Swapping driver's licence
 

So I am living in Ontario now after somehow getting away with driving with just an international licence in B.C. for ages.

I am halfway through this graduated licence system and I've just found out from my friend that instead of taking the final test I can just swap my UK licence for an Ontario one.

Turns out they've (Government types) just updated the international agreement. Didn't seem fair the way it was before because you could just just swap your licence over if you were from Japan or Korea or Germany (car producing nation anyone?) Now the UK is in the mix too.

But I'm strangely reluctant to part with my DVLC. Not just becuase the picture is fantastic but because it was so hard to get.

It took me three goes before a nice examiner in Putney finally passed me.

What have you all done?

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

I didn't consider that I had a choice because I understood that my UK licence was only good for sixty days in Ontario. So I did the swap and have a very smart Ontario licence instead! :)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

If/when you go to the UK you can exchange your Canadian licence for a UK one - although you can drive on the Canadian licence in the UK I am not sure for how long. On the UK request for replacement licence form tick the 'option' stating you are requesting a replacment because you have exchanged your original UK licence. You then submit the request form along with your Canadian licence.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Oh that's really good to know. I just didn't want to trade in my UK licence for good. One of the Ontario driver's licence phone gurus said I can't change it back because if I get a licence here they (in Britain) won't think I know how to drive standard anymore.

But I can drive standard....and parallel park...and pull out with less than three miles of clear roads on either side.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

I changed mine to UK with no problem after 3 years in Cyprus and believe me there is no such thing as 'standard' there. A red light and a green light mean the same thing - slow down a little and take a quick look both ways.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Right :) I can't believe what people get away with in the name of driving. The styles are so different. I don't know how anyone in Renfrew County (land of huntin' and fishin' and drainpipe jeans) could drive in London where there's no room for a v. wide farmer's turn. And they would be gumming up the works sitting there waving everyone to go ahead of them at green lights.

I don't suppose learning how to do any of that is going to be a transferable skill for me.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Does that mean that the "automatic only" rule for Canadian license holders (unless manual test taken) doesn't apply on return to the UK if you've previously held a full UK license? Not that I'd remember how to change gears anyway...but useful to know ;)

Biiiiink

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

What if you have the old type UK licence, like i have, i also have motor bike, tracked vehicle licence and my HGV Class 1 on it, surely i cannot expect to have all licence catagories swapped for a Canadian equivelent ? Trucker on his way to saskatoon as soon as daughter has finished exams :)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Don’t know about "automatic only" as the ‘G’ class in TO covers -

�Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.�

- and does not mention automatic. The class ‘G’ is the one you get if you exchange a full UK licence in TO so you would get a 'full' UK one in exchange for the 'G'.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Ah, I wondered if you meant that if we UK holders surrendered our license for a Canadian one, we would return to our full usual UK entitlement (automatic or manual) on return. At the moment, the DVLA say this about Canadian licenses, but I'm still not clear if having previously held a full UK one would alter this for us.


Canadian Licences - Due to information received from the Canadian licensing authorities, it was decided to give all drivers who exchange Canadian licences automatic transmission only.* This can only be upgraded to manual upon presentation of confirmation from the relevant licensing authority of a manual test being passed or a manual test is passed in this country.

From http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvin...ed%20Countries

Anyway, it's all academic for me - I need to get my Canadian one first and sincerely hope never to be swapping it back for a British one anyway ;)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Wouldn't the british licensing authorities have proof in their records that you're an experienced "manual" driver?

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

When I got my BC driver's license (long time ago) it didn't matter whether you drove a standard or automatic - you just got a license to drive. Most cars in Canada are automatic and if you want to drive a standard, go ahead, but you don't need a license to. I'm pretty sure it's still like that in BC and the likely the rest of Canada. That's probably why British authorities only give the automatic licenses for Canadian licenses - most Canadians just don't drive cars with manual transmissions.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

You would hope so. At the moment they don't have proof in their records that I own the car I do so I'm not particularly hopeful of their common sense in these things!

