Do I have to apply for new driver license?

[Francis123]

When I become a PR of Canada, do I need to apply for a driver license and do the driving test coming from the US or can I legally drive withmy California DL?

 

[Silver_Spirit]

Youll need to send off your current licence and theyll replace it with a canadian, i dont think you need to retake the test as your from the US but im still having trouble getting a straight answer on this myself lol

 

[chelley]

I think every province has their own rules, but you should be able to exchange your licence in all of them

for Ontario, you can legally drive on the US licence for i think it's 60 days..

then you can do a direct exchange (a few countries including US and I believe UK) have reciprocal agreements for drivers licences... my husbands country (jamaica) did not and it was a much more involved process...

to exchange i believe you might have to go to a drive test facility rather than service canada or drivers/licencing office...

if you're not going to Ontario, I'd check what the requirements are for your province

 

[AllisonVSC]

You can exchange in Ontario at the DriveTest Centres and depending on your level of experience you can get a G1 replacement. You just have to take the vision test and of course pay a fee. You are required to surrender your current licence. They will give you a paper temporary one and mail you the official one. Go ahead and request your driving record from California and your claims record from your insurance company. You will need them for insurance purposes too. Below is the link for Ontario.

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/OutOfCountryDrivers.aspx

 

[chelley]

allison... that link is for those without a reciprocal agreement (which the US has...)

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4001360

yes the amount of experience does count, but if it's over 2 years, it's a direct exchange...

 

[AllisonVSC]

Oops...Thanks chelley. I looked at both and copied the wrong link.