Learning to drive, uk or Canada
#1
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Hello, we are possibly moving to Canada in the next few months. I can't drive which isn't an issue where we are currently living but I think that it'll probably be necessary in Canada.
Am I better off learning and hopefully passing my test before we go or am I better waiting and learning in Canada?
If anyone has experience or advice with this I would be very grateful, thanks!
Am I better off learning and hopefully passing my test before we go or am I better waiting and learning in Canada?
If anyone has experience or advice with this I would be very grateful, thanks!
#2
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Where are you moving to? Each Province has it's own rules and also if you with to learn standard/manual you may have a problem finding a instructor here and the lessons will be more expensive than learning in a automatic.
#3
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Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
It's looking like Halifax with a possibility of New Brunswick
#4
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Tough one. If you learn here and get any Canadian license you can have problems converting it back to a full (including manual) UK license in the future.
#5
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
The bigger issue is going to be if there is a GLP in the province, then they have to have an L for a year and N for 2 years. This is the case in BC and soon going to be in NS.
COme with a license from overseas that has been issued within the last two years and the driver still has to go into the GLP.
Service Nova Scotia - Registry of Motor Vehicles - Graduated Drivers Licence System
#6
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
In my experience with switch my wife driving licence form Canadian to UK she had to sit a test to get a standard licence.
The DVLA would only issue a automatic licence, and to add the police will 'often' (not always) tolerate a north American driving a Standard on an automatic licence on a spot check, and give a verbal warning
But be involved in anything outside of a spot check or happened to have a defect, then expect it to become a chargeable offence and invalidate your insurance
To directly quote the DVLA "You can only drive automatic vehicles - to drive manual vehicles you need to prove that you passed a manual car test."https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-...britain/canada
getting that proof is almost impossible if as you say "A letter form the licensing authority in the province stating that there is no testing differentiation between standard and automatic in that province"
our experience was they needed written proof that the Canadian test was done in a standard car, something that simply wasn't available!
Last edited by MikeUK; Jul 9th 2015 at 11:40 am.
#7
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
My UK license was restricted to automatic only. In order to get a full unrestricted UK license I had to provide documentation that I had done my Canadian driving test on a manual car (I did not), or otherwise I had to sit a UK road test.
OP I don't know if it makes much difference learning in UK or Canada... if you are planning on staying in Canada longer-term then learning in Canada might be better just so that you can learn all the Canadian road layouts, rules, etc and not have to re-learn all of that while also learning to get comfortable driving in a new country - just seems a bit ridiculous to throw so many more variables into the equation. However, do ensure that you do your Canadian driving test on a manual car so that you don't have any issues if you end up needing to convert your license back to a UK one down the road.
OP I don't know if it makes much difference learning in UK or Canada... if you are planning on staying in Canada longer-term then learning in Canada might be better just so that you can learn all the Canadian road layouts, rules, etc and not have to re-learn all of that while also learning to get comfortable driving in a new country - just seems a bit ridiculous to throw so many more variables into the equation. However, do ensure that you do your Canadian driving test on a manual car so that you don't have any issues if you end up needing to convert your license back to a UK one down the road.
#8
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
My niece came here with a license from the UK she had for less than 2 years, she had to go into the GLP as a Novice driver.
#9
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Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 228
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
It is so easy to pass the driving test in Canada. Most of the drivers here are zombies with steering wheels who rarely look in their rear view mirrors or indicate. They are symptomatic of a driving test scheme that lacks rigour, and often takes place in low density traffic environments.
In the UK, my head was constantly moving around like a nodding dog looking around while shifting gears manually, and negotiating roundabout exits.
Suggest you take the test in Canada.
In the UK, my head was constantly moving around like a nodding dog looking around while shifting gears manually, and negotiating roundabout exits.
Suggest you take the test in Canada.
Last edited by Cyan; Jul 9th 2015 at 2:52 pm.
#10
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
It is so easy to pass the driving test in Canada. Most of the drivers here are zombies with steering wheels who rarely look in their rear view mirrors or indicate. They are symptomatic of a driving test scheme that lacks rigour, and often takes place in low density traffic environments.
In the UK, my head was constantly moving around like a nodding dog looking around while shifting gears manually, and negotiating roundabout exits.
Suggest you take the test in Canada.
In the UK, my head was constantly moving around like a nodding dog looking around while shifting gears manually, and negotiating roundabout exits.
Suggest you take the test in Canada.
#11
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
I agree, if the OP is moving to Canada, then taking the test there seems a much better idea, for one thing she would not have to learn driving again as she would learn how to drive on the right, in the UK she would be taught the rules for driving on the left, then would have to unlearn those and learn how to drive on the right.
For THAT aspect of things, I think OP is better off learning in Canada, if that's where she is planning on staying longer term.
#12
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Thanks for all the replies, definitely given me a lot to consider!
I think I would rather learn in Canada as it does seem a bit silly to learn here and within a few weeks have to learn again in Canada (other side of the road etc)
I'll start looking in to the process in Canada so I'll know what needs to be done once we are there.
I think I would rather learn in Canada as it does seem a bit silly to learn here and within a few weeks have to learn again in Canada (other side of the road etc)
I'll start looking in to the process in Canada so I'll know what needs to be done once we are there.
#13
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
This is a better answer than mine... hadn't thought of the G1 issue.
Not necessarily. A letter form the licensing authority in the province stating that there is no testing differentiation between standard and automatic in that province works with DVLA.
The bigger issue is going to be if there is a GLP in the province, then they have to have an L for a year and N for 2 years. This is the case in BC and soon going to be in NS.
COme with a license from overseas that has been issued within the last two years and the driver still has to go into the GLP.
Service Nova Scotia - Registry of Motor Vehicles - Graduated Drivers Licence System
The bigger issue is going to be if there is a GLP in the province, then they have to have an L for a year and N for 2 years. This is the case in BC and soon going to be in NS.
COme with a license from overseas that has been issued within the last two years and the driver still has to go into the GLP.
Service Nova Scotia - Registry of Motor Vehicles - Graduated Drivers Licence System
#14
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Hello, we are possibly moving to Canada in the next few months. I can't drive which isn't an issue where we are currently living but I think that it'll probably be necessary in Canada.
Am I better off learning and hopefully passing my test before we go or am I better waiting and learning in Canada?
If anyone has experience or advice with this I would be very grateful, thanks!
Am I better off learning and hopefully passing my test before we go or am I better waiting and learning in Canada?
If anyone has experience or advice with this I would be very grateful, thanks!
You'll be a much worse and dangerous driver but you'll obtain your license more easily.
#15
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 0
Re: Learning to drive, uk or Canada
Learn how to drive properly. Read in the UK not Canada.