RV Propane Rules in Canada: Ferries, Tunnels, Refills, and Safety

The short answer

Propane rules for RVs vary by place and by situation, so the useful habit is simple: know where propane must be off, and make shutting it down something you can do in under a minute.

When to shut propane off

There are four situations where you should treat propane as off, no exceptions:

• At fuel stations. Appliance pilot lights and flames near gas pumps are an obvious ignition risk. Shut down before you pull in.
• On ferries. BC Ferries requires every propane tank to be closed and tagged before boarding. With the valve closed, a propane fridge cannot run.
• In tunnels and on some bridges and routes that restrict propane. Check your route ahead of time.
• In parking garages and enclosed spaces.

Driving with propane on

This is the most argued-about question in RVing. Transportation of dangerous goods regulations include an exemption for refrigeration and heating units that need to keep running on the vehicle, and some RVers rely on it to keep an absorption fridge cold. Other sources, including provincial safety authorities, recommend closing cylinder valves whenever the vehicle is moving, and industry guidance has long advised appliances off and valves closed while travelling.

Because the guidance is mixed and the risk is real, the conservative approach is the one to follow:

• Close your cylinder valves and turn appliances off before you drive.
• If your fridge runs on 12-volt power while driving, let it.
• Pre-chill the fridge and pack it cold. A closed fridge stays cold for a travel day.
• Read your appliance manuals. Some manufacturers specify propane off while moving.

Ferries and tunnels

BC Ferries requires all propane tanks to be closed and tagged before boarding, and it limits how much an RV can carry: up to two cylinders, each no larger than 46 litres and no more than 65 litres combined, plus one barbecue-size cylinder of 18.9 litres or less. Cylinders must be upright and secured to the vehicle. Because the valves are closed, switch your propane fridge to electric or off beforehand. You may be asked to do this at short notice, so know where your valves are. Other operators have their own limits, so check before you sail.

Tunnels and some bridges carry their own rules, often a limit on the quantity or size of propane cylinders allowed. Check your route for tunnels before you go, especially in and around major cities and in the mountains.

Quebec is the clearest example. Its transport ministry restricts the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine, Ville-Marie, and Viger tunnels in Montréal, the Joseph-Samson tunnel in Québec City, and the Melocheville tunnel near Beauharnois. An RV cannot use them if it carries more than two propane or butane cylinders, counting a tank built into the RV, or one cylinder larger than 46 litres (40 lb), or if it has equipment that makes an open flame, such as a pilot light. Quebec recommends closing the tank valve before you enter, and drivers have been fined and given demerit points for breaking the rule. If you are driving the Trans-Canada through Quebec, see our Winnipeg to Halifax guide.

Refilling in Canada

• Use an attended, certified station. Propane dealers, RV dealers, many campgrounds, and some hardware and fuel stores refill cylinders. Do not refill one yourself.
• Look at the date. By law, refillable portable cylinders must be requalified by a Transport Canada-registered requalifier every 10 years, and it is illegal to fill an expired or damaged cylinder. The manufacture date and any requalification date are stamped on the collar. Tanks permanently mounted on a motorhome are a different type and are not covered by this rule.
• Expect an 80 per cent fill. Tanks are not filled to the top, because the gas needs room to expand.
• Motorhome tanks are filled at fuel stations that sell autogas propane or at dealers with the right equipment. Ask about hose reach and access for a large vehicle before you pull in.
• Cylinders from another country are usually fine at the border, but the station decides what it will fill. If yours are from the U.S., ask ahead.

Safety checks worth doing

• Carbon monoxide alarm and propane leak detector fitted, tested, and within date
• Fire extinguisher where you can reach it from the door
• Regulator and hoses checked for cracks, and connections checked with soapy water
• Cylinders secured upright, with valves closed when travelling
• Everyone in the RV knows where the shut-off is
• Vents and exhaust clear, especially after snow

If you ever smell propane, shut off the valve, open the doors and windows, leave the RV, and do not touch switches or light anything. Get it inspected by a qualified technician before you use the system again.

Cold weather and propane

In winter your furnace and water heater draw a lot of fuel, so a single small cylinder will not last long. Carry a spare if you are camping in the cold, and check levels often. For storing the RV over winter, close all valves and see our winterizing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

Rules, fees, and services change. Check these directly before you travel.

• DriveSmartBC: operating RVs with propane
• BC Ferries: dangerous goods and propane
• Canadian Propane Association: cylinder requalification
• Transport Canada: transportation of dangerous goods
• Quebec: transporting commonly used hazardous materials (tunnel rules)
• Propane Gas Association of Canada
• Your provincial gas safety regulator (for example the BC Safety Authority or Technical Standards and Safety Authority in Ontario)