Ontario Driving License - How to get one

[Alaoma]

Hi all,

Does anyone know - especially UK expats - how to go about getting an Ontario driving license without exchanging your UK one? I am currently residing in Ontario and wish to drive; however, I do not want to give up my UK license seeing how hard I worked for it plus I'll be going back and forth for extended periods of time and wish not to be playing yoyo with my license. I know for countries that do not share a reciprocal exchange e.g. Jamaica a driver from there can go along to the consulate in Toronto and have them voucher as to the authenticity of the license and all they would have to do is the written test and the practical absent of the waiting time and the other steps involved. Is this at all possible for UK license holders? Am I able to go to the consulate office and have them vouch for my UK license?

Any help would be appreciated as the lady from Service Ontario was unable to answer my question as she seemed confused by my line of query.

 

[iam_toby]

I can't speak of the UK but I can tell you what I know how it works with my drivers license. I'm German citizen, moved to Canada
beginning of last year. I exchanged my license to a Canadian one, which is valid for 90 days in case I go to Germany for a visit.
Your UK license should be valid for up to 90 days in Canada. So if you plan on staying 90 days or less, your good just holding on
to you UK license. If you plan on staying longer, just get it exchanged. There's a fee to it, but no tests or anything.
I just went to ICBC here in BC, they kept my German license and mailed me the Canadian one within a few weeks. That's all
there is to it. In case I decide on moving back to Germany I do the same there, I'll surrender the Canadian one and have them
print a German one for a small fee.

Hope this helps.

 

[Leon]

I know a woman who managed to keep her old drivers license in NS by asking nicely but there is a law against having two licenses so they are not supposed to let you do that.

The way around this would be to present yourself in Ontario without mentioning that you have a UK license. You would have to start as a beginner, take a written test, get a learners license and then do a 12 month waiting period before you can take the road test which can be shortened down to 8 months if you take a driving course.

If you do this, keep in mind that you aren't exactly doing something that is allowed so never carry both licenses on your person. If the police catches you with two licenses, they will certainly confiscate one of them. This would probably happen in the UK as well. At least I have heard of such a case.