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To get behind the wheel . . .
Cars are an important part of Canadian culture - not to the same extent as American, but the only reason I am able to live in this town and get around without a car is that I was very careful in my apt selection and the public transit is very much above average because it is a college town. I gave up my car for financial and logistic reasons when moving here . . . but I am starting to be hampered by my lack of regular access to wheels.
My american license expires in about a year, but I will clearly not be able to renew it in Maryland due to the lack of residency or even a mailing address. I was planning to change/renew it in Mass when I am there for xmas instead. But I would like to be able to join the car share here so I could have regular access to a car without the extra planning and surcharges renting a car from a place like enterprise would cost. To join the car share, for insurance reasons, I would need to have an Ontario drivers license. To get an Ontario drivers license is paperwork and annoyance, but definitely possible. The real problem is, because of the reciprocal relationship between the US and Canada I can't have a drivers license in both countries. Frankly, this doesn't make sense . . . .it isn't like my US license is particularly useful here for anything more than getting carded at bars and the LCBO. But I honestly don't know where I will be in two years, so I can't commit to either country - does anyone see an easy option here?
How easy is it to switch back to a US license?
If I have a canadian license, what are the restrictions for driving on American roads and borrowing cars from Americans?
Does it get messy if I have an American passport but only a Canadian license (what about crossing the border?)?
Why must everyone I know here drive standard!!!
My american license expires in about a year, but I will clearly not be able to renew it in Maryland due to the lack of residency or even a mailing address. I was planning to change/renew it in Mass when I am there for xmas instead. But I would like to be able to join the car share here so I could have regular access to a car without the extra planning and surcharges renting a car from a place like enterprise would cost. To join the car share, for insurance reasons, I would need to have an Ontario drivers license. To get an Ontario drivers license is paperwork and annoyance, but definitely possible. The real problem is, because of the reciprocal relationship between the US and Canada I can't have a drivers license in both countries. Frankly, this doesn't make sense . . . .it isn't like my US license is particularly useful here for anything more than getting carded at bars and the LCBO. But I honestly don't know where I will be in two years, so I can't commit to either country - does anyone see an easy option here?
How easy is it to switch back to a US license?
If I have a canadian license, what are the restrictions for driving on American roads and borrowing cars from Americans?
Does it get messy if I have an American passport but only a Canadian license (what about crossing the border?)?
Why must everyone I know here drive standard!!!