Immigrating to Canada in 96 hours!

[dalecan]

Glad to see another military guy moving to North America. After leaving the army and going to university, I moved to Seattle. Been here 15 years now and it’s the best move I ever made. Good luck and enjoy Canada, eh!

[dsgrnmcm]

dalecan said:

Glad to see another military guy moving to North America. After leaving the army and going to university, I moved to Seattle. Been here 15 years now and it’s the best move I ever made. Good luck and enjoy Canada, eh!

Thanks dalecan

We are looking forward to exploring the west coast!

[dsgrnmcm]

Evening all,

so day one of packing complete and the lads from White Company have smashed 80% of our stuff in record time, really nice blokes too.





Final bits tomorrow, then our last night in the house before we go!

The Mrs car was picked up today by a third party company on behalf of the "Car buying group". After going through the process in December, locking in a price, all paperwork scanned in and photos we had to do it all again. And faff of a inspection not on the Idrive, and BMW main group not having access to the Plymouth dealer, and the Plymouth dealer not being able to email us caused a slight delay. But the third party moving group sorted it, so we are officially car less!!!!

Which leads me on to......

Car Insurance in Canada

So, as has been mentioned by the helpful people on here it can be steep.

We used a referral to get our tenants insurance at a good rate, they did a quick quote for the pair of us. But oddly said they don't take in to account any previous driving experience (Non Canadian) even though every forum says they do?

Here are the results:





Is this normal my Ex-Pat shipmates?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Perhaps don't go for the top of the range Dodge? Get a cooking model for a year or two?

Do you need an SRT?

[Rich_AR]

When I moved to BC (in 2019) I exchanged my UK license and they gave me 15 years driving experience on my new BC license, which was the maximum they could give (i think it differs in other provinces?) for foreign license exchange. They had no interest in previous (non-Canadian) insurance documents (even though i has some prood of NCD). However, for the first 3 years, they still tagged my insurance as a 'new to province driver', so i paid a little extra. But nothing like $4k+ on a SUV (i pay around a quarter of that!)

Do these insurance companies want a drivers license number for the quotes?

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 26th January 21:41

[BananaFama]

dsgrnmcm said:

Evening all,

so day one of packing complete and the lads from White Company have smashed 80% of our stuff in record time, really nice blokes too.

Nice blokes but a bit clumsy ?

All new plates required when you get to Canada then .

[fttm]

Two comments. Firstly all our belongings went straight into a container at our front door , custom sealed and counter signed be me , surprised they turned up in van. Secondly that car insurance holy moly , in SK we pay via the registration plate , my F150 is a grand a year plus we have a fully comp package extra for $500, covers wildlife glass etc , wife’s Cherokee SRT is similar cost . No annual tests either , jeez we don’t even have speed cameras

[RDMcG]

NSNO said:

How does Montreal compare to Toronto and which do you prefer.

I preferred Montreal but you must speak French to work there . Not negotiable. Great atmosphere, restaurants,vitality and had a house in Vermont for weekends.

Toronto is vastly bigger and it was a very good career move .I live in the city centre so miss the horrible traffic. Lots to do here, very interesting ethnic restaurants and of course English-speaking culture. Many more job opportunities but less fun.

Horrible weekend commutes if you want a weekend to place so have a winter place in Arizona which is a direct flight.

Both cities have long dark winters.

[dsgrnmcm]

BananaFama said:

dsgrnmcm said:

Evening all,

so day one of packing complete and the lads from White Company have smashed 80% of our stuff in record time, really nice blokes too.

Nice blokes but a bit clumsy ?

All new plates required when you get to Canada then .

Doh! not so far really impressed with the packers.

[dsgrnmcm]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Perhaps don't go for the top of the range Dodge? Get a cooking model for a year or two?

Do you need an SRT?

I mean does anyone really need an "SRT", "RS" "GTI" "M" I just want one. But maybe I will look at some lower car types.....

[dsgrnmcm]

Rich_AR said:

When I moved to BC (in 2019) I exchanged my UK license and they gave me 15 years driving experience on my new BC license, which was the maximum they could give (i think it differs in other provinces?) for foreign license exchange. They had no interest in previous (non-Canadian) insurance documents (even though i has some prood of NCD). However, for the first 3 years, they still tagged my insurance as a 'new to province driver', so i paid a little extra. But nothing like $4k+ on a SUV (i pay around a quarter of that!)

Do these insurance companies want a drivers license number for the quotes?

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 26th January 21:41

Thats a good point Rich AR

This company didn't ask for that, yet every man and his dog has said about getting NCB proof, a history on driving from DVLA etc, so i will shop around.

I mean $5k is like £3k ish, its just insane.

