Crossing the U.S. Border in an RV

Hi again,...another first timers question.  We have rented RV's in Canada but this time will rent in Niagara Falls, Ont then cross the border to tour in the States, then back across the border again.  We do have permission and paperwork to take the rented RV into the States.
But I was just wondering....do RV's get any different scrutiny or search or anything?    Just want to be prepared. 
Thanks.
Katie

Hi Katie,

I do think the border agents look a little more closely at a motor home than a car.

We've crossed the Canadian border from the US a few times.  It's more difficult coming into the States that going into Canada. 

WE (US) are more strict regarding certain food stuffs.  What has worked really well for us, when we are in Canada, is to call the Point of Entry of the US where we plan to cross the border to get the list of restrictions.  The number one thing you'll need to do is make sure you don't bring certain foods into the US.  That restriction changes daily it seems.  So we call, get the list of foods that are not permitted into the States and begin to "clean the fridge".  You'll also need current health papers for any animals you bring across and a passport. 

Although we felt we didn't get a lot of info from web sites, if you goggle "entering the US", you'll find websites that list restrictions.

One thing you might check is to see if your health insurance is valid in the US.  Most Canadians have to buy coverage for the US.  And you might want to check to see if you need special insurance for the RV.  It is probably covered by the RV rental company; but I would at least see if you have the paperwork necessary.  When we cross into Canada, we always have an insurance card provided by our RV carrier to prove we have coverage.

One thought.  We have been in the Niagara FAlls areas on a couple of occasions.  It is VERY busy and not conducive to any size RV.  Parking is very tight and restrictive.  Both times, we parked the RV outside and drove our tow car into Niagara FAlls.  So if you are planning on actually visiting the Falls area in an RV, beware.

Marsha~

We have relatives in Toronto and have never had a problem crossing the Us Canadian boarder at Niagara. We usually visit Canada twice a year and have been doing so for the last 15 years.

Correction: The only problem we have encountered is the long wait times occasionally encountered went coming back to the US. 

Just have your passports ready, the license numbers of both your RV and towed vehicle written down and hand it all to the agent as you stop to answer their questions.

Hi everyone:  Thanks for the input.    We definitely will not be visiting Niagara Falls itself....we don't live too far away.  We will be picking up our rented RV in Niagara Falls and probably driving over into Buffalo.  I realize it will be very busy (especially since we will be leaving on a long weekend....out of my control!).
Hopefully we husband's RV driving skills will quickly come back to him and he will be able to navigate our unit without incident. 
Re comments about food...I did google that item....I will probably not bring in alot and do a big shopping  once we get over the border.
But since we are bringing our dog, we will be needing to bring her special dog food...I just checked and it IS made in the U.S.A.  which seems to be ok?
Has anyone ever had the customs officers actually come into the RV to look things over?  We do drive into the States quite frequently with our car but this is the first time with an RV. 
Thanks again.

Katie, it really depends on the agent.  I think if you act businesslike and hand them your passports immediately and act like you know what you're doing, you're less likely to encounter hassles.  That said, yes, they may enter your RV and look around.  They also might want to look in the underbays where large things can be hidden.  For example, when we recently crossed Hoover Dam, the security person came inside the RV and looked around briefly just to make sure we were two people like we said and then asked for all the underbays to be opened.  Jerry walked around with him and he looked inside every one.  But we were friendly and so was he so it wasn't a disagreeable experience.  We've had custom agents look inside but not often.  Your side always asks about whether we have guns or mace, while our side wants to know what we're carrying such as the prohibited items Marsha mentioned (meat, ivory, etc.).  Years ago when we entered into Maine the U.S. agent asked all his questions and told us we were free to go but could he please see inside our motorhome because he'd never seen one like it and was curious.  We said sure and he wanted to know how everything worked.  Obviously it was a slow day!    And I'm not so sure the same thing would happen these days.

