From Wiki

• The website of the Automobile Assocation in the UK states, "An International Driving Permit (IDP) allows you to drive a private motor vehicle overseas when accompanied by a valid UK driving licence. IDPs are valid for 12 months from the date of issue."

• The AA website notwithstanding, most Canadian provinces allow only visitors and students to drive on IDPs accompanied by UK licences.

• In most Canadian provinces, the following newly arrived residents may drive on their UK licences (without IDPs) for 60 - 180 days (depending on the province):
  • returning citizens
  • newly arrived permanent residents, and
  • newly arrived temporary work permit holders (please understand that, if you have a temporary work permit, you are not a visitor)

• When the relevant province's deadline for a newly arrived resident arrives, that resident's UK driver's licence no longer is valid. Since an IDP is valid only as long as it accompanies a valid national driver's licence, an IDP becomes invalid at this point. If the holder of a UK driver's licence wants to continue driving in Canada, he/she must exchange his/her UK licence for a provincial driver's licence.

• The following provinces exchange a UK driver's licence without a driving test:
  • Ontario
  • New Brunswick
  • Québec

• Alberta and Manitoba also exchange a UK driver's licence without a driving test, but drivers' licences from Northern Ireland and the Channel Isles are excluded from this provision.

• Licences from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and British Overseas Territories may not be eligible for exchange without a test even if a Great Britain licence is acceptable.

• Except for the cases mentioned above, a British driver who wants to drive in Canada has to get a provincial driver's licence by passing a driving test before the relevant province's deadline for newly arrived residents.