Driver licensing
Moving from outside Canada
Welcome to B.C.! After moving here, you have 90 days to switch your valid licence to a B.C. driver’s licence.
The 90-day rule does not apply and you may continue to drive on your current licence if you:
are visiting as a tourist for up to six months
have a valid student exemption due to full-time enrollment at a designated educational institution in B.C.
are ordinarily resident outside of B.C.
are a temporary foreign worker with a federal work permit designating that you are in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP). Workers in the SAWP may drive for up to 12 months on a valid licence from their home jurisdiction. If you’re staying longer than 12 months under SAWP and want to continue driving then you will need to get a B.C. driver’s licence.
Welcoming new arrivals to B.C.
Driver licensing requirements are based on where your current licence is from:
With some licences, you can exchange your current licence for a B.C. licence without additional testing. Those countries are listed in the “licence exchange jurisdictions” tab further down this page.
With other licences, you can still apply for a B.C. licence but in addition to the application, you’ll need to take a knowledge and road test.
No matter where your licence was issued, we can help you at any of our driver licensing offices.
Things to know before you visit a driver licensing office:
You can drive in B.C. using your current driver's licence for up to 90 days.
You can use most immigration documents issued by the Government of Canada as your primary identification to obtain a B.C. driver's licence and/or BC Services Card. You’ll also need to provide secondary identification. Learn more about accepted ID.
When you apply for a B.C. driver’s licence, you’ll be required to surrender the current driver’s licence(s) you have, so that ICBC can determine your driving experience and the licence class you are eligible to take the test for. You can only legally hold one driver’s licence in British Columbia.
If your licence or supporting documents require additional verification, ICBC will put your application on hold until verification is complete.
If you cannot prove more than two years of non-learner driving experience, you’ll be required to enter the Graduated Licensing Program.
Class 5, 6, 7 and 8 knowledge tests are available in 12 languages.
We offer free, over-the-phone interpretation services in 170 languages. Find out more about our language services.
Driving experience requirements for new B.C. residents
New B.C. residents are required to provide their driver licence history. Learn more about the requirements for proving your driving experience.
If you've previously held a B.C. driver's licence and are returning to the province, your insurance will be calculated based on the date of your first B.C. driver's licence.
If you've never held a licence in B.C. before, your out of province licence is expired over three years and you cannot provide proof you have been driving on a valid licence anywhere in the last three years, you will be required to take a knowledge test and a road test.
Each year you remain crash-free, your insurance discount increases. ICBC will credit you with up to 15 years of driving experience upon receipt of an acceptable driving record showing the original date that you received your licence. Your premiums will be adjusted for the first three years of driving in B.C. due to the increased risks associated with driving in a new area.
Driving experience requirement
Proof of at least two years driving experience is needed to be exempt from B.C.’s Graduated Licensing Program. If you don't have two years' driving experience (with a full-privilege, non-learner licence) or can't prove it, you can still get a Class 7 or Class 8 licence with graduated licensing restrictions.
You need to be a B.C. resident to apply for or hold a B.C. driver’s licence.
Book an appointment to apply for a B.C. driver’s licence at an ICBC driver licensing office. You’ll need to bring:
your current driver's licence
Giving up your previous licence
B.C. law requires that you only have one driver's licence. If you qualify for a new B.C. driver's licence, you will need to surrender your previous licence to ICBC.
If you are required to pass a road test and do not pass, you will be issued a B.C. Learners licence, and your previous licence will not be returned to you.
Driver licensing requirements are based on where your current licence is from.
B.C. waives knowledge and road testing with every Canadian province and territory as well as waiving testing for passenger and motorcycle licences with most US states. B.C. will also waive knowledge testing for those exchanging passenger driver's licences and most motorcycle driver's licences from the following jurisdictions:
Austria
Australia
Belgium
France
Germany
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey
Ireland
Japan
Netherlands
Except former territories in Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
New Zealand
South Korea (not motorcycles)
Switzerland
Taiwan (not motorcycles)
If you're from Taiwan you will be able to exchange your licence for a passenger vehicle licence only. You must provide the following documents:
Taiwanese driver's licence card,
Verification certificate of driver's licence with red seal stamp (available in Taiwan only), and a translation of your driver's licence by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vancouver. You can get an ICBC translation form at any driver licensing office.
United Kingdom (includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
United States (includes Washington DC and Puerto Rico)
Exchanging a non-commercial licence
If you’re from one of the countries or jurisdictions listed above and are applying for a passenger vehicle (Class 5) or motorcycle (Class 6) licence, book an appointment to visit an ICBC driver licensing office and bring the following to exchange your licence:
Your current driver's licence
Commercial licences
Please note that subject to review of your driving record(s), B.C. testing may be required before you can be issued a B.C. Class 1 driver’s licence. This may include mandatory entry-level training (MELT).
For a commercial licence from outside of Canada, you will need to qualify on applicable knowledge and road tests. You may also need to complete the Class 1 MELT course if you are applying to be a Class 1 commercial driver. Otherwise, you can exchange your licence for a passenger vehicle licence.
If you're from a country or jurisdiction that is not included in our license exchange list, you can still apply for a B.C. licence. But in addition to the application, you will need to take a knowledge and road test.
You have up to 90 days to complete this process, but we recommend you start early as you will need to qualify on a knowledge test first and then wait for an available road test appointment.
Book an appointment for your knowledge test. In the same appointment, we will collect the informaton from your ID and driving experience from your country.
What to bring to your knowledge test appointment
Your current driver's licence
Step 1: Take the knowledge test at any driver licensing office
The knowledge test is a multiple choice quiz that tests your knowledge of road signs and the rules of the road. You’ll need to get 40 out of 50 questions right to pass.
Take the knowledge test at one of our driver licensing offices to get your L
Step 2: Take the class 5 road test
After you have qualified on the knowledge test you will be able to make an appointment for a road test.
Note: Bring another qualified driver with you for your test in case you don't pass.
If you have qualified on your knowledge test, book a class 5 road test. If you haven't been issued an interim driver's licence, contact our driver licensing information line to book your road test.
New to B.C.?
Get information in Punjabi or Chinese
Getting documents translated
Translation requirements depend on the country or jurisdiction that issued your current licence 
. For some countries and jurisdictions, translations may only be required if your original licence:
Has non-English characters
Does not have images of vehicles you’re approved to drive
Is on a piece of paper with written vehicle descriptions
If your licence or supporting documents require translation, ICBC will put your application on hold until the translated versions are complete. Translations are requested at ICBC’s discretion and must be done by an ICBC-approved translator .
