moving to Canada and getting a car: how to reduce insurance premium?

[tia08]

Hello!

I'll be moving to BC in a month on a travel visa and plan on buying a car to get around the province. I do not know how long I'll be staying in Canada, but it's likely I'll be there for at least 6 months, and, if luck is on my side, a whole year.

My question is: when I get the car insured, how do I keep the insurance premium as low as possible?
I know I need to get an insurance history claim from my insurance company back home (I live in EU), but other than that, which are the ways for me to cut back the costs of the insurance bill?

For example, does it help to change my original licence to a BC driver's licence?

Thank you for your help.

Tina

 

[Helena R]

Hello,

I'll tell you how it is in Ontario, but you should check the info for BC.

You can't do much. You're going to be new to Canada, so you won't have driving history here. The insurance history from your own country can help though. But in order to get a lower premium you have to drive here for 3 years.

About the driver's license:
The type you have doesn't have an influence on getting lower $$
However, check the regulations for BC. In Ontario you can only drive with your own license for 3 months, so in your case better get an International driver's license in your country before leaving.

In regard to gettinb a Canadian driver's license, I think you need to have an address in Canada.

Hope it helps

 

[DavEd]

Hello!

I'll be moving to BC in a month on a travel visa and plan on buying a car to get around the province. I do not know how long I'll be staying in Canada, but it's likely I'll be there for at least 6 months, and, if luck is on my side, a whole year.

My question is: when I get the car insured, how do I keep the insurance premium as low as possible?
I know I need to get an insurance history claim from my insurance company back home (I live in EU), but other than that, which are the ways for me to cut back the costs of the insurance bill?

For example, does it help to change my original licence to a BC driver's licence?

Thank you for your help.

Tina

Read through this...
http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc/Pages/Moving-from-another-country.aspx