Hi. Does anyone know if there will be a problem exchanging a UK
driving licence - which now has 3 points for speeding - for a BC one,
or do you have to have a completely clean UK licence? Thanks

Hi there,

When you arrive in BC you have 3 months in which to take your BC driving test (road and exam). Up to that, you can drive on your UK license. However, if you fail the road or written test, they will take your UK license off you until such time as you pass (a minimum of 1 week later). My partner Neil failed on the first attempt and they took his UK license until he passed. They can do this as driving licensing and car insurance is all tied up in one neat package.

They don't care if you have points for speeding - I have six on my UK license. As the UK is not on the country list for a straight exchange of licenses they don't care whats on it.

Also, when you leave the UK, don't forget to take any paperwork that shows you have no-claims bonuses in the UK. Ideally, they are looking for insurers paperwork that proves you have not had a claim in the last 8 years. You are looking to obtain the maximum discount on the ICBC insurance scheme. So seek out any bits of paperwork you can.

Let me know if you would like any more information.

Sarah

Hi Sarah

Thanks for reply. That will really put the other half's mind at rest!!

Sent you an info email.

Rich.

Is it the same in Ontario for UK Licenses ?

What countries can have a straight exchange ? I assume ones that have a more stringent test than the UK, or is that me being too logical ?

Hi

You would have to check the Motor Vehicle Branch in each Province to determine what licenses are straight exchange.

BC
Canadian, American, Austrian, German, Swiss, Japanese or South Korean driver's licence?
You will be issued a new equivalent class B.C. driver's licence. In most cases, you will not need to take a road test if you hold:

a Canadian or American passenger car or motorcycle operator's licence, or
an Austrian, German or Swiss Category B or German Class 3 driver's licence for passenger cars, or
a Japanese Ordinary driver's licence or a South Korean Class 2 Ordinary driver's licence for passenger cars, or
a Canadian licence equivalent to a B.C. Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 (commercial) licence
and your licence is valid or expired less than 3 years ago.

PMM

Hmm!!!! Canada and Stringent Driving Test. Not two items that are often used in the same sentence. This morning on the way to work I saw what was probably the most appalling piece of driving that I have ever seen when a redneck (must have been since wearing dirty baseball cap) moron in a huge 4x4 sped down the inside lane for traffic leaving Crowchild then slipped into the middle lane. By slipped, I mean rammed a porche out of the way. This is not atypical of Calgary drivers.

But anyway, Have a look here:

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeOutProv.aspx

Thanks for that. Just looked and in Ontario Great Britain licences are also transferable without anything but an eye test. Not sure why they wouldn't be in other provinces.

Some provinces don't have reciprocal agreements with the UK for exchange of driver's licence.

As SarahBC mentioned, you'll need a driver's abstract (history) from the company that provides the insurance policy, not the broker that you purchased it from. The document needs to be on letterhead, and have all the dates of coverage noted.

Oggy

Okay, can anyone answer this question : From the extract below what do they mean by acceptable proof as shown in Red Italics ?

This is the abstract from the DriveTest Ontario website :

Drivers from other Canadian provinces, Canadian Forces-Europe, U.S.A., Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Great Britain and Austria.2 or More Years of Driving Experience Within the Last Three Years
If you are a licensed driver with two or more years of driving experience from one of these jurisdictions you may get full class licence privileges without taking a knowledge or road test. However, you must pass a vision test and show acceptable proof of your previous licence status and driving experience.

Just your license is enough - it has a start date on it. Mine was <2yrs and they picked that up no problem, Mr B's was >2yrs and he ws credited with that. I think the problem may arise when you hold a yearly license as issued by some places, and so can't show a "start date" if you see what I mean...then you would need an abstract or driving history if you were claiming a driving history longer than the dates on your license. (we swapped in ON, no idea about other places!)

Thanks for that, should have no problem then as my licence started in 1979.

My UK licence is valid for 4 wheeled vehicles from Cars to Medum Lorrys but I also have the Motorcycle category on it (Passed that 4 years ago) Don't suppose you know if the transfer is for all categories, IainK threw some doubt about 2 wheels being transferable ?