Hello Y'all! I've been lurking around this site for months, and your questions and answers have been very helpful! But I do have another question I was hoping someone could answer. I'm driving down for September 20th, and my car is going to be jam packed with stuff (tv, dvd player, laptop) and I was wondering if anyone has had any problems crossing the border? I'm sure they will want to search my car, but hopefully there wont be any huge problems!? I'm very worried about this!!! :-\ Thanks!
Hey! I am in the exact same boat as you ... I don't know the answer entirely but you may have to get declaration forms if you are taking any new or expensive items just to proove you had them when you entered the US (that is how it works when travelling but I don't know if it is different on a visa). So where are you driving from and when are you leaving? I am driving from New Brunswick and will probably leave on the 14th or 15th (making a bit of a trip of it)
hey hey im driving down to florida too. Im not sure on the declaration stuff, but i do know that for getting your I 94 card, well at least at the thoulsand island bridge there is no problem gettingit at any time, they said ther is an ins agent there 24 hours a day. Im leaving from ottawa on the 18th at 6 am , crossing at the thousandislands bridge by 8 am! where are you leaving from.....i think its great were all on the 20th for arrivals!!!
I drove down. They don't do much of anything. It took about 15 minutes, only because the guy had never done it before. Try going thru a larger border. Most likely they would have seen the form before and will know what they are doing. They didn't ask anything about what I was bringing. They didn't even look at the car. I took a laptop with me, so I just got a declaration form saying it was purchased in Canada just incase something was said on the way home. Don't forget your $6 and they don't give change. I don't understand why they don't give change. Ohwell. Hope that helped. Diana
Thanks for the info Diana - that is good to know although there really aren't and big border crossings from New Brunswick as there are quite a few of them but I will go for the biggest (even though its fairly small lol). @Sheena and AngelaJessie - I think we should meet up and all go to the commons together so we can have our own little arrival group like those coming in on the same flights do. Are there any other people driving whos arrival date is the 20th? -Derek
Thanks for the info guys! The border crossing in Manitoba is fairly large, so I'm sure I wont have any problems. I'm leaving on the 16th afternoon (probably). I phoned to tell them I was driving and they didn't really give me any directions or anything. Has anyone else phoned? Where do we go when we get there? :-\
They didn't give me any directions either. I had to call when I got to the Kissimmee hotel I was staying at for directions. But he sent me the wrong way! I recommend going to CAA. They will give you directions. They planned out my whole trip. They even told me where construction and speed traps were! If you don't have CAA find someone that does. They can get it for you. I can help with directions once you get on the I-4. It's simple. Exit 68. Let me know if you want them. Diana
I LOVE CAA!! How many times have they saved my bum when I've locked my keys in the car or ran out of gas?! I went there and did the "Trip Tix" thing, which is great!! I could get lost in a phone booth, but with Trip Tix hopefully I'll be ok. I'm just worried about where to go once I get to Orlando. Dianna, directions would be GREAT!
If you give them the address of the commons they can give you every left and right that you need. Not too hard. The address of the commons is 8050 gables commons drive, orlando, florida, 32821.
im up for meeting up along the way im staying the night of the 19th in svannah georgia, then its abotu a 4 hour drive to orlando..hope to get there for aropund 10 am-12.....so i have loads of time to unpack and go to walmart. I think it would be good if we could all ariive at the same time, send me and email with ideas and we can work things out.......i can see it now a canadian convoy........everyone sing with me now ....We've got a great big convoy!!!! lol ahhaa you can fill in the rest of the song
Here are the Directions from the I-4 West.... Take EXIT 68 - Lake Buena Vista Turn LEFT at the lights onto S APOPKA VINELAND RD / FL-535 S. Turn LEFT at the next lights onto VINELAND AVE. Turn RIGHT onto LITTLE LAKE BRYAN PKWY The Commons is on your right side. Follow Little Lake Bryan Pkwy to the Commons Gates. Pull up to Security and tell them that you are moving in today. They will probably call up to the office. But they will direct you from there. Good Luck!! I wish I was going back too! Hopefully I'll be coming back for a visit with 2 other former castmembers in November. Diana
Wow that's awesome, you have no idea how much better this makes me feel! So I have one more question if everyone isn't sick of my questions already! What about insurance? I heard that I was suppost to have my insurance paid for a year before I leave, but when I went to MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance) they said that I have to get insurance, plates, and a drivers license with in 30 days of arriving!!! EEK! What did you have to do Dianna? I know the rules might be different for different provinces....
i know with my insurance company i can have my car there for 6 months without changing the plates and ownership. however within 30 days of beeing there i have to get a "florida only" drivers licence....if you get a full licence then they take away your canadian one , then when you go back it will dots you alot to reapply and have the licence changed over
I believe that Florida is the only state where you have to get their own insurance. I would look into it from here. You have to have valid insurance to park in the Commons. If you can pay for the full year, do it. It was about $1800 for one of the other guys to get it for 2 people. Getting your license is quite easy. I think it only cost about $20. You just need to take your current license and passport with you. No driver's test required. I recommend calling and making an appointment. The line up can be hours!! Check with your Driver's place here. I am under the understanding that they can not take your Canadian license from you. They can't take another Government issued card. You also have to get Florida plates to get Florida insurance. Someone told me it costs $1500 US. Hope that helps! Diana
OKAY IM GONNA CLEAR THIS UP!! On the drivers licence thing, if your having your car for the whole year you will need florida insurance, florida plates and florida registration. You have 2 options for a DRIVERS LICENCE. a Florida only Licence $20.00usd, you keep your canadian one. or regular Drivers licence, where they take your current licence and cut it up! and give you a new one that is good for all of the USA. !!THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE YOUR CURRENT LICENCE AWAY!! Just as i stated in my previous post..... I know this for a fact because i called the florida state dmv....this is info dirtectly from them, you can also see it on their website. i hope this clears thing up on this part of the issue
If the $1500 figure is coming from the FAQ section of this site it is not entirely wrong but I checked it out with the Florida DMV and you only pay tax if you bought your car within the last 6 months - if you have had it longer than 6 months there is no state tax. That $1500 would be the tax (6%) on a $25000 dollar car. Hope this helps as well.
Hey...when I checked into all this waaaaay back when (2 years ago)....I was told that your drivers license had to match your license plates...ie...if you switch your plates, you have to switch your license...and yes, they'll take you Ontario one...then you'll have to do the switch back when you get home. It all seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth really...especially with gas prices in that area now!!! NEVER get gas near the Commons, drive a few more streets away and it'll be waaaaay cheaper. Shan
