Montreal City Guide - Getting There By Road

Montreal is well served by a network of autoroutes (motorways), which are normally two-digit numbers identified by red and blue signs, as well as main (100-199) and secondary (200-399) highways, which have green signs. Traffic drives on the right. Road signs are international but are usually in French. Maximum speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on motorways, 80kph (50mph) on rural highways and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to turn right at a red light on the island of Montreal; however, these turns are legal elsewhere in the province (unless posted otherwise).

The minimum driving age is 16 years. An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required for visits of less than six months. Proof of insurance (minimum C$50,000 third-party liability) must be carried. Non-residents may be covered for compensation under the province's no-fault insurance if driving a vehicle registered in Quebec or a province or US state with a reciprocal arrangement. The Société de l'Assurance Automobile du Québec (SAAQ) (tel: (514) 873 7620; website: www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca) provides further information. There are often road checks for intoxicated drivers; the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Radar detection devices are strictly prohibited and may not be carried in automobiles. Snow tyres are a necessity in winter.

Information on road conditions is available from the Ministère des Transports (tel: 1 888 355 0511; website: www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca). CAA-Québec (part of the Canadian Automobile Association) offers travel planning, insurance and other services to motorists (tel: (514) 861 7575; website: www.caaquebec.com).

Emergency breakdown services:
CAA-Québec (514) 861 1313 (Montreal area only)
CAA/AAA 1 800 222 4357 or *222 from most mobile phones

Routes to the city: Highways 20 and 40 (the Trans-Canada Highway) are the main east-west routes through the city, arriving from Quebec City to the east and Toronto (via Highway 401) and Ottawa (via Highway 417) from the west. US I-87 from New York City becomes Highway 15 at the border, south of Montreal.

Coach services: All buses depart from the Station Centrale d'Autobus Montréal (Montreal Bus Central Station), 505 boulevard de Maisonneuve East (tel: (514) 842 2281; schedules and fares for all coach companies). Facilities include ATMs, a bureau de change, bars and restaurants, car hire, Internet access, left-luggage and coach passes.

Orléans Express (tel: 1 888 999 3977; website: www.orleansexpress.com) is the main coach company within the province of Quebec. Greyhound Canada (tel: 1 800 661 8747; website: www.greyhound.ca) runs services from Canadian destinations west of Ottawa as well as the United States. Other coach services include Adirondack Trailways (tel: 1 800 776 7548; website: www.trailwaysny.com) from New York City and Coach Canada (tel: 1 800 461 7661; website: www.coachcanada.com) from Toronto.