UK citizen needing Canadian auto insurance (help!)?

Question

Im in Montreal temporarily and will be on a few occassions over the next year. So having a car already here in Montreal I decided to try and make the most of it while Im here. So I called RBC from the UK and received a quote for auto insurance, "just give us a call when you get here and quote this reference number" said the nice voice at the other end. All was well and good. I call RBC today and all of a sudden I need a Quebec driving licence. Ive now called a few places and all are saying I need Quebec licence. I can rent a car if I like and be insured, but cant drive my own car? Can anyone advise if there is anything I can do do to obtain insurance while in Canada.

Answer 1

Ignore Kinley, he's the resident spammer. Automobile insurance in Canada is a provincial jurisdiction, therefore the rules in Quebec do not apply in Ontario which do not apply in British Columbia, etc. The rules in Quebec are pretty cut and dry when it comes to needing a Quebec licence, and it appears that everyone is applying the same rule uniformly. I know in British Columbia you can register a vehicle with a foreign licence (you would need to obtain a B.C. licence within 90 days of taking residency in the province), however the cost to transport a vehicle to British Columbia, have it inspected and registered and insured and then transport it to Quebec would be prohibitive to say the least. Plus once the vehicle has been in Quebec for more than 30 days it must be registered and insured in Quebec, so it would ultimately be a lesson in futility. The Quebec version of the Canadian Automobile Association is used to dealing with International Driver's Lincences, so they may be your best (and probably last) hope. Try them at:

www.caaquebec.com