A Beginner's Guide to Changing a Driver's licence

A Beginner's Guide to Changing a Driver's licence

May 31, 2021 By kim@boltmarketing.ca

New Ontario residents may wonder whether they need to create new drivers' licences to drive in the province. Fortunately, we're here to answer the question and guide you through the process! Those new to Ontario are permitted to use their driver's licence from another province, state, or country—but only for 60 days. After 60 days, they need to have obtained an Ontario driver's licence. The process of switching a driver's licence depends on the place they were licenced before and the amount of time they have been driving. There are certain requirements for you to apply for a driver's licence. In this article, we're going to guide you through the process of applying for a licence. Carefully read through the guide to make your application easier.

Can I Exchange My licence for an Ontario licence?

Those relocating to Ontario from another Canadian province or territory, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the United States of America, or one of the countries with exchange agreements (Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Taiwan), you are eligible to simply exchange your driver's licence (assuming it is current and valid) for an Ontario licence. You can't exchange your driver's licence if your current licence does not have an exchange agreement with Ontario. Those with learner's permits or novice-class licences will also fail to meet this requirement.

How Do I Apply to Change My Driver's licence?

The steps to changing your out-of-state licence to an Ontario licence are simple. First, visit the DriveTest center or the ServiceOntario Bay and College location in downtown Toronto to apply for a driver's licence. You will submit all the required documents and take an eye test. Here's what to be prepared for:

1. Pay the applicable fees and fill out an application form
In some cases, you may be required to take a written test or road test and get evaluated before receiving your licence. As for the proof of driving experience, you can show a valid, original foreign driver's licence. Then, ask for an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver's licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. The letter must be written in English or French. There is no need for a letter if you are exchanging a novice licence from another province. Make sure that your foreign licence is valid, has an expiry date, and has been translated to English or French.

2. Provide valid and updated documents
The following documents will be required when submitting your application:
Results of your eye test
Authentic copies of your accepted identity documents showing your legal name, date of birth, and signature
Authentic copies of your original, valid out-of-province/foreign driver's licence
Supporting documents showing proof of your driving experience in English or French.

3. Have your foreign licence translated (if necessary)
If your driver's licence is not in English or French, you need to have it translated by an approved translator. These translators can be consulates, high commissioner's offices, or non-Canadian embassies. To know the legitimacy of a translator, they must provide proof of their credentials. As long as they can provide their credentials or have been employed as a translator before then they are qualified. Another qualification is being a member of a translation association such as the ATIO—the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario. Lastly, they are a clergy member with experience as a translator.

Conclusion

Applying for a driver's licence can be easy as long as you provided the right documents and aced your tests. These tests depend on your driving experiences. Hopefully, you can receive your new driver's licence with the help of the guide. If you have under 2 years of driving experience or you need to refresh your memory, you can always take our courses. We are a driving school and an MTO-approved BDE course provider in Ontario. Our SafeStart program is an award-winning program with interactive classes and state-of-the-art Simulator


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