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| Subject: USA Car to Canada |
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Can i use US drivers licence in Canada ?
Can i just switch to Canadian licence (Ontario) without any test when i move to Canada
What is the formality to regsiter a US car in Canada, is it expensive and time consuming ?
I am buying used 1995 model in USA, will i have a problem to transfer this car ???
[22-08-2007,20:38]
[**.89.120.218]
KK |
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(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
You can exchange your US DL in Ontario without any issue. If you have at least 2 years old license then you´ll be gicen G class directly (bring driving records frpm the US DMV). Otheriwse you´ll be given G-2 with some limitations and monumental insurance (you have to pay high insurannce anyway).
About car, you need to declare that as imported by Canadian custom. Have to get a letter from your auto manufacturer about satisfying Canadian standards. This specifications may vary greatly depending on make/model/year. Then you have to pay some tax and register in Ontario. If your car can´t meet the Canadian specifications then you can´t register it in Canada and can drive for a limited time.
[23-08-2007,09:47]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian |
Here is more detail about this subject. (in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
KK;
The Canadian Federal Government controls the importation of vehicles into Canada, and they set the rules about what kinds of cars can be legally imported into this country. They have a very long list of cars and vans that CANNOT be imported from the USA, without extensive modifications, to meet the higher levels of safety standards here in Canada. When you physically enter Canada, at the border, you will need to fill out "importation paperwork " and pay a cash fee to have the paperwork stamped. Then you will need to have the car undergo a "safety inspection " at a licenced garage, in Ontario, to make sure it is roadworthy. The mechanical safety certificate will have to be presented at a Ontario "drivers licence office " when you apply to transfer the vehicle registration from the STATE where it was registered to Ontario, to get Ontario number plates for it .
The Provincial Goverenments, such as Ontario, set the rules for individuals to be licenced as a driver. Ontario will accept a transfer of a driver´s licence from a US state, BUT you have to provide the certified copy information from the motor vehicle department in that state, before yuo can get an Ontario licence.
Car Insurance is mandatory in all parts of Canada, and you will pay high annual rates for the first 5 years, as you have no history of driving in this country. With a 12 year old car, such as yours , it will be less than if it was 2 years old. Insurance costs are based on many factors, such as how far do you drive per week, where do you live, a big city or a small town, and the replacemnent cost of the car it it is destroyed in a wreck or a fire.
So to sum up. Importation at the border. Pay Federal Government fees . Ontraio safety inspection, pay the garage. Apply for a set of Ontario licence plates, and a Ontario class G licence, pay fees to the Ontario Ministry of Transport. Buy insurance and get a proof of insurance card from the insurance company, to show to the MTO office at the time that you apply for the number plates and licence for yourself.
Jim B. Toronto.
[23-08-2007,11:02]
[**.99.152.2]
Canadian Citizen |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
Good to know the details Jim. Thanks.
I didn´t know the detailed ruels of the Canadian side, knew about the US side and assumed they are very much similar.
Thanks Again
[23-08-2007,11:38]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
Guys, this information is great and gives me scope for thinking more options
Currently I live in USA, moving to Canada Jan/Feb 2008. I need a car as I will do a marketing job and also some PT business, also (Having hard time to date without a car !!!!)
Now, what if i get a US driving licence (not buy a car yet), come to Canada & exchange it to Canadian and then also buy a used car in Canada and come back to USA to complete my project.
So this will escape problems of testing, registration etc , also i think I can use Canadian car in USA for 3-4 months , Any ideas will be appreciated
Thanks
[23-08-2007,12:58]
[**.89.120.218]
KK |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
You can drive Canadian car in the US for 12 months without having any US customs declaration, US registration. BUT, the issue may be the insurance. You have to make sure that your Canadian insurance will cover you in the US (?).
Though in the US, you also can purchase auto insurance, but most of the insurance will ask you for US registration. I had similar situation as my 93 Tercel wasn´t approved by US EPA. I found only progressive insuracne worked for me.
[23-08-2007,13:08]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
why do we need to EXCHANGE usa licence for canadian drivers licence.
Can´t canada just give us canadian licence, and so we can have bot usa and canada licence?
[23-08-2007,23:36]
[**.236.152.193]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
Reason is very clear; in Canada getting a new DL from the scratch is very expensive and hard.
USA allows to keep both, but Canada doesn´t.
[24-08-2007,01:36]
[**.154.159.79]
Departed_canadian |
You have to have a minimum of 4 years of driving experience (in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
People:
In order to swap a US driver´s licence to a Canadian one, you have to have a MINIMUM of FOUR YEARS driving experience in the USA. If not, you start at the bottom of the process. No exceptions.
Jim B. Toronto.
[24-08-2007,09:19]
[**.99.152.2]
Canadian Citizen |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
The last posting may not be applicable to all provinces. I´m not sure about all, but sure about at least for Ontario.
I exchanged my US DL in Ontario which was 2.5 years old in 2003 and was given full G.
Check here, the most recent:
http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeOutProv.aspx
"Drivers from other Canadian provinces, Canadian Forces-Europe, U.S.A., Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria and Belgium.
2 or More Years of Driving Experience Within the Last Three Years
If you are a licensed driver with two or more years of driving experience from one of these jurisdictions you may get full class licence privileges without taking a knowledge or road test. However, you must pass a vision test and show acceptable proof of your previous licence status and driving experience."
[24-08-2007,09:54]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian |
(in reply to: USA Car to Canada)
Visit www.riv.ca for full details on how to import a car. It is a relatively easy process, so long as your car is up to spec and meets CDN specs. FYI - cars that are 15 years or older are held to different standards than newer cars.
For the driver´s license, this is a provice-by-province decision. Most provinces will allow Americans to keep their US drivers license, and have a Canadian license. Not all 50 states will allow this though, so it really depends where you´re coming from, and where you´re heading too.
[26-08-2007,04:32]
[**.200.181.247]
Anonymous |
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