BC) — visit an ICBC Autoplan broker. Quebec: handled through SAAQ (Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec) — annual registration fees vary by vehicle class. Alberta: register through registry agents (AMA, ARS, or other provincial registry agents) — no mandatory safety certificate required for existing registered vehicles in Alberta.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory in all Canadian provinces before any vehicle may be driven on public roads. Minimum liability coverage varies: Ontario $200,000 minimum ($1–2 million recommended); BC $200,000 basic ICBC (government monopoly); Alberta $200,000 minimum; Quebec: SAAQ covers all personal injury province-wide through a no-fault scheme — private insurers cover property damage and civil liability. BC and Manitoba have government insurance monopolies for basic coverage; all other provinces use competitive private markets. Shop for optional enhanced coverage (collision, comprehensive — theft, fire, weather damage) via InsuranceHotline.com, Kanetix.ca, or an insurance broker. First-year premiums for drivers new to Canada are significantly higher in Ontario than BC or Quebec — factor this into your vehicle purchase decision.

Federal GST (5%) applies to new vehicle purchases from dealers across Canada. Provincial sales taxes also apply and vary significantly: Ontario 13% HST (new + used dealer); BC 7% PST on new vehicles from dealers, 12% PST on used private sales; Alberta 5% GST only (no provincial sales tax — cheapest province to buy a vehicle). Private used vehicle sales in Ontario: Retail Sales Tax (RST) is collected at registration and calculated on the higher of purchase price or the Canadian Red Book wholesale value — you cannot negotiate around this. Annual vehicle licence fee (plate sticker): ~$120/year in Ontario. In BC, registration is bundled with ICBC insurance.

Canada does not have a mandatory nationwide periodic vehicle safety inspection — requirements vary by province. Ontario: no mandatory periodic safety inspection for currently registered vehicles — inspection is only required when a used vehicle is sold and ownership transfers (Safety Standards Certificate, issued by a licensed Ministry of Transportation mechanic). Alberta: no mandatory periodic inspection for registered vehicles. BC: out-of-province vehicles must pass a BC Vehicle Inspection before they can be registered in BC. Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador: mandatory annual safety inspection required for all registered vehicles. Quebec: periodic inspection program (programme d'inspection périodique) for vehicles 7+ years old. Always confirm your specific province's current requirements as rules change.

• •Helmet laws vary by province: BC, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland: mandatory for all cyclists of any age. Ontario: mandatory for cyclists under 18 only. Quebec: not legally required but strongly recommended.
• •Lights are mandatory at night: white front light visible from 150m, red rear light or reflector. Many provinces specify minimum standards — a flashing LED is generally acceptable.
• •A bell or horn is required in most provinces.
• •Must obey all traffic signals, stop signs, and lane markings. Cycling through a red light is an offence (Ontario: $110 fine).
• •Cycling on sidewalks is prohibited in most cities (Ontario: $60 fine for adults). Designated cycling lanes must be used where available.
• •Handheld mobile phone use while cycling is illegal in Ontario ($60 fine) and most provinces.
• •Alcohol and drug impairment: cycling while impaired can result in charges under provincial highway traffic acts. Criminal Code impaired driving provisions may apply in some circumstances.
• •Children: must be secured in an approved child seat or trailer appropriate for their size and weight.

• •Register your bike at bikeindex.org (free, searchable by police) or your local police department — bike theft is extremely common in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
• •Use a quality U-lock through the frame and rear wheel, plus a cable through the front wheel. A $30 lock is insufficient in any major Canadian city.
• •Buy second-hand bikes on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace — a decent commuter bike costs $300–700 new, $100–350 used. Buy second-hand in spring (April–May) when supply is high.
• •Join a local cycling advocacy group: Cycle Toronto, HUB Cycling (Vancouver), Vélo Québec, Ottawa Cycling — they publish route maps and advocate for safer infrastructure.
• •Trans Canada Trail: a 27,000 km national multi-use trail network from coast to coast. Excellent for leisure cycling, though segments vary from paved rail trails to gravel paths.
• •Winter cycling is common in Ottawa, Calgary, and even Toronto among dedicated commuters. Requires studded tires, pogies (handlebar mittens), extra lights (dark by 4:30pm in winter), and awareness of ice patches.