| To drive in Alberta as a new resident, you may | | | | registered within 3 months. If you are a first time |
| be required to take a drivers test, depending on | | | | vehicle owner in Alberta you will receive new |
| where you originate from. Your current driver's | | | | plates upon registering your vehicle. |
| license will be valid for 3 months from your date | | | | Another vital service that is available if you are |
| of arrival. If you hold a valid international driver's | | | | looking to buy a preowned vehicle is to have the |
| license then you have 12 months or until it | | | | vehicle history checked - more details on this kind |
| expires, which ever comes sooner to obtain your | | | | of service can be found at our main website |
| Alberta operators permit. | | | | linked below. For a small fee they will provide a full |
| Licensing is normally carried out at your local | | | | report on any previous accidents, odometer level, |
| registry office and you will need to buy a permit | | | | and the correct owner/registrant and if there are |
| prior to the written and road tests. You will also | | | | any other claims against the vehicle ownership. No |
| need to provide two pieces of identification and | | | | one needs their vehicle to be repossessed |
| your immigration status for the licensing process. | | | | because it has finance against it or find out it has |
| There are seven classes of license in Alberta; | | | | been previously written off! |
| unless you intend to drive heavy goods or large | | | | Vehicle Insurance |
| passenger vehicles then the two to concentrate | | | | As it is illegal to operate an uninsured vehicle, all |
| on are Classes 7 and 5. You can apply for a | | | | motor vehicles in Alberta must have a public |
| learners license from age 14 with parental | | | | liability insurance policy. You will need proof of |
| consent. | | | | your insurance when registering your vehicle. |
| Class 7 is your learner's license, to obtain this you | | | | We found auto insurance in Alberta to be quite |
| will need to take and pass a written test and a | | | | expensive though the Provincial Government have |
| vision test. | | | | now implemented Insurance Reforms directed at |
| The questions for the written test are taken | | | | making premiums cheaper for good drivers. If |
| from the Basic License-Drivers Handbook which is | | | | you do have to make an "at fault" claim or |
| available from the registry office or online. It is | | | | persistently incur traffic violations you will be |
| important to study this handbook prior to sitting | | | | heavily penalised for future premiums. |
| the test as there are different rules of the road | | | | Most insurance companies do not take your |
| in Alberta that you will need to understand. | | | | previous no claims discount and driving experience |
| Once you have passed your class 7 license you | | | | into consideration. We were also told that once |
| are then able to take your road test. You must | | | | we had our Alberta Driving License then the cost |
| provide the vehicle for the road test and the | | | | of insurance would go down, so it's advisable to |
| examiner will check the vehicle over to ensure | | | | do that as soon as you can. |
| that is road worthy. | | | | Make sure you get an up to date no claims |
| On passing the road test you will then be given | | | | certificate from your current insurance company |
| your Class 5 drivers license, which entitles you to | | | | before leaving as it may help. |
| drive in Alberta and is renewable every 5 years. | | | | General Information |
| I was really nervous about having to take a | | | | Though the price of Gas (petrol) in Canada is |
| drivers test again, but it was easy compared to | | | | rising it is still relatively cheap compared to most |
| the road test I had taken 13 years earlier in | | | | of the western world. For example the 2006 |
| England. My advice is to study the handbook well, | | | | prices are around C$1.12 per litre for regular |
| get lots of practice driving with new rules and just | | | | (unleaded), about C$1.17 for mid grade and C$1.19 |
| go for it as soon as you feel confident. If you fail | | | | for the premium. Diesel is slowly becoming more |
| then you can take it again the next day! You | | | | popular and is about C$0.90 per litre. The price |
| must always carry your valid driver's license, valid | | | | does fluctuate especially with the surge in world oil |
| insurance and vehicle registration when driving in | | | | prices currently being experienced but at least the |
| Alberta. If you get stopped by the police and | | | | price comes down as the Oil price drops. |
| cannot produce it there is a hefty fine. | | | | There is a massive selection of vehicles to |
| All traffic laws are strictly upheld by the police and | | | | choose from - the North American models are |
| they WILL fine you on the spot. For example, | | | | being edged out by the more reliable far eastern |
| Calgary city fines were in excess of $25,000,000 | | | | imports. There is definitely a trade off - cheaper |
| for 2003. So, stop at stop signs and definitely | | | | versus reliability and people are starting to move |
| stop and give way to pedestrians who have right | | | | towards the more economical European style cars |
| of way. | | | | and away from the big gas guzzlers. Sport Utility |
| Vehicle Licensing | | | | Vehicles (SUV) are plentiful though seldom seem |
| All motor vehicles and trailers in Alberta have to | | | | to be used off road! |
| be licensed before they are allowed on the road. | | | | The speed limits are set in Kilometres per hour |
| This is an annual fee and the renewal date is | | | | and are generally quite conservative. In a |
| based on the first letter of your last name, | | | | residential area, close to schools or town centres |
| therefore, this will always be the same month | | | | the limit is 30Kph, elsewhere in the town/city limit |
| every year. A renewal form will be mailed to you | | | | its 50Kph. The Highways are 100 - 110 Kph but |
| and you can renew your registration at any | | | | will be slower near to housing or small villages. |
| registry office. | | | | Again, these are strictly policed by radar in cars |
| In Alberta, the license plates stay with the owner | | | | or stationary traps. Basically, by the time you see |
| and are not transferable to any other person. If | | | | them you're too late! |
| you take your own vehicle to Alberta it must | | | | |