How to Get a BC Driver’s License (2025)

BC has a reciprocal driving license exchange for certain countries. You can exchange yours easily for a BC driver's license. All of this has to be done in person and only with an appointment, so I recommend booking well in advance, even before you get to Vancouver. You can sometimes show up early and do it the same day, or find a cancellation.

Check for your country but Germany for example you don’t need a new license right away. You can still use your German license for some time.

Make an appointment at ICBC

You can book anywhere here, you can try a few to find the earliest one:

ICBC — Find a service

Reciprocal license exchange requirements

Book an appointment to apply for a B.C. driver’s licence at an ICBC driver licencing office. You’ll need to bring:

Proof of driving experience. You need to get your driving record and experience for 2 years from the country you are coming from. Otherwise, you can get an L or N driving license.
required ID (Usually work permit and passport)
your current driver's licence
fee for your licence

What are the fees?

It will cost $31 for the license exchange.

How long do I have to exchange my license?

If you are living in BC, you have 90 days to exchange it.

How long do I have to wait to get my new license?

It is a wild range from 7-60 days. They will give you a tracker site after you have applied. You will get a paper license you can use in the meantime.

Moving from Alberta to BC Drivers License

If you’re moving to British Columbia from Alberta, you must exchange your Alberta driver’s license for a BC driver’s license within 90 days of becoming a resident. You cannot hold both an Alberta and BC license at the same time.

Exchanging your Alberta drivers license for a BC drivers license will have a similar process. You will need to book an appointment, still need to bring the items listed above and it will cost $31.

ICBC reciprocal licence exchange countries

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.

I lost my drivers license and they said I’d have to go through the whole driving test process again, so make sure you do this as soon as you can before you lose your ID 🙃 (I found it again though so was good!).

Driver licensing requirements are based on where your current license is from.

In addition to having reciprocal arrangements with every Canadian province and territory as well as every US state, B.C. has reciprocal licence exchange agreements with many jurisdictions:

Austria
Australia
Belgium
France
Germany
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey
Ireland
Japan
Netherlands

Except for 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)

Proof of driving experience

You do not need proof if you have a few years of driving experience and a full license previously in BC. I called them to confirm this.

If you haven’t lived in BC with a license, you can use your license from your country but it has to indicate that you got the license at least 2 years ago. If you recently got a replacement or renewal, you will have to request a driving abstract from your country.

If the document isn’t in English you will need to arrange help from a ICBC-approved translator

Moving from outside Canada