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

When you apply to replace your Canadian licence in the UK the form you fill in asks for your original licence number (name/DOB). This DVLA record is valid until your next test date and covers the last sentence in your quote above as your records will show you held a full UK licence (assuming you did).
The inclusion of your Canadian licence with your application will validate your request for a replacement UK licence due to your original one being exchanged in Canada for a Canadian one.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

here in quebec, when you exchange your UK license, you get to keep it still!... so i have possession of both my UK and Quebec driving license :)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Before I requested a replacement UK licence from DVLA on my return to the UK from Cyprus I contacted them to ask if I could keep my Cypriot licence for when/if I went back. I was told that only the last licence issued, irrespective of country of issue, was the valid one and that I must surrender my Cypriot one before I could hold a valid UK one. So if you visit the UK and hire a car I suggest you use your Canadian licence, if you use your ‘old’ UK one and for whatever reason a check is carried out you may find yourself with a problem.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

And what do you do when your british license is expiring?

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

You retake the test because it expires when you are 75 years old.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

70 in the UK. My 70yr old Dad recently had to sign something to say he was fit and they reissued him with one, no questions asked, no retest. I say "retest", he never actually took a driving test in the first place but that's another story.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Yea 70 it is, I was going from memory and at my age I forget things ... ermmm sorry what were we talking about again.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

that's gonna happen when i hit 70!... quite far off for now... :)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Hi Everyone!!

My canadian husband (who is here with me in the UK) wonders...

Once he has his Class 1 UK license and we eventually do move back to Ontario, will he have to again take another driving test? (previously held a class 1 Ontario license before coming to the UK). poor guy, having to take so many driving tests he never gets to pick up any bad driving habits lol).

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

It would be interesting to know what specific UK law (if such a law exists - it may not) invalidates your British driving licence just because you obtain an overseas one.


Jeremy

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

If you simply take a new test in Canada and retain your UK license the only catch will be - and this is required ‘by law’, don’t know what law but it says that on the DVLA website - your having to notify DVLA of your change of address and as your new address will be in Canada (or wherever) it may well wave a flag for your licence details to be put under ‘review/investigation’. As your license is a 'record' of your driving performance it would seem illogical for 'official' bodies to ignore the possibility that with 2 licences you can effectively have 2 records, one unblemished with the other full of penalty points, with you retaining the option as to which license to give to the police for checks to be carried out. So although I don’t know all the inns and outs I feel sure, as DVLA told me, there must be a catch somewhere that limits you to one ‘valid’ license.
Alternatively if you ‘exchange’ your licence in a recognised country then by definition you no longer hold a valid UK one and so the last one issued is the only valid one. On return to the UK If you apply for anything other than an exchange licence, e.g. if you apply for a replacement license and say you lost your original one, you will be entering false information onto an ‘official’ application form and signing to say that it is accurate – I don’t know what law this breaks but I’m sure it breaks at least one. And although this false claim may not be picked up it may, for whatever reason, turn up and bite you at some future date.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

You do not have to give up licence and never see it again. if youreturn to the Uk you can ask for it back. Id it is a case that you just like to look at it!
In theory you can also apply to DVLA for a replacement licence, claiming that it was lost. Pay the money and receive a new licence ( need an address in UK though)

You are not meant to hold two licences as you are now a Canadian resident
not British.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Hi, I am new to the forum.

Reading this thread I don't see an answer to this question.

If I swapped my UK licence for a Canadian one would it have the same categories on it. I have an LGV C+E licence (HGV Class1) and a PSV D+E licence (Coaches). Or would that depend which province?

I have also heard that Canada is looking to recruit Truck drivers from the UK and would fast track the immegration for them. Any truth in that????


