USA/Canada Guide for European Overlanders
Since the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, European overlanders have resumed their travel to the North American continent. If you are planning to do the same, here is a quick overview that covers the most important concepts you need to be aware of.
Last update: May 2024
Contents overview
- Shipping your vehicle
- Temporary Vehicle Import (TIP)
- Vehicle Insurance
- Groceries and shopping in Canada
- Cooking with propane — What options exist
- Water
- Communications: Mobile phone, Internet, Starlink
- Vehicle choice & maintenance
- Camping
Shipping your vehicle
Instead of renting (which can get expensive) or buying a vehicle here, you can ship your own vehicle to North America. This is particularly attractive if:
- You already own a reliable vehicle in Europe.
- Your trip is long enough (2 months or longer)
One of the most popular arrival hubs is Halifax, NS, in Canada. From Hamburg, Germany, the vessel needs about two weeks. From Liverpool, UK, in just one week.
There are two ways of shipping:
- RoRo (Roll-on/roll-off) — This is the most affordable option and the option that most overlanders choose on this route. You typically drop your vehicle at a port and pick it up at your destination port. This is similar to a ferry, with the exception that the handling of the vehicles on the ship is done by the shipping company and not yourself.
- In a shipping container — the vehicle is limited to certain dimensions. This option can be more affordable and secure compared to RoRo in case the container is shared with someone else.
- Flat-rack — for large vehicles that can’t fit in a container.
The RoRo shipping option will probably cost you around €2000–3000 (this is a rough estimate, as you pay based on the volume that the vehicle occupies).
We have used the company Overlander Shipping in Hamburg multiple times and had a great experience with them.
Temporary Vehicle Import (TIP)
For your vehicle to be legally in the USA or Canada, it needs a Temporary Vehicle Import (TIP). Your vehicle must get a TIP before being released from the port of arrival (regardless of whether in Canada or the USA).
Carnet de Passages is NOT required for North nor South America.
Since most travelers are arriving in Halifax, Canada, a common misinformation in the overlanding community is that getting a TIP for the USA is unnecessary. This is simply not true. Allow me to explain.
When crossing the border between Canada and the USA, the land border control is only interested in your passports, not in your vehicle paperwork. Exiting the USA without a TIP through a land border is also not an issue as the USA does not have a post at the exit. So you are allowed to enter and exit the USA even if you don’t have a TIP, but it does not mean the vehicle is legally in the USA! This is from where the misconception comes.
However, a TIP document will be required if you ship your vehicle from a port in the USA.
According to the procedures published by the EPA [1], the following steps need to be done to get a TIP:
- EPA letter of exemption [3]
- EPA Form 3520–1
EPA-420-B-10–027 July 2010, page 33.
Details for requesting an EPA exception can be seen in the document below. [3] The request can be done by mail and should be accompanied by supporting documents, such as passport and vehicle registration. Take into account that obtaining a reply can take several weeks.
Link to the EPA Standard Form 3520–1 — Declaration Form. [2]
Check if the DOT form HS-7 is still needed!
Be correctly informed! Get the most up-to-date information from official sources:
EPA — Importing Vehicles and Engines into the United States
Ask the U.S. Customs and Border Protection a question if unsure about your particular situation or email the EPA at imports@epa.gov
Vehicle Insurance
For both Canada and the US, you need vehicle insurance (called liability insurance). To keep the story short, this can be very hard to get for an overseas registered vehicle.
After extensive research, the only two providers that offer a combined policy for both Canada and the USA are:
- Thum Insurance — To get insurance with this company, you need to exchange quite a few emails, including sending photos of your vehicle and filling out forms. Not all vehicles qualify for insurance as they require you to have a proper motorhome (with seating, cooking, bathroom, etc.). Don’t expect to get this done in a day or two. It may take a bit of time!
Update 2024: Currently Thum Insurance only offers insurance for the USA & Mexico. - Seguro Gringo — This is the easiest way to get insurance. The process is completely online, and the policy will be issued immediately. However, the coverage is very, very limited. It is essentially just a formality in case the police ask for it.
- Intersecure Group — This is the parent company of SeguroGringo. They offer an extension to their premium policy which offers slightly better coverage in case of an accident.
- CHUBB — No personal experience with this company, but some overlanders report having booked insurance with this company. If you have more details, please leave a comment below.
It is best to take care of this BEFORE shipping the vehicle. Don’t underestimate how critical this step is.
If you are looking for worldwide comprehensive insurance (which does not include mandatory liability insurance), we have booked one through a German brokerage company called FIDARSI.
Groceries and shopping in Canada
Compared to Europe, most items on your grocery list are considerably more expensive. Especially organic products are especially expensive!
However, you are allowed to bring some food with you, including in your vehicle. Check in advance what you can or can’t bring, but I can assure you, the quantities are quite generous.
Amazon
Amazon Canada is less developed than its counterpart in the USA or even compared to Europe. Prices on Amazon.ca are considerably higher compared to their US counterpart.
There are also fewer Amazon lockers or official pick-up locations. For some items that are shipped directly by Amazon, you can pick them up at any Canadian Post location.
