Transportation & Getting Around

You can drive on a valid licence from your home country for up to 90 days. After that you need a BC licence.

If your country has no exchange agreement with BC, expect a knowledge test, a road test, and time in graduated licensing.

Basic vehicle insurance in BC comes from ICBC, a public insurer. You only shop around for optional extra coverage.

In Metro Vancouver, get a Compass Card. Fares are cheaper than paying single trips, and it works on bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus.

Plan trips, check schedules, and work out fare zones for Metro Vancouver's transit network.

Outside Metro Vancouver, BC Transit runs bus service in most cities and many smaller communities.

BC Ferries connects Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and coastal towns. Reserve ahead in summer or expect long waits.

Check DriveBC before any drive outside the city. Mountain highways close for snow, flooding, and rockslides.

Winter tires are legally required on most BC highways from October to April, and you can be fined without them.

Metro Vancouver has a large protected bike network, and bikes travel free on SkyTrain and SeaBus.

Car sharing often costs less than owning. Modo is a local co-op with vehicles across Metro Vancouver and Victoria.

Evo charges by the minute and lets you end your trip anywhere in the home zone, with no monthly commitment.

HandyDART offers door-to-door transit for people who cannot use regular buses without assistance.

BC's rules of the road, licensing steps, and cycling regulations gathered in one place.

If you do not drive, your BC Services Card doubles as government-issued photo ID.