[dsgrnmcm]

RDMcG said:

I preferred Montreal but you must speak French to work there . Not negotiable. Great atmosphere, restaurants,vitality and had a house in Vermont for weekends.

Toronto is vastly bigger and it was a very good career move .I live in the city centre so miss the horrible traffic. Lots to do here, very interesting ethnic restaurants and of course English-speaking culture. Many more job opportunities but less fun.

Horrible weekend commutes if you want a weekend to place so have a winter place in Arizona which is a direct flight.

Both cities have long dark winters.

Bloody hell RDMcG a winter home in Vermont & Arizona, I'm in the wrong job!

So far we only found that Quebec was "really" French. I don't speak a word, but I'm doing online lessons, and the Mrs has been doing tutor lessons for a while. When we get settled there is a uni round the corner so we will try and do some night classes.

[NSNO]

RDMcG said:

NSNO said:

How does Montreal compare to Toronto and which do you prefer.

I preferred Montreal but you must speak French to work there . Not negotiable. Great atmosphere, restaurants,vitality and had a house in Vermont for weekends.

Toronto is vastly bigger and it was a very good career move .I live in the city centre so miss the horrible traffic. Lots to do here, very interesting ethnic restaurants and of course English-speaking culture. Many more job opportunities but less fun.

Horrible weekend commutes if you want a weekend to place so have a winter place in Arizona which is a direct flight.

Both cities have long dark winters.

Seems to sum up what most people say, Toronto is the business city, but Montreal is where you go to have fun. The food scene sounds pretty decent though in Toronto.

[Rich_AR]

dsgrnmcm said:

Rich_AR said:

When I moved to BC (in 2019) I exchanged my UK license and they gave me 15 years driving experience on my new BC license, which was the maximum they could give (i think it differs in other provinces?) for foreign license exchange. They had no interest in previous (non-Canadian) insurance documents (even though i has some prood of NCD). However, for the first 3 years, they still tagged my insurance as a 'new to province driver', so i paid a little extra. But nothing like $4k+ on a SUV (i pay around a quarter of that!)

Do these insurance companies want a drivers license number for the quotes?

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 26th January 21:41

Thats a good point Rich AR

This company didn't ask for that, yet every man and his dog has said about getting NCB proof, a history on driving from DVLA etc, so i will shop around.

I mean $5k is like £3k ish, its just insane.

Yeh i guess the best thing you can do is take your DVLA extract, proof of the NCB etc when you exchange your license and hope they add the years on.

Looks like you can do that however - https://www.ontario.ca/page/exchange-out-province-... "if you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic".

[RDMcG]

dsgrnmcm said:

Bloody hell RDMcG a winter home in Vermont & Arizona, I'm in the wrong job!

So far we only found that Quebec was "really" French. I don't speak a word, but I'm doing online lessons, and the Mrs has been doing tutor lessons for a while. When we get settled there is a uni round the corner so we will try and do some night classes.

Only one now.Vermont went when I moved. Much too far to be convenient and can be in AZ more quickly by air

[dsgrnmcm]

Rich_AR said:

Yeh i guess the best thing you can do is take your DVLA extract, proof of the NCB etc when you exchange your license and hope they add the years on.

Looks like you can do that however - https://www.ontario.ca/page/exchange-out-province-... "if you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic".

Thanks Rich AR

We have got our NCB, a letter from my insures stating no actual claims or incidents in that period, and a download from the DVLA of my licence. Fingers crossed it works!

I did an insurance request on RateHub with 15 years driving experience and that was $1000! so loads better. Well it was a 2017 Durango R/T

[happygoron]

Hey! I'm another PH'er in Ottawa! Welcome to the snowiest January I've known in a while! Not had a chance to read the whole thread yet but I also wish there were more interesting estate cars rather than SUVs.

Been here a decade or so now, happy to advise on various aspects of settling into Ottawa life. There is at least one other PH'er in town too, seems like the place to be!

If you fancy a beer sometime send a DM!

[dsgrnmcm]

happygoron said:

Hey! I'm another PH'er in Ottawa! Welcome to the snowiest January I've known in a while! Not had a chance to read the whole thread yet but I also wish there were more interesting estate cars rather than SUVs.

Been here a decade or so now, happy to advise on various aspects of settling into Ottawa life. There is at least one other PH'er in town too, seems like the place to be!

If you fancy a beer sometime send a DM!

Hi happygoron

Happy to meet up for a beer next week!

[happygoron]

Great! You should be able to email me through my PH profile.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

dsgrnmcm said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Perhaps don't go for the top of the range Dodge? Get a cooking model for a year or two?

Do you need an SRT?

I mean does anyone really need an "SRT", "RS" "GTI" "M" I just want one. But maybe I will look at some lower car types.....

Of course you need one! Just not from the off perhaps?

Anyway, safe trip bro!