Moving to Northwest Territories, out-of-province licences and renewals

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say how long a new resident can drive on an outside licence.
• You can tell which licences transfer without testing.
• You can explain the rules for international permits and visitors.
• You can renew your licence and update your details on time.

What you need to know and understand

• New residents may drive on a valid licence from outside the NWT for up to 30 days.
• Residents of another Canadian province or territory staying more than 90 days must get an NWT licence; students at an NWT school are exempt.
• Licences from other Canadian provinces and territories and US states are accepted for the same class without testing.
• A Class 5 from Germany, and a Class 5 or 6 from the Isle of Man, are also accepted without testing.
• Other foreign licence holders who cannot transfer must pass a knowledge test and a road test.
• You must surrender your old licence; holding more than one valid licence is illegal.
• NWT licences can be issued for one, three or five years, and you are sent a renewal notice 45 days before expiry.
• If your licence has been expired for more than two years, you must go through the process for a new licence.

Switching to an NWT licence

1. Within 30 days of becoming a resident, visit a Driver and Vehicle office.
2. Bring your current licence, ID and proof that you live in the NWT.
3. Surrender your old licence.
4. If your licence comes from a place without an exchange agreement, book the knowledge test and the road test.
5. Register any vehicle you brought with you within 90 days.

Visitors, international permits and newcomers

A non-resident with an International Driving Permit issued outside Canada or the US can drive a Class 5 vehicle, as long as the permit is carried with a valid Class 5 equivalent from their home country. This works for 12 months or until the licence expires, whichever comes first. International tourists can use their licence with an IDP for up to 90 days.

People on work or study permits can be licensed only for the period their documents cover. Driver and Vehicle Services may not update a licence when a permit is about to expire, so renew your immigration documents early and ask the office what you need.

Renewals and keeping your details current

The deeper guide on learning to drive in the Northwest Territories covers first licences for people who have never held one.

• Renew online or at a Driver and Vehicle office before your licence expires. It is your responsibility even if you miss the notice.
• Change your name or address immediately, in person, with proper ID.
• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence online or at an office.
• Drivers of cars and motorcycles need a medical exam at 75, again at 80, and every two years after that.
• Fees apply to renewals and replacements; check the current amounts with Driver and Vehicle Services.

Common mistakes

• Driving for months on an old licence after moving. You have 30 days as a new resident.
• Keeping your old provincial licence in your wallet as a backup. It is illegal to hold two valid licences.
• Forgetting to update your address. Suspension and renewal notices go to the last address on file.
• Letting your licence lapse for over two years, which means starting again as a new applicant.

Test yourself: Moving to Northwest Territories, out-of-province licences and renewals

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in the NWT