Just call me 007

December 21, 2005 by paul
Filed under: Uncategorized

Licensed to ~~kill~~ drive.

Mind you, the frustrating thing is that we hadn’t even made it out of the test centre’s parking area when the tester asked me where I was from (England, I say) and he asks if I have a UK driving license (yes) … well, then why don’t you just convert it? I can’t – the MTO website said that I had to take the road test, and I even called MTO on Monday to check and they said the same. The tester said he’s sure Britain was one of the recent additions to the exchange program.

We carry on and do the test anyway; he said I was a little slow at times (!) but passed me. I went inside to meet up with my instructor and do the last bit of paperwork, and the tester re-appears – he’s just checked and yes it’s a straight exchange!

As we’re walking out my instructor asks what the tester was talking about and I tell him the tale about UK license exchange – he’s surprised too, and says he’s got 7 Brits just signed up for lessons and to take their tests!

I just checked the out-sourced testing centre’s website and it does say (here):

Drivers from other Canadian provinces, Canadian Forces-Europe, U.S.A., Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Great Britain and Austria.

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.

Mind you, because this only changed in the last year or so, I wouldn’ t have 2+ years driving (in the UK) in the past 3 years, being as it’s 4.5 years since I moved … and of course this wasn’t in place when I did move … so I couldn’t have avoided the test either way.

Oh well, I’ve got a piece of paper that says my full (“G”) license should arrive in the next few weeks … so watch out!