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Expired California Driver License Exchanged to BC Driving License

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tinnguyen0408

Full Member
Dec 3, 2022
30
7
Hi,

I am moving to BC on August 2023 as a study permit holder. I have seen a few threads discussing the issue of having an expired US driver license successfully exchanged for a BC license. Please see below for those threads:

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-dl-to-canada-dl.646841/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/exchanging-expired-us-driving-license-with-bc-or-alberta.560961/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/new-immigrants-with-expired-us-dl-exchange-of-license.451968/page-2
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/expired-but-valid-us-drivers-license-exchange-for-bc-license.391605/

My questions are as follow:

I am currently in possession of my two expired US driver licenses, a CA license and a NY license. My CA license was issued in April 2017 and just got expired in April 2022. And the NY license was issued on August 2013 and got expired on April 2018.

My question is that as long as my California driver license has not been expired for more than three years prior to the date I am planning to do the exchange, is my CA expired license still acceptable for the exchange?

And another question is that do my two expired US driver licenses combined together act as sufficient proof for two years of driving experience?

Thanks!
 
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Ponga

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Oct 22, 2013
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https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/Pages/Moving-from-another-country.aspx

If you've never held a licence in B.C. before, your out of province licence is expired over three years and you cannot provide proof you have been driving on a valid licence anywhere in the last three years, you will be required to take a knowledge test and a road test.
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Since a California DL is definitely an `out of province' DL, you should be able to exchange your California DL, since it has NOT been 3 years since it expired. You can get your driving abstract online, here:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/customer-service/request-vehicle-or-driver-records/online-driver-record-request/

Cost is $2.00 (USD) and can only be printed to your personal printer. FWIW, ICBC can `see' your California driving history in their system, so you may want to phone them before ordering your California history. You can reach them at (604) 520-8222, or possibly on (800) 910-4222 if they accept calls from outside Canada on that line.
 
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tinnguyen0408

Full Member
Dec 3, 2022
30
7
Yeah. I already got a hold of ICBC. They said that they would be able to exchange my CA license for a full BC license as long as the CA license has not been expired for more than 3 years.

What I need to bring to ICBC includes my passport, study permit and my CA license. But just to be sure, I will order my CA driving history just to make sure that I bring sufficient documents with me. And the fee for the exchange is just 31 CAD.
 
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gaurav1282

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Aug 20, 2013
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tinnguyen0408 said:
Yeah. I already got a hold of ICBC. They said that they would be able to exchange my CA license for a full BC license as long as the CA license has not been expired for more than 3 years.

What I need to bring to ICBC includes my passport, study permit and my CA license. But just to be sure, I will order my CA driving history just to make sure that I bring sufficient documents with me. And the fee for the exchange is just 31 CAD.
Click to expand...
no need to bring driver, they can check it online

even i took it and they said not required as they can verify online
 
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Ponga

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Oct 22, 2013
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stickynotes15

Full Member
Nov 22, 2020
30
12
Posting this here for an Ontario license exchange. I exchanged my expired California license earlier this month (June 2023). They asked for an official driving license extract but I did not have it (I had the online version) so they just checked my record online.
The official driving license extract is good to have for Ontario but not mandatory. Further the service Ontario lady told me they'll exchange till 1 year after expiry and no further then that. No address proof was asked for. I had to only show my passport and took a standard eye test. The fee was about 90 CAD for a full G class Ontario license. I had about 6 years on my California license but I think Ontario needs only 2 or 3.
Received my license card in 2 weeks in mail while they had provided a temp one on the spot.
 
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wizardofwest90210

Star Member
Oct 18, 2022
180
33
My NY License expired more than five years ago. Do I have to start from scratch in Ontario? Any benefits at all, in terms of license in Ontario? Thanks!
 
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stickynotes15

Full Member
Nov 22, 2020
30
12
wizardofwest90210 said:
My NY License expired more than five years ago. Do I have to start from scratch in Ontario? Any benefits at all, in terms of license in Ontario? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah I don't think you'll get a full license but they will consider your driving experience and I guess you just take the behind the wheel test then. Best approach is to walk in to a service Ontario location and talk to someone there.
 
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wizardofwest90210

Star Member
Oct 18, 2022
180
33
Thanks, what is the approx. timeline from driving test to getting a license where you can drive by yourself and not with someone with a current license? Thanks!
 
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