ArdraF

Katie,

The last time we crossed back into the US, the agent came into the coach.  He asked what vegetables we had and we invited him into look in the fridge.  We had bought rutabagas from Newfoundland and he didn't know what they were; so he invited all the other agents to come into the coach.  However by the time they all left they had made great friends with the dog and our 2 cats and were interested in the inside of the coach.....Like Ardra, it must have been a slow day.  Oh, they also came back in and gave Charlie (the dog) a couple of dog biscuits.

However, the 5th wheel in front of us was from Canada and they had to open all their bay doors underneath; and the agents inspected their entire coach.

I don't think you'll have any problems!  However since we had the Christmas Day incident on one of our planes, the border may be a bit more intense.

Marsha~

The thing to bear in mind is that it's unpredictable.

I crossed into Canada once and received a great deal of hassle from Canadian customs culminating in a complete "secondary" search of my pickup.  It was time consuming and they made a mess of the luggage.  In retrospect I really believe he was grouchy and looking for a dog to kick.  I've crossed many other times without incident, usually for work.

It was upsetting enough that I really don't plan to vacation in Canada again.

I have heard of stories of complete searches by both Canadian Customs and US Customs but it is not common.

When we lived in Vermont we crossed frequently into Canada both with and without the MH.

About once a year (for 5 or 6 years) we traveled using the MH to Chicago from Vermont via Canada. Later we traveled to Alaska and in doing so were in and out of Canada.

That said, the agent you talk to when crossing has a great deal to discretion about who to "pass" and who to search.

ken

We got stopped by Canadian Customs at the Top of The World border crossing in Alaska. The agent ask if he could come inside to talk to us. Naturally I said yes. ( it was in July and the outside temp was near 100 F) When he came in, his first comment was, "I've always wanted to see the inside of one of these big RVs." He just looked around, asked his st'd questions and wanted to chat for 15-20 minutes. He didn't search anything and was just sitting there enjoying the cool air--both ACs were going full blast. We learned he was there on temporary assignment and normally was a drug dog handler, among other things. It was a very friendly visit.

This crossing is not the busiest, but when he finally did say "Enjoy Cananda" and left, there were about 6-7 RVs backed up behind us.

Our First crossing into the us last summer, the agent asked the standard questions on weapons and drugs but kept asking if I had weapons in different ways, then asked for my keys. advised me that he was coming in. and asked again if he was going to find any weapons. I almost asked him to define weapon. after all it is an RV and I do carry a hatchet (possible weapon) and a very large carving knife, several steak knifes. and various hammers and other tools all which could be used as a weapon. two agents came in and checked in the wash room and a couple of cupboards and the fridge. we bought ALL our food after crossing. I really think he just wanted to see inside. after all it is a 1973!
just answer their questions as they are asked.

Katie, this is from a US Citizen's point of view but I would think it's about the same either way...

We have crossed several times with our TT without any additional trouble. We've been asked a few additional questions but never been "boarded" as others have. Others have mentioned additional time at the border which I can confirm as well - lately, all RVs seem to be routed to the truck lanes coming back to the US which slows things down a bit. At our last crossing (1000 Islands/Kingston), we went through the normal series of questions and were then routed through a building which contained a large scanner/x-ray machine. They scanned the trailer only and assured us that as long as no people/pets were in there, the scan was not harmful to anything.

We used the Peace Bridge when we stayed at the Niagara Falls Ontario KOA a few years back and I found it to be very manageable for large vehicles.

