How to Get Canadian Driving License -for Newcomers

[NN74]

Last month I got full G license in my first attempt, with DriveTest, Guelph, Ontario.

Here are few points for new immigrants who already have driving licenses from their residence countries:

1. Bring the experience letter from your country duly attested. I have Dubai license, so I arranged letter from RTA duly attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. You need to show your original license too

3. You will have only one chance to pass G license, if failed then go back to G2 test. So be careful

4. In Ontario, G test is not at all easy. Its duration is 30 min but you should know Canadian driving techniques. There are -mostly- no right turning exclusive lanes in GTA/Toronto (whereas in UAE they have separate right-turning lanes, you cant turn to right from signal). Few signals in Toronto have no exclusive left-turning signals, so you have to wait for incoming traffic before turning left. Learn parallel parking, three point turn, emergency/uphill/downhill parking, and lane changing techniques seriously. Follow speed limit sign boards religiously while taking the test. With these differences, be careful while taking G test.

5. It is in your best interest to take 3-4 practice classes before going for G test

6. Driving Instructors, mostly Indians or Pakistanis, are same as they are in their home countries. You know what I mean, so be careful. They will try to make money out of you. An hour long class with driving instructor is costing $25, so manage your instructor with ease.

7. On the day of test, you need a car too. So same instructor will take you to test place in his/her same car but you need to pay extra i.e. around $75-$100 for that day, plus you have to pay G license test fee that is $95. Its all money so be careful while taking test, its costly affair.

8. Full G license cost me around $400 inclusive of 4 classes ( @ $23 per class) from a very good instructor including all fee (G1($85) & G test($95) fees) along with car ($130) on the day of test, as I went to Guelph Test Drive center, some 100Km away from Toronto.

Hope this helps others.

DEAR Qorax,

A question please.
Using inter. Driving License upon first landing... would I be able to use international driving license when deciding moving to Canada after 2 years of Landing, or this option is valid upon our first landing only.


Thanks
with our Home Country's D/License [/size][/font][/color]

Dear all,

Let me address another query which getting repetitive here. The procedure of obtaining a Canadian driving license is pretty much simple within our 1st few days [max a week]. Remember, this is 'easy' if we are coming from countries which has a similar driving & road management conditions [read 'left-hand drive']. If not, we may have to undertake some training before we apply.
...
Pre-conditions / Which License:
1. If we have over 24 months 'overseas' driving experience -we get the Ontario G2 Driving License.
2. If we have over 12 months [but less than 24] driving experience -we get the Ontario G1 Driving License.
(Details below)

Direct Swap of Licenses:
If our home country doesn't have a *reciprocal licence exchange agreement with Ontario, we cannot Swap our current D/License to get a Toronto-ON D/License.
*Reciprocal License Exchange Agreement exists between Ontario and: US, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Austria & Belgium.

What is the Procedure then:
But, in that case do we have to START all over Again? No... We can immediately apply & get a Toronto (Ontario) Driving License thru the following procedure:

Step-1 -Before we 'Land':
1. We must obtain a 'Letter of Authentication'* from the country's Roads & Transport Authority, explaining** our D/License.
2. Take also a 'True Translation Copy'* of our D/License from Road & Transport Authority. Both 1 & 2 maybe clubbed in one.
3. Obtain an International Driving License/Permit*** (IDL / IDP).
stating "more than 24 months" driving experience in our country.
*In English or French, the 2 Canadian Official Languages.
**The explanation should include 24 or 12 months driving experience [the Pre-conditions will apply].
***This is nothing but a translated copy of our present D/license. (it can be used in lieu of point-1 & 2 above).

Benefits of the IDL / IDP:
With the foregoing, we can drive a car abroad for three [3] months (2 months, in Ontario). Within that time apply for the Ontario Driving License. This International Driving Licenses [IDL/IDP]are issued against our original D/Licenses by the Automobile Associations or [sometimes] the RTA/RTO of our home country. Check them for more details.

