Can you drive in the U.S. with a Canadian DUI?
If you’ve been convicted of a DUI offence you will automatically receive a one year Canada-wide driving prohibition (as a first time offender). A common question is whether this means you also cannot drive in the United States.
Normally, Canadian drivers are legally allowed to drive in the U.S. because all U.S. states recognize Canadian driver's licences. If you are convicted of impaired driving in Canada and are driving in the United States on your Canadian driver's licence (which normally would be physically taken away from you upon conviction at the courthouse) then this is likely a violation of U.S. state law to drive in the U.S. since your provincial driver’s licence is suspended because of the DUI. While you are not violating the criminal Canada-wide driving prohibition, you are violating state law because you don't hold a valid Canadian driver's licence.
If, however, you hold a valid U.S. state driver’s licence and U.S. insurance in addition to your Canadian one you may be able to still drive in the States despite your Canadian conviction. It is important to note however that some states may have laws recognizing Canadian driving bans while others may not. It is thus
a good idea to check with the DMV of the state you intend to drive in first. You must
also ensure you have a valid insurance policy in the U.S. in order to drive legally.
Your Canadian driver's license and insurance may now be invalidated upon conviction meaning absent a U.S. driver's license and insurance it would be illegal to drive in the USA. This may be detected at the border and cause problems travelling to the USA for those who are not citizens of the US in the future.
You don't have to jeopardize your future or waste thousands of dollars on
excessive legal fees. We provide effective and affordable lawyer
representation for those charged with impaired driving offences throughout Ontario.
Have a skilled criminal lawyer who focuses on impaired driving related charges protect you and
your future from the stigma and consequences of a criminal record.
- Flat fee pricing
- U.S. travel advice and information
- Employment background check advice/services
- Fingerprints and records destruction services
- Clear goals of getting charges dropped and bail conditions varied without a trial
- Help with related immigration issues
- Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
- Experienced, focused counsel
- DUI consequences
- immigration problems
- spot checks
- refusal charges
- insurance and DUI
- child custody and CAS
- career/employment losses
- trial costs
- hiring a lawyer
- the "Carter" defence
- DUI criminal records
- police database and DUI
- U.S. driving with Canada DUI
- get DUI charges dropped
- more information on DUI law
Social and Statistics
- how to not get caught
- DUI frequency
- admitting alcoholism
- how drunk drivers get caught
- how many drinks is okay to drive
- alcohol prices in Canada
If you are not a paying client, we cannot answer questions and provide assistance with U.S. travel, immigration, employment background checks, and avoiding a criminal record. This includes those who have already retained other counsel and those whose cases have already been completed.
Are you a lawyer? If you are defending an impaired driving related case and are looking for expert advice regarding possible defences, case strategies, and information release management call us at: 647-228-5969.
Please note: We do not accept legal aid certificate cases. All clients are handled on a private retainer only.
Law and Consequences
- immigration problems
- spot checks
- refusal charges
- insurance and DUI
- child custody and CAS
- career/employment losses
- trial costs
- hiring a lawyer
- the "Carter" defence
- DUI criminal records
- police database and DUI
- U.S. driving with Canada DUI
- get DUI charges dropped
- more information on DUI law
Social and Statistics
- how to not get caught
- DUI frequency
- admitting alcoholism
- how drunk drivers get caught
- how many drinks is okay to drive
- alcohol prices in Canada