Moving to B.C.: the checklist

Yes, most B.C. highways require winter tires or chains from October 1 to April 30. Tires need 3.5 mm of tread and an M+S or mountain-snowflake symbol. If you're driving to Vernon between October and April, book winter tires before you move.

Yes, dogs three months and older in Greater Vernon need a Regional District of North Okanagan licence. The licence is required if you live here more than 30 days. As of October 2026 it costs $25 a year through DocuPet.

Yes, ICBC credits people moving to B.C. with up to 15 years of driving experience if they show an abstract with their first-licensed date. Get a driver's abstract from your current province before you move. When you switch to a B.C. licence, bring it as proof of driving experience, along with your current licence and two pieces of ID.

There is no official rule for how far ahead to book movers for a Calgary or Edmonton to Vernon move, so contact companies as soon as you know your moving date. Booking early gives you time to compare written quotes and is more likely to get you the date you want, especially for summer, weekend or month-end moves.

The Competition Bureau suggests choosing a company that sends someone to assess your move, getting the estimate and contract in writing, and checking reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints. It also says some provinces require movers to hold permits, so ask each company what licences or registrations it holds.

Tipping movers in Canada is a custom, not a rule, so it is entirely optional. No law, regulator or licensing body sets an amount, and you are not expected to tip for careless work.

Many people do give the crew something for a careful, hard day's work, especially on a long or difficult job, and some moving companies publish their own suggestions on their websites. Whatever you decide, a tip is best treated as thanks for good service rather than something you owe. If you are unsure, it is fine to ask the moving company how tips are shared among the crew.

The biggest warning signs of a bad mover are a quote that seems too low, a phone-only or verbal agreement, and demands for large payments upfront or extra money on moving day. Others are pressure to sign right away, a different and pricier contract appearing when the truck arrives, and movers holding your belongings until you pay more.

The Competition Bureau and Consumer Protection BC also flag online ads promising "everything included," frequent name changes and generic phone greetings. Get a written quote after someone has assessed your move, check reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints, and avoid paying cash, since a credit card may let you dispute a charge. Report problems to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or the Competition Bureau.

Registration is ICBC's official record that you own a vehicle, and you must have it before you can get licence plates and insurance. It is not the same thing as insurance or the yearly licence renewal, though you usually deal with all three together at an Autoplan broker.

If you buy a vehicle that is already registered in B.C., ICBC says to register it in your name within 10 days of the purchase. If you are moving to B.C., you have 30 days after arriving to register, licence and insure your vehicle. Fees and taxes apply at registration, and ICBC's registration page explains what to bring.

B.C. charges provincial sales tax (PST) when you buy a vehicle, collected when you register it with ICBC; on a private sale of a passenger vehicle the rate is 12% under $125,000, rising to 15% and then 20% at $150,000 and over. On a private sale, PST is generally charged on the greater of the price you paid or the vehicle's average wholesale value (Canadian Black Book), unless an approved appraisal shows a lower value.

Buying from a dealer is different: the rate is 7% on a passenger vehicle under $55,000 and steps up to 20% at $150,000 and over. Electric vehicles have their own thresholds, and ICBC charges its own fees. See PST Bulletin 308 (revised August 2026) for your case.

Yes, when you replace one vehicle with another, you can move your insurance to the new one through an Autoplan broker instead of cancelling it. ICBC says to give the broker the odometer readings for both vehicles, because they decide whether you qualify for the usage-based discount.

Your plates have rules of their own. You can drive the new vehicle on your old B.C. plates for up to 10 days if you have sold or disposed of the old one, both are the same type, the new one is B.C.-registered or from a licensed B.C. dealer, and neither is leased. Keep the signed Transfer/Tax Form and proof of sale in the car, and register within 10 days. See ICBC's selling page.

You will need the vehicle's current out-of-province registration, accepted ID, a passed inspection report from a designated B.C. inspection facility, and, if it is not already in your name, a signed and dated bill of sale. ICBC says you register, licence and insure it at an Autoplan broker. A Nova Scotia vehicle also needs its Certificate of Title.

A vehicle you already own may skip the inspection if you are a new or returning B.C. resident bringing it from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, it weighs 3,500 kg or less, and it is no more than four model years old or passed a home-province inspection within 90 days. PST is due at registration unless an exemption applies. See ICBC's registration page.

The requirements depend on your dog's age, where it is coming from, and whether it is a personal pet or a commercial import, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has an online tool that sorts this out. Personal dogs must be healthy, fit to travel, vaccinated as required and carry the right paperwork. CFIA sorts dogs under 3 months, 3 to under 8 months and 8 months and older, and groups origins as the U.S. and Mexico, a short rabies-free list, or everywhere else.

One firm rule: since September 28, 2022, commercial dogs (for resale, adoption, breeding and similar) from high-risk rabies countries are barred. Use CFIA's pet import tool before booking travel.