Step-2 -After you 'Land':
In such cases we are called 'Out of Country Drivers' and we can skip the G2 'waiting period' and get the G2 license immediately [with that 24 months letter] or a G1 driving license [if we only have the above 12 months letter].

Now for the Ontario driver's licence are required to;
1. Present a valid foreign Driver's License*,
2. Provide an acceptable Proof of Identity [SIN, PR card etc.]
3. Pay all applicable Fees,
4. Pass a Vision Test
5. Pass the Written Knowledge Test -regarding Ontario's traffic rules.
*If it is not in English or French, it is to be accompanied by a written translation from a qualified translator; [we got that, as the Authentication Letter]

Note: Applicants are required to provide adequate proof of foreign driving experience. However, if it is not there, the ministry will accept applicants' declaration of their foreign driving experience on the driver's licence application for up to a maximum of 12 months experience. In that case we get the G1* license only.

Step-3 -The Tests to take:
Based on the 24 months Authentication Letter the ministry will recognize the applicant's foreign driving experience as certified on the authentication letter AND,

1. After Step-2, we can attempt the G2*Exit Road Tests (mandatory wait times are waived).
2. Upon successfully passing the G2* Exit Road Test, we get the G2* license.
3. After few months of driving under G2* we can apply for a G*Licence.
4. If we 'only' have the 12 months letter & not the 24, we qualify for G1* Road Test & the G1* driving license only.
5. If we don't provide any letter, we must pass the G1* road test and have a 12-month wait period for taking G2* road test.

*The License Grading Explained [G1, G2 & G]:
-G1 License has certain limitations like we have to always drive alongwith a G license holder. It is thus, useless for us, who have good & adequate driving experience under similar driving conditions & system as that of Canada [read 'left-hand drive' experience & similar road/traffic management conditions].
-G2 License is as good as G, except that we cannot drive on the Highway at certain times (Midnight Rush Hrs. when truck movement starts).
-G License is the 'full fledged' driving license.
...
Source:
http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/OutOfCountryDrivers.aspx

Note:
1. The above procedure is mainly addressed for the Ontario (ON) province.
2. The procedure is pretty much similar with all other provinces as well [BC, NS, NB etc.].
3. If we are not coming from a similar driving condition country, we must take some training before we proceed.
4. Usually we can get the G2 driving license quite easily [with the foregoing steps].

Hope that helped...
Qorax

 

[HeisenbergCanada]

Last month I got full G license in my first attempt, with DrivesTest, Guelph, Ontario.

Here are few points for new immigrants who already have driving licenses from their residence countries:

1. Bring the experience letter from your country duly attested. I have Dubai license, so I arranged letter from RTA duly attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. You need to show your original license too

3. You will have only one chance to pass G license, if failed then go back to G2 test. So be careful

4. In Ontario, G test is not at all easy. Its duration is 30 min but you should know Canadian driving techniques. There are -mostly- no right turning exclusive lanes in GTA/Toronto (whereas in UAE they have separate right-turning lanes, you cant turn to right from signal). Few signals in Toronto have no exclusive left-turning signals, so you have to wait for incoming traffic before turning left. Learn parallel parking, three point turn, emergency/uphill/downhill parking, and lane changing techniques seriously. Follow speed limit sign boards religiously while taking the test. With these differences, be careful while taking G test.

5. It is in your best interest to take 3-4 practice classes before going for G test

6. Driving Instructors, mostly Indians or Pakistanis, are same as they are in their home countries. You know what I mean, so be careful. They will try to make money out of you. An hour long class with driving instructor is costing $25, so manage your instructor with ease.

7. On the day of test, you need a car too. So same instructor will take you to test place in his/her same car but you need to pay extra i.e. around $75-$100 for that day, plus you have to pay G license test fee that is $95. Its all money so be careful while taking test, its costly affair.

8. Full G license cost me around $400 inclusive of 4 classes ( @ $23 per class) from a very good instructor including all fee (G1($85) & G test($95) fees) along with car ($130) on the day of test, as I went to Guelph Test Drive center, some 100Km away from Toronto.

Hope this helps others.

Thanks buddy. Can you give your instructor's contact details?

