Hi everyone!
The husband is now starting to panic and we both look at the 90 day driving rule differently, so any help welcome please.
We are landing in NS next week, however my husband is only there for a week as he has some business to sort out back here in the UK, and he will return to stay in NS in December.
Will he be able to again have the 90 day driving on his english driving licence when he returns to NS in December,or does the 90 day come into effect when he lands in October and keep going so that when he returns in Dec he won't be able to drive?
My understanding is that he will be fine to drive as he will have left the province so he will start the 90 day thing anew, however he reckons that it starts on landing and it won't renew.
So which of us is right?
Please say me cause if I'm right I get a bottle of Champagne!!

I would start counting from when he gets his own insurance etc...they are the only people likely to be keeping count anyway.

It's from becoming resident, not from becoming a Permanent Resident. You can be a non-resident PR, if you see what I mean.

In BC, once you apply for your BC Care Card you're 'in the system', and this is linked to driving licences etc. Delay applying for a care card and you delay the opportunity to access free healthcare, as well as the 90 day period.

I looked into this when I first came to NS. The rules are actually not that clear so you can probably tailor them to your advantage. If you get stopped by the police or when you do eventually go to take your driving test they will simply ask you when you arrived. They don't check-up or expect you to provide evidence. The girl at the driving test centre openly told me this when I phone to make an appointment. If you tell them you arrived more than 90 days ago they will tell you you mustn't drive any more until you pass your test (they can issue you a temporary permit to actually take your test). If you came here, then left again, then came back you should be able to get away with telling them your most recent arrival date (i.e. not the original one) and everyone will be happy.

Just FYI, Rich.... the BC Care Card doesn't have any connection to your BC DL. The only time your Care Card would come into the picture is if you were involved in an accident and made a claim for bodily injury.

Cheers

Oggy

As I said, the connection is in the database - once your personal information is logged for a BC Care Card, then you can't argue that you've not been a registered resident since a given date. Hard to say you've come and gone for periods of time, and want to pick and choose when the 90 days starts.

A friend of mine didn't get her licence sorted within 90 days, and received a letter stating that her ICBC cover had therefore become invalid - databases are cross-checked apparently.

No probs... just thought I'd point it out. 13 years experience doesn't account for much these days


Oggy

We went out for 6 months and took our driving tests 3 months in. It was a new challenge and it was fun. We now have our own Canadian driving licenses.

Claire

Thanks everyone for your input, guess i can quite legitimately ask for my champagne now!
Paula

We live in NB and just swapped our British Licences for new shiny NB ones. However being wily little wellys we ordered a copy of our Brit ones before we left. which means we have two one for here and one for there

I went just over a year before taking my NS test, no one ever asked me how long I had been here, I still have my UK licence also, they didnt seem to know whether to take it off me or not so they let me keep it. Its not really a big issue.

No-one asked us either about the 90-day thing although we took our test just within the time limit. We owned our own car and no way did we want a 'get out clause' for the insurance company if we had a accident.

Our NS driving test was simple. 2 x 40 multiple choice questions, then on another day we had a 10 minute driving test..... straight ahead, turn right, turn left a few times ....... then back to the test centre where I had to reverse park into a parking slot (no parallel parking) - simple! Instructor told me that he had never failed a UK driver. You get to keep your UK drivers license too.

Here is the NS Drivers handbook

Wishing you all the very best for your landing

it most certainly DOES count!..i have always found your knowledge invaluable!!! you have helped me immensely and i am sure i am not alone.......i for one thank you very much for your continued sharing on this site.

~*~*~*~**~**~~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~ **~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*

besides the OP is in NS ....completely different to BC from what i am understanding things are different from province to province.

Agreed. For sure you shouldn't worry. Police here only really care about insurance (and probably speeding and booze) or so my canadian neighbours tell me. I don't believe there's a policeman here who, if presented with a UK driving license, will as to check out your landing date/PR details. Just say I've been here x weeks/days and am being tested in y weeks/days. they are also particularly concerned that your vehicle is MVIed (like an MOT) - this involves kicking tires, blowing the horn and looking at the exhaust as far as I can tell and costs about $20.