Question about Insurance & Driving

[rmkulak]

Not sure where to post this, we have just started the process for my Fiancée to come to Canada from USA as we just got engaged this past week. I have so many questions but one that concerns me is driving. After the wedding in June we want to drive down from Alaska with her stuff.

I don't drive as I'm medically unable to, but if i purchase a vehicle with Alberta plates, is she able to drive it with her US drivers license? Also does she need to get a Canadian drivers license? All these questions and no idea where to look or start. IF anyone can help or get me int eh right direction that would be awesome.

Mark K.

 

[Ponga]

Hi Mark,

Uh...She can't come to Canada `with all her stuff' until she becomes a permanent resident of Canada. If she arrives at the land border with a truck load of her belongings, that would be a problem.

Are you planning to sponsor her as your wife after your wedding in June? If so, she will likely be able to `visit' you in Canada while you await the processing of your application (which seems to be ~ 5-6 months for an American, but the processing time may be different when you actually apply). Hopefully, you will apply to sponsor her before she enters Canada, so that you can provide proof to the border officer (CBSA) that you have an active sponsorship application in process.

She can certainly drive your car, with your permission, but you'd need to check with your insurance company to confirm that she would be covered. She would be required to exchange her U.S. DL after 90 days (or is it 6 months?).

Either way, just do your homework to avoid any nasty surprises at the border!

Good luck!

 

[truesmile]

You will have difficulty buying a car let alone getting insurance for it if you are medically unable to drive and I'm assuming do not have a valid DL.

 

[BCKev]

You will have difficulty buying a car let alone getting insurance for it if you are medically unable to drive and I'm assuming do not have a valid DL.

Looks like there is no problem with buying and registering a vehicle in Alberta without a valid driver's license.
http://www.servicealberta.ca/577.cfm

As you mentioned, insurance could be a problem.

 

[dominokitty]

You will have to check with your car insurance company but mine (In Alberta also) allows any licensed driver over the age of 25 to drive my car with my permission, and I am still covered even if I'm not in the vehicle. Like Ponga said, she can't come to Canada with all of her stuff until after the PR goes through because until then, she is only a visitor in Canada. She could however look into shipping some things here before then so she has the clothes, etc. that she needs after she gets here. I'd recommend waiting until she has her PR before making the move official and getting all of her stuff. Maybe she could rent a storage unit in the US for a few months until after her PR goes through so that she can just head back to the US to pick up her stuff after she's landed.

 

[Kayaker]

I know she can drive a rented vehicle with her US license. Driving yours might be more problematic, insurance wise - I could not get insurance driving my husband's car until I got an Ontario license. That said, each province has systems where you can exchange your US license for a local one; I don't know about Alberta, but in Ontario, I got a paper from my consulate saying I have more than 2 years' driving experience and I got a full license (not the kind where I need another driver in the passenger seat) without any road or written tests.

She definitely should not cross the border with all her belongings, that would likely result in getting rejected. Bring only clothes and personal items she would need for a visit, and don't bring any furniture, electronics, etc. If she needs more stuff, she could pack those things in boxes and ask a friend or family member to send them over later. (I came to Canada before I got PR with 2 large suitcases, but had my mother send me 6 large boxes by post. Was cheaper than paying excess baggage at the airport, and I didn't pay any duties because the boxes were full of used clothes and such, that they weren't worth much.)