 

[Mustafa100]

Hi,

my wife doesnt have a driving license ( we are living in dubai and planning to go to Canada in April 2014) and I need her to get a license when we reach Canada,
does she need to take UAE license then apply for canadian license when we go there,?
or it is better for her to start there from zero,?
which one is the cheepest?

thanks

 

[Leon]

Hi,

my wife doesnt have a driving license ( we are living in dubai and planning to go to Canada in April 2014) and I need her to get a license when we reach Canada,
does she need to take UAE license then apply for canadian license when we go there,?
or it is better for her to start there from zero,?
which one is the cheepest?

thanks

The GDL (graduated drivers licensing) program in Canada has 2 steps for new drivers before they can get a full drivers license. First they have to pass a written exam. Then they get a learners license (G1 in Ontario). This license only allows them to drive with a fully licensed driver at their side. After one year (some provinces shorten this if you take an approved drivers course, for example 8 months in Ontario), she could take the basic road test (in Ontario, G1 road test) and get an intermediate license (AB: GDL license, ON: G2 license). This license has some restrictions like loss of license at fewer demerit points, 0% blood alcohol level allowed but allows her to drive alone and so is almost as good as a full license. After 2 years on this license, she can take the advanced road test (in Ontario, G2 road test) and get a full license.

Bringing a brand new license from the UAE would not simply be exchanged for a Canadian license because there is no exchange agreement between the UAE and any Canadian province so she would still have to pass the written test and road tests. However, it would help in the way that she could take the written test and basic road test right away and get an intermediate license right away instead of having to wait a year.

 

[Abu Hassaan]

Hi Leon,

In UAE, there are two types of light vehicle driving licenses:

1. Manual transmission vehicle license - driver can driver both manual & automatic transmission vehicles
2. Automatic transmission vehicle license - driver can ONLY drive automatic transission vehicles

As far As, G license in Canada is concerned, what are the options? The G road test is taken in either type vehicle or it is same as in UAE.

The GDL (graduated drivers licensing) program in Canada has 2 steps for new drivers before they can get a full drivers license. First they have to pass a written exam. Then they get a learners license (G1 in Ontario). This license only allows them to drive with a fully licensed driver at their side. After one year (some provinces shorten this if you take an approved drivers course, for example 8 months in Ontario), she could take the basic road test (in Ontario, G1 road test) and get an intermediate license (AB: GDL license, ON: G2 license). This license has some restrictions like loss of license at fewer demerit points, 0% blood alcohol level allowed but allows her to drive alone and so is almost as good as a full license. After 2 years on this license, she can take the advanced road test (in Ontario, G2 road test) and get a full license.

Bringing a brand new license from the UAE would not simply be exchanged for a Canadian license because there is no exchange agreement between the UAE and any Canadian province so she would still have to pass the written test and road tests. However, it would help in the way that she could take the written test and basic road test right away and get an intermediate license right away instead of having to wait a year.

 

[Leon]

Hi Leon,

In UAE, there are two types of light vehicle driving licenses:

1. Manual transmission vehicle license - driver can driver both manual & automatic transmission vehicles
2. Automatic transmission vehicle license - driver can ONLY drive automatic transission vehicles

As far As, G license in Canada is concerned, what are the options? The G road test is taken in either type vehicle or it is same as in UAE.

In Canada there is no distinction between manual and automatic for drivers licenses. You may learn and take the test on an automatic and you get a normal drivers license. It is up to you to know what you are doing if you decide to try a manual transmission car

You will find that most cars in Canada and rental cars as well will be automatic.

 

[Abu Hassaan]

I have full driving license for light vehicles in UAE and can drive both types of cars without any problem. But this is a good news for those including my wife who have automatic transmission vehicle driving license and have never driven a manual transmission vehicle.

Thanks for the information.

In Canada there is no distinction between manual and automatic for drivers licenses. You may learn and take the test on an automatic and you get a normal drivers license. It is up to you to know what you are doing if you decide to try a manual transmission car

You will find that most cars in Canada and rental cars as well will be automatic.

