Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Hello everyone.
I did ask questions about where in Canada to settle....and the winner was..... Kelowna!

We arrived here in August and love it (14 day quarantine for my family was annoying, I was exempt). We rented a car for the last 6 weeks, we are now thinking of buying a car. Cant decide what to buy ( family of 5, mainly city driving but need loads of space). Any suggestions? What should we look out for? questions to ask?

I have booked to exchange my UK licence this friday. I see on the BC website that they require information from the original issuing authority. Now how do we go about this?
Ps I got my licence from Republic of Ireland back in 2004 then exchanged it to UK in 2011. The original date still shows on the licence. I presume I have to ask for that letter/document from Ireland. Does anyone know how I go about it?

Also, its likely we will need to get insurance before this document arrives, will we get a rebate?

Sorry for too many questions. Thanks in advance

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

On the subject of insurance ***see posts downthread***, I hope you got letters from your insurers in the UK etc., if you hope to have any previous drivers experience (no claims) recognised, they have to be in a specific format (details in our great Wiki item on the subject .. :) Before you exchange your license go online to DVLA and print off a couple of copies of your driver extract (you won't be able to once you exchange).
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Car_Insurance_in_BC
and https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Drive...2F_TWP_holders

Congrats on your landing and settling in Kelowna!! :thumbsup:

Please see posts below - I stood corrected on the necessity

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

This has actually changed, BC no longer requires letters from your insurance company, just needs the driver licence history.

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensin...r-country.aspx

OP might get records from Ireland from here https://www.ndls.ie/how-to-apply/let...statement.html

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

:goodpost:Brilliant news! Perhaps you could update the wiki?

This too:
https://www.icbc.com/insurance/moving-travelling/Pages/Insurance-discount-for-new-residents.aspx

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Hi[

1. Letters from previous insurers is no longer a requirement as of Sept./2019 in BC. Your insurance will be based on your driving experience. See: https://www.icbc.com/insurance/movin...residents.aspx

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Hello all,

I exchanged my UK > Canadian licence in the past, and recently exchanged Canadian > UK. I will be going back to Canada (BC) soon and will need to exchange my licence again. I noticed on ICBC they want some sort of driving licence history record. I'm wondering if I will need this for car insurance too?

What information do I need to get hold of and how do I get this? I have kept photocopies of my previous licences and I understand you need to provide a driver licence history. I found this link on the DVLA website: https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence, is this the one?

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

See the various links in the posts above with regards to this :)
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...driving-record

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Congratulations and good choice, the okanagan is awesome! Obviously living here you need to have a truck, to haul the inevitable toys you will have to have to enjoy the lifestyle here. I started out with a 'half-ton' (1500) but within a couple of years have already been forced to upgrade to a 'one-ton' (3500) for its hauling capacity. The half tons are remarkably puny once the weight starts adding up! If a family of 5 i highly recommend getting one with the bench front seat/fold down armrest because then you can add a 6 person if needed.
Or of course you could go down the boring route of a minivan but where's the fun in that! I can recommend Bannister GM/Chev on the corner of Leathead they were amazingly helpful with me buying my first vehicle here and I now use them exclusively (albeit their counterparts branch Vernon) for all my servicing etc.

And woah lucky escape on ICBC changing the rules on insurance, that was probably the biggest headache of the whole move trying to get all our past insurance letters. Dont fret it, insurance will be higher than you're used to in the UK, but you didnt move here to worry about prices, get on and just enjoy living in the most beautiful place on earth!

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Might be too late for Friday's appointment but possibly of interest to others - I haven't had my driving history requested either when changing my UK for BC licence or when adding full insurance to the basic ICBC stuff. I did find that adding a named BC driver to my insurance policy significantly reduced the premium so this is worth doing providing they have a good record of course.

Good luck, it's all a tedious process but results in some feelings of achievement once it is complete.

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

Thanks all for your replies.

It turns out their systems/computers were down today so they rescheduled me to Monday. So even the late replies were helpful.

Indeed the Okanagan is a beautiful place, I keep sending pictures to my sister in Leeds just to make her jealous ( I want her to move too) and she keeps checking our weather and asking me why its not cold yet. I bet she will have the last laugh when winter comes, lol.
But this place is amazing!

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

thanks, I did this but it only gives my record from my recent exchange. There is no mention of driving record from before.

Re: Exchanging UK Licence BC (and buying a car)
 

This is an unusual 'Fall' season to be fair, I even swam in Kal Lake on Saturday!

And when it gets cold, depends if you like skiing or not! My friends in England are all even more jealous when the snow starts flying :D