As a new driver to Canada, I was wondering if there any online lists of traffic signs, regulations etc?

I've been driving in the UK for 25 years (jeez I'm old) and I just swap my UK licence for an Ontario licence, which is nice, but I really should know how your road system works.

All I can find on the net is links to driving schools, or shops to buy drivers handbooks.

I don't need to learn how to drive, I was a Driving instructor in the UK

I just need to know the rules and regulations

 

theres alot to learn as our laws will be different then most, the best you can read do is pick up an Ontario Highway Traffic Act and read up like i have, but im also studying to be a paralegal which is why i drive around with mine and havent gotten a ticket in the last 6 years but still lol

Demerit Points in Ontario - Highway Traffic Act Offences — Traffic Ticket Solutions might help for the pts system just search for the traffic act its out there

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Andrew Rocha - Staff Member

 

Thanks Zorf, some light reading for me there

We have "The Highway Code" in the UK, which is a neat little book with all the signs and rules that you need to know to pass certain aspects of the driving test.

I know most of it will be common sense. I've driven on the wrong side of the road while in Florida, Canada, France and Spain, so that doesn't worry me.

Ok, ok, the right side of the road

But you have some cool rules we don't, like turning right on a red stop light etc.

And I found out in Florida that it's illegal to park "Nose out" in a parking bay. I think that's because they don't require a front number plate in Florida. Love that rule! So many cars are ruined with the addition of a front number plate.

Ok, My next question...

How does your road tax/insurance/mot work?

Just for comparison, here's how it works in the UK...

1 - I buy a car (lets say a used car from a private seller)

2 - The seller sends of the Log-book to DVLA (Department of vehicle Licencing Authority) with my name and address on it. No charge for this, and about two weeks later I get a new Log-book with my name as the recorded keeper.

3 - There are three things I need to drive this car legally:

a - Insurance
b - Mot
c - Road tax

The Mot (Ministery of Transport) is a yearly test for the vehicle to make sure it is roadworthy. Many cars are scrapped because they fail this test and will cost too much to repair.

Road tax is paid yearly, and the cost depends on the age of the car, engine size etc etc. Generally my cars are at the top of the list

In order to get Road Tax, you must have insurace, registered to the name on the log-book, and an up-to-date mot certificate.


So, apart from the cost of fuel and insurance, it's relatively cheap to own a car in the UK. I have bought 4 MX5's in the last year. The cheapest was £80, the dearest was £400 (Bertie the banger) They all needed welding work which I can do, but many people cannot, or will not pay to have it done. Good news for me lol.

So, how does your system work then?

 

Things are a little different over here, when buying a used car you end up paying a small % of the blue book value to the DMV dept of motor vehicle when transferring onwership, just go in with the signed ownership and they give u a new one with a small fee, you need a safety, emission test and insurance to get a license plate, or 10 day temp permit, the HTA rule book i have is very thick with small lettering so theres alot of rules lol i picked it up at the local book store for i think $47, and also on the license plate you have your validation sticker for 1 year $74, 2 year $148 lots to know about but glad to help if you have further questions

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Andrew Rocha - Staff Member

 

I think Zorf got it all right. Road tax is not seperate charge here, I think it's included in the registration.

Safety - Mechanically tested. Things that can fail are rust on critical panels, defective/worn suspension parts and most importantly, tires.

e-Test - If you have mods then you want to likely remove them and bring your car as close to stock as you easily can. If you don't have blue smoke coming out your car will likely pass. But be careful, these e-Test machines are live and MOT will know immediately that your car failed and will not let you drive until it passes.

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If your car has a hard time with the etest just shoot me a PM

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Andrew Rocha - Staff Member

 

Cheers

No idea what you mean, but sounds sneaky, which I like

 

etest = emission test and a V8 MX5 might have certain limits as a stock MX5 might require so in any case is theres a problem with emissions with anyone on here just send me a PM, always good to know ppl

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Andrew Rocha - Staff Member

 

In this country, the car would be tested for emmisions, based on the engine it has, regardless of what engine it is meant to have.

So in this case it would be tested on the limits for a 1991 Lexus LS400, which as it happens was designed specifically for the north American market.

Although I'm fairly sure it's meant to have egr valves and cats

Still, I might still be able to use on track days, whatdya think?

 

Emissions here is based on being within certain guidelines of only polluting soo much so yes EGR and cats are required, engine doesnt matter its just the fact your car needs to be releasing only so much emission to pass but like i said previously just shoot me a PM and that can be taken care of lol

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Andrew Rocha - Staff Member