dormy

When I get take my NS Drivers test, and hopefully pass I believe I qualify straight away for a class 5 licence instead of a class 5N, is this correct. If so would my date of getting licence be then or when I passed my original test 20 years ago

Also if I fail it seems odd that I will still be able to, ask the examiner to get out and then drive away (on my uk licence). This whole process is going to seem surreal, driving up to the test centre to take a test, and if I fail driving away again.

DaveTheCat

Then. They -- and, more importantly, the insurers -- will treat you (more or less) like a bloody novice.

Er... no. If you fail, you'll lose your driving privileges immediately, even if you still have some of your 90 days left.

Cookie

Eeeeeek, I am sitting my written tests this week (2 x 20 Qs plus eye test), then hopefully my driving test next week. OH and I had better do our tests separately then as one of us has to be able to drive (mainly him mind you for his line of work). Didn't know that if either of us fail we cannot drive home even if we have a few weeks left on our 90 days

Southcote

Thats kind of worrying. How difficult is the driving test in NS ?

jasper2912

I must be really thick (although, I am new to all of this), but do you have to take a driving test even if you've got one in the UK?????????

JimandNic

Different provinces have different rules
I can only speak for BC and Ontario:
In BC you will need to take a theory test, eye test and do a practical driving test too.

In Ontario there is a direct exchange programe with the UK and you just need to go into a driver's centre do an eye test pay your money and exchange your UK licence with an Ontario one.

roxye3

Hey Dormy,

I was made aware that NS has a reciprical deal with Britain so you should be able to exchange your DVLA licence with only doing a theory test. I intend to get my Florida licence exchanged in Ontario to avoid any testing except the eye exam. When I moved to the US my British licence was not recognised so I had to do my theory test and driving test again. As easy as that was I do not want to go through that again for a third time (British test, US test and then Canadian Test). Then when I get to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia I'll exchange my ON one for a NS one. Direct to a Class 5 licence. We'll..........That is the plan anyway. HA!

If you passed your British test then the Canadian one will be a lot easier. You practically need to take a degree course to get a British Licence these days. You just gotta get driving on the wrong side of the road down and the basic theory road stuff, sighns et al.

It is funny because when I turned up for my driving test in the US they were shocked to see that I had driven with no licence, on my own to take the road test, well....... untill I pulled out my British licence that is and they calmed down and offered mt some cake. Nice really.

Good Luck. You'll be fine.

charlie1

Unfortunately there is no longer a reciprical deal in NS, we have to sit the full test, theory and eye test also. I am taking mine next week and while I feel it should be a breeze, I am worried that I may have picked up too many bad habits that I am not aware of. I looked into getting 1 lesson to see how I am doing but instructors will only sell full courses.

roxye3

Two things....................just two!

AVOID ROLLING STOPS and indicate like your life depended on it and you will be fine.

All the best.

NovaBoy

My understanding is that you have to take your NS driving test within the 90 days. When ever you decide to take the test, if you fail, they take your UK licence off you, 90 days up or not! You then have to start from scratch.

Can someone tell me, is the theory test on computer, on paper, multiple choice etc?

I think someone mentioned this before, I don't think you'll be able to get a US or Ontario licence and then just swap them over, I think you have to have had them for a certain amount of time!

Don't know if this is true but would be pleased to hear anything about the theory and driving test from anyone that has done it.

Many thanks.

scrubbedexpat074

Not true, I landed in Ottawa, swapped my license, bought a car drove to Halifax and swapped my license again without eyebrows being raised.

You do need an address in Ontario where your new photo card can be sent though as they (well mine at least) are not issued over the counter like the NS ones.

Certainly no reciprocal agreement between NS and the UK.

Mark

Mark

NovaBoy

Now you've got me thinking Mark.

Many thanks for the info by the way.

So what you're saying is that I could land at Pearson, do the Immigration / landing bit, and stop at my brothers in Cambridge ON for a couple of weeks, swap my driving licence,then move up to NS.

Is there anything stopping us entering Canada at Pearson but not applying for our SIN cards till we get to NS? Or should we get our SIN cards as soon as possible?

Cheers.

Cookie

I checked the handbook and it says there are 2 sets of questions, one of which is multiple choice. I will be able to tell you later today as I am off to sit my test this afternoon.

I have also spoken to a driving instructor about having 2 lessons prior to driving test and he said it was okay with him. Hoping to sit my driving test next week. Fingers crossed for this afternoon

Cookie

Here is a link to the Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook:

http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rmv/handbook/

scrubbedexpat074

We gave my wife's uncle's address and drove straight over to NS (landed Ottawa) with the temporary paper license. He posted our photo license about three weeks later. We took those and exchanged them for the NS ones.

When we registered our vehicles though with paper Ontario licenses they tried to get us to register for tests (as they mistook them for learner licenses) - we told them we knew we had 90 days to do the transfer.

Nothing at all, that's what we did.


Mark