Thanks :)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Hi Spook,
Welcome to the forum -
Re Q1 - you could try searching through http://canadaonline.about.com/od/driverslicence/ it covers all provinces and you would know best exactly what the equiv Canadian is to your UK.
Re Q2 - sorry hope someone else can help you on that one.
Mike

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

I am a Trucker emmigrating to Canada, see my signature for my timeline, NO it does not fast track you to canada,and YES you DO have to retake your HGV Class1 or C+E as it is now called.
The reason you have to retake it in Canada is it is called a A+Z catogory, A is the Class of vehicle you drive,,,,,,the Z means you have completed an air brake course, ...why?.... if you were to be stopped by the police or customs at the border and they do what we call here a Ministry inspection ,, if the brakes are found to be failing in any way, YOU are responsible for the repair or adjustment. afterall to send a mechanic thousands of kms to adjust a brake actuator would be costly.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

In any province you can aquire insurance for various periods at various expense and drive on an ordinary UK (cars) licence for six months max. Ontario & New Brunswick will swap if one wants to. If you go back to UK, if you swap back you will only get an AUTOMATIC gearbox licence. You can use a Canadian licence to a maximum of one year in the UK. :beer:

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

did you not get to keep your UK license?

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Hi ksct97,

Where in Montreal do I need to go to change over my UK license? I was hesitating as I didn't want to have to hand over my UK license.

Thanx

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Wouldn't the DVLA know from their records that you had previously held an unrestricted GB licence?

Jeremy

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/

By all accounts Quebec does not require you to surrender your UK licence. But get a copy in advance just in case.


Jeremy

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Daft idea - what's to stop you from getting a duplicate of your UK licience " I washed it in my jeans pocket....." and going over with 2. One for exchange and one to keep in the biscuit tin with passport ready for the 1000 dollar reminder trips to Blighty.

Just a thought.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

The DVLA computer will stop you - the one you washed in your jeans will have an earlier issue date than your replacement and if you are ever asked by the UK Police for your licence and show anything but the 'last issue' dated one you will be in trouble.
If you hand in the 'original' UK one in Canada the info will be fed back to DVLA so questioning your claim to have washed it in your jeans - if, in Canada, you hand in the 'replacement' UK one then when you return to the UK and don't replace your Canadian license but instead drive on your 'original' UK one then go back to the top of his reply.
This is incorrect. When you apply for an exchange licence on return to the UK you fill in your original license number and date of issue (only if you originally had one of course) on the aplication form. DVLA then re-issue you your 'original license' classification entitlement (assuming no vehicle specific time limits apply that require a retest) complete with any penalties.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

At present on the UK DVLA site it clearly states, handing in a Canadian license will only get you a UK auto-licence !!! :mad:

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

Bob said in another thread that he had been looking into this and had found that if you can prove you took the test in a standard you can get a standard replacement. Presumably if you tell the DVLC your old license number (take a copy for the biscuit tin before swapping licenses) and that you swapped for a canadian one and are swapped back, they would be satisfied from their own records that you once had a standard license?

What's the big deal with taking a test again anyway, and shouldnt you lot all be blindly optimistic about happily spending the rest of your days in canada anyway, so who cares what sort of UK license you get if and when you go back ;)

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

I agree, wy help those who run back to the UK ?

For those brave enough to stay, John Walker Insurance, St John, NB.
Can arrange auto ins. on UK or a Canadian license.
The cost in cash terms is the same as UK costs.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

I think this topic is running twice in a funny kind of way, but here is a link for people going to UK if it helps.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvin...er%20countries

Section 7 for Canada.

Re: Swapping driver's licence
 

You are saying to DVLA - had enough of this country give me my UK license back. The application form for a 'replacement' license covers several contingencies including the simple exchanging of a 'foreign' license into a UK one - if you never held an 'original' UK license then the 'exchange' one you get will be whatever the rules say. BUT there is a section on form D1 for you to fill in your original UK license number and if you do so you will get your 'original' UK license back in 'exchange' for your Canadian one. DVLA records will show the 'state' your licence was last at and you will be issued a 'replacemnt' one to the same standard (assuming HGV's, or whatever, are still time covered without a retest).