Driving in BC on a US license, and getting around Vancouver without one

Your US license works the day you land. Once you live here, though, the clock starts: you have 90 days to trade it for a BC one.

The short version

• New BC residents can drive on their existing license for up to 90 days after moving. The longer allowance for tourists doesn't apply once you live here [1].
• You swap your US license at an ICBC driver licensing office. ICBC keeps the license you surrender and checks your experience; whether you need tests depends on where your license was issued [1].
• Bring proof of how long you've been driving. ICBC can credit up to 15 years of experience toward cheaper insurance [1].
• Every BC-registered vehicle needs ICBC's Basic Autoplan insurance before it moves an inch [2][3].
• In the city, you may not need a car at all: SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus run on one Compass fare system, with adult fares from CAD 2.85 (about USD 2) [4].

Your US license: the first 90 days

As a visitor, you can drive in BC on your state license, just like on a road trip to Whistler. The moment you become a BC resident, the rules change. ICBC says you can use your current license for up to 90 days after the move, and the six-month tourist allowance no longer applies [1]. WelcomeBC gives new arrivals the same 90-day window and suggests applying as soon as you arrive [2].

What counts as "the move" is the day you start living here, not the day your work permit was issued. Don't let the deadline sneak up on you while you're busy setting up a SIN and a bank account.

Exchanging your license at ICBC

ICBC runs both driver licensing and public auto insurance in BC, so it's your DMV and your insurer rolled into one.

Step by step

1. Confirm you're a BC resident. You must live in BC to hold a BC license [1].
2. Check ICBC's license exchange list. ICBC publishes the jurisdictions whose licenses it exchanges without knowledge and road tests, and requirements depend on where your license came from [1]. Look up your state before you book.
3. Gather ID. Most Government of Canada immigration documents count as primary ID, and you'll need a piece of secondary ID too [1].
4. Get a driving record that shows the date you were first licensed. ICBC asks for an acceptable driving record with your original licensing date [1]. Order a driving history from your state DMV before you leave, if you can.
5. Book an appointment at any driver licensing office. There are several around Metro Vancouver [1].
6. Surrender your US license. ICBC requires you to hand in any license you hold so it can assess your experience [1]. Order a replacement from your home state later if you want one for trips back; check your state's rules for nonresidents first.
7. Take tests if required. You'll face a knowledge test and road test if you've never held a BC license, your old license has been expired for more than three years, and you can't prove recent driving [1].

The two-year rule

To skip BC's Graduated Licensing Program (the "L" and "N" stages new drivers go through), you need at least two years of full-privilege, non-learner driving experience [1]. A teenager with a fresh US license may land in the GLP, with its restrictions on passengers and nighttime driving. Plan for that if your 17-year-old was counting on the family car.

Insurance: bring your history

Here's the heads-up most Americans miss. Your premiums in BC depend heavily on your proven driving experience. ICBC credits up to 15 years with an acceptable driving record, each crash-free year raises your discount, and premiums are adjusted over your first three years of BC driving [1].

So before you leave the States:

• Get a driving record from your DMV showing your original license date.
• Ask your US auto insurer for a letter confirming how long you were insured and any claims. ICBC decides what it accepts, but showing up with paperwork beats starting from zero.

What Basic Autoplan includes

Every vehicle registered in BC must carry Basic Autoplan [3]. In 2026 it includes:

Basic Autoplan only covers you in Canada and the US [3]. Most drivers add optional coverage, such as higher liability, collision and comprehensive, through an Autoplan broker. For a road trip to Seattle, extra liability is a no-brainer; US lawsuits can cost a lot more than CAD 200,000.

USD conversions use the Bank of Canada rate of 1.3989 CAD per USD (November 5, 2026).

Bringing your car north

You can import a US-registered vehicle, but it's a project: you'll need it to clear federal import rules at the border, then a provincial safety inspection before you can register and insure it in BC [2]. Many Americans sell stateside and buy here instead.

Rules of the road that differ from back home

• Kilometers, not miles. Speed limits are in km/h. City streets are usually 50 km/h (about 31 miles per hour), and many highways run 90 to 100 km/h (56 to 62 miles per hour).
• No phones in hand. Using a cell phone or other electronic device while driving is illegal [2]. Hands-free only.
• Seat belts for everyone. Police can ticket passengers too [2].
• Winter tires. Heading up the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler or over the Coquihalla? Many BC highways require winter tires or chains for part of the year. Check DriveBC before you go [2].
• Gas is sold by the liter. About 3.8 liters make a US gallon, so do the math before you gasp at the pump.

Getting around without a car

Plenty of Americans in Vancouver never bother with a car. Downtown, the West End, Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano are walkable and bikeable, and TransLink covers the rest.

SkyTrain, buses and the Compass card

TransLink runs SkyTrain, buses, the SeaBus and the West Coast Express commuter train. You pay with a Compass card (stored value), a Compass ticket, or by tapping a contactless credit card or phone [4]. Fares depend on how many zones you cross:

A few things worth knowing [4]:

• Buses are always 1 zone, no matter how far you ride.
• Evenings and weekends are cheap. Trips after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, all weekend and on statutory holidays cost a 1-zone fare.
• Transfers last 90 minutes across bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus.
• Monthly passes run CAD 117.20 for 1 zone (about USD 84) to CAD 211.65 for 3 zones (about USD 151).
• The airport costs extra. Trips starting at YVR's Canada Line stations add a CAD 6.50 AddFare (about USD 4.65).

SeaBus

The SeaBus is a passenger ferry across Burrard Inlet between Waterfront Station downtown and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. It's part of the regular transit system, so your Compass fare and transfer cover it [4]. On a clear day, it's the best-value harbor cruise in town.

BC Ferries

To reach Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast or the Gulf Islands, you'll use BC Ferries. The big routes leave from Tsawwassen, south of the city, and Horseshoe Bay, in West Vancouver. The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run to Victoria takes about an hour and a half on the water. Reserve for summer weekends and long weekends if you're bringing a car, or walk on with a bike and skip the vehicle lineup.

Trips home

The Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings are about 45 km (28 miles) south of downtown. NEXUS can turn a long wait into a short one, and Amtrak Cascades runs to Seattle. Our border guide covers both. Swap tips on routes and wait times in our community group for Americans in Canada.

Sources

1. ICBC: Moving to BC from another country
2. WelcomeBC: Driving in B.C.
3. ICBC: Basic Autoplan insurance
4. TransLink: Pricing and fare zones

Keep reading

• Crossing the border from Vancouver: NEXUS and trips to Seattle
• Driving in Canada with a US license, and getting around Toronto
• The outdoors in Vancouver: skiing, hiking and the North Shore
• Driving abroad on a US license