New Urban Registry

FAQ's

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Frequently Asked Questions

New Urban Registry is a private company appointed by the Government of Alberta to provide certain government services such as driver licensing and motor vehicle registration.

We are also authorized to access certain government databases for functions such as business names, business incorporations, land titles, and so on.

In addition to these government services we also provide a number of other non-government, legal services for business and individuals.

While we are a private company, documents we issue, such as vehicle registrations or drivers’ licenses, are official, authentic documents of the Government of Alberta and are as valid as if they were issued directly by the Government of Alberta.

Many of the government services provided by New Urban Registry are only available through authorized registry agents such a New Urban Registry.

New Urban Registry is a private company appointed by the Government of Alberta to provide certain government services such as driver licensing and motor vehicle registration.

We are also authorized to access certain government databases for functions such as business names, business incorporations, land titles, and so on.

In addition to these government services we also provide a number of other non-government, legal services for business and individuals.

While we are a private company, documents we issue, such as vehicle registrations or drivers’ licenses, are official, authentic documents of the Government of Alberta and are as valid as if they were issued directly by the Government of Alberta.

Many of the government services provided by New Urban Registry are only available through authorized registry agents such a New Urban Registry.

You must come into a registry office with the following documents:

 

1 An original* bill of sale or lease agreement that includes the following information:

  • Name(s) and signature(s) or buyer(s) and seller(s)
  • Date
  • Vehicle information – VIN, year, make, model
  • Initials from buyer and seller beside any and all corrections/changes – Documents with white out will be denied

2 Valid government issued photo ID (such as driver’s license)

3 New Vehicle Information Statement or NVIS (required for brand new vehicles only)

4 proof of valid insurance.

*Ownership documents from licensed dealerships may be emailed or faxed directly from the dealership to the registry office

In order to register a motor vehicle in Alberta, it must be properly insured and you must maintain that insurance while you own the vehicle. Insurance coverage must include public liability and public damage.

Your insurance company will be able to tell you the type of coverage you need and coverage options available.

Your proof of insurance document must include the name(s) of all registrant(s) that will appear on the vehicle registration.

Proof of insurance can be proven by showing an electronic copy, physical copy to the registry clerk at the time of registration. Insurance must be valid on the day of registration.

Yes, you can keep your existing plate and registration can either keep the same expiry or you may have the option to renew for an additional year.

 

WELCOME TO ALBERTA!

In Alberta, registration of motor vehicles, drivers’ licenses, and a number of other government services are provided by registry agents such as New Urban Registry. A registry agent is a private company that provides services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

 

First you must confirm if your vehicle will require an out of province inspection. All vehicles from outside of BC, SK, and MB will require an out of province inspection before they can be registered in Alberta.

 

If your vehicle is from BC, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, is currently registered to you in that province, and is within 4 model years or newer you may apply for an exemption from the out of province inspection.

If you qualify for an exemption you must come to the registry office with:

  1. Proof of registration from BC, SK, or MB and
  2. Your vehicle

The registry agent will inspect the VIN and odometer reading and send your application the government for exemption. This will take 1-2 business days for approval.

If your vehicle requires an out of province inspection, you must first get an Out of Province Inspection Request Form from an Alberta Registry Agent. You must bring the following:

1 Proof of ownership, such as your previous registration from your home province/state, a bill of sale, or lease agreement

2 Valid government issued photo ID (such as driver’s license)

 

Once your vehicle has passed the out of province inspection you may now register your vehicle and receive an Alberta plate and registration. You must come to the registry office with the following documents:

 

  1. An Alberta out-of-province vehicle inspection dated within 14 days
  2. Proof of valid Alberta insurance in the name of the registrant(s)
  3. Your driver’s license and,

4 Proof of ownership or previous registration from your home province

WELCOME TO ALBERTA!

First, motor vehicle registration and licensing services are completed by registry agents such as New Urban Registry. A registry agent is a private company that provides services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

All documentation and materials, such as drivers’ licences, are official documents and are issued on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

Next, gather:

  1. Your U.S. vehicle ownership documents and license plate
  2. Photo-identification
  3. Proof of your legal status in Canada
  4. Proof of Alberta residency
  5. Proof of Alberta vehicle insurance, and
  6. Form 1 provided to you by Canada Border Services when you entered Canada.

You must request an Out-of-Province inspection through a registry agent by showing your proof of ownership and driver’s license.

You will be able to retain your U.S. plate and ownership documents and will be provided with an Alberta registration and vehicle plate.

While you are at the registry office you can also switch your U.S. drivers’ license to an Alberta license. By law, you have 90 days to make the switch. Generally, the change-over is simply a matter of surrendering your U.S. license and receiving an equivalent Alberta license.

