Can I drive with my US license if I extended my stay?

[lleahdoll]

No, I know. I was talking about driving here legally as a visitor.

I already know I can exchange my license after I become a PR.

My husband doesn't drive so there's no one's insurance I can be on here as a visitor.

 

[Alurra71]

No, I know. I was talking about driving here legally as a visitor.

I already know I can exchange my license after I become a PR.

My husband doesn't drive so there's no one's insurance I can be on here as a visitor.

If your spouse doesn't drive, and there is no insurance, who's car are you/were you driving? You stated that you had stopped driving at 6 months. I checked the website for Quebec and there is an interesting 'tidbit' marked IMPORTANT at the bottom of the page regarding 'foregin' drivers.

IMPORTANT:If you decide to settle in Québec, you are allowed to continue driving with your permit for the 6 months following your settlement. After this period, you are required to hold a Québec driver's licence issued by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec if you wish to keep your driving privileges.

It would seem as if you don't have a drivers license in either French or English you should get an international permit which would essentially translate your license into those languages and then allow you to drive. However, I would think since you have a license that is already in English, so long as it is valid in your home state and the vehicles you are in fact driving do possess valid insurance with the 'rider' that a legally licensed driver will be covered in case of accident, you will be fine to continue driving.

 

[truesmile]

(+1) Finally! Real concrete "research" over a whole lot of hot air, err "speculation". Although you'd think the OP's sponsor would have found that on his/her behalf . . .

 

[prss]

I just am not sure since the law is you can only drive on your home country's license for 6 months.
I also read something that said you can only drive if you have car insurance... well I don't even have a car. I have never owned a car, just have my license...

Hmmm.. I've had mine for 4 years so I wonder how much that would translate to? I read if you've been driving more than 2 years I think that's when you can exchange your license for a Quebec one (once you're a PR of course).

Yes. The law says you can only drive with your home country license for 6 months.

May be you could request AIRB to issue an exempt letter or so to drive with the US license past 6 months.

 

[QuebecOkie]

After "settlement." Which I read as obtaining PR. She has not begun to "settle" in Québec yet. She is just a visiting American at this point.

 

[lleahdoll]

If your spouse doesn't drive, and there is no insurance, who's car are you/were you driving? You stated that you had stopped driving at 6 months. I checked the website for Quebec and there is an interesting 'tidbit' marked IMPORTANT at the bottom of the page regarding 'foregin' drivers.

It would seem as if you don't have a drivers license in either French or English you should get an international permit which would essentially translate your license into those languages and then allow you to drive. However, I would think since you have a license that is already in English, so long as it is valid in your home state and the vehicles you are in fact driving do possess valid insurance with the 'rider' that a legally licensed driver will be covered in case of accident, you will be fine to continue driving.

We would borrow my mother-in-law's car. We would just need it every now and then to do groceries and things like that.
Except I KNOW the rule is you can drive for 6 months as a visitor. I read all that BEFORE I visited.

(+1) Finally! Real concrete "research" over a whole lot of hot air, err "speculation". Although you'd think the OP's sponsor would have found that on his/her behalf . . .

Seems like you're being kind of rude. I have done research. I know the law. And now I have more questions that I can't find the answer to. That is what this forum is for, no?
Why is it solely my "sponsor's" responsibility. I'd be the one driving... I'm the visitor. If I got pulled over and wasn't suppose to be driving past 6 months, that'd be on me, not my sponsor.
I'm not a PR yet, still a visitor it's my responsibility technically.

Yes. The law says you can only drive with your home country license for 6 months.

May be you could request AIRB to issue an exempt letter or so to drive with the US license past 6 months.

What's an AIRB? Thanks for the suggestion.

After "settlement." Which I read as obtaining PR. She has not begun to "settle" in Québec yet. She is just a visiting American at this point.

Thanks QuebecOkie!

 

[lleahdoll]

"Beyond 6 months, you must hold an International Driver's Permit, which allows you to operate the corresponding class of motor vehicle in Québec for the length of time the Permit and your driver's licence are valid. You must have both in your possession when driving."

"You must apply for a Permit in the country that issued your driver's licence, before leaving."

See, that's the problem. I've been here 6+ months now. I'm already in Canada so I can't get an IDP it seems.

 

[Alurra71]

"Beyond 6 months, you must hold an International Driver's Permit, which allows you to operate the corresponding class of motor vehicle in Québec for the length of time the Permit and your driver's licence are valid. You must have both in your possession when driving."

"You must apply for a Permit in the country that issued your driver's licence, before leaving."

See, that's the problem. I've been here 6+ months now. I'm already in Canada so I can't get an IDP it seems.

If you read what an IDP actually IS then it would appear you don't really need one. The IDP all it does is translate out your actual license into one of the 2 recognized languages of Canada which would allow the proper authorities to validate your driving skills without having to wonder what it actually says. I think in your case, because your license is already in English it shouldn't be a problem, since they do allow foreign students to drive on their licenses' for the full time they are here and so on and so forth. TECHNICALLY you are not 'settled' until you are granted your PR. I would check with your mom in law. If her insurance covers a US 'visiting' driver, because you are STILL a visitor, and are NOT settled, then you should be fine to do that.

Just try to keep in mind the definition of 'settled' for CIC and canadian government is NOT the same as settled for you.

 

[lleahdoll]

It does say beyond 6 months you need an IDP though.
And it says you can ALSO use an IDP for translating your home country's license..

 

[Alurra71]

It does say beyond 6 months you need an IDP though.
And it says you can ALSO use an IDP for translating your home country's license..

