Warming Up Your Car in Winter: The Idling Myth, City Idling Bylaws and Remote Starters in Canada
Quick answer: You do not need to idle your car for 10 minutes on a cold morning. NRCan says that in most cases you need no more than 60 seconds of idling after a cold start in winter. Then drive gently. Many cities also limit idling. Toronto allows one minute in any 60 minutes.
Key takeaways
- NRCan says no more than 60 seconds of idling is needed from a cold start on most winter days.
- NRCan says 10 minutes of idling burns 0.25 to 0.50 litres of fuel.
- Toronto limits idling to one minute in a 60 minute period. Vancouver and Montreal limit gas cars to three minutes in 60 minutes.
- A remote starter warms the cabin, not the engine, says CAA-Quebec.
- Health Canada says never idle a car in a garage, even with the door open.
Do you really need to warm up your car before driving in winter?
Many Canadians ask this every November. Older drivers learned to let the car run for ten minutes. Many still do.
NRCan's advice is clear. In most cases, you need no more than 60 seconds of idling after a cold start on a winter day. NRCan says driving at a moderate speed for a few minutes is the best way to warm the engine, the drivetrain and the cabin. It says that letting the car run for 10 minutes to warm the cabin just wastes fuel.
CAA-Quebec says the same. Its advice is to drive gently instead of idling. Your car warms up faster, uses less fuel and pollutes less.
So the routine is simple. Start the car. Clear the snow and ice while it runs for a minute. Then drive off gently for the first few kilometres.
How much fuel does idling waste in winter?
NRCan gives these numbers:
- Ten minutes of idling burns 0.25 to 0.50 litres of fuel.
- It also puts out 600 to 1,200 grams of CO2.
- The exact amount depends on the vehicle and the conditions.
NRCan also suggests turning off your engine when you are stopped for more than 60 seconds, except in traffic.
For more ways to save at the pump, see our tips to lower fuel consumption.
Idling bylaws in Canadian cities: Toronto, Mississauga, Vancouver and Montreal
Many Canadian cities have idling bylaws. The rules are not the same everywhere. Here is what each city's own bylaw says. We only list cities whose official pages we could check.
Toronto idling bylaw
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 517 says no one shall let a vehicle idle for more than one minute in a 60 minute period. There are exceptions. One covers vehicles that cannot move because of an emergency, traffic, weather or mechanical problems the driver cannot control. Another covers a person who needs a set temperature for medical reasons, with a doctor's note. The chapter says a person convicted can be fined up to $100,000.
Mississauga idling bylaw
Mississauga's Idling Control By-law 0194-2009 says no one shall let a vehicle idle for more than three minutes in a row. The bylaw lists exceptions, such as for medical needs certified by a doctor.
Vancouver idling bylaw
The City of Vancouver says it is illegal to idle a vehicle for more than three minutes in a row in a 60 minute period. It is also illegal to idle while the vehicle is unattended and unlocked. The rule is in section 2.7 of the Motor Vehicle Noise and Emission Abatement By-law.
Montreal idling bylaw
The City of Montreal limits a gas engine to three minutes of idling in a 60 minute period. Some boroughs have their own limits. Montreal also has winter exceptions:
- When it is colder than -10°C, the engine is used to run the heat and someone is inside.
- When frost or freezing rain covers the vehicle, for the time needed to make it safe.
Montreal also lists electric and hybrid vehicles as excluded from the bylaw.
Other cities
Rules change from city to city. Check your own city's website, or call 311 where it is available, before you count on any exception.
Remote starter vs block heater: what each one really does
People often think a remote starter does the same job as a block heater. It does not.
- Remote starter: CAA-Quebec says it warms the cabin but not the engine or its parts. It also says long idling releases greenhouse gases and adds to air pollution.
- Block heater: it warms the engine coolant before you start, so the engine starts more easily and warms up faster.
If your goal is an easy start on a cold morning, a block heater on a timer does more. Read our guide on when to plug in your block heater.
A remote starter still has a place for clearing frost. Just keep it short, and remember the idling bylaw in your city still applies.
Never idle your car in a garage
This is the one rule with no exceptions. Health Canada says not to idle vehicles in the garage, even when the garage door is open. It also says to keep the door between your house and the garage closed.
Car exhaust has carbon monoxide. You cannot see, smell or taste it. Health Canada says it can only be detected with a carbon monoxide alarm. If you have an attached garage, make sure your home has a working one.
Pull the car out of the garage before you let it run, even for a minute.
Warming up an electric car in winter
An EV has no engine to warm, but the cabin and battery still need heat. CAA-Quebec says to schedule cabin preheating while the car is still plugged in. This helps keep your range and clears the windows.
See our guide on how much EV range you lose in winter for more.
A simple cold morning routine
- Plug in the block heater the night before, on a timer.
- Start the car and let it idle for about a minute.
- Clear all the snow and ice from the windows, lights and roof.
- Drive gently for the first few kilometres.
- Never warm it up inside the garage.
If the car will not start at all, the battery is often to blame. Our guide on car batteries in extreme cold is coming soon.
FAQ
How long should I warm up my car in winter?
NRCan says that in most cases you need no more than 60 seconds of idling after a cold start in winter. Then drive at a moderate speed for a few minutes to warm the engine and cabin.
Is it bad to idle your car for 10 minutes in winter?
It wastes fuel. NRCan says 10 minutes of idling burns 0.25 to 0.50 litres of fuel and gives off 600 to 1,200 grams of CO2. It can also break your city's idling bylaw.
What is the idling limit in Toronto?
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 517 says no one shall let a vehicle idle for more than one minute in a 60 minute period. There are some exceptions, such as when weather or traffic stops the vehicle.
Does a remote starter warm up the engine?
Not really. CAA-Quebec says a remote starter warms the cabin but not the engine or its parts. A block heater is the tool that warms the engine before you start it.
Can I warm up my car in the garage with the door open?
No. Health Canada says do not idle vehicles in the garage, even when the garage door is open. Carbon monoxide can build up and get into your home.