Crossing the Border
 

Hey guys I have a quick question. I'm planning on heading down to seattle tomorrow for a day with my friends. Ill be driving (I'm an N driver) my gf and I. Since I am an N driver will crossing the border be any different? We're also just both 18, will that cause any problems?

Thanks!
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No problem, have fun
Don't speed because you will get raped

as long as your passport doesn't say Pakistan, you're fine =)



... assholes.

They might ask who owns the car - especially if it looks like you (presumably a student) can't afford it. :)

make sure you have all your papers with you and do not lie when coming back.

Yep. They ask me that every single time. I'm fairly sure they get the registration information off the plates and they always ask me what the vanity plate means if i take my dads car.
Other than that, its usually pretty easy to get across, and even easier going through nexus. 3/4 of the time they just wave me through.

Don't do anything you're not supposed to be doing, don't be suspicious, and don't lie.
Everything should be fine then.

I heard with Nexus you have to pay taxes every single time? I thought about getting a Nexus pass but I would hate to pay tax on day trips. Agents usually give you a minute of torture but then you get waved through anyways.

Yeah just dont lie about anything and you'll be fine

That is up to you. If you decide to try your luck, don't fill out the Nexus slip and just drive through. If you do get caught tho, goodbye Nexus!

You really only want to use the Nexus lane going down to the US. Usually northbound the wait is usually really short. Just take the regular lane coming back into Canada and declare your goods. It's likely most of the time you'll get waved through. If they ask you why you used the regular lane instead of Nexus (I've never had them ask me but in case they do) just tell them you forgot to bring your TDC book to declare your goods so you just took the regular lane.

And yes, if you fill in the TDC and give it to them, then they are going to ding you each time. You just have to weigh the price of taxes vs how long you want to wait in line.

Thanks for the info guys!

Would it be a poor decision to drive a 1992 integra down? The furthest I've ever driving it was Poco and I think that's about the same distance as going to bellingham or tullalip.
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^you probably know the best about your own car, so i dunno if anyone could help you on that :/

The border guards don't check for your license, you can even drive through without displaying your N and there's no way they can tell if you're a new driver or not.

I'd suggest keeping it on in the states though, but it seems that the cops down south don't understand the GLP system, my friend got pulled over with 5 people in the car there for speeding, and he only got dinged for the $500 speeding ticket.

If you're both 18 you're legal adults, so they won't even question it. I remember I used to cross with my friends before I was 18 and they never asked for a letter from my parents, although I brought one with me the first couple times.

Just be honest about who the car belongs to, cause if you lie they'll think you're hiding something. Or if you're a kid with a luxury vehicle with rims... chances are you're going to get pulled... my buddy with a heavily modded C Class with rims got questioned for 45 mins about where he gets his money.


Do you trust your car? It's like asking us if you think you should sneeze or not... we don't know your car like you know your car LOL

I take great care of my car, so I know that it'll take care of me, I've had no problems with long drives.

Maybe you should consider getting a BCAA membership?

I've taken my 1987 Cressida with a noisy diff down near Seattle three times now, it's held up each time. So far I haven't been questioned about anything, outside of the standard "Where are you going?" or, since I stay with family "Is there anything you're bringing that isn't coming back?".

yeah.. they only looked at my passport n the passengers passport going through. didnt even ask for DL. although they did ask whos car is it, and how long have i owned it.

if your gf is hot, they might tell you guys to get out and pat you guys down..

New peace arch border is quite faster than before. But if going through peace arch, be extra careful with that few blocks before the border where the speed limit is 30km/h. The long weekend, I saw literally 5 cars pulled over to the side. And along the i-5 there are tons of undercover traffic cop cars. Just a heads up.

:thumbsup: Not quite but if you trust your car every day, it shouldn't be a problem.

^yea I figured after I googled it haha. I thought it was to poco cause it took about 45mins to get there about the same to get to the border so I guess there and back from poco is the same as going to bellingham.

Thanks again for all the info guys!
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:rofl: good one.

if there's a huge lineup(40 mins+) then go through the duty free...go in buy some candy give em ur plate number and you get to cut in....we just did that today and the wait was an hour at both the crossings but we only waited 25 minutes :)

and like the others said dont lie about what your bringing, cuz if they decide to search the car your fucked

and its 50km from bellingham up to surrey so your car should be fine as long as its in good working condition

Just don't lie, I went a few weeks ago, they asked me who's car this was, where are you going, what did you buy, etc...

+1 on this. A VW Jetta blows by my car in the fast lane probably doing 80 or 90 MPH, 10 minutes down the road he's pulled over on the side of the road by a cop.

Also keep a bit of an eye out on the speed limits, especially if you intend on going to the Premium Outlets. It's 60 in certain areas, but 70 in others. Dunno if that will affect you, but it is a bit strange.

Made it back in one piece! Thanks again for all the info guys. Going there was pretty fast 10mins wait at the border and then coming back was even faster no line up at all!

"Where did you go?"
"Lynnwood area, tullalip, bellingham"
"How much did you spend?"
"Uhh around $120"
"ok bye"

Didn't have any problems driving on the I-5 just kept the speed limit and didn't bother going as fast as the other cars around me.