No need to resit...
Option1.
Move to UK, surrender you Canadian license for a UK one. Job done, MC should be included. Keep a photocopy of your Canadian one.
My problem with this plan was that Nova Scotia has a graduated drivers programme. Meaning that if I were to move back I'd have to re-sit my theory... 6 months beginners (can only drive with 1 person in the car who has had their license for at least 5 years (?)) , then re test, then 2 years with no driving between the hours or 23:59 and 05:59. Finally then I'd get a full license. If I incurred any points I'd then have to re-start from the beginning. There was no way I was doing this.
Option2.
Move to UK, get yourself a UK license but keep your Canadian one. I actually surrendered my NS one, then tried to get it back when I visited my parents. This was a no go unless I surrendered my UK one as it gets logged on the computer system. You option would be to rush back to Canada and tell them you lost your license and need a replacement. That way in x years time is you moved back to canada you could say... 'computer error... my license is right here sir..' I got my dad to speak to the minister of transport who called the motor vehicle branch and told them he would authorize them to give me a new card of my still valid license... without him it would have been difficult. I then had 1 UK license with no motorbike permit and 1 Nova Scotia license with full bike license.
I then needed to call the DVLA on one phone and the NS license people on another phone so that I could coordinate the NS crew to fax the DVLA to tell them I had a full bike license. Without having both people on the phone at the same time, to be able to say when the fax was being sent, somehow it never arrived at the DVLA. The nice lady there told me that they get so many faxes that unless they receive it in person they usually just get thrown out/lost.
hence the two on the phone at the same time so that you can say... okay.. the fax has just been sent...and they can then confirm... yes I see it here and I have it in my hand.
Tip: call DVLA first and get a person who will look after you case... you will need their phone number and name. Get them to give you their fax machine number as their generic fax number never seems to receive any faxes... if you know what I mean. Then arrange for you to call them both at a convenient time. It took lots of phone calls (free with SKYPE if you have a sub.) but in the end I got my full UK bike license without any need to re-do a test. This may be very different to what you get told if you call the DVLA... keep trying until you get a helpful person! It can be done.
Option3.
Use your Canadian license which is good for 1 year. Go to france for a day trip and voila... good for another year! Insurance will be twice the price but it is an easy option. I did this for two years until the international insurance rates doubled overnight about two years ago! My 04 GSA on international was quoted at £450 .... full uK license around £190 (still in my twenties so a bit more expensive)
Good luck and give me a shout when you get over here!
