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Home / Living / Driving / Getting Your Driver’s Licence in British Columbia
Written By
admin
Jan 23, 2019
•Driving
Driving is a big part of life in Canada. If you are planning to move to Vancouver or anywhere in British Columbia (B.C), you will need to learn about the process for getting your driver’s licence in British Columbia. The steps to complete will differ depending on your current driver’s licence status. Below we will outline the steps to get your driver’s licence in B.C.
The local licencing authority is called the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Newcomers to the province are allowed to drive using a foreign licence for up to 90 days after arrival. This is referred to as the 90-day rule. After this point, you can only use a driving licence in Canada issued by British Columbia.
New residents can apply for a licence at an ICBC licencing offer. For the appointment you will need to bring:
To get a B.C licence you will need to surrender your previous licence to ICBC. Experienced drivers from approved countries can exchange their foreign licence for a British Columbia equivalent right away.
Licencing requirements are based on your current licence and the country it is from. ICBC has licence exchange agreements with the following countries:
If you hold a license from any of these countries, you will need to bring identification, (including a permanent resident card, or work/study permit). You will also need to surrender your existing licence and answer basic questions about road safety to get a British Columbia licence.
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If you have a licence from a country that is not on the list, you can still apply for a B.C driver’s licence. You will need to fill out an application and pass a knowledge test and road test.
You will have 90 days to complete the process.
If you have less than two years of driving experience in your home country, you will have to take more steps to get a driver’s licence.
Those with more than two years of driving experience will get a full, Class 5 licence right away as outlined above. People with less than two years of experience will receive a Class 7 novice licence and may then apply for a full Class 5 licence when they have accumulated two years of experience. Foreign experience will be credited towards the two-year total.
You will enter the graduated licencing program. This is also applicable to newcomers who do not have a driver’s licence and want to get a B.C licence. Here’s how it works:
Now that you know how to get a driver’s licence, let’s briefly talk about what it is like to drive in British Columbia. Here are some must-know facts:
In B.C. all drivers must:
Also, to ensure your safety, it’s illegal to use your cell phone while driving and the legal blood alcohol level is 0.05 in B.C. However, it’s best to avoid drinking and driving.
For more information about living and working in Canada, check out our free webinars. We’ll help you to achieve success in Canada!
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WRITTEN BY
admin
Writer, Prepare for Canada
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