 

[HeisenbergCanada]

Hope this helps

I FILMED MY DRIVING TEST! (AND PASSED)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwb3_dN-3dM

 

[steaky]

How about can we purchase a car and insurance with foreign license? like the case with Alberta

It's the same thing.

 

[rawdah]

Last month I got full G license in my first attempt, with DriveTest, Guelph, Ontario.

Here are few points for new immigrants who already have driving licenses from their residence countries:

1. Bring the experience letter from your country duly attested. I have Dubai license, so I arranged letter from RTA duly attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. You need to show your original license too

3. You will have only one chance to pass G license, if failed then go back to G2 test. So be careful

4. In Ontario, G test is not at all easy. Its duration is 30 min but you should know Canadian driving techniques. There are -mostly- no right turning exclusive lanes in GTA/Toronto (whereas in UAE they have separate right-turning lanes, you cant turn to right from signal). Few signals in Toronto have no exclusive left-turning signals, so you have to wait for incoming traffic before turning left. Learn parallel parking, three point turn, emergency/uphill/downhill parking, and lane changing techniques seriously. Follow speed limit sign boards religiously while taking the test. With these differences, be careful while taking G test.

5. It is in your best interest to take 3-4 practice classes before going for G test

6. Driving Instructors, mostly Indians or Pakistanis, are same as they are in their home countries. You know what I mean, so be careful. They will try to make money out of you. An hour long class with driving instructor is costing $25, so manage your instructor with ease.

7. On the day of test, you need a car too. So same instructor will take you to test place in his/her same car but you need to pay extra i.e. around $75-$100 for that day, plus you have to pay G license test fee that is $95. Its all money so be careful while taking test, its costly affair.

8. Full G license cost me around $400 inclusive of 4 classes ( @ $23 per class) from a very good instructor including all fee (G1($85) & G test($95) fees) along with car ($130) on the day of test, as I went to Guelph Test Drive center, some 100Km away from Toronto.

Hope this helps others.

+1

 

[mkmisc99]

Dear , i am here in BC and applied for my DL , i have PAK DL karachi from last 34 years and last year i have changed it to computrize one , in licence its printed that first licence was issued in 1979, but ICBC take my PAK DL and NOC letter for verification and issue me Learner licence (which is useless as i cant drive car on this without any full licence person who is 25 year old atleast), now when i inquired him about my PAK DL verification they told me we are not satisfied with these and you provide complete driving history , i dont know what they required know, my question is how i satisfy him about my licences ( when i first visited ICBC they told me they have seen this type of licence first time)...I dont know what i do... please advise me... as i go through whole process it takes 3 years to get DL in BC.

 

[mkmisc99]

:-[ pl . advise...

 

[mkmisc99]

where is vip members??????????????????

 

[mkmisc99]

:-[ :-[ :-[

 

[Leon]

Dear , i am here in BC and applied for my DL , i have PAK DL karachi from last 34 years and last year i have changed it to computrize one , in licence its printed that first licence was issued in 1979, but ICBC take my PAK DL and NOC letter for verification and issue me Learner licence (which is useless as i cant drive car on this without any full licence person who is 25 year old atleast), now when i inquired him about my PAK DL verification they told me we are not satisfied with these and you provide complete driving history , i dont know what they required know, my question is how i satisfy him about my licences ( when i first visited ICBC they told me they have seen this type of licence first time)...I dont know what i do... please advise me... as i go through whole process it takes 3 years to get DL in BC.

When you write, it is better that you use . and hit enter sometimes or it gets confusing to read

First try to get police or anybody in Pakistan to give you a letter in English stating that your first license was issued on date x and you have been driving since then and you have no traffic offenses.

You can also try to get an IDP (international drivers permit) if you don't have one.

Either one of them may convince BC that you may at least take the basic road test to get an intermediate license which will allow you to drive alone.

If you are unable to get a letter or an IDP or they still will not let you take the basic road test, you will be stuck with your learners license for 1 year until you can get an intermediate.

Here is some info about the format of the letter etc. http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/driving-experience