Driving in Australia vs. Canada: Key Differences Explained
As you prepare for your journey abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential. This comparison between Australia and Canada uncovers notable distinctions, such as driving on opposite sides and varying speed limits in urban areas. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge to navigate safely and confidently in both countries.
Lanes
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two occupants |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
canada:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
canada:
40-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
canada:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Canada |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
canada:
Not used in Canada
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
canada:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
australia:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
canada:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
canada:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
canada:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay