Buying a car

[Georgiana]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone tell me, if it's possible for a PR to buy a car in Canada with an international driver's license not with the Canadian one???

Thanks in advance

 

[steaky]

Yes, it's possible in BC, but I heard it is not possible in Ontario.

 

[Umpatan]

Yes, it's possible in BC, but I heard it is not possible in Ontario.

What kind of a baloney is that regarding Ontario? Anyone with a drivers license can buy a car as long as they have the money. You can go onto craigslist and buy it the same day you get your drivers license.

 

[steaky]

You're right, Buying No problem...
However, registering it [getting the No. Plates] is going to be problematic. 'Coz, for the No. Plates u need Insurance - and for the insurance u need a Canadian Driving License !

 

[toby]

What kind of a baloney is that regarding Ontario? Anyone with a drivers license can buy a car as long as they have the money. You can go onto craigslist and buy it the same day you get your drivers license.

Maybe, upon sober reflection, you might like to change "baloney" to something more polite? Steaky offers good advice to many people on this forum.

 

[qwerbilzak]

What kind of a baloney is that regarding Ontario? Anyone with a drivers license can buy a car as long as they have the money. You can go onto craigslist and buy it the same day you get your drivers license.

Don't listen to baloneyman.

"If you plan to drive in Ontario, you must obtain an Ontario driver's license."
"Before you have a driver's license, you will not be able to buy a car or insurance for it."

http://oisa.mcmaster.ca/handbook/transportation.htm

 

[toby]

Don't listen to baloneyman.

"If you plan to drive in Ontario, you must obtain an Ontario driver's license."
"Before you have a driver's license, you will not be able to buy a car or insurance for it."

http://oisa.mcmaster.ca/handbook/transportation.htm

Interesting. So, even though an immigrant is allowed to drive with his/her foreign licence for up to 90 days, it is impossible to get insurance (hence impossible to buy a car) without first converting to a provincial licence. So, the grace period os only for visitors, driving rental cars, right?

 

[steaky]

Interesting. So, even though an immigrant is allowed to drive with his/her foreign licence for up to 90 days, it is impossible to get insurance (hence impossible to buy a car) without first converting to a provincial licence. So, the grace period os only for visitors, driving rental cars, right?

The grace period for visitors in BC is up to six months, while residents up to 90 days to drive with their foreign licence. Thanks for your kind comments.

 

[toby]

The grace period for visitors in BC is up to six months, while residents up to 90 days to drive with their foreign licence. Thanks for your kind comments.

But presumably residents who don't yet have a provincial licence cannot get insurance and therefore are not buying cars. So what are they driving during the 90 day grace period, rentals?

You're welcome.

 

[steaky]

But presumably residents who don't yet have a provincial licence cannot get insurance and therefore are not buying cars. So what are they driving during the 90 day grace period, rentals?

When I became a new resident and bought my car, I have no BC Licence (not even a Learner's) but the broker told me I had a driver licence number. So the autoplan broker completed the registration and insurance by using this number. I heard that BC Licence number is assigned to anyone who merely took knowledge test but failed, being traffic ticketed and so on.

 

[TracyS]

I was able to get insurance for my car. I'm still on my Australian licence. The premium was just higher.

 

[abbuffon]

I was able to get insurance for my car. I'm still on my Australian licence. The premium was just higher.

@TracyS In what province?

 

[TracyS]

I'm in BC.

 

[toby]

I was able to get insurance for my car. I'm still on my Australian licence. The premium was just higher.

Did you get a letter of driving record from your Australian insurer? If not, that may have been the reason for the higher insurance cost, and not the fact that you had not yet converted to a B.C. licence.

Or did your insurer say it was because of no B.C.licence? If this is so, it would pay to convert before applying for insurance.

 

[TracyS]

Good point Toby, I didn't think to get a letter from my Australian insurer. We did that when we bought a house here and the premium was lower. I wasn't able to convert my licence until my PR card came anyway and I needed to get a car before then. All is good now, I have just received my PR card and have now got my BC licence on the way.