... I am planning to head for Vancouver this autumn with my fresh PR card, and I thought a good way to get to know my new country would be to drive across it.

Ideally, I would like to buy a camper van around Halifax and then keep driving west till I reach the sea on the other side.

1) can a visitor register a vehicle in NS?

2) would there be any problems with a NS-registered vehicle in other provinces?

3) and what about insurance?

4) would there be any problems selling a NS-registered vehicle in BC?

5) and anything else I need to consider?

PS ... what a great mine of information this website is - so many questions moving to a new country!
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It's a shorter, cheaper, and more scenic trip if you go across the US.

... I did consider doing some of the journey through the US, but the object of the trip would be to experience Canada's diverse cultures and landscapes.

Save yourself the bother. Most of the trip will be flat prairie fields with nothing to see in any direction, and certainly no "culture" to speak of.

It's important to realise there's a reason a lot of Canada is un-inhabited, lol.

We drove from Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal, and I was trying my best to stay awake, and that's the most populated area of Canada

As other have said, travel through the USA instead. If you opt for the Canada route you may start hating the place.

Once you get near the rockies things start to get interesting, but that's about 4 days drive away.

As for buying an RV, you may be best to go for a one way rental. Insurance for your own vehicle will be astronomical.

I'd fly to Montreal, spend a couple of days wandering around, fly to Calgary, jump in your caravan, and drive the rest of the way via the Okanagan. It's still boring as **** but you'll enjoy it for the first couple of hours. After that, a tree is a tree, a mountain is a mountain, a lake a lake, and you'll be thinking "not another ****ing deer" before you know it.

Just make sure you don't have to follow a vehicle with Alberta plates cos they go like stink on the straights and drive like my mum round the corners.

Interesting for a short while, then it just gets monotonous. I just did an 11hr drive from the Rockies to Vancouver and it's lovely for the first hour or so.

Shame about the shit people dump from their trucks such as McDonald containers or Tim Hortons stuff. Then the ridiculous quantities of Mosquitoes you have to suffer early evening when you need a pee stop in the middle of nowhere.

We were lucky to just miss the road closure on Highway 3 after a pissed up fella beat the shit out of a woman (his wife maybe), was chased by the police for ages before crashing and burning to death. We were lucky to see a living Moose seconds before it wiped out a car, the driver, and itself.

Driving in Canada ain't all it's cracked up to be. I imagine it's even more hellish having to drive the prairies for a day or two.

I don't even live in Canada, but spotted this thread when I logged onto the website and thought you might be interested in this blog by a lady I know who's driving from Halifax to Vancouver and back again at the moment! http://hali-van-hali.blogspot.com.au/

And this information is based on what? I lived here for several months as a tourist before getting residency status of any kind and my vehicle insurance has barely changed in 8 years, resident or not. If you've got acceptable no claims it can be applied without the need for PR or a TWP.

I say definetely do it. I have driven 5 times across the country, between Vancouver and Montreal. Despite what everyone says, the Prairies are ok and go by fast - it's Ontario, North of the Great Lakes, that takes the longest. Half of the trip is spent in Ontario. Prairies, at least you get the benefit of changing provinces every day Yes it takes a long time, but it truly is the best way to see how diverse this country is. Not sure you experience a lot of the cultures, unless you plan on spending some time in each region. I have done the quick trip, alternating between 2 drivers with minimal stops, and the longer trip - 10 days. No time for culture in 10 days... Not too sure about the vehicle, you can definetely drive from Province top province, selling in Vancouver is tricky if out-of-province, especially an older vehicle as they have to pass a safety test an emission testing. Enjoy your road trip!

Go to Google Earth, look at the prairies, then go book a airplane ticket.

Did fly to Calgary and back Saturday evening, wonderful views, way better than driving, you see stuff you never see from the road. It was a good dinner, somewhat large gas bill and a great night to go flying. From 18000 passing over the rocks I could almost see the CN tower it was so flat.

... just got up to find a great response to my question - thanks everyone.

I do understand that crossing the Prairies would be monotonous, but that's part of the point - although I have flown over vast open spaces, except for sailing on an ocean, I have never experienced any first hand. You don't really get a sense of distance from the air.

With the vehicle - I was thinking of a VW camper, rather than a sizeable RV - would the safety and emissions tests be stricter in BC? If it passed in NS, would it not also pass in BC? Or does that just apply to out-of-province vehicles?

I think it is going to be difficult to find a VW camper in NS... my brother-in-law has been looking for one for a while and hasn't had any success...
And if you find one, they are very expensive for what they are...


http://www.autotrader.ca/a/rv/new-us...try=true&st=11

Working through it. It's quite an enjoyable read.

... thanks for the heads up hotfuss - it is, indeed, an enjoyable (and relevant) read and I look forward to the rest.

And thanks CanAngel for your encouragement - I was reckoning on about 3 weeks to be able to meet people along the way and have time to look around.

I see what you mean about pricey for VW campers woodworm! I will have to rethink that plan.

Well, since you're obviously not being put off, I may as well encourage you

I love cars and driving, and we had also thought of a roadtrip in an RV. How about a trailer tent? they seem to be pretty popular out there, although not very bear-proof

How many of you are there? You could easy find a "day van" which has loads of space, but not a sink, cooker etc, and find some nice B&B's along the way.

Sounds like an adventure