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The rules of the road depend on where you go. Finding out about local laws, customs and quirks will help ensure your travels are safer and more enjoyable. For example:

- In England, it’s illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving.

- In Mexico, you cannot drive without car insurance issued by a Mexican insurer.

- In France, some parking meters can only be activated with a swipe card that you buy at the tobacconist’s.

If you’re planning a driving holiday, here are some questions to be answered before you go.

Will your license be recognized?
Your Canadian driver’s license is accepted in the US and Mexico. But it might not be accepted elsewhere. If you’re driving outside of North America, it’s a good idea to get an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). Recognized in more than 160 countries, an IDP provides the local authorities with proof that you have a valid driver’s license. In Canada, IDPs are issued by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
Does your insurance cover you?
Does your insurance cover you?

Do you have adequate insurance?
If you plan on driving while in the US or abroad, you should contact your insurance provider beforehand to make sure you have the proper coverage. Once you determine whether your coverage is sufficient, ensure that you have all the necessary numbers ready when traveling. However, since there are different laws governing the amounts and types of insurance required, you may want to investigate the possibility of increasing your coverage before you leave home. To drive your own car in Mexico, you must have additional insurance from a Mexican insurance provider. You can usually purchase this at or near border crossings.

Can you get a rental?
You may be required to show an International Driver’s Permit in order to rent a car, even if that country does not require it for driving. As well, if you plan to take a rental car into several different countries (across Europe, for example), find out what paperwork you’ll need before you attempt to cross any borders.

Do you have your papers?
Always carry your driver’s license, registration, and a copy of your insurance policy. This applies whether you’re driving your own vehicle or a rental. If you are driving a car not registered in your name, protect yourself from any possible hassles by getting written permission from the car’s owner.

In certain countries it is illegal to talk on a cell phone without a hands-free headset

Can you reach your insurer?
Make sure you have easy access to your insurance company’s toll-free international phone number in case of any emergencies.

Are you taking an extended stay?
Do you winter down south, or in Portugal, or anywhere else for that matter? You might need additional auto insurance and/or an IDP if you spend more than a few weeks a year outside Canada.

Do you know the conditions?
Prepare to adjust your driving habits to suit local conditions. For instance, sharing the road with bikes, scooters and motorbikes is very common in some countries. Be prepared to share narrow winding roads with them.

Belt up abroad!
Regardless of what other laws may dictate, always wear your seat belt and drive with your headlights on.
For more specifics, speak with your travel agent, CAA office, or your host country’s consular office.

Car theft

In the past decade, Canada has become the car theft capital of North America. According to Statistics Canada, one car is stolen every three minutes. Car theft makes up more than one third of all property crimes in this country and costs consumers, police, insurance companies and the government more than $1 billion annually.

Cars in cities along the major waterways such as Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver are more likely to be stolen. This is because more than 30 per cent of stolen cars in Canada are exported to other countries. The rest are given false identification numbers and resold to unsuspecting consumers or are chopped up for parts.

Just because you drive a mid-priced, four-door sedan, don’t think it’s not a target for thieves. Economy cars are just as likely to be stolen as luxury cars. The Vehicle Information Centre of Canada reports the top three most-frequently stolen vehicles are the Hyundai Tiburon, the VW Golf, and the Acura Integra.

What does a high auto-theft rate mean for your insurance?

According to the Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau, vehicle theft costs insurers about $600-million annually. Who pays for all these costs? You do. We all do. These losses are made up through our insurance premiums.

Insurers look at where you live when they calculate your insurance premiums. If you live in an area that has a high auto theft rate, you will probably be paying a higher price for your insurance than if you lived in an area where your car was less likely to be stolen. This means that if you were moving from a small town to a large city on a waterway such as Montreal or Toronto, it would likely cost more to insure your vehicle.

Auto theft prevention

Follow these simple tips from the Vehicle Information Centre of Canada to help deter car thieves.

- Always lock your vehicle.
- Never leave your keys in an unattended vehicle. Many vehicles are regularly stolen from store parking lots and gas stations.
- Use good judgment in choosing parking locations.
- When parking at airports, and other large pay parking lots, never leave the parking claim check in the vehicle.
- Keep valuables, especially cellular telephones and laptop computers, out of sight.
- If your vehicle is equipped with a security system, make sure it is in good working order and activated. Your owner’s manual or dealership should be able to answer any questions about your system.
- Factory-installed security systems are sometimes deactivated when remote control starters are installed. If you have a remote starter, or intend to have one installed, ask your installer how it will affect your security system.