Canadian Tire
One of the most popular stores of general outdoor equipment and camping is Canadian Tire. They also sell bear spray, which is a wise investment in Canada and Alaska. Ask in the guns section of the store.
Tip: Make sure to declare bear spray when crossing a border, as it may count as a weapon.
Cooking with propane — What options exist
Note: gas bottles are called propane cylinders or propane tanks.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice. The reader is warned to exercise caution and use appropriate safety measures.
The author and publisher of this blog post will not be held responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or inconvenience caused, directly or indirectly, by the use or misuse of the information provided herein. It is the reader’s responsibility to understand and adhere to all local, state, and federal regulations and safety protocols when working with gas tanks. If you are unsure about anything mentioned in this blog post, please consult with a qualified professional in the field. Remember, safety first.
Coleman stove & cylinders
One of the most popular solutions in North America for outdoor cooking while camping is the Coleman stove and the single-use 1 lb propane cylinders.
We had this system in our past travels but were horrified by the amount of waste this system generates. So currently, we are cooking electrically (when the battery is full) or with a refillable propane cylinder. However, here are the options.
Bringing a propane bottle from Europe
Legally speaking, European-style propane cylinders don’t have the certification required to be transported on North American roads.
However, the main concern is not transportation but refilling. Since during shipping, all propane cylinders need to be empty, the first TODO in Canada is filling them up. With the right adaptor, it is possible to refill European propane cylinders.
For a German-style system, the adaptor looks as in the image below:
This adaptor is not always to find, but you may want to try it here:
- gasprofi.de — Article #6963 (make sure to select US-POL)
What about those expensive gas cylinders with filling-stop which can cost over 300 EUR (like Alugas, CAMPKO or Gaslow)? You don’t need them. Refilling gas cylinders is not rocket science and even simple gas bottles have built-in safety systems. My advice is to save yourself the money and you don’t need such an expensive system.
Buying a cylinder from Canada or the USA
The North American cylinder sizes are very different from the European ones. There are at least three aspects you need to consider:
- Will the cylinder fit in the current holder?
- Which adaptor do I need to connect the cylinder?
- Does the cylinder + adaptor still fit in the holder?
North American propane cylinders are hard to come by in Europe, so you will need to do some calculations on your own.
One of the most popular sizes is the 20 lbs. In Canada, you can easily buy one from Canadian Tire.
I don’t recommend you buy one of the ones that are part of a swap system as these systems are regionally available, and there are differences between the USA and Canada.
There is also a smaller counterpart, which holds only 5 lbs of propane, commonly called a 5-pounder. This is most likely the smallest refillable cylinder you can buy.
For a German-style system, the adaptor looks as in the image below:
This adaptor is hard to find and often out of stock, but you may find it here:
- wynen-gas.de — Article #9035
- gasprofi.de— Article #9035
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Campingaz
In Europe, Campingaz provides butane-based cylinders, and R907 is one of the most commonly used cylinders, particularly in small campervans. You can’t refill or exchange R907 in North America.
If the storage space for the cylinder is custom-made to fit only R907, you need to know that there is no equivalent size cylinder in North America.
You can find propane-based cylinders in Europe that are the same size as R907. The company GARDINGER in Germany is known to produce such cylinders.
Water
Not all campgrounds have drinking water. Especially free campgrounds or cheaper or more remote state/provincial campgrounds may only have water wells that require boiling before drinking.
However, water is available without many issues from public sources or from private establishments, such as gas stations, stores, etc.
For filling up your water tank you need a hose. We have used the Gardena system with a Gardena metal tap connector. We use a filter before filling up the tank. The experience has shown that not all water sources are very clean.
Initially, we had a Gardena 1/2-inch plastic connector that was constantly leaking water. The metal one bought from Canadian Tire works perfectly. There wasn’t a single place where this 1/2-inch adaptor did not work.
Communications: Mobile phone & Internet in Canada & USA
Canada
In terms of the Internet, Canada, in particular, is at the level of a developing country (and I even think that I might be offending some developing countries).
Mobile phone coverage outside of cities is extremely limited and very expensive. You can forget about unlimited internet if that is what you are used to in your home country.
While you can expect every city, town, or village to have phone service, quite often there is no service on the highways in between.
Here are two providers in Canada that offer prepaid SIM cards and have decent coverage:
- Lucky Mobile (Bell network, 3G/4G speed).
- Public Mobile (Telus network, 3G/4G speed).
You may think that 3G is outdated, but not in Canada. In most cases, you will be very happy to have any service at all!
Most mobile phone retailers (including the ones in a Walmart) can help you get a SIM and activate a plan.
If your phone supports eSIMs, you may also want to consider using a service such as Airalo. With Airalo you can get an eSIM in the Rogers 4G network.
Compared to Lucky Mobile or Public Mobile, which don’t allow you to do that, with Airalo, you can also rebook the same package when you run out of data. Please note that if you run off of data, you need internet from a different source to top up (not very smart, I know).
What is also worth considering is that Rogers is not available nationwide and generally has a smaller coverage compared to the Bell or Telus networks. For example, you won’t be able to use the Rogers network in northern BC, Yukon, or NWT.
