balUK

Hi all,

I have just moved to Calgary and today I went to a registry office to exchange my british driving license for the alberta driving license. I have read about the exchanging procedure in other posts on the BritishExpats. However, I had slightly different experience in the following way:

The lady who served me seemed bit confused about the whole procedure herself. She told me that my application will be reviewed and the GDL condition may be waived when I receive my photo license in 10 days or so.

I am slightly concerned with the whole procedure. I was wondering if the fees have gone up recently or I was charged fee in a wrong category. Also, is it normal for them to issue an interim license with GDL and then issue a full license without GDL.

Any comments? Thanks

Piff Poff

Have you looked here: http://www.servicealberta.ca/1671.cfm

the undutchables

My wife and I exchanged our UK licences for full Alberta class 5 one's. However, they took my motorcycle and my class one off the licence. I have since sat my motorcycle licence, but can't justify a couple of grand to re sit the class one just yet.
This was over 5 years ago, so can't comment on the cost. They initially issued them for the length of our work permits, but gave us full 5 year licences when we got our PR.

the undutchables

My wife and I exchanged our UK licences for full Alberta class 5 one's. However, they took my motorcycle and my class one off the licence. I have since sat my motorcycle licence, but can't justify a couple of grand to re sit the class one just yet.
This was over 5 years ago, so can't comment on the cost. They initially issued them for the length of our work permits, but gave us full 5 year licences when we got our PR.

balUK

Yes I have, thanks. I guess my photo license will be GDL exempt. But it does not seem to mention any fees.

Siouxie

http://edmontonregistry.com/site/onl...rivers-license

$85.45 for a 5 year licence.

balUK

Brilliant Siouxie that answers my question. Thank you.

Steve_

Yeah the fees were raised some months back, because the car registration fee has gone up too.

Just make sure you made a copy of your UK licence. Otherwise you're in for an argument "but I was allowed to do that in the UK" And also car insurance companies may want to see that.

Oakvillian

why would an insurance company want to see a copy of a no-longer-valid licence from a different jurisdiction?

Edo

If you are claiming discount for driving in another country I am sure they would want to see a proof that you really drove there.

Edo

I exchanged mine last week and I was charged $91.80

Oakvillian

...proof that would be provided by a letter from your previous insurer. A driver's licence only shows that you were legally permitted to drive, not that you owned, operated or insured a vehicle, nor that you made no claims on that insurance which is the important consideration for insurers here.

Almost Canadian

It was suggested that I copied my UK driver's licence for the reasons explained above. When I first sought insurance, they asked me for proof of how long I had held that licence for and for proof that I had been claims free for the period I stated that I had. To satisfy them, I needed the letter(s) you refer to and a copy of the licence.

I believe the advice given to photocopy the licence is sensible, not only to deal with the issues I have stated above, but also to ensure that if one returns to the UK, one has ready access to the information required to obtain a replacement UK licence.

99problems

OK. We did this in April in Calgary. Its eighty somethign dollars so yes fee is correct and has been raised. My licence (since 1994) went atraight through and my wife's (2001) had that GDL thing on it - which basically means inexperienced driver. This did not appear on the full licence when it came though - full licences took a good while to come. It is definitely a good idea to photocopy your licence as it is your only way of proving which vehicles you are licensed to firve in teh UK and you can get extensions to your Alberta licence on this basis if you need them. It also helps when applying for insurance etc. The people at the registry aren't the sharpest and can give wrong advice and appear uncertain most of the time - we had 6 or 7 visits to get 2 licences, 2 health cards and a plate for the car we bought.

Sin numbers was fun too - we didn't have an address to start with so they agreed to have them sent to the centre itself for us to collect some weeks later - only they then said they returned them when they arrived as somebody thought they had been sent there by mistake.

Latest fun is credit cards - I applied for a c/c with BMO with a $1000 limit and offered a charged deposit for $1000 to cover it. Declined and no reason given after 6 weeks. Got granted a c/c unsecured from my employer - a credit union before the decline even came back. Easiest things to do is apply to AMA as a member (AA equivalent) and they will do a secured crdit card while you build a credit history. Its hard to buy anything online or check into a hotel or book flights without a c/c. For my next trick I shall get my UK iphone unlocked from vodafone and get a "cheap" tariff here. Will leave it till next year to buy a house and get a mortgage.

balUK

Great advice guys. Luckily, I have a scanned copy of my UK license (both parts) with me which can be printed if required. Also, I managed to get a letter from my car insurance company back in the UK with my driving history on it. The next part is to find an insurance company in Alberta that accepts UK's no claim history. Any suggestions? Car insurance seems ridiculously expensive here.

More importantly, I need to find a job first. Never sent that many resumes in my life before with 0 replies. Job market was supposed to be the best here in Alberta .

99problems: I managed to open a bank account with HSBC but was advised not apply for a credit card before I get a job as it might be declined. I am still counting on my UK credit cards for online transactions. Also, I am so so surprised that they are not aware of the free banking concept in this country.

As for mobile phones, apart from outgoing calls, pay for incoming calls, pay for voice mail, pay for caller id and the tab system to get a phone. Makes me laugh. The ridiculous part, however, is that you can not buy an unlocked phone here .