cheeky_monkey

My son was almost ready to take his test back in the UK..So when he went down to the registry he was told he will have to hold a Canadian learners licence for a year before he can take the test here? This cant be right surely?? anyone have any experience of this?

geoff52

Why cannot it be right? In Canada, you live by Canadian rules. Leave the UK rules in UK.

Aviator

If someone has a learners license in another country, or held a license for less than 2 years there are restrictions.

A learners license holder has to hold a L for 12 months before they can take a test to move on to a N. Licensing are quite correct. You don't get credits for time served on a foreign learners permit.

If he had passed his test in the UK before coming here he could have gone straight to a probationary class 5 for 2 years.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...ddriverlic.pdf

withabix

Yes, it's right.

Here's how it works in BC:

http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing...licensing.aspx

It's only a few years ago that you couldn't exchange a UK DL in most Canadian Provinces for a Canadian one without taking a driving test and then displaying an N for a year, no matter how long you had a UK one for.

Vulcanoid

Most Canadian provinces have graduated licensing schemes, where it takes 2-3 years to become licensed. If your son had held a UK licence for two years or more, he would normally be able to swap for a full one (depending on things like where you are, and what status is), holding it for less he might or might not. If he hasn't even taken his test yet, he'll certainly be going into graduated licensing. You seem to think it's weird?

wonderwoman

Again, I'll second that this is totally correct for Alberta. No different to if my son moved to the UK with his Canadian learners, they don't recognize it.

Aviator

That would be a full license, not including learners license.

Vulcanoid

Yes, absolutely. Provisional licence it doesn't matter how long it's held, no test, no swapping.

DandNHill

You can swap a learners license between provinces. Not that this is relevant to the OP just thought I'd mention it.

Siouxie

It is possible to get 'credit' for the time holding a Provisional license, in Ontario at least... though you still have to go through the graduated licensing route, it can cut a few months off.

"However, if you have a probationary licence (e.g., learner's permit), you may be entitled only to have driving experience credited."

https://drivetest.ca/licences/licenc..._exchange.html

It might be worth asking if Alberta have a similar credit system.

cheeky_monkey

not quite in the UK you can get your licence on a Monday and take your test on the Friday..it just seems strange that you have to hold a licence for a year before you are eligible to take your test..lets be honest its not exactly rocket science learning to drive.

BristolUK

Probably just as well. I'd be dangerous behind the wheel and lethal if it was rocket powered.

bc2015

Actually in BC you do. I came over with a learners permit (from Ireland, assume UK ones are treated the same) and I was able to take the N test straight away and I didn't have to attend driver school.

scilly

It might be rocket science to LEARN the rules of the road and obey them, even if driving is not

cheeky_monkey

Since when did Canadian drivers learn the rules of the road?..some of the driving i see is worse than abysmal