Exchange Your Out-of-Province Driver's Licence in Nova Scotia

What this is and who manages it

If you have moved to Nova Scotia and hold a valid driver's licence, you may drive in the province for up to 180 days. After that, you must exchange it for a Nova Scotia driver's licence to continue driving legally. Exchanges are handled by Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Exchanging recognizes your driving history. Depending on where your current licence was issued, you may need to take a vision, knowledge, and/or road test.

Who can exchange

You can exchange an out-of-province licence if you are becoming a resident of Nova Scotia and one of the following applies:

• You are employed in Nova Scotia for more than 30 days per year
• You live in Nova Scotia for more than 90 days per year
• You are attending college or university in Nova Scotia

If you are a temporary visitor, see the section below.

Temporary visitors

As a temporary visitor, you can drive in Nova Scotia for up to 180 days without exchanging your licence if:

• You are at least 16 years old
• You have a valid (not suspended or expired) driver's licence

You may drive only the types of vehicles authorized by your licence. It is your responsibility to know Nova Scotia's laws and rules of the road. The Nova Scotia Driver Handbook is available online free of charge.

If your licence is expired, you are not permitted to drive in Nova Scotia.

Exchanging from within Canada or the US

If you are moving from another Canadian province or territory or a US state, you can exchange your valid licence for a Nova Scotia licence of the same class, usually with no testing. You need to:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have a valid licence (not suspended or revoked)
• Disclose any medical conditions that may affect safe driving
• Surrender your out-of-province licence at the time of exchange
• Pay the fee for issuing a Nova Scotia driver's licence

Depending on your licence class or how long you have held it, you may need to enter the Graduated Driver Licence program.

Expired licence: If expired less than five years ago, you can still exchange without additional testing. If expired more than five years ago, full testing (vision, knowledge, and road tests) is required.

Learner's licence: A valid learner's licence from any Canadian province or territory except Nunavut can be exchanged without tests. You cannot exchange a Nunavut learner's licence, a learner's licence issued outside Canada, or an expired learner's licence without completing required testing. A fee applies for a Class 7 licence.

Endorsements: Specific endorsements (such as motorcycle and air brake) can be recognized when exchanging from within Canada or the US. To obtain a school bus endorsement, you must complete all required testing.

Exchanging from outside Canada and the US

Your process depends on where your licence was issued.

• If your licence is from a listed country and class, you only need to pass a vision test to exchange for an equivalent Nova Scotia licence.
• If your licence is not from a listed country or class, you need full testing (vision, knowledge, and road tests).

If exchanging from a listed country, you must surrender your out-of-country licence at the time of exchange.

Listed countries and minimum current licence classes include: Australia (Class C), Austria (Class B), Belgium (Class B, Class A), Denmark (Class B), France (Class B), Germany (Class B), Hungary (Class B or BE), Ireland (Class B), Isle of Man (Class B, C or D; Class A, A1), Italy (Class B), Japan (Class 1), Netherlands (Class B), New Zealand (Class 1), Portugal (Class B), South Korea (Class 1 or 2), Sweden (Class B or BE), Switzerland (Class B), Taiwan (Class B, C, D or E), Ukraine (Class B or BE), United Kingdom (Class B, or Group A issued before 1 April 1990; Class C or D; Class A, or Group D issued before 1 April 1990). See the official page for exchangeable Nova Scotia classes.

Requirements for listed country and class:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have a valid licence (not suspended or revoked)
• Pass a vision test
• Disclose any medical conditions that may affect safe driving
• Surrender your out-of-province licence at the time of exchange
• Pay the fee for issuing a Nova Scotia driver's licence

Depending on your licence class or how long you have held it, you may need to enter the Graduated Driver Licence program.

Commercial licences: Full testing (vision, knowledge, and road tests) is required to obtain a Nova Scotia commercial class licence (Classes 1 to 4). You may exchange your commercial class licence for a Nova Scotia non-commercial (Class 5) without testing.

Not on the list: Full testing is required. Requirements include: be at least 16 years old; hold a valid out-of-country licence (not suspended or revoked); pass a knowledge test (written test on road signs and rules); pass a vision test; pass an air brake knowledge test (if applicable); bring your valid out-of-country licence on the day of your road test; pass a road test; disclose any medical conditions that may affect safe driving; pay the fee. If your vehicle is equipped with air brakes, you must complete an Air Brakes Knowledge Test before the road test. For commercial class licences (Classes 1 to 4), a Nova Scotia Driver's Medical Examination Report completed within the past six months is required.

Endorsements: Motorcycle endorsement can be recognized upon exchange if your licence was issued by Belgium, Isle of Man, South Korea, or the United Kingdom. To obtain air brake or school bus endorsement, you must complete all required testing.

Students in Nova Scotia

If you are a student attending college or university in Nova Scotia, you need to exchange your licence within 180 days of moving to continue driving. If you are a full-time student, you may be eligible to pay a reduced fee and keep the same expiry date by bringing a letter from the Dean (or equivalent) indicating full-time status. You will receive a 30-day temporary licence; the card is expected to arrive by mail within two weeks.

Where to apply and what to bring

Apply in person at an Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles location during business hours. You can book an appointment to save time.

Bring:

• Your current driver's licence (if not in English or French, a translation is required)
• An additional proof of identity

At the appointment: you must pass a vision test to proceed; your photo and signature will be captured; you will pay a fee; you will receive a 30-day temporary licence, and the new card is expected to arrive by mail within two weeks.

If testing is required: knowledge testing is available in-person (walk-in or by appointment) at Access Nova Scotia and Registry of Motor Vehicles locations from 8:30am to 4:00pm, and some knowledge tests are available online; vision testing is in-person at an Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles office; road tests require an appointment.

If your current licence is expired, the official page states to call to explore options.

Official sources

• https://novascotia.ca/exchange-your-out-of-province-drivers-licence/