Transportation in Canada
Canada is vast and car-dependent outside major urban centers. Understanding your options is important for daily life.
Public Transit by City
| City | Quality | Monthly Pass | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Good | $156 (TTC) | Subway, streetcars, buses |
| Vancouver | Good | $98-177 (zones) | SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus |
| Montreal | Good | $94 (STM) | Metro, buses |
| Ottawa | Moderate | $125 | LRT expanding |
| Calgary | Moderate | $112 | C-Train, buses |
| Edmonton | Moderate | $100 | LRT, buses |
Car Dependency
Outside Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver downtown cores, a car is often necessary:
- Suburbs are designed for cars
- Groceries, healthcare, employment often require driving
- Winter makes cycling/walking difficult for months
Getting a Driver's License
Process varies by province and your country of origin:
License exchanges (direct swap with test waiver):
- Canada has reciprocal agreements with many countries
- US, UK, Australia, and many others qualify for direct exchange
- Some countries only qualify for partial exchange
New license process (if no exchange agreement):
- Written knowledge test
- Graduated licensing (G1 → G2 → G in Ontario)
- Road test(s)
- Can take 2+ years for full license
International Driving Permits valid for 3-6 months depending on province.
Car Ownership Costs
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Car payment | $400-700 |
| Insurance | $200-400+ |
| Gas | $150-300 |
| Parking (urban) | $100-300 |
| Maintenance | $100-200 |
| Total | $950-1,900 |
Car Insurance
Why it's expensive:
- Mandatory coverage varies by province
- No-fault insurance in some provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
- New immigrants pay higher rates (no Canadian driving record)
Ways to save:
- Shop around - rates vary significantly
- Higher deductible = lower premium
- Winter tires discount (some provinces)
- Good driving record letter from home country
Winter Driving
Essential for most of Canada:
- Winter tires: Required in Quebec, BC highways; strongly recommended everywhere
- Cost: $600-1,200 for set of four
- Storage: Many tire shops offer seasonal storage
- Learn winter driving techniques
Rideshare and Alternatives
- Uber/Lyft: Available in major cities
- Car sharing: Communauto (Quebec), Evo (Vancouver), Zipcar (national)
- Bike sharing: Bike Share Toronto, Mobi (Vancouver)
- E-scooters: Available in some cities
Inter-City Travel
- VIA Rail: Cross-country train, scenic but slow
- Flights: Often cheapest for long distances (WestJet, Air Canada, Flair)
- Bus: Greyhound discontinued; regional operators remain
- Driving: 5,500 km coast to coast
Pro Tips
- •Check if your license can be exchanged directly - saves years
- •Get an international driving permit before arrival
- •Winter tires are essential (and required in some provinces)
- •Car insurance quotes vary widely - get multiple
- •Transit works well if you live and work downtown
Have questions about transportation in Canada?