Joe

Last summer we crossed at the 1000 islands into Canada.  The US side was not a problem but Canada was a real hassle.  They asked all the normal questions but when they came to weapons they repeatedly asked the question different ways.  Finally in frustration  I told them I don't own any guns.  I guess that was the wrong answer as they pulled me over had wife, daughter and myself leave the MH and they (3 agents) went through the whole thing while a 4th agent kept asking me "that it was not to late to tell them what I had on board".  They did not find anything but after that I answered the question and nothing extra.  Only problem crossing is very lengthy lines and in Calais very tight entry.  But after traveling 2 months in Canada it is worth it
Jim & Viv

As we were driving from Yuma, AZ to Quartzsite on Hwy 95 today, we had to stop at the Border Patrol checkpoint, approx 40-50 miles from the border. Chris opened the window and, in a great Mexican accent, the guy said "buenos dias Senorita, welcome to Mexico". It took Chris about a second to get the joke, and she burst out laughing. The other BP agent was also cracking up.

We are Canadians and frequent the US on many weekends over the summer and have encountered the guards entereing the RV on either the US or Canadian side.  They also ask on the US side for the food items of the week that are banned (it changes frequently), one time my husband told me the beef ban was off and I brought the best looking two steaks I could find at the butcher shop and sure enough got to the US border the first question was "Do you have any beef on board", well low and behold they took the 2 steaks  a couple of pounds of sirloin burger patties but were kind enough to leave me with the All Beef weiners...I told him to enjoy the steaks..and practically begged him to leave them with me - no go.

We have also been asked to leave the coach while they give it the scan, they ask if there are weapons, over limits of alcohol or tobacco and exactly where these items are in the coach..They can see the extras if you don't tell them.

The most important thing to remember is that all these steps all for our safety and if you have nothing to hide let them do their jobs and have a safe trip .

workingtorv said:

The most important thing to remember is that all these steps all for our safety and if you have nothing to hide let them do their jobs and have a safe trip .

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**cough COUGH mumble mumble... different ... forum... must .. .behave.. .  must ... not ... post .. reply . . .. . ****

If they take meat, it makes sense to comply with the "spirit of the regulation" by contaminating the meat before you let them have it. ie, unwrap it and throw it on the ground and step on it. That way you insure that it won't cause any harm<<GGG>>.

Wow, we go across by International Falls 2 times a year with our 35' class a, and never even had a second look for anything.  I take my dad, my son and one of my son's friends all the time.  I ALWAYS remove my sunglasses, have passports ready.  I have never been boarded by the Canadians.  I have always been boarded by the US side, but only for about 30 seconds.  We never have guns with us, and do not smoke.  We do bring across one quart of Canada's finest product, Seagrams VO.    By the way if you have a larger motorhome we, on the way back into the US via International have been told to and do use the truck lane.  Never a long line and it saves hours at times from the long line to get back in.  So just enjoy and be truthfull when asked the questions.

gypsy-jim said:

Last summer we crossed at the 1000 islands into Canada.  The US side was not a problem but Canada was a real hassle.  They asked all the normal questions but when they came to weapons they repeatedly asked the question different ways.  Finally in frustration  I told them I don't own any guns.  I guess that was the wrong answer as they pulled me over had wife, daughter and myself leave the MH and they (3 agents) went through the whole thing while a 4th agent kept asking me "that it was not to late to tell them what I had on board".  They did not find anything but after that I answered the question and nothing extra.  Only problem crossing is very lengthy lines and in Calais very tight entry.  But after traveling 2 months in Canada it is worth it
Jim & Viv

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The last time we went to Canada, I was asked if I own any guys.  My exact words were "many, around 50, I collect guns". Then I was asked when the last time any of them were in the RV. My answer was "Never, they are locked up in a gun safe at my house and I never had any of them inside this RV".  All were honest answers.  Then they let me proceed with no further questions. We've never been searched going into Canada.

We always have a lot more trouble getting back into the USA. We get searched every time, no exceptions. And last time they made a real big deal out of an orange they found that was not declared (we thought we ate them all, but one was hidden).  They almost fined us $300.00 for that one undeclared orange.

When we crossed at Peace Arch at the Washington - British Columbia border our RV wasn't checked at all, on our return to the US at the Niagara Falls crossing an official climbed on board and just looked in a few cupboards.

Mick