New Driving License, Bypass 1 Year Learning Wait?

[a42]

Hi there, I recently received proof of Canadian citizenship and will be going there to work in a few weeks (originally from the UK). I have been taking driving lessons for the past year or so but have not yet taken my test and I was not able to get a test date before I leave. I understand than once a learner's license in Canada is obtained (I'll be in Toronto), there is a minimum 1 year wait before it's upgraded to the next license that doesn't require a passenger. Is there any way that I could bypass this wait? I think I read somewhere a while back that there might be a way to claim for learning experience? However I have not been able to find that information again.

Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.

 

[zardoz]

Hi there, I recently received proof of Canadian citizenship and will be going there to work in a few weeks (originally from the UK). I have been taking driving lessons for the past year or so but have not yet taken my test and I was not able to get a test date before I leave. I understand than once a learner's license in Canada is obtained (I'll be in Toronto), there is a minimum 1 year wait before it's upgraded to the next license that doesn't require a passenger. Is there any way that I could bypass this wait? I think I read somewhere a while back that there might be a way to claim for learning experience? However I have not been able to find that information again.

Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.

I'm pretty sure that because you don't have a FULL UK Licence, you will not be entitled to exchange and therefore, you will receive no experience credit either. Either way, you would require 24 months of experience to avoid the mandatory wait times. http://www.drivetest.ca/en/licencing/pages/out-of-country-drivers.aspx and http://www.drivetest.ca/EN/licencing/Pages/Exchanging-a-Reciprocal-Licence.aspx
While I'm giving the bad news, prepare yourself for the insurance premiums... You think they overcharge in the UK? It's vastly more in Toronto... We are paying more than 10 times as much as in the UK, and that is after serious negotiations.

 

[Lammawitch]

Agree with Zardoz. A learners' or provisional licence counts for zilch. Driving experience is counted from when one is in possession of a FULL driving licence.

For future reference for others reading the thread:

Proof of driving experience
You can self-declare one year of driving experience, by showing a valid, original foreign driver’s licence.

If you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. This letter needs to be written in English or French.

Source: http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/exchange-out-province-drivers-licence

 

[a42]

Thanks to you both for clearing this up! Must have misread before about claiming experience for full license not learning. Surprised to hear that premiums can be higher than in the UK! Looks like I will be cycling to work for the time being.

Thanks again

 

[Lammawitch]

Thanks A42, for taking the time to say thanks !!

Lordy, Lordy, Oh My Gosh!! : make sure you are sitting down when it comes to looking up/getting insurance quotes ... .

 

[zardoz]

Just for amusement, I ran some sample quotes based on what the OP said, selecting wherever possible the best options for reducing the cost. Lowest premium was over 5k a year. The highest was over 11k a year.

 

[Lammawitch]

Just for amusement, I ran some sample quotes based on what the OP said, selecting wherever possible the best options for reducing the cost. Lowest premium was over 5k a year. The highest was over 11k a year.

Then perhaps I should revise my advice to "make sure you are lying down" when looking at insurance quotes ... !!

 

[a42]

Woah.. I suspect my insurance would pretty high on that scale given I would be both a new driver and a 22 year old male. Looking into bicycles as we speak!

 

[Lammawitch]

LOL, sort of

Bicycle & public transport will be your friends .

 

[vehla_ji]

Just for amusement, I ran some sample quotes based on what the OP said, selecting wherever possible the best options for reducing the cost. Lowest premium was over 5k a year. The highest was over 11k a year.

wrong, disagree with that. online quotes always higher than in office deals. when i check for my car it was $4000/year but 'm paying only $2300 so it depends.

 

[vehla_ji]

a42 you got full license in UK or no?

if yes you can bypass wait time and can start driving with some conditions. but they are just minor.

 

[Lammawitch]

a42 you got full license in UK or no?

if yes you can bypass wait time and can start driving with some conditions. but they are just minor.

Read the original post. S/he doesn't.

HTH

 

[Leon]

If you had a valid license, even if it's brand new, you would be able to exchange it for a G2 license which would allow you to drive. However, since you will not be arriving with a valid license, you will need to start in Canada from scratch. In order to get the clock ticking, you would need to take the written exam asap and get a learners license. In Ontario, you can cut the waiting time from 12 months to 8 if you attend classes at a provincially approved driving school.