BC Drivers license
 

Hi all,

I realise this will have been covered, and I have tried searching for what I want but without much success.

Have just realised that we will need to exchange our drivers licenses within 90 days of becoming resident to be able to continue driving in BC. It looks relatively straightforward, but I have a couple of questions.

We have both had licenses for a long time so fulfil the 'more than two years' requirements. And they're just for passenger vehicles, so no HGV or anything like that.

1) I've read the wiki, which just says to take your drivers license along to exchange it. But the ICBC website recommends also proof of driver history. How do I obtain this?

2) What happens to your UK drivers license - is that still valid in the UK or does it get cancelled in some way? If still valid, do you continue to renew the photocard in the UK?

3) Am I correct in assuming the process is exactly the same for a returning citizen and for a PR? (I couldn't find any info suggesting otherwise)

4) If my husband's PR hasn't come by the time we get to Canada, presumably he needs to wait until PR arrives to exchange his license?

Thanks. Sorry for all the questions.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Hi

I can only answer part 2 really. Before I left I rang DVLA to ask the exact same question. You surrender both parts of your licence and it gets sent back to the UK for destruction.
The DVLA then mark your licence as suspended due to being out of the country.

If and when you back to the UK for longer than 1 year you just ring up and they send you both parts out to you.
Hope this helps

Re: BC Drivers license
 

1) You follow the directions on this wiki article for insurance: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Car_Insurance_in_BC you can also get a drivers abstract from DVLC: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...driving-record

2) Has been answered up-thread.

3) Yes

4) If your husband asks for a visitor record when he arrives (pre-PR) - not just the 'stamp' - then he can use that to obtain a drivers licence.

:)

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Thank you Siouxie :)

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Apparently your licence just gets put through a shredder and doesn't get sent back, whichever country you come from.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Do not be surprised if the person at the Service BC office tries to tell you something different though! They are not known for being consistent with this whole process.

When I exchanged my license I didn't need any kind of drivers history or anything like that. Just my UK license, another form of ID and the fee. I think that was it. Oh and proof that you've been admitted into the country (Visitor Record, COPR, work/study permit etc.).

You will need to do a simple eye test so don't forget your glasses either :p

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Service BC don't do Driving Licences...that's ICBC.

Don't forget the 3-question driving theory test.

No need for a driving history for UK drivers from what I recall from last year.

Mind you, my wife didn't get asked the 3 questions either :confused:

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Well that depends on where you live. Some places don't have an ICBC office and so Service BC offices are used.

I was asked 3 questions.. I didn't know one of them, and so the lady told me the answer!

Re: BC Drivers license
 

I got asked three questions got them all correct, no issues with the eye test and it was all quite straightforward. Both the card and paper part of licence were surrendered. Even if you do not drive straight away its handy to get your licence swapped as it entitles you and your household to accident benefits. Hopefully you will not be an accident but if your a pedestrian, cyclist or a passenger in a vehicle and are injured if you have a licence or someone in household has a licence your entitled to accident benefits.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

And where I am we go to a private insurance agency inside a credit union for drivers licenses and related.

I don't know if they send actual foreign licenses anywhere, but I do know at-least in the case of California they do inform some issuing agencies as California now has my California license status as no longer valid, but it didn't expire until 2015, so only way they would know is if ICBC notified them that I got a license here.

I was asked no questions, no eye test, just asked for my California license, and payment....

Re: BC Drivers license
 

You can apply for and renew your drivers license at any Service BC office. ICBC are the licensing authority and they print and send out the license on information that comes from a Service BC office. Driving tests are also taken at Service BC offices.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

They only put a small sticker on my UK licence saying something like "BC licence issued'.

As soon as I got home, the sticker was peeled off and the UK licence put back in my drawer 'just in case'.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

They did not even do that on ours. Looked at it, did a test, anyone drawing breath could pass it.

Pilots license was even less work, looked at my log book, answered 20 questions, they gave me a license. I was then let loose with $200m worth of kit.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Not all Service BC offices, you can't in Squamish for example. The Service BC office doesn't offer drivers license services at all here, it's done at a private insurance agent inside a credit union.

Re: BC Drivers license
 

Guess it's best for the OP to go onto the ICBC website to find their nearest office then!