I am still of the mind that you are only a temporary visitor and can legally drive the car and be covered. I know I didn't exchange my drivers license to an Ontario one until I was issued my DM for my PR. I drove without issues. I suppose you could always be of the mindset that if you are pulled over, unless you voluntarily inform them that you are now and have been for over 6 months visiting your spouse they are not going to know. They usually give the standard 6 months rule only because you are only supposed to 'visit' any country for 6 months at a time.

I do have one more question though, and pardon me if you answered it somewhere else in this post already. Have you at all, at any point in time returned to the US since you originally came to Canada to 'visit' with your husband?

If you are still concerned, you can use this link to apply for an IDP with AAA. Yes, I said AAA. IDP's are not issued from the licensing bureau. http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

 

[Daizey]

I am still of the mind that you are only a temporary visitor and can legally drive the car and be covered. I know I didn't exchange my drivers license to an Ontario one until I was issued my DM for my PR. I drove without issues. I suppose you could always be of the mindset that if you are pulled over, unless you voluntarily inform them that you are now and have been for over 6 months visiting your spouse they are not going to know. They usually give the standard 6 months rule only because you are only supposed to 'visit' any country for 6 months at a time.

I do have one more question though, and pardon me if you answered it somewhere else in this post already. Have you at all, at any point in time returned to the US since you originally came to Canada to 'visit' with your husband?

If you are still concerned, you can use this link to apply for an IDP with AAA. Yes, I said AAA. IDP's are not issued from the licensing bureau. http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

I agree with this line of thinking. My husband has had me covered under his car insurance since I've been here, and they've even contacting him since then (it's been about a year and a half since I've been here, still waiting on PR) and they have told him that I'm still okay driving, as long as I have a valid US license. The "settlement" to me also means when you become a resident, before then you're still considered a visitor. In my opinion you're still okay, because that is what we have been told every time we've checked into it.

 

[lleahdoll]

I am still of the mind that you are only a temporary visitor and can legally drive the car and be covered. I know I didn't exchange my drivers license to an Ontario one until I was issued my DM for my PR. I drove without issues. I suppose you could always be of the mindset that if you are pulled over, unless you voluntarily inform them that you are now and have been for over 6 months visiting your spouse they are not going to know. They usually give the standard 6 months rule only because you are only supposed to 'visit' any country for 6 months at a time.

I do have one more question though, and pardon me if you answered it somewhere else in this post already. Have you at all, at any point in time returned to the US since you originally came to Canada to 'visit' with your husband?

If you are still concerned, you can use this link to apply for an IDP with AAA. Yes, I said AAA. IDP's are not issued from the licensing bureau. http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

I'm worried about the insurance part since it's my mother-in-law's car we'd be driving and she is... not reliable with information. Who knows if I'd actually be covered, she'd most likely just say yes so she doesn't have to drive us anymore.

Well, it's sorta confusing. I started visiting in December 2012. In June 2013 I went back to the states to "reset" my passport. I came back after my husband proposed. I then stayed another 6-ish months til November when I left again to reset my passport. And then this past May I decided to apply for an extension since we're married now and have already paid the PR fees.

 

[Alurra71]

I'm worried about the insurance part since it's my mother-in-law's car we'd be driving and she is... not reliable with information. Who knows if I'd actually be covered, she'd most likely just say yes so she doesn't have to drive us anymore.

Well, it's sorta confusing. I started visiting in December 2012. In June 2013 I went back to the states to "reset" my passport. I came back after my husband proposed. I then stayed another 6-ish months til November when I left again to reset my passport. And then this past May I decided to apply for an extension since we're married now and have already paid the PR fees.

If you are close enough to the border that you can drive easily, then take a day trip return and voila, problem solved.

As long as your mom in law has insurance, there should be a rider included in it for licensed individuals that don't live in the home. I am not sure I have heard of an insurance company omitting a clause like that on either side of the border. If all else fails, find out who her insurance company is and call them and ask for yourself Just mention you are the D-I-L from the states and wanted to know if it would be safe for you to drive her car in case of accident/whatever. Even if they won't give you specifics regarding the policy, they should be able to answer a 'general' question like that.

OR, you could go ahead and get the IDP from the link I posted above, however, that still won't help if the mother doesn't have proper insurance. Here is another link that gives you good information regarding the insurance laws in Quebec. http://www.ibc.ca/en/Car_Insurance/Introduction/Lending_Borrowing_Car.asp This would very much fit what you are doing with your mom in law.

 

[prss]

What's an AIRB? Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks QuebecOkie!

Sorry. Somehow I thought you are in Alberta. http://www.airb.alberta.ca/ Not sure they will be able to help though. May be I misunderstood them for http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/531.htm.
Appears you have already contacted them.

 

[lleahdoll]

If you are close enough to the border that you can drive easily, then take a day trip return and voila, problem solved.

As long as your mom in law has insurance, there should be a rider included in it for licensed individuals that don't live in the home. I am not sure I have heard of an insurance company omitting a clause like that on either side of the border. If all else fails, find out who her insurance company is and call them and ask for yourself Just mention you are the D-I-L from the states and wanted to know if it would be safe for you to drive her car in case of accident/whatever. Even if they won't give you specifics regarding the policy, they should be able to answer a 'general' question like that.

OR, you could go ahead and get the IDP from the link I posted above, however, that still won't help if the mother doesn't have proper insurance. Here is another link that gives you good information regarding the insurance laws in Quebec. http://www.ibc.ca/en/Car_Insurance/Introduction/Lending_Borrowing_Car.asp This would very much fit what you are doing with your mom in law.

We are close enough to the border to drive, however MIL would def not allow us to use her car to drive there. So that plan's out. hahaha
I will def check around. Maybe call CIC and ask what they think (it's basically an opinion since answers always vary with them -_- ).
Thanks for the help Alurra!