Driving license for Calgary, Alberta

[tran]

Is it advisable for me to take my driving test in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before I land in Calgary( I have until October 2010 to make my first landing). Driving lessons and test will cost about 10 million VND( about C$540). Will my Vietnamese driving license cut
short the time for me to get my Calgary driving license? Thanks

 

[Yahoo India]

I doubt it will not. You have to give a test in Calgary, however, they will know that you are not a novice. So better if you give in Calgary directly if you know driving well.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Is it advisable for me to take my driving test in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before I land in Calgary( I have until October 2010 to make my first landing). Driving lessons and test will cost about 10 million VND( about C$540). Will my Vietnamese driving license cut
short the time for me to get my Calgary driving license? Thanks

As a newly licensed driver, your experience won't be counted. See: http://www.saferoads.com/drivers/drivers_newdrivers.html on how to obtain a license.

PMM

 

[Leon]

When you show up in Alberta and want to get licensed as a new driver and do not have an existing drivers license from another country, what will happen is this:

You will be placed in the graduated drivers license program where you are allowed a learners permit (class 7) after passing the written exam. You will then only be allowed to drive with another fully licensed person with you in the car. You need to wait a year until you are allowed to take the basic road test and get a GDL license which will allow you to drive by yourself.

The difference if you have a full license from another country, even if you can not prove driving experience is that you would then be allowed to take the basic road test without waiting a year and get a GDL license.

So.. it's up to you if you want to wait a year or not.

If you go for the Vietnamese license, you need to either get it translated into English by a certified translator or get an international license in Vietnam to bring with you to Canada to prove that what you have in your hand is a drivers license and not a library card.

Here's some info on exchanging a non-AB drivers license: http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/drivers_licence.cfm#Exchanging_a_Non-Alberta_Operators_Licence

 

[tran]

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated

 

[abelkwh]

Is it advisable for me to take my driving test in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before I land in Calgary( I have until October 2010 to make my first landing). Driving lessons and test will cost about 10 million VND( about C$540). Will my Vietnamese driving license cut
short the time for me to get my Calgary driving license? Thanks

Hi Tran

Better for u to just a drivers licence in Vietnam but have it translated in english then when u land in Calgary, AB. U need to take yr licence to the test centre to have yr theory or basic test and then take yr drivers basic test and also the driving test. As mentioned, the only advantage is u can have yr GDL license without having to wait for 1 yr to drive independently.

 

[abelkwh]

Anyone from Calgary, AB now, who can help or provide advice. I have had an Alberta drivers licence before in 1991 but have left Calgary and have not renewed it since i left but i have Singapore drivers licence since 1993 till now, i also have a China drivers licence now. Can i get to calgary and ask if they have my records and also show my current licences so that i do not have to take the practical drivers exam and just take the theory based exam only? Any one can help would be valuable.

 

[cono_sur]

Anyone from Calgary, AB now, who can help or provide advice. I have had an Alberta drivers licence before in 1991 but have left Calgary and have not renewed it since i left but i have Singapore drivers licence since 1993 till now, i also have a China drivers licence now. Can i get to calgary and ask if they have my records and also show my current licences so that i do not have to take the practical drivers exam and just take the theory based exam only? Any one can help would be valuable.

I think you will be able to do a straight exchange because you previously held an Alberta driver's licence.

http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/drivers_licence.cfm
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType47/Production/reciprocallicensing.pdf

 

[abelkwh]

Thanks Cono sur! Appreciate yr links and reply!

 

[cono_sur]

Thanks Cono sur! Appreciate yr links and reply!

You're welcome.

Just in case, you can practice the alberta class 7 exam here.