British Columbia Vehicle Registration Process

Process & Procedures in British Columbia Vehicle Registration

Known as the westernmost province in Canada, British Columbia has much to offer in the way of travel and destination cities. So importing your car here will give you a lot to drive to.

But before you drive, there is the registration process. Here are the steps to take to register a vehicle.

First Things First

The province has several procedures in place for various types of cars. Vehicles coming from Alberta or Saskatchewan have a set of guidelines to follow, such as:

• Car owners must be residents of B.C.
• Must have been registered in Alberta or Saskatchewan before registering in B.C.
• Passenger, commercial and motorhome vehicles must weigh less than 3,500 kg
• Cars five years or older than the current date must have a passing motorcar safety inspection test from the previous province

Vehicles from other provinces have to meet the following standards:

• Provide the registration
• Provide the certificate of title if coming from Nova Scotia
• Pass a B.C. inspection report
• Show a bill of sale

Vehicles coming from outside of Canada have a relatively simple process after clearing the import standards.

According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, owners can simply register, license, and insure the vehicle at an Autoplan broker after importing it.

Have questions about moving a vehicle to British Columbia? Our international shipping page has more information, including expected costs, taxes, and what documents are required.

Ruling the Road and Other Laws

Drivers in Canada (and by extension British Columbia) drive on the right-hand side of the road. Auto insurance is mandatory in the province. The minimum driving age in B.C. is 16 years of age.

As far as laws governing the road, Canada has strict rules governing driving. For example, the country bars drivers from using hand-held cell phones. Motorcycles can’t share lanes and some roads require drivers to use their headlights for visibility to other drivers.

For drivers coming from the U.S., the U.S. license is valid to drive but not U.S. insurance. In those cases, drivers will need to contact their insurance agencies for a Canadian insurance card.

Weather and Road

The weather in Canada is unpredictable and road closures are common because of heavy snowfall and ice. In British Columbia, snow tires are required while driving on specific highways. The government created a map with designated highways where snow tires are required.

Driving & Registration Resources

Winter Tire & Chain Routes - A government portal for British Columbia that maps out which roads require snow tires during the harsh winter months.

Registrar Of Imported Vehicles - A portal from the Insurance Corporation of Columbia that details car registration tips, driving tips and how to obtain insurance.