Hi again

Forward planning once again here!

I understand that you can swap a UK license for an Alberta license without a problem. I only have an Australian license which isn't on the agreed list to do an easy swap (understandable really, you should see the drivers here sometimes!!)

So my options appear to be:

Swap to a UK license (seems to be an online thing and I still have my valid UK passport), then swap to Albertan

Swap to a BC license ... Australia is listed for an easy BC swap, then use that one to swap to an Albertan one.


Both seem viable to me, any reason anyone can see either being a problem?

Only other option is to go through Alberta testing and proving my clean driving record when I get there, which seems like it could be painful.


Thanks

Wayne

Swapping to a uk one might not work as I think there may be some rule about having had to have held the uk one for a minimum period?
Swapping to a bc one will only work of you are moving to bc, and can provide proof of residency in bc.
If you have to take the test, from Friends that did it when they came over, it's no big deal if you know the rules of the road out here!
And the standard of driving out here isn't that great at time!!!
Good luck!!!

You have to be physically resident and have a fixed address in BC and in the UK to get licenses.

To get a BC (and AB I believe) license you have to have held a foreign license for two years.

It seem hardly worth the bother to avoid taking a driving test, unless of course you count yourself amongst the Australian drivers to whom you refer!

Oh I hope not .... then again, I'm sure everyone thinks it's everyone else!!

I let people in front of me when we merge, the Aussies tend to race each other and drive side by sid eot try to get that one car ahead ... only to find they both brake at the last minute and come to a standstill until someone gives up!

Thanks!

Sounded like more of a mission than a simple practical driving test, but if it is just a simple road test then you're probably right ... I drove there for 18 months when I was on a working holiday a few years back, so it was more the hassle of sitting written tests, then practical tests, then probationary periods and trying to prove my driving record is clean from over here etc etc

i feel for you... i had exactly the same problem a couple of years ago

in the end, i decided it was too much hassle to decide to try to get a uk license from canada (especially since i have never lived in the uk, so i had no proof of address there, only the passport because of my parents)

so i did the test. it was a big, expensive waste of time. It cost about $30 to get a learners license and then another $130 to take the test, and something like $60 after passing the test.

The most stressful part was trying to find an insurance company who would offer me insurance while i was still on the stupid learners license (nobody will offer you insurance on your australian license). Canadian direct was the only one who would do it for me and take into account my australian driving history. It was like a catch 22, i needed insurance to register my car, but then i needed to license to get insurance, but then i needed the car to do the test and get the license. If you have a friend whose car you can borrow, you'll be in a much better position because you wont have to worry about any of that.

Also, make sure you learn all of the local rules and spend plenty of time driving before you take the test. there are some strange things here (for example, turning right through red lights, the difference between school zones and playground zones etc...)

If you want to go the BC route, you'll need to prove you actually live in BC, for example with a rental contract, pay stub, something like that. So its probably not possible for you unfortunately.

I have no idea why they require any of this crap... Albertan drivers are by far the worst of any first world country I've been to! They are truly awful, for proof, see my picture below (i took this on glenmore trail)

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/7rlix

LOL david!
Yup,looks like a typical Calgarian driver to me!!!
x

Ha ha classic photo!

Hahahah ... Thanks David, love the pic .... I'm actually impressed with that guy!

I drove for 12 months when I was working there on a working holiday so am pretty familiar with the different rules. The 4-way stop got me at first, but then I got used to it and enjoyed how well it worked in most places!

I thought you could skip the learners and go straight to the text with an Aust license?

Just watch out for the school buses! Very few people seem to know that when a school bus has its lights flashing, stop arm out, and its stationary...that you cannot pass it no matter whether you are waiting behind or passing from the opposite direction!
x

What's a stop arm? x

An arm that has a stop sign on it. It swings out from the side of the bus.

They are not used in the City of Calgary.

What about when on a divided highway?

Not used in Airdrie either....all very confusing at first

Thanks

Divided highway? do you mean a single dual carriageway? I need to get a Highway Code for Canada!