  1. Proof of ownership documents
  2. Proof of your Alberta residency
  3. Proof of your legal status in Canada
  4. Form 1 provided when you bought your vehicle into Canada
  5. An Alberta out-of-province vehicle inspection dated within 14 days (a number of automobile service companies in Alberta are authorized to carry out the inspection)
  6. Personal identification (such as a driver’s license), and
  7. Proof of valid Alberta insurance.

Basically obtaining a license to drive in Alberta is a two-step process that includes passing two tests.

Step one – to apply for a learners’ permit a person must be at least 14 years of age. Applicants under 18 years of age must have written permission of a parent or guardian. Applicants must present personal identification, pass a knowledge test covering rules of the road in Alberta, and have a vision examination.

Before taking the test you should obtain a copy of the Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing by click here.

You can also purchase the learners preparation kit or the printed river’s guide from New Urban Registry to help you prepare for the exam.

This guide covers a large number of driving-related topics and rules of the road. Knowledge of this material will be tested during the learners’ permit examination.

Once a learners’ permit is issued, the person can operate a vehicle as long as they are accompanied by a licensed driver over 18 years of age that holds a non-GDL license.

Step two – once you are a proficient driver and at least 16 years of age, contact New Urban Registry or book on our website homepage at www.newurbanregistry.com to take a driving test administered by a licensed driver examiner. This second examination will test your driving skills and adherence to traffic laws. Parental consent is required for those under 18 years of age.

Generally, drivers’ licenses may expire on your date of birth five years after the license was issued. Approximately six to eight weeks prior to the license expiry you may receive a renewal notice if you’ve signed up for one through e-registry.ca.

You must renew your license in person and be a resident of Alberta.

Renewing a license can still be processed even if you have yet to receive the renewal notice.

If you are 75 years of age or older, you must submit a medical report in order to renew your license. (Note: your doctor may charge you for this report since third-party reports are excluded from coverage by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Consult your doctor before you request the report.)

Medical reports must also be submitted for holders of Class 1, 2, and 4 licenses and all licenses that have a ‘C’ code. (Note: your doctor may charge you for this report since third-party reports are excluded from coverage by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Consult your doctor before you request the report.

New license photographs are taken with each renewal unless the existing picture is less than four years old.

First, you must stop driving. Operating a vehicle with an expired operator’s license is illegal and you will be subject to heavy fines.

Second, check how long the license has been expired. As long as the license has been expired for less than three years simply bring the expired license to a registry office and the renewal will be processed. If your license has been expired for six months or more you will need to show proof of an Alberta residence and, in the case of non-citizens, proof of admission to Canada and residence in Alberta. If your license has been expired for more than three years you will be required to be fully retested.

Please remember, in order to renew your license you must be a resident of Alberta.

If the license has been expired for more than three years you will be required retake the learners’ test and undergo a driving examination. You should consult with New Urban Registry to make the appropriate arrangements.

If your license has expired because you have been living outside of Canada, and you are carrying a drivers’ license for another country, check the answers to one of the following questions:

  1. I have just moved to Alberta from the United States, how do I get an Alberta drivers’ license? Answer Below
  2. I have just moved to Alberta from outside of North America, how do I get an Alberta drivers’ license? Answer Below
  3. What you need to bring to renew your expired driver’s license:

For a license expired less than six months just bring your expired license + one other piece of identification such as Alberta Health Care card, passport, or birth certificate,

For a license expired more than six months but less than three years:

  • Your expired license, and
  • proof of your Alberta residence. (See question: How do I prove that I reside in Alberta?)
  • legal entitlement to be in Canada

For a license expired more than three years:

  • proof of your Alberta residency
  • official, personal identification such as a passport. (See “I lost my drivers’ license” for other acceptable forms of identification.)
  • legal entitlement to be in Canada

A new license can be prepared but you must provide proof of your identity. The following official identification documents are acceptable;

  1. A valid passport,
  2. A valid foreign passport (with appropriate immigration documents proving admission to Canada and residence in Alberta),
  3. A Canadian permanent resident card,
  4. A valid Government of Alberta employee identification card,
  5. Canadian Armed Forces identification card,
  6. Identification for a municipal, provincial, or federal law enforcement agency,
  7. A Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) card,
  8. Metis Nations of Alberta card,
  9. A NEXUS card, or
  10. Two pieces of identification such as an Alberta Health Care card and a piece of addressed government mail or a utility bill.

