Common Questions - Drivers and Motor Vehicles
General
- Where do I go for motor vehicle services?
- Canada Post has changed my address and/or postal code. I know I need to update this information on my driver’s licence and registration, but will I be charged a fee for that?
- What are the fees for Motor Vehicle Services?
- I see the term "highway" used with respect to the operation of motor vehicles. What does it mean?
- Can I get copies of the driver handbooks and other information on-line or do I have to go to a registry agent office in-person?
Driver Licence and Vehicle Related
- Do I need the renewal form that I received in the mail in order to renew my driver's licence and vehicle registration?
- My children are not residents of Alberta but are attending school full time in Alberta. Do they have to register their vehicles and change their operator licences in Alberta?
- I live in another province but I am working here as part of a co-op program. Do I need to get an Alberta driver’s licence and/or vehicle registration?
- I just moved to Alberta from Manitoba. Can I continue to use my Manitoba driver’s licence and registration?
- I live in Saskatchewan but I work in Alberta. Do I have to get an Alberta driver’s licence and registration?
- I live in Florida but I’m coming to Alberta for an extended vacation. Can I use my Florida driver’s licence and registration while I’m in Alberta?
Driver Licence Related
- I will be out of the province on vacation when my drivers licence expires, what should I do?
- Do I need a medical report to renew my driver's licence?
- At what age can a person obtain a learner's licence?
- I don’t live in Alberta but I spend a lot of time here. Am I eligible for an Alberta driver’s licence?
Vehicle/Registration Related
- What do I need to register my vehicle?
- Is there a place where I can check whether a vehicle is stolen?
- Does Alberta intend to offer other speciality or commemorative plates other than the veterans licence plate?
- What is considered a minature vehicle and can they be registered?
If your question has not been addressed here, Contact Us.
| Where do I go for motor vehicle services? | |
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You may visit any one of the private registry agent locations throughout the province who provide the motor vehicle services.
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| I will be out of the province on vacation when my drivers licence expires, what should I do? | |
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You do not have to wait until the expiry date of your licence before you renew it. Anyone may renew their licence up to a year prior to the actual expiry date.
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| What do I need to register my vehicle? | |
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To register a vehicle you will require proof of ownership (such as a bill of sale, lease agreement), proof of valid insurance and two pieces of identification. If the vehicle is new you will also require a new vehicle information statement (NVIS), or if the vehicle was imported into Canada, you will require a Vehicle Import Form from Transport Canada. Used Vehicles previously registered outside of the province require a safety inspection. Please refer to Vehicle Licence Plate and Vehicle Registration section for more details.
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Do I need the renewal form that I received in the mail in order to renew my driver's licence and vehicle registration? |
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No, you are not required to present the renewal form if you don't have it. Simply present your existing photo licence and / or registration along with your insurance to a registry agent and pay the required fee. If non-photo licence is presented, two other forms of identification are required.
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Do I need a medical report to renew my driver's licence? |
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A medical report is required when applying for or renewing a class 1, 2 or 4 licence. In addition, if you have a condition code C (periodic satisfactory medical report) or code D (periodic vision report) on your licence, or if you have a medical condition that may affect your driving ability, you must submit a medical report. If you are 75 years of age or older you will be required to submit a medical report and provide a vision screening.
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My children are not residents of Alberta but are attending school full time in Alberta. Do they have to register their vehicles and change their operator licences in Alberta? |
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No. Provided they are full time students and the vehicle is registered in their home jurisdiction in their name.
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At what age can a person obtain a learner's licence? |
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In Alberta, an individual must be at least 14 years of age to apply for a learner's licence with parental consent (pdf) if under 18.
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I live in another province but I am working here as part of a co-op program. Do I need to get an Alberta driver’s licence and/or vehicle registration? |
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No. The rules for co-op program participants are the same as those for full time students. You may use the valid licence and registration from your home jurisdiction, as long as you also have valid insurance and the registration is in your name.
