el_richo

Crikey that's new-ish

Dotty P

So they can drive a manual even though they took the test in an auto?

Piff Poff

Yes.

Dotty P

That's different to the UK isn't it? Seems strange if you're only used to an auto that you could be let loose in a car with clutch and gears! Still, my son won't be complaining!

Piff Poff

You'll find a lot of strange things happen here

printer

Nowt stranger than watching a Canadian trying a manual car for the first time, or second and third time come to that.

DanielM

It's a graduated system here for a drivers licence.
First you do a theory test, when thats passed you can drive with an experienced driver in the passanger seat. The only restrictions are not on 400 series highways (equivilent to motorways) and not late at night.
You have to wait a full year before you can take a practical test, when you pass this you can drive on your own with some minor restrictions. There are approved drivers courses that if you take reduce the wait for your practical test by four months, and if you look around some will teach manual gears.
A year of that and you get another test and a full licence.

My advice take the theory test as soon as possible, even if he's not going to learn for a while. As the wait for the practical test is really annoying.

At least 95% of cars here are automatic, so if he does want one he may have to hunt around for one.

Dotty P

I appreciate your replies chaps! Seems a lot more intensive that it is in the UK at least; I guess that can't be a bad thing. So, we'll make a note of getting him to book a theory test once we arrive. I'm guessing there's a standard book he has to swat with? Thanks again!!!

iaink

Much as I enjoy driving stick, there is a lot to think about when first learning to drive as it is, so Id encourage them to learn in an Auto, then teach them how to drive stick once the rest of driving safely is a relatively everyday event.

I dont envy you your insurance premiums once hes licensed


Heres a link to the ontario drivers handbook to get him started on...


http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/handbook/

Novocastrian

Here's another one.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/handbook/

Dotty P

Thanks Iaink and Novo......much appreciated.

It's bad enough in the UK for new drivers (especially boys) but I am dreading what we'll be quoted there!! Perhaps we'll get him a unicyle.....

HGerchikov

Insurance is cheaper if they do one of the recognised driving courses - they get a week of classroom instruction plus something like 10 hours of on road instruction and a mock test. My 16 year old is taking his road test next month - still not managed to get an insurance company to tell us how much it is going to be, they just keep stressing the discount for the course.

Incidentally he has learned on both manual and auto as we have one of each, he will be taking his test in the auto - why make it any more difficult for him.

iaink

My brain can no longer cope with the adjective "cheap" and "insurance" in the same sentence, so alternatively, insurance will be slightly less eye wateringly EXPENSIVE....

HGerchikov

Fair comment