Hi Guys! A new recruit here and I'm actually still in England - sorting out paperwork and stuff. I stumbled across the website because I'm looking for info on car insurance and drivers licences. I found a previous thread and got verrrrrrrrrrrry confused about whether to use my UK licence, and IDU or register to take G1 and G2. I'm moving to Niagara, ONT so any advice would be helpful. I need a car for my job and need insurance to the sum of $1,000,000 - it's all double dutch to me!
Also, if anyone can give me advice about ANYTHING to do with moving (health insurance, transferring (limited!!!) funds, etc). I am coming across on a one year working visa. THANKS!!!! Look forward to hearing your comments!

Hi there
If you find answers to your questions elsewhere canyo let me know
Thanks

I didn't seem to be doing too good at getting advice on here did I??? I have found some stuff elsewhere. There IS a humungous waiting list for driving tests in Ontario. As a non-tourist (ie worker) I can drive for 2 months on an English licence and 3 on an international without taking the Ontario test. I think you can drive for up to a year on an international permit IF you are a tourist. I can get insurance on a privately owned vehicle on a UK licence. That's all I know so far. Oh, you can go and sit in the drivers' centres and wait for 6 hours plus for a cancellation...

so how do yu get an international licencethen in the uk

Contact the AA or RAC or Green Flag. You can get them at certain post offices in big cities (the AA website tells you which). Alternatively, you can print off a form from the AA website or phone any of the motoring organisations for a form. It costs £4, you need to send a copy of your UK licence and a photo. www.theaa.com

The waiting time for tests really does depend on wher eyou do the test. For the written test to get the G1 there is no waiting time as you just walk in and take it. Problem then of course is you only have the G1 until you take the next test so you can't drive alone.

At my local test centre whcih is just outside Toronto the waiting time is ridiculous for the practical tests because no one in the city wants to take a test in the actual city so they all go to our local one just outside. I got my G1 at the start of April and they werent taking bookings for test dates before September! However I took a 2 hour refresher/test prep lesson with a local instructor and he knew of a test centre in a town about 1.5 hours from here wher ethe waiting tiem was only about 4 weeks. So i got him to book me in there and paid him to use his car and drive out there and took the test there and so got from taking written test to full G in just under 4 weeks. So it's worth finding out form a local isntructor where you move if there is some small town a few hours north where there is a short waiting list, or if you have all day to wait you can wait for cancellations on standby etc.

Drew

Same for me, moved to Ottawa 5 years ago and had troble getting a licence before my UK one ran out. There are many smaller licencing offices around and a look in the phone book can get you a test quicker - My children have used this method since. e.g. Ottawa 3 months - Smith's Falls 3 weeks. As for passing the test, use an automatic it's easier and less to think about and there's no licence limitation as there is in the UK. Second, get the beginners driving in the local book shop and read it - pay particular attention to right of way at lights and stop signs and the big one: Blind spots. Otherwise it's pretty easy to jump straight to a full G licence. If you fail though, you will have to start at a G2 and work your way up and that's a pain and can take a year. As for insurance - bring a good no claims form from UK, that got me 3 years credit. Good Luck