Hi all
Does anybody the know the process you have to go through to exchange your UK driving licence to a BC one as it seems to differ from province to province.

cheers M.N

No exchanges in BC....you have to take the driving test within 90 days of taking up residency, (as opposed to when you land, which could be different).

Check out this BC driving licence website for further info.

Yep, I had to sit my tests (theory and road).

Go into your local ICBC driver services centre - map of locations in vancouver: http://apps.icbc.com/locator/results...istance=15+kms. They'll give you a book to study for the theory test, you'll also need to take a practical driving test. Search the forum - lots of advise.

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Gettin...27s_license-BC

The wiki is pretty accurate on this. Is that your work JonboyE?

Thanks for all your advice on this matter its been a big help....just one last thing Do they need my counterpart..(the paper part)
Cheers again

No, they don't care about that bit.

Thanks for informative things

Passing this test within 90 days means a class 5 or 7 ?

As long as you have held you UK license for 2 or more years you get a class 5 license when you pass the driving test.

Meh - just read this post and wiki. I won't have 2 years UK driving experience by the time i get to Canada. Therefore it looks like I'll be able to drive for 90 days when I arrive but then I have to do the learner driver programme, which means you have to be a learner driver for 1 year (hence always have to be supervised by someone in the car)! Thats seems quite ridiculous given that I will have been driving for 90 days already.... Have I got this right?

If so- anyone know any loopholes? The wiki mentions going to the US and back may be a possibility? I'm coming out on a Bunac Visa for a year...

Thanks

As far as I can tell this is a gray area. It depends on whether someone on a BUNAC visa is considered a resident of BC. All I can suggest is you write (or email) ICBC and ask them. I say that you should write because it is something the ICBC staff don't seem to be in agreement with each other about so if you are going to rely on a ruling that you don't need a BC license then you want this in writing.

I don't think you will necessarily need supervision as this means you will be on an L. You may be able to get your N plate which allows driving alone but with some restrictions. All depends on actual time you have held UK licence. They gave my son credit from the date on his original UK provisional licence and not from the actual day he started driving so he didn't have to wait as long as he thought before doing his test.

He has just now taken his full test after doing a year on his N and passed. When the examiner got into his old mud covered truck she said she wouldn't be engaging in much conversation as she thought it best he had all his concentration, then she said "but you may have the radio on if you like"