Cross-Border Rentals
Taking a Sprinter into Canada
Canada trips are welcome in our 12 and 15 passenger vans — with one firm condition: you must provide your own personal auto insurance that covers the rental van while it's in Canada.
You must bring your own insurance for Canada
For trips into Canada we do not sell coverage that travels with the van. The renter is responsible for carrying a personal auto insurance policy that covers this rental vehicle in Canada, including liability at or above the minimums of every province you'll drive through. Before your trip, call your insurance agent, confirm that a rented 12 or 15 passenger van is covered, confirm that coverage applies in Canada, and request the Canadian Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card.
Send us proof of that coverage before pickup. Without it, the van isn't authorized to cross, and a claim in Canada would fall on you personally.
What you need before you cross
Your own personal auto insurance
You must carry a personal auto policy that extends coverage to a rented 12 or 15 passenger van while operating in Canada. Confirm in writing with your agent that both the vehicle class and the country are covered — many policies exclude large passenger vans.
Canadian insurance card (yellow card)
Ask your insurer for a Canadian Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card. Border officers and Canadian police accept it as proof of financial responsibility. Carry the printed card in the van.
Written cross-border authorization
Let us know before you book. We add Canada travel permission to your rental agreement so the van is legally authorized to leave the United States.
Passports for every passenger
Everyone in the van needs a passport, NEXUS card, or enhanced driver's license. Minors traveling without both parents should carry a notarized consent letter.
How the process works
- Tell us at booking that your trip enters Canada, with your crossing point and dates.
- Call your insurance agent and confirm the policy covers a rented passenger van in Canada.
- Request the Canadian yellow insurance card and send us a copy of your declarations page.
- We add written Canada authorization to your rental agreement.
- Cross with passports, the yellow card, and the authorization letter in the van.
Heading south instead? See our Mexico cross-border insurance requirements.
Renting a 15 passenger van in the U.S. for a trip to Canada
Renting a 15 passenger van in the U.S. for a trip to Canada
Canada trips are among the most popular long-haul routes for our passenger vans: Seattle and Bellingham groups running up to Vancouver and Whistler, Detroit crews crossing to Windsor and Toronto, Buffalo families heading to Niagara Falls, and Montana and North Dakota travelers driving into Alberta and Manitoba. A 12 or 15 passenger Sprinter or Transit is the right vehicle for those trips because it keeps the whole group and their luggage in one vehicle, with one driver and one border inspection instead of a caravan.
The insurance rule for Canada is different from Mexico, and it's the part renters most often get wrong. Canada recognizes valid U.S. auto insurance, so there is no requirement to buy a separate Canadian policy the way there is south of the border. What Canada does require is that the driver carry real, verifiable liability coverage — which means the renter must supply their own personal auto policy that extends to the rented van while it is in Canada. Not every personal policy does. Large passenger vans are frequently excluded by vehicle class, and some policies limit coverage to the United States.
The practical step is a phone call to your agent well before your pickup date. Ask three specific questions: does my policy cover a rental vehicle, does it cover a 12 or 15 passenger van specifically, and does it apply in Canada. If all three answers are yes, ask for the Canadian Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card — the yellow card — which is the document Canadian officers and provincial police expect to see. Keep a printed copy in the van along with your rental agreement and cross-border authorization letter.
Beyond insurance, plan for the border itself. Every passenger needs a passport, NEXUS card, or enhanced driver's license. Declare any alcohol, food, or firearms honestly — firearms in particular are heavily restricted. Expect longer inspections for a full 15 passenger van than for a sedan, and cross early in the day at busy crossings. Call us and we'll confirm your van, prepare the authorization paperwork, and make sure everything is in order before you leave.
Quick answers
Van rental questions, answered
Sprinter Van Rentals rents 12 and 15 passenger Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit and premium minivans in 260+ U.S. cities from about $195 per day, with airport delivery, unlimited-mileage options and all-in pricing.
Key details at a glance
- Vehicles
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 12 & 15 passenger, Ford Transit low & mid roof, Sprinter Executive, premium minivans
- Starting rate
- From about $195/day, with weekly and monthly discounts
- Delivery
- Airports, hotels, venues, campuses and private addresses nationwide
- Minimum driver age
- 25 for the primary driver
- Included
- 24/7 roadside assistance, airport meet-and-greet, detailed interiors, all-in pricing
- Reservations
- Book online in under two minutes, or call (971) 328-2665
Common questions
What is the cheapest way to rent a 15 passenger van?
The lowest total cost usually comes from a Ford Transit low-roof van on a weekly rate with unlimited mileage. Weekly and monthly reservations drop the effective daily rate well below the ~$195/day starting point of a single-day booking.
What is the difference between a Mercedes Sprinter and a Ford Transit passenger van?
A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter high-roof van gives standing headroom, more comfortable seating and full luggage space behind the last row. A Ford Transit low-roof van is more affordable and fits in standard parking garages and residential driveways, with less cargo room behind row four.
Can I drive a rental van across state lines or into Mexico or Canada?
Interstate travel is allowed on every rental. Mexico requires Mexican liability insurance of roughly $50 per day for each day the van is in the country. Canada requires the renter's own qualifying coverage plus a Canadian non-resident insurance card.
Do passenger van rentals include insurance?
Rentals include the state-required liability minimums, and a collision damage waiver plus supplemental liability can be added at checkout. Many personal auto policies and credit cards do not extend coverage to 12 and 15 passenger vans, so confirm with your provider before declining coverage.