Licence Exchanges – Cars, Trucks, Vans

Jurisdictions with a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, as well as the documentation requirements for each of those locations, follow. These licence exchange agreements are related to driving cars, small trucks, and vans. There are different agreements and requirements if you want to get a driver’s licence for a motorcycle or commercial vehicle.

If you do not see your country of origin in this list, you must apply for a new driver’s licence and complete all the relevant steps of the graduated licensing program applicable to your circumstances. You may get credit for previous driving experience. 

A driver may hold a combination of commercial licences. For example, you can hold a Class A and B if you meet the requirements for both. Your licence designation, in this case, would be shown as AB. The driver examinations for these licences are completed separately. Similarly, a class or combination of licence classes may be combined with a Class M licence authorizing the operation of motorcycles (e.g., AM, EM, ABM, and so on).

When you visit a DriveTest Centre to apply for a licence, you must bring your current driver’s licence, acceptable ID, and possibly a letter of authentication or a driver’s abstract issued within the last six months to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.

All original supporting documentation related to your driving experience such as driving history/abstract/authentication letters or translations will be retained. Please photocopy for your records prior to your visit, if required. DriveTest does not offer photocopying or fax services.

For all jurisdictions, an acceptable driver’s abstract or letter of authentication must have the following features. The document may have various titles when requesting an appropriate letter so be sure it includes all of the following:

• Issued within the last 6 months (issue date must be included on document)

• Issued by the licensing authority, Consulate, Embassy or High Commissioner’s Office representing the jurisdiction

• Must be original or electronically provided (no faxes, photocopies or scanned documents)

• The letter and licence must be in English or French or accompanied by a translation from an MTO-recognized translator.

• Must contain the driver’s full name OR licence number for licences from an exchangeable jurisdiction

• Must contain a letterhead, logo, emblem or coat of arms from the issuing government body or licensing authority

• Date first licensed

• Date of birth (if field exists on abstract)

• Licence class(es)

• Licence status

• Expiry date

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• An Interprovincial Record Exchange (IRE) search is mandatory for all applicants from these states and may present a delay in processing an exchange if the search is unsuccessful. A DriveTest employee will conduct the IRE search. However, we recommend that you obtain a driving record (dated within 6 months of your application and indicating the date the licence was first issued) to prevent any delays in processing.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Original or electronically provided abstract from your jurisdiction dated within 6 months to complete the exchange.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• If your valid driver’s licence is not in English or French, it must be accompanied by an English or French translation from an MTO-recognized translator. If you provide your original licence with a supporting letter of authentication from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioner’s Office in either English or French, you do not need to include a licence translation.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Authentication document issued by the Belgian municipality where you have been registered last. The authentication document must be original or electronically provided, dated within the last 6 months, and have a stamp. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full category B driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Authentication document issued directly by the originating jurisdiction, Consulate, Embassy or High Commissioner’s Office representing the jurisdiction. The authentication document must be original or electronically provided, dated within the last 6 months.

• If your valid driver’s licence is not in English or French, it must be accompanied by an English or French translation from an MTO-recognized translator. If you provide your original licence with a supporting letter of authentication from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioner’s Office in either English or French, you do not need to include a licence translation.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Driving abstract dated within 6 months of the application and obtained from the French licensing authority that issued the original licence. Consulates are unable to supply this document. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Your current licence must be surrendered. If you have misplaced your licence, you must present an original or electronically provided Certificate of Entitlement, dated within the last 6 months and issued by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), for the exchange to take place. Photocopies are not acceptable.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full category B driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Authentication document issued directly by the originating jurisdiction, Consulate, Embassy or High Commissioner’s Office representing the jurisdiction. The authentication document must be original or electronically provided, dated within the last 6 months

• If your valid driver’s licence is not in English or French, it must be accompanied by an English or French translation from an MTO-recognized translator. If you provide your original licence with a supporting letter of authentication from the Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioner’s Office in either English or French, you do not need to include a licence translation.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• For Isle of Man, a Driver Licence Verification History Search issued within the last six months is required. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• For Northern Ireland, a Certificate of Entitlement issued within the last six months by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is required. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• For the Republic of Ireland, you must provide an original Driver’s Statement/Letter of Entitlement issued in the last six months. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• Certificate from Japanese Consulate/Embassy or an international driving permit. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Japanese licences do not need to be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• If the licence is expired for less than one year (Korean driver’s licences are valid for one year from the second date of the aptitude test period indicated on the licence), an original Letter of Confirmation from the Korean Consulate or Korean Transport Authority (National Police Agency of the Republic of Korea) is required. Documents presented must be original or electronically provided, translated into English or French by an MTO-approved translatoror the Korean Consulate.  Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

Documentation requirements (in English or French):

• Current, valid, full Class 1 driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).

• An original or electronically provided Certificate of Particulars dated within six months preceding the date of application for an Ontario driver’s licence. Photocopies are not acceptable.

• Your current licence must be surrendered.

If you have less than 2 years of experience from a reciprocating jurisdiction, you may be eligible for a Class G2 licence. However, driving experience from other jurisdictions may be combined to reduce the mandatory wait times for the Class G road test (to earn your full Class G licence). For example, if you held a full class licence in Newfoundland for 1 year and a full class licence in Spain for 5 years, your Newfoundland licence would be exchanged for a Class G2 in Ontario but if you brought your Spanish licence and an authenticity letter into a DriveTest Centre, you would be able to go for your Class G road test right away. Following are some guidelines based on driving experience.