USA
The USA is in much better shape, with many providers such as Visible (on the Verizon network) offering unlimited data (including unlimited usage as a hotspot) for as little as US $30.
Starlink
If you need a stable Internet connection even in remote places, consider the Starlink system.
We had a great experience using this system from Canada all the way down to Ushuaia in Argentina.
You can bring your own hardware from Europe (if it has been used there a few months already) or buy it in North America. You need to get a regional plan that allows you to use your Starlink anywhere on the North American continent, from Alaska to Panama.
Garmin inReach
Since mobile phone service coverage is extremely limited in Canada, some overlanders choose to purchase an inReach device from Garmin.
The primary use case for inReach is to issue an SOS message in an emergency situation.
Apart from the device, you also need to have an active plan, which does not come cheap. However, this small device will allow you to send text messages to your contacts from literally anywhere in the world. On top of this, you can activate tracking, allowing your friends and family to follow your journey in almost real-time.
Vehicle maintenance in USA/Canada
With a few exceptions, whatever you are shipping from Europe to North America will be considered exotic. Even getting something as basic as an oil change can be a hassle.
European VINs are most of the time not recognized in North American IT systems, and some places will refuse to do even a basic oil change. Get the official repair and maintenance manual from your manufacturer.
Get familiar with the type of oil you need, how much oil you need, which part numbers you need, and so on.
Parts for your vehicle
See which parts are available for your vehicle in North America by consulting the NAPA website:
Make sure that you carry with you at least the parts you need to do an oil change. Additionally, check that the oil type you need is available. Apart from NAPA, Canadian Tire, and Walmart also carry motor oil.
Oil change and maintenance
Plan your oil changes and other maintenance work in advance. Try to book an appointment with a mechanic a few weeks in advance, as the good ones tend to be pretty busy (especially in northern Canada and Alaska).
Generally speaking, you can easily do an oil change at a place like Canadian Tire or Jiffy Lube, even without an appointment, but they are not mechanics.
Do I need a 4x4 vehicle?
While the quality of the roads varies greatly, you don’t need a 4x4 to explore this continent. While it is definitely nice to have, and there are plenty of off-road opportunities, you will still do just fine.
The most common issue I have observed while traveling around has been flat tires. There are many miles of gravel roads with some sharp stones.
Regular highway tires are simply not the best choice for such roads. While still in Europe, consider upgrading to all-terrain tires. What you also need to consider is that some provinces in Canada require winter tires (M+S rating) from October to April. Most AT tires are rated for winter conditions.
Also, check that the tire size and model that you currently have is also available in North America. Plan for the situation that you will need to replace some or all of your tires.
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Camping
The North American continent offers ample and mostly free camping opportunities. The only app that you need is iOverlander.
In National Parks and in some state or provincial parks, you may also need to book a campsite on their respective website. Some places are more popular than others, so it is worth checking in advance.
Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome
This paid membership offers access to free* access to farms, wineries, breweries & distilleries, or other attractions. There are also community hosts that are happy to host you for a night or two.
Tip: Search online or on YouTube for membership discounts.
We had a great experience staying at farms or on a quiet driveway in a big city. The only requirement: your vehicle needs to be self-contained!
* some places have a recommended amount of money they expect you to pay for products or services.
Prepare for mosquitos
I hate to bring the bad news to you but during the summer-time, there are a lot of mosquitos and other insects in Canada, Alaska, and northern parts of the continental USA (such as Washington and Montana).
Ensure your RV has mosquito nets and that there are no gaps where insects can enter. In a few places, we also had hundreds of small blood-sucking insects that managed to get through the mosquito nets but luckily these were rather the exceptions.
Typically mosquito spray from Europe (without DEET) is not very efficient or long-lasting. It is best to buy your mosquito repellant sprays from Canada or the USA and ensure it contains DEET (even if the stuff itself is nasty).
For itch relief, our best investment was a small electrical device that applies heat to the bite (search on Amazon for bite-away). This is super efficient and it works.
Money
To be able to pay in different currencies or to withdraw cash from abroad without paying additional fees, we have used debit cards from Wise and Revolut.
It is best if you start using such services before your departure to get familiar with them.
Books & travel information
Visitor centers
It is hard to travel around without stumbling over a visitor center, even in very small towns or villages. People working there are happy to provide information about the area, maps, and guides. For us, this has replaced the need for any additional books or travel guides.
Quite often, they also have free Internet, and water and can give you tips on things to do.
The MILEPOST
One of the most recommended guides for traveling to Alaska and the western part of Canada is the MILEPOST. Especially without Internet, this guide has proven useful in a few situations. It also offers information about things to observe along the road, on side trips, on hikes, attractions, and so on.
This guide has a lot of history behind it. However, for modern times, I find it a bit too detailed and bulky. If you remove all pull-outs and turnouts from the book, you remove 70% of its content. Still useful.
Conclusion
I hope this tutorial helped you get started with planning your next North American adventure. Leave a comment in the section below if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you!
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References
[1] https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P10081IS.PDF?Dockey=P10081IS.PDF
[2] https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-435?language=en_US
