Driving in canada??

[cobra]

Does anybody know if you can change your English license for a Canadian one once in canada or will you need to take a test etc?
I will be movng to saskatchewan and have been driving over 4 years and have a clean license. I read somewhere that you need to prove that you hae been driving for over 18months but then i read that everyone will need to take a test. Im not really thrilled about that part if its true as I don't think crossing the hands on the steering wheel is allowed in tests

Does anybody know anything about this??

 

[Leon]

According to http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/new_residents.htm Saskatchewan has an exchange agreement with the UK so you will not need to take a test. They do not say what documents they want you to provide to prove your 18 months+ driving experience so you should contact them and ask. Maybe the issue date of your license is enough or maybe you need a letter from some authority.

Also get a letter from your insurance company stating how long you have been driving with no claims. It may help you get a better insurance rate in Canada.

 

[cobra]

Thankyou! I was a bit early in asking this probably as i'm in the process of collecting evidence to send my file off but I got worried as I can't remember much from my test and didn't want to have to take another.
Thanks for the info Leon

 

[Leon]

Even though you don't have to take the test, you should get the drivers handbook and read it to check if there are different signs and different rules than in the UK. There probably are to some degree. If you have problems with winter driving, you can take a couple of lessons.

 

[angelbrat]

Just a note....I am from the UK and when I moved here had to take a test to get my BC license.

It really was no problem, just a written test, which helped me learn the different road signs and then a driving test. I did take a hour lesson from an instructor before the test, to help me with the turning left situation.

Also, even now, it freaks me out being able to turn right when a traffic light is on red. I passed the test easily. I would recommend driving with someone qualified initially, just to get use to the different side of the road and the different laws of driving in Canada.

 

[Leon]

It varies between provinces which countries they have exchange agreements with. Some of them have agreements with the UK and others don't.

 

[CanadianDude]

I am familiar with Saskatchewan Law as I lived there in my early 20's. First and foremost, any valid license in English or translated in English (with the original) is valid in Saskatchewan for up to 6 months (I know this is ridiculous but true). Second, if you bring an international Drivers License you can get a full Saskatchewan License. Most countries issue international licenses like nothing, and require you to have a valid driver's license prior to getting the International one. Saskatchewan roads, and driving is the worst in all of Canada, most there do not know the basic rules of a 4 way stop, and when I was in Saskatoon I witnessed at least 1 accident a week!

Good luck!

 

[cobra]

Hi canadian dude, sorry i'm just a bit confused, I've never heard of an international drivers license before. Does this mean Id have to use my current English drivers license, then get it changed to an international drivers license then when in SK get it changed to a SK one?

 

[Leon]

cobra, read the link I gave you. You do not need an international drivers license. Just your UK license and drivers abstract.

An international drivers license is useful when you are going to a country that doesn't share your language. It does not replace your license, it is merely a document that says in many languages that you do have a drivers license in your country and you should show that along with your license. In most provinces, you can only drive on your foreign license for 2-3 months before you must exchange to a Canadian license but in some cases, if you have an international license, you may drive for a longer period on your foreign license.

I think CanadianDude's information is outdated. At http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/new_residents.htm it clearly says that you can only drive on your foreign license for up to 90 days, not 6 months and that if you come from a country they do not have an exchange agreement with, you will need to take the test.

 

[cobra]

Thanks Leon, your link was useful, I did initally read it but then i got a bit confused with the talk of internatonal drivers license. Thanks for the info