Driving in Canada as a Spaniard

With a Spanish licence, carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with your licence. It isn't always asked for, but it's the safe choice. Alberta strongly recommends an IDP with a licence that is not in English, and Quebec recommends one with a licence not in French or English. Licences in French are fine in Quebec. Carry the IDP together with your licence.

Quebec law requires road signs in French, though most use symbols. A stop sign says ARRÊT, and Préparez-vous à arrêter on a yellow sign warns that the traffic lights ahead are about to turn red.

When an emergency vehicle comes with lights or siren, pull over to the right and stop. When passing one that is stopped, or a tow truck with flashing lights, slow down and move over a lane if you can.

A flashing green light or a green arrow gives you priority to turn left. On a plain green light, give way to oncoming traffic before turning left.

When a streetcar stops to let passengers on or off, stop at least 2 metres behind its rear doors. Overtake streetcars on the right unless the road is one-way.

Towns are 50 km/h here, faster than the 30 km/h at home. Country roads are 80 km/h here, slower than the 90 km/h at home. Motorways are 100 km/h here, slower than the 120 km/h at home.

On multi-lane roads, cars can pass on either side, so check both mirrors before you change lanes.

The car must carry winter tyres in Quebec (in winter) and winter tyres or chains in British Columbia (in some areas). Hire cars should have them, but check before you drive away, because the driver gets the fine.

No right turn on a red light anywhere on the island. Where: Every street on the island of Montréal. Fine: $100 to $200 and 3 demerit points. Signs at the bridges, tunnels and airport mark the start of the ban. Wait for the green light.

The limit can be no higher than 50 km/h on school days, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June. Where: Around schools, marked by yellow-green pentagon signs. Fine: Speeding fines are doubled. A sign with the word Fin marks the end of the zone.

Lower limits apply. In Ontario speeding fines double when workers are present, and in Quebec they double in roadwork zones. Where: Roadworks across Canada, marked by orange signs. Fine: Double the normal speeding fine. Slow down as soon as you see orange signs.

Most Canadian roads are free. The main toll road is Highway 407 ETR north of Toronto, which has no booths and bills by number plate. Quebec has two toll bridges, and a few bridges elsewhere charge at booths. Highway 407 ETR runs 108 km from the QEW in the west to Brock Road in the east. Cameras read the plate. Without a transponder you pay a camera charge for each trip and an account fee for each month you use it. For a hire car, 407 ETR bills the hire company, which bills you under your rental agreement with its own fees. The bill can arrive months after the trip. Ask the hire company how it handles 407 tolls before you use the road.

At a junction with no signs, signals or road markings, give way to traffic coming from your right, even from a small side street. It's the same rule as at home. At a junction with no signs or signals, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one on the right goes first.