driving with UK licence
#1
Thread Starter
Forum Regular

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37

hey all,
I've done a bit of research into this, but I've found conflicting info, so now I'm confused. Basically, I have a UK licence, 2 years old, and I've been in Canada 18 months on a tourist visa (currently waiting for spousal sponsorship to come through).
Can I drive in Canada under any circumstances, or only when I'm landed and can exchange my UK licence for a Canadian one?
Many thanks!
I've done a bit of research into this, but I've found conflicting info, so now I'm confused. Basically, I have a UK licence, 2 years old, and I've been in Canada 18 months on a tourist visa (currently waiting for spousal sponsorship to come through).
Can I drive in Canada under any circumstances, or only when I'm landed and can exchange my UK licence for a Canadian one?
Many thanks!
#2
You are in a grey area. Technically you are only allowed three months to drive in Canada with a british license, but without a residents status cant easily get a local license. I would guess you are probably OK to keep driving, but have you actually tried to get a canadian license yet after being here so long. If you tried and they wont let you at least you have the moral high ground.
Which province are you in.... it possibly makes a difference?
The other grey area is if you have had the license two years, but been here not driving for the last 18 months then you may not even be entitled to swap as you dont actually have 2 years driving experience, although I doubt in practice most offices would make that distinction.
Which province are you in.... it possibly makes a difference?
The other grey area is if you have had the license two years, but been here not driving for the last 18 months then you may not even be entitled to swap as you dont actually have 2 years driving experience, although I doubt in practice most offices would make that distinction.
#3
Forum Regular



Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 169
From: Nova Scotia











Hi
We had our UK licenses for over 10 years and drove in Canada for 3 months before we took our driving tests in Nova Scotia. We were here on a six month visitor visa ... took the written and practical test, got a license no problem. We still have our UK ones too.
Claire
We had our UK licenses for over 10 years and drove in Canada for 3 months before we took our driving tests in Nova Scotia. We were here on a six month visitor visa ... took the written and practical test, got a license no problem. We still have our UK ones too.
Claire
#4
Thread Starter
Forum Regular

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37

Hi and thanks for the responses.
I'm going to contact one of the offices in Toronto to clarify.
Cheers!
I'm going to contact one of the offices in Toronto to clarify.
Cheers!




