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While we recommend you take some time getting to know the rules and regulations around driving in any province you plan to drive in, we have some Canada-specific information that is really important for anyone considering driving while in Canada:
Most Canadian provinces and territories allow foreigners to drive during temporary stays or for a brief period after you arrive in Canada if you have a valid driving licence in your home country.
If you plan to use your foreign driver’s licence in Canada, make sure it’s in English or French.
It’s usually advisable to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in your home country before coming to Canada too.
It is illegal to drive an uninsured vehicle in Canada.
The rules around car insurance vary between the provinces and territories, so be sure to check those before driving anywhere. Even within the same province or territory, different insurers can have different rules about how insurance policies operate.
Generally speaking, rental vehicles will be adequately insured (though it’s always worth carefully reading rental insurance policies so you know your risks in case of an accident or other policy event).
It gets tricky when you borrow vehicles privately in Canada. If you plan to borrow a friend or family member’s car and you’re not listed on their policy, you may be allowed to drive as an unlisted driver. However, the costs of a crash caused by an unlisted driver can be very high so (again) it’s important to understand the risks.
The laws and rules related to driving in Canada vary depending on the province or territory you’re driving in. You should review the rules and learn about the road signs any time you plan to drive somewhere new in Canada. It’s also important to consider the distinctly Canadian risks that come with driving, including:
If you plan to live in Canada permanently, it’s recommended that you get a copy of your driving history from your home country’s licensing authority and/or insurance provider. Having the appropriate documentation (including the actual licence itself) ready when you arrive will help when you’re applying for a driving licence in Canada. Documentation should be in English or French.
How you apply for a license in Canada will depend on the province or territory you’re planning to live in. All provinces have a transportation department which is responsible for issuing licenses. Whether you are looking to transfer your foreign license or apply for your first driving license, the first step is to check the application process with the province where you will reside. We’ve summarized some key information from each province below.
If you want to drive in Alberta, here’s what you need to know about the driver’s license rules in Alberta.
If you plan to live in Alberta permanently, you may be able to drive in Alberta for up to 90 days after you arrive on a foreign driver’s licence. The 90-day deadline applies even if you drive outside of Alberta during these 90 days.
If you’re in Alberta on a temporary basis, you can drive in Alberta on a valid driver’s licence from your home jurisdiction for up to one year. This includes students in Alberta, members of the armed forces, and temporary foreign workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
Read the official guidelines on exchanging your license for an Alberta driving license.
Those with licenses from the following countries may be able to exchange their existing license for an Alberta driving license without sitting a knowledge or road test.
You must surrender your existing license to receive an Alberta driving license in Canada. To receive a full Class 5 license, you must provide proof that you have more than two years of driving experience.
Quick Tip: Take a photo of your local driving licence before you hand it in if you may need information on it for your records. This can be helpful if you need your driver’s licence number for documents back home (your licence may still be valid in your home country, even if you don’t physically have your card). Store it somewhere secure though, like in a locked secure vault in the cloud.
If your license is not from one of the countries listed above, you must pass a knowledge test to receive a Class 7 license, and then sit a road test to get a Class 5 license. If you do not have two years of driving experience, you will receive a Class 5-GDL license, and then sit a road test once two years of experience has been accumulated in order to receive a full Class 5 license.
If you plan to live in British Columbia, you will need to switch your current valid foreign driver’s licence to a BC licence within 90 days of your arrival unless:
To switch your licence, contact the local licensing authority – Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).
Read the official guidelines on getting a B.C. driving license here.
You can exchange your foreign license for a B.C. driving license right away if your license is from one of the countries which the province has an agreement with. These countries are:
Holders of licenses from these countries will need to bring identification (including permanent resident card, or work/study permit). They will need to surrender their existing license, and answer some basic questions about road safety in order to get a B.C. driving license.
You will also need your driver licence history (also known as a driver’s abstract). You should apply for this document in your home country, ideally before you leave. Receiving it can take some time, so it pays to be prepared.
If your country is not listed above, then you will need to sit a full knowledge and road test in order to receive your driving license in Canada. The first step is to sit the knowledge test at any ICBC office, and answer at least 40 of the 50 questions correctly. Then, you will need to sit your road test(s). If you already have more than two years of driving experience, you can apply for a full ‘Class 5’ licence. If not, then you’ll need to apply for a ‘Class 7’ novice licence.
Those with more than two years of driving experience may get a full, ‘Class 5’ license right away. Those with less than two years of experience will receive a ‘Class 7’ novice license, and may then apply for a full ‘Class 5’ license when they have accumulated two years of experience. Foreign experience will be credited towards the two-year total.
Drivers who are new to Manitoba may continue driving on their non-Manitoba license for up to three months. After this, a Manitoba driving license is required.
Holders of driver licenses from the countries below may exchange their foreign license for a Manitoba driving license without sitting a written or road test:
Holders of driver licenses from other countries will be required to sit a written and/or road test.
Read the official guidelines on obtaining a Manitoba driving license.
Non-residents from all countries must take a full driver license examination which includes a vision test, a written examination, and a road test unless they’re from a country with a reciprocal agreement.
International students studying in New Brunswick do not need to exchange their driving licence unless they become a permanent resident or gainfully employed.
Exceptions are those from the following countries who may exchange for a Class 5 (including a motorcycle endorsement without testing, if applicable) or a Class 6 or 6D:
Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Isle of Man, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Republic of Korea (South Korea)*, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan*, Ukraine*, United States and Wales.
*these drivers may need to undergo other tests to get their full license like a vision test.
To exchange a license. you need to be prepared to provide the following documents:
Read the official guidelines on getting a Nova Scotia driving license.
If you are new to Newfoundland and Labrador, you must exchange your existing driver’s licence to a Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s licence within three months of becoming a resident.
