What you must carry in your car in Canada

No single national answer — it depends on the region:

• British Columbia
  • Vehicle registration document
  • Insurance certificate
  Motor Vehicle Act s.11: the vehicle licence, or a photocopy of it, must be carried in the vehicle at all times on a highway. Section 33: the driver must also keep the driver's licence and the insurance card for that vehicle on their person and show all of them to a police officer on demand. In British Columbia the vehicle licence and the insurance certificate are normally printed as one document. A private car does not have to carry a warning triangle, a first aid kit or a reflective vest. On a signed winter route the tyres themselves are the requirement — see the winter fields. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source
• Alberta
  • Vehicle registration document
  • Insurance certificate
  A police officer may ask you to show your driving licence, the vehicle's registration certificate and its insurance card (Alberta calls this a financial responsibility card). Keep all three in the car. Alberta sets no duty to carry a warning triangle, first aid kit, hi-vis vest, fire extinguisher or chains in a private car; the warning triangle rule applies only to commercial vehicles. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source

No single national answer — it depends on the region:

• Québec Required between set dates The rule follows where the car is registered, not where you drive it. Every passenger car and taxi registered in Québec, rental cars included, must have four winter tyres from 1 December to 15 March. Vehicles registered outside Québec are not covered, so a car you drive in from another province or from the United States does not have to comply. A legal tyre carries the winter pictogram, a mountain with a snowflake inside it, or is studded. Tread must be at least 1.6 mm deep, and at least 4.8 mm is advised in winter. Studded tyres are allowed from 15 October to 1 May on passenger cars, taxis and commercial vehicles with a total loaded mass up to 3,000 kg. The fine is 200 to 300 dollars. Whatever your number plate says, winter tyres are the safer choice on Québec roads in winter. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source
• British Columbia Required where signs say so On signed highways — most mountain and interior routes — your car must have winter tyres. A legal winter tyre is marked on the sidewall either with the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or with the letters M and S, and must have at least 3.5 mm of tread. Mountain and snowflake tyres grip much better on snow and ice. Fitting chains to summer tyres does not satisfy the rule. Studded tyres are allowed on B.C. highways only from 1 October to 30 April, studs must not stick out more than 2 mm, and if the front wheels are studded the back wheels must be too. The rule binds every vehicle using the highway, including rental cars and cars registered outside B.C. Motorcycles are exempt. Police can turn you back and fine you 121 dollars. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source
• Alberta Recommended, not required Alberta has not made winter tyres compulsory. There is no date rule, unlike British Columbia and Québec. Alberta Transportation recommends four winter or all-weather tyres for driving in severe winter conditions. Winters here are hard, so take the advice even though it is not law. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source

No single national answer — it depends on the region:

• Québec 1 December to 15 March Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source
• British Columbia 1 October to 30 April 1 October to 30 April on most designated routes. On selected highways that do not cross mountain passes or high-snowfall areas the requirement ends on 31 March instead. The sign at the start of the route gives the dates. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source

No single national answer — it depends on the region:

• British Columbia Required where signs say so A car does not have to carry chains. Where a chain-up sign is posted you must fit chains to drive on, and the police may close the road to you if you cannot. Out-of-province and rental vehicles must follow B.C.'s winter tyre and chain rules like everyone else; most rental cars come on M+S tyres, which meet the minimum. Commercial vehicles are treated more strictly: those over 5,000 kg must carry chains or another approved traction device from 1 October, and the heaviest must carry steel chains on most major highways. Towns, cities and private roads such as ski hills may set their own rules. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source
• Alberta Allowed Neither the province nor its municipalities forbid tyre chains or studded tyres, and there is no season limit on studs. But damaging the road surface is an offence under the Highways Development and Protection Act, so take chains off once the road is bare. Checked 14 Sep 2026 · official source