Alberta has seven driver’s license classifications along with GDL and Non-GDL classes. Classes 1 through 4 are generally for professional drivers. Classes 5 and 7 are basic licenses that permit operation of a two-axle vehicle including cars, light trucks and mopeds. Class 6 is for the operation of motorcycles.

Class 1 permits operation of any motor vehicle while Class 2 permits operation of a bus by a professional driver. Class 3 licenses a driver to operate a vehicle with three or more axles. Class 4 licenses operators of vehicles such as ambulances, taxi-cabs, and small buses.

Most drivers hold a Class 5 license permitting operation of any two axle car, truck, motorhome, or moped.

Drivers operating vehicles with air brakes are required to pass the Alberta Air Brake Course in order to receive the Code Q – Air Brake Endorsement. The course can be completed elsewhere but New Urban Registry is able to provide the test and, once passed, the air brake endorsement.

WELCOME TO ALBERTA.

You need to change your out-of-province license to an Alberta license within 90 days of taking up residence in the province. You do this by presenting your out-of-province license along with a valid Canadian passport or a Canadian birth certificate and proof of residency in Alberta.

If you are a non-Canadian citizen (born outside of Canada) living in Alberta then you must present your out-of-province license along with proof of admission into Canada, such as your permanent resident card, work or study permit, or Canadian citizenship card. You must also provide proof of your Alberta residency. (Click here to see a list of documents that prove your Alberta residency.

WELCOME TO ALBERTA.

Within 90 days of taking up residence in Alberta, you must convert your United States license to an Alberta license. To do so, present your current U.S. license and passport along with proof of your legal status in Canada, such as a permanent resident card, work or study permit, and proof of residency. An Alberta license, equal to your U.S. license, will be issued.

If your U.S. license is expired or was issued less than two years ago, you must present a letter from the issuing jurisdiction indicating the previous history of your license.

Please note a U.S. drivers’ license can only be exchanged for Alberta Classes 5, 6 and 7 licenses.

 

Before applying for an Alberta drivers’ license, click here to determine if your country of origin has a reciprocal licensing agreement with Canada.

If your country is included in a reciprocal licensing agreement then you may present your drivers’ license, your passport, and proof of your legal admission to Canada such as a permanent resident, work, or study permit, or Canadian citizenship card. You must also provide proof of your residence in Alberta. (click here to see acceptable documents proving your residency in Alberta.)

If your license is issued in a language other than English you must present an official translation of the text as it appears on the foreign license. An international driver’s license issued by a country with a reciprocal agreement with Canada may be used for translation purposes.

Please note licenses from outside of Canada can only be exchanged for Alberta Classes 5 and/or 6 license.

If your license shows less than two years history, an official letter will be required from your home country confirming previous history (if applicable).

If your country of origin lacks a reciprocal licensing agreement with Canada then you must apply for a drivers’ license as a new applicant. That means you must apply for a learners’ permit and then take a driving examination. (click here to see how to obtain an Alberta drivers’ license.)

In order to prove your residency in Alberta, you need to present an original document that includes your name and Alberta address with a date marked within the last 90 days. Some examples are:

1 Valid Alberta ID card with current address
2 bank statement,
3 credit card statement,
4 utility bill 
5 a municipal property tax assessment or current land title 
6 an income tax assessment notice, or
7 Pay stub 
8 Current tenancy agreement singed by landlord 

Important Notice

UPCOMING CLOSURES

Note: New Urban Registry will be closed every second Sunday of every month for system updates and maintenance

We are also offering online services. please visit our service request page to submit your request for online service.

To download forms please exit this pop up and click “General Forms Of Service” on our homepage, forms available for download cannot be found by clicking the online services button below

Alberta Health Care Requirements

Legal Entitlement Proof of Alberta Residency Proof of ID
Canadian Birth Certificate/ Passport/ citizenship card/certificate Alberta drivers licence / ID Card Valid Driver’s Licence/ ID Card / School ID
Work Permit (Must State Alberta or Open) / Study Permit Provincial assistance programs (Current Income Support/Current AISH card Federal ID (Department of National Defence/ Royal Canadian Mounted Police/ First Nations / Inuit)
Permanent Resident card/ PR Confirmation Current bills for Alberta residence within 6 months (Gas/ Phone/Utility/Cable PR Card
Refugee Claimant (Notice of Decision/ Single Journey Documents/ Work Permit Current Alberta documents (Property Tax/Land Title/Mortgage/Lease agreement/Rental Insurance/Vehicle Registration) Canadian Passport (Expired PP is acceptable)
Indian Status Card/ Treaty Card Non- Canadian Passport
Federal ID (Department of National Defence/ Royal Canadian Mounted Police/ First Nations / Inuit )