Learning to Drive in Canada
 

I am moving to Canada, at the end of the month, and obviously being able to drive in Canada is essential. Much more so than here in the UK.

I just wondered if anyone else has experience learning to drive in Canada, how it was, what was required and how much learning actually cost?

Any comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Entering "getting a drivers license in Quebec" on Google comes up with this information,
http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/driver...ents_other.php
Good luck..

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

It does depend on which province you will be learning in as each has their own requirements

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Thanks for that. I have google'd it already, learning to drive in Ontario.

Just hoping for some insight from somebody who's been involved, or been through it, as the infomation on google is quite long winded and a little confusing.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Ontario!

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

There are driving schools here but nothing like what I remembered in the UK. Mostly small independent operators who have a license from, in my case, Ontario to "teach". Obtaining a license in Ontario (Canada) is much easier than in the UK. As to costs I really don't know but have a look at the following site for information. If Ontario is not on your radar I'm sure other Provinces have similar sites.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan.../approve.shtml

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

We're in Alberta, It has just cost us (so far) $575 for 15 hours of classroom and 10 hours of in car.

Further lessons will be $40 per hour Automatic and $45 for standard.

DD will get a certificate valid for 3 years to reduce insurance for having done driver education.

HTH

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

We live in Whitby and my daughter is learning to drive. The course costs $325 and includes 20 hours in classroom and 10 hours in car.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Having done a little more reaserch, as I understand it, if I go, with my provisional from the UK, I can drive immediatly as I am over 16, as long as insured and accompanied by some one with 4 years of driving experience. Is that right?

Ill then have to do 12 months driving, whilst being accompanied, at which point I can take the level 2 test. Unless, I do a course at one of the approved centres, which will reduce that 12 months to 8. Have I understood this correctly?

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Wtf? 20 hours of classroom time to learn how to drive without using indicators or mirrors? Is there a special tail-gating session for trucks?

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

I don't think that you can drive on a provisional licence from the UK, only a full one.

Regardless, you can only drive on a "foreign" drivers licence for 60 days once you become a resident of Ontario. If you are just visiting, you can use one for 3 months or else you need an international licence. IDPs cannot be issued to a holder of a UK provisional driving licence without the test pass certificate and provisional driving licence. http://www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/visiting.shtml

If you are a visitor to Ontario and want to drive while you are here, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's licence from your own province, state or country. If you are from another country and visiting Ontario for more than three months, you need an International Driver's Permit from your own country or you may have to apply for an Ontario driver's licence, depending on your length of stay. You should also ensure your automobile insurance coverage is sufficient, and that you carry the original or a true copy of the vehicle registration or Certificate of Title for your vehicle.

New Residents
If you are a new resident in Ontario and have a valid driver's licence from another province, state or country, you can use it for up to 60 days after you move to Ontario.

If you want to keep driving in Ontario, you must get an Ontario driver's licence. You must use your Ontario licence when you are issued one. New Ontario residents have 30 days before they have to register their vehicles and get Ontario licence plates and vehicle permit. Click here for more information on Getting an Ontario Driver's Licence or Licensing a Vehicle in Ontario.

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/O...ryDrivers.aspx has details of exchanging a foreign licence.

:)

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Sounds like "Death via Powerpoint":D

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

My wife is learning in Quebec at the moment where it is compulsory to take classes. It has cost us around $900.

I think she has 10 or 11 2 hour classroom sessions where she goes through a workbook and an instructor cracks bad jokes.

She has on the road sessions as well, but they are not very regular. She is currently having a 2 hour driving lesson every 2 months. They expect you to go out regularly with a friend or family member in between classes. If you can't do this, or if you are not making enough progress, they charge you for extra lessons.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

I know. How they stretch out the triviality that is driving in Canada to 15 or 20 hours "theory" is beyond me.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

It's pretty easy.

Use autolights - preferably with full beams on all the time
Never signal
Don't use side mirrors
Cut the car in front of you up if you can race past them at a red light or even if you can't
Parking brakes are for wimps
You always have right of way
If the car in front isn't driving fast enough, drive so close that your actually sitting in the back passenger seats
When encountering a turning circle a.k.a. a roundabout crap yourself

Easy peasy! :thumbsup:

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Oh dear, sore subject in our house. We've only been here 2 months and eldest daughter, just turned 17, miffed as we won't teach her or indeed pay for her lessons. "All" her friends at school have cars apparently, some of them even behind the wheel of F150s, frightening thought. She is bad enough in Superstore with a shopping trolley, sorry cart.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Ok.........so I'm coming to Canada as a 24 yr old permanent resident with no UK license, so basically I'm going to have to start from the beginnin in Canada,
More specifically, Ontario.

What's the basic process? What do I need to do to get on the road asap?

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Driving in Canada.....

You need a cell phone and a tim hortons for each hand

you need to have your neck fused to prevent you from checking your blind spot

when merging onto the highway fly down the slip road and brake sharply when you have reached the same speed as the traffic

Do not pull into large gaps - wait till there are some cars for company

Never leave the outside lane until 100m from the exit you need

you need to have all common sense and hazard perception removed BEFORE turning the key

Ignore those strange painted lines in the road - they have no meaning

A red light means oh go on then just 3 more cars

Over take a vehicle by travelling 1/2 kph faster than it then cut across in front of it and ease off by 1 kph

Blinking orange lights on the side of a vehicle are just decoration and mean nothing

When a truck moves to the centre of a road with hazard warning lights on make all atempt to get around it as fast as possible - dont worry the driver will see you - failing this stop as close as possible to said truck as this will make it manouver faster

When a truck signals right but moves to the left drive up the inside of it as the driver obviously signaled the wrong way

DO NOT under any circumstances maintain the same speed for more than 1 kilometer

Drinking 8 pints and driving is perfectly safe and normal

DO NOT wear a seatbelt

The round thing in front of you is to hold onto and will only turn halfway in either direction making 90 degree turns a bit tricky

IN busy traffic accelarate hard and brake sharply - DO NOT leave a large gap and maintain a slower steady speed - you will get there faster, also frequent lane changes will improve progress and traffic flow

Hope this helps !!!!

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

I wish Public transit was a good as it is in Europe

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Hope this helps...

Road Rage - report bad drivers:

http://www.myroadrage.com/

http://www.myroadrage.com/images/road-rage.gif

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Wow, could this possibly mean there are some not-so-good drivers in the UK? I guess all the good drivers have relocated overseas.

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Wow...imagine............

Re: Learning to Drive in Canada
 

Ha ha. How true. I'm constantly amazed at how few people ever indicate.

Could I also add the following: Do not under any circumstances ever acknowledge any kind or considerate actions from fellow drivers.

It's wierd. Complete strangers will occasionally smile or say hi to me in the street for no reason (which is nice), but never, ever will people wave or smile as a result of a considerate action whilst in a car. So basically I have stopped bothering. IMO, the biggest w*nkers on the road are those in 'monster trucks'. There is a direct corelation between truck size and stupid/ignorant driving actions.