Can I drive on my UK licence?

A full UK licence can be swapped for a provincial licence without a road test in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The catch is the deadline: in Ontario you have only 60 days after becoming a resident. Insurance is the bigger cost, so bring proof of your UK driving record.

How long can you drive on your UK licence?

Visitors can drive on a UK licence. Once you live in a province, a deadline starts. Carry your UK photocard licence and passport whenever you drive.

Temporary residents are treated differently in some provinces. In Alberta, for example, temporary workers and students may keep driving on their home licence. Check your province’s page for your permit type.

Making the swap

• Take your UK photocard licence, passport, immigration document (work permit or PR card) and proof of address in the province
• Expect a vision test
• Your UK licence is surrendered and not returned, so check your UK car hire and insurance plans first
• Learner and provisional licences can’t be exchanged
• If your licence was issued recently, bring proof of when you first passed, such as a DVLA driving record, to show 2 years’ experience
• You don’t need an International Driving Permit: Alberta, for example, only recommends one for licences not in English

Car insurance

Car insurance is compulsory and often costs far more than in the UK, especially in Ontario. In BC, basic insurance is sold by ICBC, the public insurer. In Quebec, the SAAQ covers injuries through a public scheme, and you buy private cover for damage. In Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia you buy from private insurers or brokers.

• Ask your UK insurer for a claims experience letter (no-claims history) on headed paper before you leave
• Get a copy of your DVLA driving record too
• Insurers decide for themselves how much foreign history to credit. Some don’t count experience from outside Canada and the US at all, so ask each one and use a broker to compare
• Newcomers often pay much more at first, so get quotes before you buy a car

Winter driving

In Quebec, from 1 December to 15 March, all cars registered there must have winter tyres marked with the mountain and snowflake symbol. Fines run from C$200 to C$300. In BC, many highways require winter tyres or chains from 1 October to 30 April: look for the signs. Elsewhere winter tyres are optional but widely used, and some insurers give a discount. More in Getting through a Canadian winter.

Road rules that differ from the UK

• You drive on the right, and speeds and distances are in km/h and km
• You can usually turn right on a red light after stopping, unless a sign says not to. It isn’t allowed on the island of Montreal
• Stop for school buses with flashing red lights, in both directions on most roads
• Four-way stops: the first car to stop goes first
• Phone, drink-driving and speeding rules: see Rules that catch Brits out

Buying a car

You can buy from dealers or privately through sites such as Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. Check the vehicle’s history report and any money owed on it before paying. You register the car with the provincial licensing office and pay sales tax there on a private sale. You need insurance before you can register. If you’d rather not own a car, see Living without a car.