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I just moved to Alberta from Manitoba. Can I continue to use my Manitoba driver’s licence and registration? |
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Only for 90 days. From the day you move to Alberta, you have 90 days to exchange your licence for an Alberta one and to register your non-commercial vehicle in this province.
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I live in Saskatchewan but I work in Alberta. Do I have to get an Alberta driver’s licence and registration? |
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No. If your residence is not in Alberta, you can continue to use your valid licence from your home jurisdiction. Provided you have valid insurance and your vehicle is not a commercial vehicle, you may also continue to use your home jurisdiction vehicle registration and insurance for up to 183 days. If your vehicle remains in Alberta past the 183 days, you must register your vehicle with Alberta plates.
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I live in Florida but I’m coming to Alberta for an extended vacation. Can I use my Florida driver’s licence and registration while I’m in Alberta? |
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Yes. Visitors to Alberta may use their valid licence, registration and plates (with valid insurance) from their home jurisdiction as long as they have a legitimate residence there and do not take up residency in Alberta. However, they must obtain Alberta registration if their vehicle has been located in Alberta past 183 days.
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Canada Post has changed my address and/or postal code. I know I need to update this information on my driver’s licence and registration, but will I be charged a fee for that? |
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No. Regulation changes that came into effect on July 17, 2006 allow you to change the address information on your driver’s licence and/or vehicle registration free of charge as long as the change was mandated by some authority (e.g., Canada Post, municipal government) and you have not physically moved to another residence. You must provide the letter from Canada Post informing you of the change as proof.
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I don’t live in Alberta but I spend a lot of time here. Am I eligible for an Alberta driver’s licence? |
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No. Alberta licences can only be issued to residents of Alberta. A resident of Alberta is a person who is lawfully entitled to be in Canada and who makes their home in, and is ordinarily present in, Alberta. Registry agents require proof of residency before they will issue a driver’s licence.
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What are the fees for motor vehicle services? |
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The Registy Agent Product Catalogue (pdf) lists all available registry services and related fees.
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| Is there a place where I can check whether a vehicle is stolen? | |
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Yes. The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) website allows the public to check the ‘stolen’ status of a vehicle using either a vehicle identification number (VIN) or a licence plate. The vehicle records in this database are updated every day and the property files are updated every Tuesday morning. It is important to note that even if you get a positive response to your search, it does not necessarily mean the item is stolen. If you do get a positive response, the item’s status should then be confirmed with your local police." Access the Canadian Police Information Centre website (external site).
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| Does Alberta intend to offer other speciality or commemorative plates other than the veterans licence plate? | |
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Suggestions for specialized licence plates programs, for specific professions, medical research groups and a host of other specialty groups and organizations, have been raised in Alberta from time to time over the past few years. In response, the Alberta Government studied the feasibility of introducing specialty licence plates by reviewing similar programs in Canada and the United States. The result; these programs are very costly to set up and administer. These types of plates also make it difficult for law enforcement officials to easily determine a plate's jurisdiction of origin or legitimacy. For these reasons, Alberta has opted not to add any new specialty plates at this time. However, should one of the specialty groups choose to produce their own, the front licence plate area on a vehicle would be ideal to show these as Alberta law currently only requires the use of a rear plate.
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| What is a minature vehicle and can they be registered? | |
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Minature vehicles (some examples shown below) cannot be registered and cannot be operated on any highway in Alberta. They may be operated on private property only. A minature vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a go cart, a 3or 4 wheeled vehicle (including off-highway vehicles) of less than standard size. A motorcycle or moped is considered a minature vehicle if:
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| I see the term "highway" used with respect to the operation of motor vehicles. What does it mean? | |
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The term “highway” means any thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway or other place or any part of any of them, whether publicly or privately owned, that the public is ordinarily entitled or permitted to use for the passage or parking of vehicles and includes:
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| Can I get copies of the driver handbooks and other information on-line or do I have to go to a registry agent office in-person? | |
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Yes. You can find the driver handbooks, sample knowledge tests, coarching new drivers handbooks, detailed Graduated Driver Licensing information and a whole range of other useful and interesting information on the Traffic Safety in Alberta website (external site).
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