Between the United States and Canada, the rules of the road don’t really change, but the measurements do. Both countries drive on the right, and the speed limits are similar: In Canada it’s generally 90 kilometers (55 mi) per hour on two-lane roads, 100 kph (63 mph) on freeways. All cars are required to have their headlights illuminated night and day; to the unaccustomed, a daytime traffic jam can look like a massive funeral procession. Other rules: All passengers must wear seat belts, and turning right on red is illegal in the Province of Quebec; in the rest of Canada, it is legal after stopping first. Deciphering parking zones, especially in French-speaking Quebec, can really test your interpretive abilities.
Gas in Canada tends to be more expensive than in the States, and it’s priced by the liter (3.785 liters equal 1 U.S. gallon). Some gas stations accept U.S. currency (and almost all accept credit cards) but often give you a less-than-favorable rate of exchange.
Crossing the border, there are brief checkpoints (and sundry duty-free shops) on both sides. Customs officers usually do a cursory check, asking your address, reason for travel, when you last visited the country, and whether you are carrying firearms, tobacco, or alcohol. The rules are subject to change, but generally for U.S. or Canadian citizens a passport is not legally necessary, but it is the best proof of citizenship and identity. People of other nationalities should confirm their visa status well before attempting to cross the border; it may be difficult (or impossible) to return to the United States, and border officials may confiscate vehicles and arrest people they suspect are trying to enter the United States illegally.
