CAR OWNERSHIP
You have landed in a city that is described as a pit-stop on a cross-Canada highway. We are quite far from other major cities. This places a dependency on means of transportation - something that is not generally accessible to all.
Your Driver's License
If you are staying in Canada for longer than 30 days and plan on driving a vehicle, you will be required to acquire a provincially distributed driver's license. Further, you will not be able to register your vehicle for insurance without a valid provincial driver's license.
In order to get your driver's license, there are a number of steps you should take. You will be primarily required to engage with ICBC.
ICBC Driver's Licensing
Line ups are common here...
937 Concordia Way,
Kamloops, BC V2C 6V3
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Driving in BC Canada
Some things you should know:
You must always have a valid driver's license, and the vehicle you are driving must be licensed and insured. Canadians drive on the right side of the road, you must respect cyclists & pedestrians and it is law that you stop for them to cross the street. Be respectful of other drivers on the road, never leave young children alone in a car. It is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of any substance such as acohol or cannabis, also to operate a cell phone unless it is a hands-free device.
Buying a Car
ICBC provides great guidance when inspecting a car for sale, complete with steps to buying a used car, transferring ownership and insuring it.
A budget of about $3-5,000 can be a healthy place to start searching for a basic starter car. Try searching on online forums such as Kijiji, Craigslist or some popular local used-car lots in Kamloops include Kamloops Wholesale Auto, _____ and ______. If you are looking for some examples of affordable, basic cars that are on the market today try using this guide.
Having recently purchased a used car from Kamloops Wholesale Auto, I think it is very important to (*unpaid*) mention how happy I was with my purchase with them. I bought an adorable sporty car at a price I was happy with, was able to get BC Parks license plates on site while insuring my car, and upon an expensive piece in my car breaking a WEEK after buying it... they lent me a family car for the week, and paid for all of the repairs. I cannot recommend them enough.
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Infographic by CarCare