To the best of our knowledge you do not have to be a permanent resident of British Columbia in order to register a motor vehicle. However we would advise you to check with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) to find out for certain if you can register a vehicle without being a permanent resident of BC and if so how to do so.

The ICBC provides vehicle licensing and vehicle registration services on behalf of the provincial government. They do state that you must register, license and insure any vehicle you bring to B.C. within 30 days of its arrival in British Columbia. Vehicles intended for commercial use must be registered, licensed and insured immediately.

You have up to 90 days to get your B.C. driver's licence when you move to this Canadian province. However, you need to have a B.C. driver's licence for ID when you buy your insurance if you plan to take advantage of the ICBC 12 month payment plan, that lets you pay for your annual insurance policy in 12 monthly payments. If you do not have a B.C. driver's licence or any recent history with ICBC, you will have to start out on the six month payment plan if you want financing for your premium.

In some parts of B.C., your vehicle will have to pass an AirCare test before your first renewal. Your first registration is exempt. The test measures your car's emissions. Whether your first registration is for three months or an entire year, you will need to pass AirCare before you can renew. The requirements vary according to the age of the car, too. Visit AirCare's web site for complete details.

The ICBC also notes if you are using your vehicle only for touring (visiting) purposes for less than six months, you do not have to register and license the vehicle here.

If you are going to register your car and it is from a different area of Canada originally then in order to register the vehicle, the following is required:

• The vehicle registration document
• A "passed" Vehicle Inspection Report from a Designated Inspection Facility in BC (a Designated Inspection Facility is an auto repairer or service shop that has been certified by Government to perform inspections. Look in the Automobile Repair and Servicing section of a phone directory such as the Yellow Pages for shops that indicate they are a government or designated inspection facility.) You can get a list of inspection facilities by contacting Commercial Vehicle Enforcement at (250) 952-0577 or from a list on their website.
• If the vehicle is from Nova Scotia, the Certificate of Title.

If the vehicle is not of Title, (if the vehicle is from Nova Scotia) which is signed by the registered owner of the vehicle and names you as the new owner, is acceptable instead of a bill of sale.

Once the vehicle is registered in BC, it can then be licensed and insured here. The Autoplan broker in BC can register, licence, and insure the vehicle for you.

If you are importing a vehicle into B.C. from the United States, the ICBC states that you should contact the Registrar of Imported Vehicles or call them at 1-888-848-8240.

Vehicles imported from a country other than the USA may not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Vehicles that do not comply are ineligible for importation into Canada. For further information contact:

• Transport Canada, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate (1-800-333-0371)
• Registrar of Imported Vehicles (1-888-848-8240)

To find out what the British Columbia government requires of you in your particular situation, regarding registration, driver's license and insurance, contact the ICBC directly through their website or phone them at 1-800-663-3051.