- Find a licensing office
- Getting licensed
- Renew or replace a licence
- Your driving record
- Driver training
- Moving?
- Tickets and penalties
- Called for a re-exam
- BCID
- Book a road test
- ID requirements
- Licence Fees
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Moving to B.C. from another country
To drive in British Columbia, new residents must obtain a B.C. driver’s licence within 90 days. During this time, you may continue driving with your existing driver’s licence.
To get a B.C. licence, drivers from most countries must follow the steps below.
| Note: If you are moving here from the U.S., Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea or another Canadian province, the process to get a licence is different. Learn more » |
Steps to get a driver’s licence
| Step | Action |
| 1. | Prepare for the Knowledge Test. |
| 2. | Go to a driver licensing office to take the Knowledge Test and a vision test. |
| 3. | Take a road test. Book your road test as soon as possible because there can be a lengthy wait. |
Step 1: Prepare for the Knowledge Test
To get your Learner’s licence, the first step is to take a driver knowledge test. Prepare for this test using one of the following study guides:
| To drive a . . . | You must study . . . |
| passenger vehicle | learn to drive smart book (PDF) |
| motorcycle | RoadSense for Riders (PDF) |
| commercial vehicle | Driving Commercial Vehicles (PDF) |
Before taking the real Knowledge Test at your local driver licensing office, you can practice using our Online Practice Knowledge Test.
Step 2: Go to a driver licensing office to take a knowledge and a vision test
In the Knowledge Test, you answer questions based on information in the study guide for the type of vehicle you will be driving (that is, a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle or motorcycle).
When you go to the driver licensing office, you will need to bring
- required identification,
- your driver’s licence, and
- $15 to pay for the Knowledge Test.
If you hold an international driving permit, please bring it, too.
Note: If your driver’s licence is not in English, please bring a translation of it. The translation may have to be done by an ICBC-approved translator. For more information, please go to a driver licensing office.
Step 3: Take a road test
After passing the knowledge and vision tests, you will have to take a road test.
You may take the road test as soon as you feel ready to do so.
If you pass the road test: You will qualify for a regular B.C. driver’s licence.
If you don’t pass the road test: You can take the test again. We will issue you a learner’s licence. However, you will have to hand in the driver’s licence issued to you in the country you moved from.
With a learner’s licence, you can drive only when accompanied by a qualified driver.
After passing the road test, we will return your former driver’s licence to you.