Uk driving license
 

Hi guys, what's the score with a Canadian license if you already have a uk license, can you transfer it or do you have to sit a test.

Thanks

Re: Uk driving license
 

Depends on which province you're moving to?

Re: Uk driving license
 

Alberta

Re: Uk driving license
 

In case of Alberta yes you can change your UK license without having to sit any tests. Just make sure you bring your green counterpart. They'll take away your UK license, test your eyesight, charge you about $95 and a few days later you'll have a license in post.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Fantastic, thanks for your help

Re: Uk driving license
 

This is correct as long as you have held a full UK licence for at least 2 years.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Photocopy your UK licence before you hand it in. Then if you move back to the UK you can just get it reissued.

Re: Uk driving license
 

and only for class 5 (cars), classes 1-4 and 6 don't reciprocate

Re: Uk driving license
 

Why do they take away your licence? do they do the same in BC?

Re: Uk driving license
 

because you are effectively swapping your GB one for a whatever province one.
if you get the provincial one from scratch they wouldn't take it.

Don't fret though because if you go back to the UK you can get it back, just keep a record of your driver number or take a copy of it

Re: Uk driving license
 

Not sure about BC but not all Provinces take your UK licence.

Re: Uk driving license
 

I suspect it isn't even a province thing but down to the whim of the person dealing with you.

They took ours, not even batting an eyelid that mine was the crappy photo cardless paper one that had been scrunched up in my bag for god knows how long!

Re: Uk driving license
 

Manitoba gave me my class 6 and others had theirs transferred too.
But that was Steinbach and some who tried in Winnipeg lost their class 6.
Like someone said i think it depends on who serves you and their mood lol

Re: Uk driving license
 

They swap it in BC. They didn't used to, but you used to have to take a test. Be thankful it is just a swap now-a-days.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Back in the day, went in to get my BC license, had to sit a test and take a road test, with someone who looked like he was just out of school beside me who had no idea about safe driving.

Next off to Transport Canada re my pilots license, they looked at my log books and gave me the license over the counter without any testing.

Re: Uk driving license
 

In Ontario they swapped my car licence. But I had to re-take my bus test, they would not swap that. I wanted to keep my UK licence but you cannot hold a licence if you do not reside in a country. If I did ever go back to the UK I could get my licence back.
It is better swapping it over, than having to do the beginners G1 G2 car tests starting from scratch. Along with the restrictions and associated high insurance premiums!

Re: Uk driving license
 

And importantly, re-issued as a manual licence.

Re: Uk driving license
 

I think it is a Provincial thing, we were told that it was illegal in AB to hold more than 1 driving licence, regardless of who was working in the office.
The company I worked for had countless Brits working there and I've not heard of any that have managed to keep hold of their UK licence.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Them trans Atlantic Mail runs in them Vickers Vimys must have been nervy affairs for you Mr Aviator?

Re: Uk driving license
 

interesting, had no idea that it was now a swap thing. When I came to Ontario in 1980 I had to take a test but did not have to surrender that bit of green paper, which is good because it will come in handy when I move back to Uk.

Re: Uk driving license
 

I'm not sure a licence from 1980 would still be valid even if you do still have it. Or maybe it's the plastic 'photo ones that have a 5 or 10 year renewal period.

Re: Uk driving license
 

licence is still valid. This is the old green paper licence that is valid until your 70th birthday.

Per website, if you green licence is still valid you do not need to exchange for photo one

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-paper-dr...fore-you-start

Re: Uk driving license
 

Wombat7 how comes your moving back to the UK?

Re: Uk driving license
 

Why moving to UK?
Toronto has been a great place for us and we have loved living here. I have had a career here which I doubt I could have had in UK I. But now retired (early) and time for a new adventure.

I like the oldness of the UK, old stones, cemeteries, village greens. I also like its "softness", not the same extremes as here.

The proximity of the rest of Europe is a pull as well. I am lucky in that I have traveled a lot but there are so many places in Europe that I want to see.

So, after 34 years, we are leaving home and going to the UK. There will be many things that I will miss here, firstly our friends, but if there aren't things that you miss you should have moved a long time ago.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Well said, all the best with your move.

Just reading threads here seems more cases for returning than emigrating?

Re: Uk driving license
 

I guess it is different strokes for different folks. I have only lived in UK for 11 years of my life. Have no family back there. We are going to an area that we like, but have never lived there.

Some friends here have talked about us "going home" but it does not feel like that at all. We are leaving home and going to a place that feels like it fits (based on a visit there earlier this year). When traveling out of the country and ask where I am from I always say Canada. Asked my nationality the auto response is Canadian.

bottom line, I guess, is that at this stage in our lives we think rural UK is a better fit. dont really have any doubts at the moment. The proof of the pudding (or the proof is in the proof as Jean C once said) is in the doing, I know. But you never know until you try.

I have been preparing by listening to Your and Yours on Radio 4 and periodically looking at the Daily Mail. Website!

Re: Uk driving license
 

Regarding the 2 year rule in BC, I've had my license for just over a year. By the time I arrive, it'll have been about 1 and a half years. Is it possible to hold on for 6 months, and get the automatic transfer once my license hits 2 years old?

Re: Uk driving license
 

Which area of the UK did you choose ?

Re: Uk driving license
 

No. You have 3 month deadline from arrival in province in which to swap it.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Area of UK selected - Suffolk

Re: Uk driving license
 

Thats a nice area.

Re: Uk driving license
 

Yes but as I sit looking out on my To garden bathed in sunshine with bright blue skies. My partner is there, looking for a rental, and it is pouring with rain.

Just goes to show nothing is perfect

Re: Uk driving license
 

yeah i know from family the UK has had odd weather this year from really hot to crazy amounts of rain lol

Re: Uk driving license
 

But at least no ice storms and ground covered with snow from December to April!

Re: Uk driving license
 

Very true, most years the weather is much more settled.

Re: Uk driving license
 

That was then think, we are coming to a new normal. But will still will have fewer extremes than Toronto, and way few than edmonton. Not that extremes of weather are a bad thing. I like seasons but can give up double digits below

Re: Uk driving license
 

if you get down to -10 in the UK the country will shudder to a stop lol more like - 3 to -5 lol
Make sure you checkout the Norfolk Broads too and the new steam engines they have running in the UK.