Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Vancouver

As in any big city, it is best to avoid major roads during rush hour. Otherwise, crossing Vancouver doesn’t take much time. On the TransCanada Highway, which runs along the east of the city, it will only take you around 20 minutes. The main roads into the city are Granville to the south, Kingsway to the southeast and Hastings to the east.

Driving licence

Your home driving licence will only be valid for three months in British Columbia. After these three months, you will have to change it (or else face a penalty of being in violation!) for a BC licence. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost, so only do this if you plan to drive in Canada and stay in BC long-term on your IEC permit.

If your home licence is in English, the exchange is straightforward. Make an appointment with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) office. Make sure you bring your passport, your home licence, your debit or credit card to pay for the fee, and proof of driving experience (this can often be as simple as the issue date on your home licence). If your home licence is not in English, you’ll need to get it translated from an ICBC-approved translator and bring the translation as well.

You will obtain a temporary licence so that you can drive immediately and will receive the original a few days later, at the postal address you provide. You may be subject to a vision test or a knowledge test, depending on your citizenship.

To learn more, see:

• Driver licensing: Moving from outside Canada
• Buying a car in Canada

Car rental

You’ll have a range of companies to choose from at the airport and scattered throughout the city centre. As well as the big-name brands like Hertz, Avis and Budget, there are also local and independent rental companies who sometimes offer better prices. Be sure to shop around for the best price.

Car sharing

There are also several community car sharing companies available in Vancouver. This can be a practical solution for Working Holiday makers who do not necessarily have the means to buy a car or rent an expensive car from a traditional rental company, or who do not want to stay in Vancouver for the entire duration of their Working Holiday.

In Vancouver, you can choose from Modo, Evo and Zipcar. The principle is simple: cars are located throughout the greater Vancouver area (and in Victoria for Modo). You become a member of the car sharing site, you reserve the car, use it for the booked period of time and then return it to the same location you picked it up from.

With Evo, you don’t even need to return it exactly where you picked it up. You can just park it in a “Home Zone” or “Home Area,” as indicated on the site and the app.

Buying a car in Vancouver

Buying a car in Vancouver is the same as buying a car anywhere: you have to be sure you aren’t buying a wreck! If you can, seek out the advice of a mechanic (for a fee) or a friend who is knowledgeable about cars. You can contact an individual or a dealer.

Before you commit to any purchase, remember to request a “vehicle history report.” This will tell you a lot about the history of the car: the number of accidents it’s been in, if it’s been reported stolen, etc. This costs around CA$50 and can be requested from ICBC. Follow the steps for buying a used car on the ICBC website.

Once you have inspected the car and are happy, it is time to move on to the paperwork. After completing the Transfer/Tax Form, you can proceed with change of ownership and register the vehicle in your name. To register your car, follow these steps on the ICBC website.

Once this has been completed, you can change your registration plate and take out your insurance. Basic insurance is compulsory and is provided by ICBC. You can take insurance out with any partner insurance store, recognisable by the inscription “autoplan” on the window.

If, in your opinion, basic insurance is not sufficient for your needs, you can take out a policy with more options and greater coverage. You can do this with ICBC or a private insurer.

To save on the price of insurance, you can bring a statement from your home car insurance provider certifying that you have not been the cause of an accident. This statement of information must be translated into English by a certified translator if you are from a non-English speaking country. You can find the list of certified translators on the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC) website.

If you have had your licence for more than 10 years, this may entitle you to an additional reduction.

A few tips

• Get a car insurance quote before buying the car to check if you can afford it. Car insurance is expensive in Canada.
• If you have any questions, contact ICBC directly rather than turning to private companies who are not familiar with the procedures for people moving to BC from abroad.

You will find all the information on insurance and registration of your car on the ICBC website.