Driving in Canada
If you plan to buy or lease a car there are some expenses, beyond the purchase cost of a car, you need to be aware of:
- All vehicles must be registered with Service NB and this registration has to be renewed every year. Click here for registration.
- All vehicles must have a safety inspection every year to ensure that they are safe to drive. The inspection costs $25.00. This does not include the cost of any repairs that may be required. Please note: Car repair costs in Canada can be very expensive.
- All drivers must have valid vehicle insurance. For information on insurance providers, look under Insurance – General in the Yellow pages.
Students with an International Driving License
Valid in New Brunswick as long as:
- License is valid (not expired)
- Driver continues to be a student
Students without a Driving License
You must first obtain a New Brunswick Learner’s License by following these procedures:
- Call Service New Brunswick at (506) 658-5666 to book an eye examination.
- Study the Driver’s Handbook from here. You must have an acceptable knowledge of road signs, rules of the road, and safe driving practices to pass a written and oral test.
- Call Service NB for an appointment for the written and oral test.
- A learner’s license (Class 71) is issued after successfully passing the written/oral test. Learner’s license allows applicants to drive ONLY with a licensed – Class 5 – driver. After one year, you can take a road test for a Class 72 driver's license that allows you to drive by yourself.
Exception: If you enroll in a driving course (Young Drivers of Canada, First Rate Driver Instruction, etc.) you can apply to take the Class 72 driver's test after four months instead of one year. Doing this will also help you save on insurance costs.
- Then, after one year with Class 72 driver’s license, you will receive a Class 5 driver’s license.
Drinking and Driving
Driving in Canada under the influence of alcohol IS A CRIME and penalties can include fines, imprisonment or both and a prohibition of driving. Once a foreign national in Canada has been convicted for a criminal offence, he/she may be deported.
- All drivers under the age of 21 must have a 0% alcohol level in their blood while driving.
- All drivers above the age of 21 must have less than a 0.08% alcohol level in their blood while driving.