How you exchange your licence depends on where you are from.
People from the United States can exchange their existing licence for a Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s licence without taking a written, vision or road test, however they need to show the following:
New residents from the following countries can also exchange their driving licence (car only)
New residents from the following countries can also exchange their driving licence (car and motorcycle only)
To exchange a licence. you need to be prepared to provide the following documents:
Holders of driver licences from other countries will be required to sit a written and/or road test.
Read the official guidelines on getting a Newfoundland driving license.
If you are new to Nova Scotia, you must exchange your existing driver’s licence to a Nova Scotia driver’s licence within three months. Visitors to Nova Scotia also need to get a Nova Scotia licence if they will be in the province for more than 90 days.
People who have a valid regular Driver’s Licence from another Canadian province or the United States can usually exchange their licence for a Nova Scotia Driver’s Licence, without the need to take a road test.
If you have a driving licence from one of these countries, you can exchange your licence:
To get their licence, those from the above countries still need to prove the following:
Newcomers who have a valid driver’s licence from other foreign countries will be required to purchase a knowledge test and road test receipt and successfully complete vision, signs, rules and road tests.
Valid non-Ontario licences may be used for the first 60 days while you get settled in the province. Once that time has elapsed, a valid Ontario licence is required.
If your licence is from the following jurisdictions, you may exchange your licence for an Ontario licence after taking a vision test:
If you have less than 2 years driving experience, you will also need to take an on road test.
Learner or novice licences cannot be exchanged. However, you may still receive credit for previous experience and proceed through the Ontario licensing structure more quickly as a result.
To exchange your foreign licence, you will need to go to an Ontario DriveTest centre, where you will:
If you have less than two years of driving experience, you will receive a G1 licence, which carries additional restrictions, including maintaining a zero blood alcohol level, and not driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
Once you have accumulated two years of experience, you can sit your G2 road test to get a full Ontario driving licence in Canada.
If your country is not listed above, then you will not be able to exchange your foreign licence for an Ontario licence. You will need to sit a written test about road rules and traffic signage, take an eye test, and then sit a road test. If you have more than two years of foreign experience, you can sit the G2 road test and get a full licence. If you have less than two years of driving experience, you may sit the G1 road test, and then the G2 road test when you’ve accumulated two years.
In order get a full G licence, the Ontario government says you have to:
The process is called “graduated licensing” and it is designed to give new drivers time to practice and gain driving experience. You have five years to finish the entire graduated licensing process. If you do not get your full licence after that, you’ll have to start over.
Read the official guidelines on obtaining an Ontario license.
Carsharing is an increasingly popular transit option among newcomers to Toronto. To learn more and begin putting your new Canadian driving licence to good use, visit our options for carsharing in Toronto page.
Newcomers may use their driver’s licence to drive in Prince Edward Island (PEI) for up to four months after they become a resident of the Province.
Newcomers to Prince Edward Island from another Canadian jurisdiction, or from any of the countries listed below, can exchange their licence for a PEI driver’s licence and you will not need to complete a written knowledge exam or driving test.
Effective Monday January 24, 2022, holders of an active Class 5 driver’s licence or equivalent from the following countries will not be required to complete a written exam or road test for a PEI Class 5 drive’s licence, if they are able to present a valid driver licence and one (1) of the supporting documents listed below.
Read the official guidelines on getting a PEI driving license.
Holders of non-Quebec licences can drive on their existing licence for the first six months after arrival. New residents must then obtain a Quebec driver licence in Canada issued by the province of Quebec.
Those with licences from the following countries can obtain a licence without going through the full testing procedure:
Holders of licences from these countries must provide these documents:
You can schedule an appointment by calling (514) 954-7771 in Montreal, or 1-888-356-6616 elsewhere in Quebec. Canadian citizens may call (514) 873-7620 in the Montreal area, (418) 643-7620 in Quebec City, or 1-800-361-7620 elsewhere.
Holders of licences from countries not listed above will still need to provide the above documents. The first step to getting a driver licence in Canada issued by Quebec will be to sit the knowledge test, and then sit a road test. Road test appointments can be scheduled by calling 418 643-5213 in Québec City, 514 873-5803 in Montreal, and 1-888-667-8687 elsewhere.
Read the official guidelines on obtaining a Quebec driver license.
It’s now easier than ever to get from A to B in Montreal, thanks to the increased popularity and availability of carsharing. To learn more, visit our options for carsharing in Montreal page.
New residents in Saskatchewan can use their out-of-province licence to legally drive for the first 90 days after arrival. From then on, you must use a valid driver licence in Canada issued by Saskatchewan.
Visitors and temporary residents in Saskatchewan are not usually eligible for a local licence, but there are some exceptions for temporary workers who require an upgraded licence, and certain visitors, such as Super Visa holders and multi-year visitors. International students may drive on their home country licence for the duration of their studies.
Holders of licences from the following countries may exchange their licence for an equivalent Saskatchewan licence:
Drivers with less than two years of experience will be placed into the relevant stage of the Graduated Driver License program.
Holders of licences from countries not listed above must pass written tests, complete nine months of practice as a learner, complete 12 hours of certified driving training, and pass a road test.
Read the official guidelines here.
If you move to Yukon, you must transfer your current driver’s licence to a Yukon driver’s licence. You must switch your licence within 120 days of your move.
If you have a valid driver’s licence from 1 of the following places, you can apply for a Yukon driver’s licence:
If you’ve held your driver’s licence for less than 2 years in a jurisdiction outside Canada you will need to enroll in the Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program.
Read the official guidelines on getting a Yukon driving license.
Getting your driving licence in Canada as a newcomer is just one thing off your to-do list. Now it’s time to explore.
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