Hi all,
I have benefitted from the posts on this forum for the DL process in Toronto. So here is an attempt to give back. I had landed in Toronto with original Indian license (laminated card from Kerala state) but without a DL extract from India so was worried initially. But, thank God, I was able to get it done. So here is what I did.
First, I scrounged the Internet including this forum for the process details. I scheduled an appointment for the G1 test using the online appointment system. This is convenient if you can get the appointment but they fill up fast and are available only for a small time at 12 AM in the night. I had taken it one night because I was awake at that time. It was for beyond two months but eventually ended up using the appointment due to procrastination. This is at 777 Bay Street service Ontario and if you have the appointment, there is no line and you can get the whole process including the G1 test done within an hour. But having visited Mississauga Drive test later, I think it's better to go for the Drive test centers with less lines and get it all done in one go because Service Ontario did not accept my Driver's extract. But if you have a chip based license and the original DL extract signed and stamped from India, this is an option.
At the service Ontario, I told the lady clerk that I wanted to take the G1 written test, transfer my experience, and schedule a G road test. The lady refused to accept my DL extract which I printed online saying a number of reasons. One that extract looks like a scan and not original, even though the online one is verifiable using the QR Code. Second that my license was not on plastic (She meant chip-based I think, mine was on card with a hologram on the back). I just got frustrated trying to convince her and just went ahead with my G1 test. Which I passed. Next week I went to the Mississauga drive test Centre, which has less lines by the way, and gave the same driving extract and the original license and eventually they accepted it. The lady there initially was skeptical and then took the extract and license to another lady who sat on a computer and verified it I think. This was nice on their part. I was also able to schedule the road test from there also. Such a relief!
So here is the deal: what you need ideally, to transfer driving experience from India is the original valid drivers license and the original driving extract with stamp and signature. The drivers license if chip based is good but the non-chip-based card license worked for me too.
The driving extract should ideally be the one we get from Parivahan online with an original stamp and signature on it to show that it's real. But, even without the original stamp and signature, it works at some Drive test centres because they have started verifying it online.
So if you are in India right now, then do two things. One, try to get a chip based plastic licence if it is possible in your region. Two, get DL extract online or from the RTO office but make sure that you get it signed and stamped in Ink. But if you're already here and have a valid card license, then don't worry. Get a DL extract online, print it out, just make sure the details on it like the DL number, name and DOB matches your original Drivers license. Take these 2 things and go to a DriveTest center known to accept it.
So far, from my research I have seen these centers to accept it, maybe we can expand this based on other's experiences:
1. Etobicoke (reports here)
2. Mississauga (they did for me)
3. Brampton (I was told by a friend they do, someone can verify)
4. Toronto Metro East location on Lawrence Ave (3 friends got it done here)
Centers that don't take it:
1. Service Ontario on 777 Bay street. (Especially if you end up with an old lady clerk with white hair. She'll nicely tell you you can take it in a year).
That's about it. Thank you all, the discussions does help.
I have benefitted from the posts on this forum for the DL process in Toronto. So here is an attempt to give back. I had landed in Toronto with original Indian license (laminated card from Kerala state) but without a DL extract from India so was worried initially. But, thank God, I was able to get it done. So here is what I did.
First, I scrounged the Internet including this forum for the process details. I scheduled an appointment for the G1 test using the online appointment system. This is convenient if you can get the appointment but they fill up fast and are available only for a small time at 12 AM in the night. I had taken it one night because I was awake at that time. It was for beyond two months but eventually ended up using the appointment due to procrastination. This is at 777 Bay Street service Ontario and if you have the appointment, there is no line and you can get the whole process including the G1 test done within an hour. But having visited Mississauga Drive test later, I think it's better to go for the Drive test centers with less lines and get it all done in one go because Service Ontario did not accept my Driver's extract. But if you have a chip based license and the original DL extract signed and stamped from India, this is an option.
At the service Ontario, I told the lady clerk that I wanted to take the G1 written test, transfer my experience, and schedule a G road test. The lady refused to accept my DL extract which I printed online saying a number of reasons. One that extract looks like a scan and not original, even though the online one is verifiable using the QR Code. Second that my license was not on plastic (She meant chip-based I think, mine was on card with a hologram on the back). I just got frustrated trying to convince her and just went ahead with my G1 test. Which I passed. Next week I went to the Mississauga drive test Centre, which has less lines by the way, and gave the same driving extract and the original license and eventually they accepted it. The lady there initially was skeptical and then took the extract and license to another lady who sat on a computer and verified it I think. This was nice on their part. I was also able to schedule the road test from there also. Such a relief!
So here is the deal: what you need ideally, to transfer driving experience from India is the original valid drivers license and the original driving extract with stamp and signature. The drivers license if chip based is good but the non-chip-based card license worked for me too.
The driving extract should ideally be the one we get from Parivahan online with an original stamp and signature on it to show that it's real. But, even without the original stamp and signature, it works at some Drive test centres because they have started verifying it online.
So if you are in India right now, then do two things. One, try to get a chip based plastic licence if it is possible in your region. Two, get DL extract online or from the RTO office but make sure that you get it signed and stamped in Ink. But if you're already here and have a valid card license, then don't worry. Get a DL extract online, print it out, just make sure the details on it like the DL number, name and DOB matches your original Drivers license. Take these 2 things and go to a DriveTest center known to accept it.
So far, from my research I have seen these centers to accept it, maybe we can expand this based on other's experiences:
1. Etobicoke (reports here)
2. Mississauga (they did for me)
3. Brampton (I was told by a friend they do, someone can verify)
4. Toronto Metro East location on Lawrence Ave (3 friends got it done here)
Centers that don't take it:
1. Service Ontario on 777 Bay street. (Especially if you end up with an old lady clerk with white hair. She'll nicely tell you you can take it in a year).
That's about it. Thank you all, the discussions does help.
