Amtobi

I am trying to find out more about buying a car in BC. My DH & I will hopefully be arriving in Jan on a TWP.

Would we have to have a BC licence for insurance or would we be able to buy (and be insured) on on an international licence? We would like to buy a car ASAP and avoid having a rental.

We have UAE & RSA driving licences so we will have to do the driving tests before we can get our BC licences, which is a bit of a pain! but alas we will just have to get on with it

TIA

JonboyE

No, you can buy and insure a car using a foreign driver's license.

Unfortunately, yes. You can use your foreign licenses for up to 90 days but if you want to continue driving after this you must pass a BC knowledge and road test.

Martin the cdn expat

If you are going to live in the Lower Mainland, keep Aircare ( emissions inspection ) in mind.
Outside the Lower Mainland ( Vancouver to Abbotsford ), don't worry.

PMM

Hi


Note Air Care Ends Dec/14

Amtobi

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that, we will be in Surrey so that will affect us.

PMM is it ending on the 14th dec or Dec 2014?

PMM

Hi


Dec 2014 Note that only cars older that 2007 require aircare every 2 years.

angelic applicant

hmmm...i moved here in june this year 2013..just swapped my uk licence for a BC one...no test. although they asked me a question about turning right at a red light over the counter...that was it

maybe i have a kind sensible driver face?????

sorry just noted...op wasnt asking about uk licence

Amtobi

Yip, SA doesn't have an agreement with Canada. We don't have to do the whole graded licence. From what I understand we have to do the written test and then the final road test. Not looking forward to that!

On that topic, does anyone have experiance of the road test?

JonboyE

It is not that difficult. Take it in an automatic as there are a lot less things they can fail you on. Drive defensively, shoulder check before maneuvering, stick to the speed limits. You know how to drive, you just have to demonstrate that you can do so safely.

I suggest you take one or two lessons in the area where you will take your driving test. The instructor can take you round a couple of likely test routes and point out what the examiner will be looking for.

PMM

Hi



Good suggestion, one thing to be very careful of during the test, is the bike lanes, don't pull into the bike lane before the dotted line when making a right turn.

Paradise1

If you can bring a letter from previous insurance companies stating how many years of safe driving you have then your insurance rates in BC will be a bit lower.
Just gone through this with a 26 year old from germany who is staying in Canada for a year. He paid $1200 to insure a 1990 dodge van.

Aviator

A letter of safe driving is no good for ICBC. What they require is a letter (in their format) of how many uninterrupted years you have with no at fault claims up to the point of getting insurance with ICBC.