Outsmart even the craftiest car thief

Some 159,000 cars were stolen in Canada in 2006 alone, according to Statistics Canada. But there’s more to that number than just thousands of empty-handed owners. In fact, you’ve paid a price for the crime too.

“The overall cost of car theft to Canadians is a whopping $1.2 billion,” says Rick Dubin, vice president, investigative services, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). That price includes paying for police involvement, ambulance and court costs. “On average, Canadians pay an extra $40 on their auto insurance premiums for car theft.”

Auto theft can also be an aggressive and even violent crime. “Between 1999 and 2001, car theft resulted in 81 deaths and 127 serious injuries to Canadians,” Mr. Dubin says, quoting figures from The National Committee to Reduce Auto Theft. “And, today, we know that organized crime rings are highly involved in this criminal act.”

Theft prevention tips for today’s driver

More than ever, you need to get serious about safeguarding your car. Here are the IBC’s top tips to keep your car more secure.

- Get an electronic immobilizer. If your car is a 2007 or newer model, chances are it is equipped with an immobilizer. If you don’t have one, “investing in an aftermarket immobilizer is a good idea because they make your car more difficult to steal; unless, of course, a thief has managed to steal your keys,” Mr. Dubin continues. Just make sure it meets national standards.
Expert tip: For more information on immobilizers and how to choose an aftermarket one, visit the IBC webpages on immobilizers.

- Never leave your unattended car running. That includes in your driveway, garage or on the street in front of your home. On a cold winter morning, you may be tempted to leave your car to warm up before heading to work, “but this is a common time when thieves simply drive away with your vehicle,” says Mr. Dubin.

- Always lock doors and windows. Our expert advises you to get into the habit of locking up, “even if you’re leaving your car in the garage overnight.”

- Don’t leave your keys in the ignition. This may sound obvious, but according to the IBC, one in five cars is stolen this way. As for a spare key, the first place a thief will look is in the car itself — even under it. Leave it with someone you trust, instead.

- Protect your keys — even at home. “Keep your keys hidden,” says our investigative expert. “Thieves will even break into your home to steal your keys so don’t leave them in open view as in a kitchen or hallway.”

- Don’t leave valuables in your car. “You are being watched by thieves,” cautions Mr. Dubin. “Thinking your purse, wallet or laptop are safe in a locked trunk just isn’t the case anymore.”

- Park smart. “If you’re at the mall or leaving your car in a lot while you take the train or public transit to work, choose a parking spot that is well lit and busy.”

- Report insurance crime to 1-877-IBC-TIPS. “If you suspect someone of insurance crime, call the IBC’s hotline,” Mr. Dubin advises. All tips are treated in a confidential manner.

If your car is stolen

If your car is stolen, your first call should be to the police, and then take steps to report the loss to your insurer. “You’ll want to call your insurance company as soon as possible so that facts are still fresh in your mind,” says Mr. Dubin. “It’s a good idea to have a list of the contents of your car ready, since personal items are often covered under your homeowner’s policy.”

Did your car make the IBC top ten?

Every year, the Insurance Bureau of Canada releases a list of the top ten most frequently stolen cars in Canada. You may be surprised to learn that new and luxury cars don’t usually make the list since many are equipped with electronic immobilizers. Thieves find value even in older models. Here is the list for 2007:

1. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3. 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door AWD
4. 1999 Acura Integra 2-door
5. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager
6. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager AWD
7. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager
8. 1998 Acura Integra 2-door
9. 2000 Audi TT Quattro 2-door Coupe
10. 1994 Dodge/Plymouth Shadow/Sundance 2-door Hatchback

Help create tougher penalties for car theft

“Right now, car theft is treated like a simple property offence in the Criminal Code,” explains Mr. Dubin, vice president, investigative services, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). “Basically, it equates car theft with stealing a TV or a bicycle. And that just isn’t enough of a deterrent to thieves who are making big money and threatening the safety and security of Canadians.”

Recently, a private member’s bill (Bill C-343) was tabled in the Canadian Parliament to amend the Criminal Code and make auto theft a separate offence.

As of December 2007, The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has recommended support for the bill. “A third vote will be taken shortly and I hope the bill will get passed into law,” he says.

In the meantime, you can help pass this bill. Write to your Member of Parliament and voice your support for Bill C-343.