How to get a BC driver's licence in 30 simple steps

1. Visit Queensland Transport in November 2010 to obtain Traffic History Report as requested by ICBC, the driver licencing authority in BC.

2. Have Qld driver's licence stolen from car in December 2010, thus foregoing the ability to hand it over to ICBC in exchange for a BC driver's licence (a fairly new and thoroughly sensible rule... as opposed to the previous rule of having to pass a driving test in order to get a BC licence!).

3. Obtain new Canadian work permit in February 2011. Now have the required 6+ months remaining on work permit allowing one to apply for a BC licence, but do not have Qld licence to hand over.

4. Discover that the process to replace a stolen Qld licence while overseas is extremely onerous. Put entire process in "can't be bothered" basket for 5 months and enjoy being chauffeured around by husband.

5. After husband successfully hands over Qld licence to obtain BC licence in May 2011, and is told by ICBC that a stolen Qld licence should not be a problem, eventually decide to pursue BC licence acquisition process again.

6. In July 2011, visit an ICBC office to make enquiries into whether Traffic History Report from November is now too old, and whether stolen Qld licence will cause a problem. Receive confirmation that these matters will not be an issue.

7. Return to ICBC office with documents (passport with work permit, Traffic History Report, photocopy of stolen Qld licence), only to be told that Traffic History Report is not satisfactory as it does not state original date Qld licence was issued.

8. Get shown faxed documents from various Australian and New Zealand licencing authorities and told to get Queensland Transport to fax a document that states original date licence was issued. Advise Customer Service Representative that husband did not require this in order to obtain his BC licence.

9. Go away with piece of paper containing ICBC's "Proving your driving experience" requirements.

10. Read "Proving your driving experience" document. Observe document states that at least 2 years of driving experience must be proven. Note that document also states that if using a Traffic History Report, and one's licence has recently been renewed, the report may not prove that one has been driving for more than 2 years.

11. Note that one's own Traffic History Report goes back to 2005 and clearly shows that one has been driving for at least 6 years, albeit without stating exactly when one did start driving.

12. Return to ICBC office a third time in the hope of getting a different Customer Service Representative who will give a different answer. Point out abovementioned 2 year requirement and present convincing argument.

13. Leave office empty handed.

14. In August 2011, go to a different ICBC office - the one that issued husband's BC licence - and try again. Finally receive information that makes sense: as one does not have a Qld licence to hand in, one must provide a document from Queensland Transport that states original date licence was issued, any upgrades made, and type of licence held. Document must either be faxed directly to ICBC by Queensland Transport, or be given to ICBC still in a sealed QT envelope.

15. Phone Queensland Transport from Canada to ascertain what the correct document is called (evidently not a Traffic History Report); determine Evidence of Identity requirements when applying from overseas and not in possession of physical Qld licence; and ask whether a contact in Australia can obtain the document on one's behalf.

16. Spend 50.5 minutes on the phone with QT. Discover that correct document is called Driver Licence Details; EOI requirements include passport, Medicare card, and bank card - all certified as genuine copies of the original by the Canadian equivalent of a JP; and that a contact in Australia cannot obtain the document via QT's Release of Information form. This is because one must be contactable during business hours to verify one's request, but "our customer service centres aren't prepared to call overseas"! Discover this latter point towards the end of 50.5 minute phone call.

17. Re-confirm all elements of process with one requesting one's own information via a faxed ROI form; including an additional letter stating particular requirements and requesting that the document be faxed directly to ICBC; and having the fee paid to QT by a contact in Australia prior to QT receiving one's application.

18. Also get berated by QT supervisor for wasting half an hour of earlier representative's time by not telling her that one's Qld licence was stolen. Advise supervisor that earlier representative was told of stolen licence, hence why EOI requirements were being discussed!

19. Visit doctor's office to ask if a doctor can do certified copies of identity documents for abovementioned QT application, as QT advised doctors could do so. Receive very confused response and decide that is not a good option.

20. Phone RCMP (police) service centre to ask if someone there can do certified copies of identity documents for abovementioned QT application, as QT advised police could do so. After a 13 minute phone call, receive advice that a Notary Public is who does this in Canada.

21. Go to a Notary Public and get passport, Medicare card and bank card certified as genuine copies of the original. Pay $30.

22. Get contact in Australia to go to Queensland Transport and pay for Release of Information request in advance of application being faxed. Pay $19.30.

23. Complete Release of Information form requesting Driver Licence Details.

24. Type letter outlining specific information above document must contain, plus request to fax document directly to ICBC.

25. Fax ROI form, letter, and three certified copies of ID documents to Queensland Transport.

26. Wait a few days.

27. Phone ICBC to see whether fax has been received. Yes!

28. Return to ICBC to finally obtain BC licence. Discover that time remaining on Canadian work permit is now 9 days less than the required 6 months!

29. Receive "interim licence", which is a piece of carbon paper rather than an actual card with photo etc. Answer a few verbal questions on BC driving rules and undergo a vision test. Pay $31 for a 2-year licence; however, learn that one must visit ICBC every 2 months to obtain a new interim licence until one can present a work permit with more than 6 months left on it.

30. Be thankful it wasn't complicated!