Hey guys! Im in the fortunate position to be moving to canada for a ski season, and possibly for up to two years if I feel like it.

Whilst I wont be in dire need of a car per se, I wouldnt mind having one.

Now, in the UK you can buy a top shed for a thousand pounds, due to low used car residuals. Whats the deal in canada? Can you buy decent cars for relatively little money like you can here? I quite fancy the idea of knocking about in a cheap old truck.

Also, would insurance be crippling for a twenty year old with a british lisence?

Cars and car insurance are generally more expensive here, especially for anything imported. You may well get an old truck for not too much, but beware that there is no such thing as a compulsory MOT check here, and people tend to run vehicles into the ground. You may be horrified at some of the 'sheds' you see driving around legally.

Also, if you want to buy a car you will almost certainly need to obtain a Canadian driver's licence. You can exchange your UK licence without having to take a test, other than possibly an eyesight test, but you will have to surrender your UK licence for this. If you have any proof of UK NCB then some brokers will apply that to your Canadian insurance.

Take a look at kijiji.ca and autotrader.ca for examples of cars for sale, and kanetix.ca to get an idea of insurance premiums.

Yeah shedding doesn't work in North America at all. I am moving out to Boston a week Saturday and will be hiring a car until I get an expat lease sorted out.

Guess it is a passable excuse to get a new car.

I've managed to hire a mustang twice before, I'm sure I can manage!

If not, I'l be riding a bear around town.

I have been idly looking at early 2000s Crown Vics here in the UK and a quick look on the US eBay site shows loads for very little money. I always thought that secondhand and new cars are loads cheaper in the States.

And some other holes not quite so deliberately made

Found some reasonably priced stuff in vancouver, where I'm going. Might look into it further. If I plan on staying a bit longer, I will buy an old volvo turbo. If not, my uncle has all sorts I can borrow should I want to go on a roadtrip.

CDN $1500 for a 1991 Volvo 940 with 288,000 kms. If I was based in a ski resort with the usual walkability and good public transport there then quite honestly I'd pass.

Point taken. Not going to get a car.

I've spoken to my uncle and he still has his old volvo I can borrow whenever I'm visiting them, which is nice. He also has an F250, which he is fine with me using should I be in a fix.

I know I'm going to miss my 3 series though

Its a supplementary licence that requires you to have your domestic licence but does not replace it. Would nto wok for the purpose stated by the OP.