Driving in Toronto on a UK licence, and getting around without a car

Good news first: Ontario is one of the places that will swap your UK licence for a local one. The bad news is that you only get 60 days to do it.

The short version

• A new Ontario resident can drive on a valid UK licence for 60 days, then needs an Ontario licence [1].
• Great Britain and Northern Ireland are on Ontario's list of places whose car licences can be exchanged, but UK motorbike licences can't be [1].
• GOV.UK is clear: don't get an International Driving Permit if you're moving abroad; exchange your licence instead [2].
• A TTC journey costs CAD 3.30 (about £1.75) with PRESTO or a tapped bank card, with free transfers for two hours [3].
• Since August 2026 there are no adult monthly passes. Instead, rides are free once you've paid 47 fares in a calendar month [3].

Driving on your UK licence

When you first arrive, your UK photocard licence is enough. Ontario lets new residents use a valid licence from elsewhere for 60 days after they move. After that, you need an Ontario licence to keep driving legally [1].

Do you need an International Driving Permit?

GOV.UK lists Canada as a country that uses the 1949 type of IDP [2]. That's for visitors, though. GOV.UK's driving abroad guidance says: "Do not apply for an IDP if you're moving abroad" [2]. If you're moving, you exchange your licence or get a new one locally. If you're just over for a holiday, or family are visiting and hiring a car, check with the hire company.

Exchanging your UK licence for an Ontario licence

Ontario has a graduated system: G1 (learner), G2 (probationary) and G (full licence). Because Great Britain and Northern Ireland are on Ontario's exchange list, you don't start at the bottom like a newly arrived driver from most other countries [1].

How far up you go depends on your driving experience. Drivers with enough experience can get a full Class G. With less experience, you may get a G2 and need to take the G road test later. DriveTest confirms what you qualify for when you apply [1].

What to bring

You apply in person at a DriveTest centre. Ontario's list is [1]:

1. Your original, valid UK licence. Bring the photocard.
2. Original identity documents showing your legal name and date of birth, such as your passport.
3. Original proof of your driving experience, in English or French. A UK licence shows the date your entitlement started, but bring a DVLA record too if your licence was reissued.
4. A completed application form saying how long you've been driving.
5. A vision test, done on the spot.
6. A declaration that Ontario is your main home and that you're in Canada legally, needed for a G or M licence since 11 May 2026.

You'll also pay a fee; Ontario's page doesn't give the amount, so check with DriveTest [1].

The small print

• Motorbikes: UK motorcycle entitlement can't be exchanged. You'll go through Ontario's M licence process [1].
• Lorries and buses: UK commercial classes can't be exchanged either [1].
• Your UK licence after you move: once you live abroad, the DVLA can't send a licence to an overseas address. Our guide to driving abroad on a UK licence explains what to do with it.

Driving in Toronto: what's different

A few more points:

• Insurance is the big cost. Car insurance in the Toronto area is pricey, and a Canadian insurer may treat you as a new driver. Ask your UK insurer for a letter confirming your claims history, as some Canadian insurers will take it into account.
• Winter. From December to March, expect snow, ice and potholes. Winter tyres make a real difference, and many insurers give a discount for fitting them.
• Toll road. Highway 407 ETR, north of the city, has no toll booths. Cameras read your number plate and the bill arrives later.
• Parking. Downtown parking is expensive and fiddly. Many Brits who live central don't bother with a car at all.

Getting around Toronto without a car

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) runs the subway, streetcars and buses. The subway and LRT lines are [4]:

• Line 1 Yonge–University: the U-shaped spine through downtown.
• Line 2 Bloor–Danforth: east–west across the middle of the city.
• Line 4 Sheppard: a short line in North York.
• Line 5 Eglinton: the long-awaited Crosstown, which opened on 8 February 2026 from Mount Dennis to Kennedy.
• Line 6 Finch West: opened on 7 December 2025, from Finch West to Humber College.

Line 3 Scarborough closed after a derailment in 2023 and has been replaced by buses [4]. Streetcars cover much of downtown, including the famous 501 along Queen Street.

Fares and paying

Source: TTC fares and passes, November 2026 [3]. Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = CAD 1.89) [6].

How it works:

1. Tap on with a PRESTO card, a contactless debit or credit card, or your phone. Everyone aged 13 and over needs their own card or device [3].
2. Transfers are free for two hours from your first tap, if you use PRESTO or a bank card. Cash fares don't get the free transfer [3].
3. Monthly capping: adult monthly passes ended on 31 August 2026. Once you've paid 47 eligible fares in a calendar month, the rest of your journeys that month are free [3].

The GO Transit trains and buses run to the suburbs and towns around the city, from Union Station, and also take PRESTO.

From the airport

The UP Express train runs from Pearson Airport to Union Station in about 25 minutes. A standard adult one-way fare is CAD 12.35 (about £6.50), with cheaper fares on PRESTO [5]. After a long flight from Heathrow or Manchester, it beats a taxi in rush hour.

Bikes and walking

Downtown is flat and walkable, and the city has a bike share scheme with docking stations across the centre. In winter, pavements are cleared but can be icy, so good boots matter more than you'd think.

For tips from Brits who've done the DriveTest exchange recently, and what they paid for car insurance, ask in our community group for Brits in Canada.

Sources

1. Ontario.ca: Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence
2. GOV.UK: Driving abroad – check if you need an international driving permit
3. TTC: Fares and passes
4. Wikipedia: Toronto subway
5. UP Express: Fares
6. Bank of England: daily spot exchange rates

Keep reading

• Winter in Toronto: snow, cold and heating bills
• Cost of living in Toronto vs London and the UK average
• Your first month in Canada: SIN, phone and credit
• Driving abroad on a UK licence