Ask The Experts on Licensing and Registry
May 2012 Article
Spring is finally here and that means summer is just around the corner…HOPEFULLY!
It’s the season for camping! Before you pack up the trailer for the weekend, remember to be familiar with the rules on the road. Every trailer must be registered and have a license plate attached to the rear and requires tail & brake lights, turn signals, side markers and a license plate light.
Always be aware of your trailer clearance, width, length and height when towing it. It is a good idea to post these measurements where you can easily see them for reference while driving. The limited sight lines and large blind spots on a larger trailer can easily hide other vehicles from view. It is crucial that the towing mirrors be adjusted properly before you leave to allow you to see.
Some Things to Remember When Towing Your Trailer
Remember, longer trailers have wider turning patterns. You may have to swing into another lane to round a corner.
Learn how your truck and trailer reacts to sudden maneuvers and high winds, especially in Southern Alberta, to avoid being caught by surprise.
Make sure the hitch is suitable for the trailer’s weight and is fitted with approved safety chains or cables. Any trailer weighing more than 910 kg must be fitted with its own set of brakes. When backing up and parking your trailer have a “co-pilot” stand next to the vehicle and use hand signals to help park the trailer.
Lethbridge Vehicle can register your trailer for you. It is a one-time cost of $109 and the plate never has to be renewed.
Visit our website: www.lethbridgevehicle.com or give us a call (403) 329-1193.
Have a safe & happy camping season!
April 2012 Article
Spring is guaranteed to bring a smile to riders who crave the freedom of their motorcycles. The skills needed to avoid many collisions are learned through training, experience and by performing the fundamentals over and over again. Before you venture out on the road for the first time on your motorcycle, seek out and take proper training.
Lethbridge Vehicle offers both the knowledge and road exams, six days a week. The knowledge exam is $17.60 and can be done any time without an appointment and the road exam is $115 and is by appointment only.
Tips for Motorcyclists to have a Safe Trip
• Make yourself visible.
• Ride defensively.
• Stay out of car and truck blind spots.
• Be aware of dangerous road surfaces.
• Passengers are your responsibility.
For more information visit the Alberta Transportation website www.saferoads.com<>, or contact Lethbridge Vehicle at (403) 329-1193.
February 2012 Article
So the BIG DAY is fast approaching, you’ve booked the caterer, the church & the DJ, all you need is the Marriage License. Come down to Lethbridge Vehicle and we can help you with this final step towards wedded bliss.
A marriage license is valid for three months from the date it is issued and is only valid in the province of Alberta.
Both partners must apply together for their marriage license and provide proper, valid identification. Examples of acceptable ID:
• Drivers License / Alberta Identification Card
• Birth Certificate • Baptism Certificate
• Passport • Treaty Status Card
• Citizenship Card
Both the partners will be asked to provide names and birthplaces of both of their parents.
If either party has been married before, and been divorced, they must bring in a Certificate of Divorce. These can be obtained from the Court House. If either party has been widowed or annulled, no proof is required. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age (persons under the age of 18 must provide consent from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to marry).
At Lethbridge Vehicle we can issue a Marriage License any time Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and Saturday 9am to 4pm. (Please allow yourself ½ hour for this process).
For more information about Marriage Licenses call Lethbridge Vehicle at (403) 329-1193.
January 2012 Article
Your identity can be taken or compromised when your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.
Your name, date of birth, address, credit card, SIN number and other personal identification numbers can be used to open credit card and bank accounts, redirect mail, establish cell phone service, rent vehicles and equipment or secure accommodations. If this happens, you could be left with the bills, charges and bad cheques.
Starting to replace everything including your identification can be stressful. For these reasons, we suggest you keep your identification in your purse or wallet to a minimum.
Keep the identification that can be used to re-establish identity at home or in a secure area, not on your person. These are pieces such as Birth Certificates, Passports, Marriage Certificates and SIN cards. You don’t need them on a regular basis, and when and if you need them, they will be in a safe place at your home.
If you become a victim of theft, report the crime to the police immediately. Ask for a copy of the police report so that you can provide proof of the theft.
The staff at Lethbridge Vehicle can help you by issuing a duplicate driver’s license. You will have to supply 2 pieces of identification, one with your name and birth date and one with your name and signature.
We can also get a duplicate Alberta Health Card, Alberta Birth Certificate and vehicle registration issued out to you as well.
For any of these services you must identify yourself to us. Some examples of identification you can use are listed above, but call our office for a more inclusive list.
For more information regarding reissuing you identification, contact Lethbridge Vehicle at (403)329-1193 or visit us at
October 2011 Article
Many factors can influence the purchasing of a used vehicle. At Lethbridge Vehicle, we can help you take some of the guesswork out of buying a used car and help you sort out the lemons. This search is not intended to replace a mechanical inspection.
A Vehicle Information Report provides the following information:
• Vehicle Description – the year, make, model, style, color and fuel type
•Vehicle Status – the current status of the vehicle, and if applicable, the date that the vehicle was written-off. A VIR report does not show small accidents in which a minimal amount of damage was done.
• Vehicle Registration – registration information will tell you the date and municipality the vehicle was registered in Alberta, however, no names are listed.
• License Plate Classification (eg. passenger, commercial, farm or rental)
• Lien Information – the number of liens that are registered against the serial number. This does not tell you who the lein holders are, just the amount.
For more information you must run a lein search.
If you are buying a used vehicle with a lein on it, you should contact the lein holder for a total amount owing.
Once they are paid, the lein will be removed.
The lein not only follows the person but also the vehicle.
These are great information sources to help you to make an informed decision when buying a previously owned vehicle. Bring in the serial number and Lethbridge Vehicle can get you driving that new-to-you car today!
September 2011 Article
As the dog days of summer draw to a close, it’s back to the reality that comes with September. With this in mind, I’d like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that school has started for many of our youth and to be aware of the school zones and school bus safety.
As a driver, you should always watch for children crossing the road in school zones and by bus stops, and be prepared to slow down or stop. Remember to watch for children on the road, as they do not always cross at crosswalks. The speed limit in most school zones is 30 kilometers per hour. You may not pass, or attempt to pass another vehicle traveling in the same direction while in a school zone.
Remember to review the school zone hours in your community so you can help be a part of keeping our youth safe.
The provincial school zone Standard times are:
8:00 am – 9:30 am
11:20 am – 1:30 pm
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Be aware of school buses and bus stops, alternately flashing amber lights means a bus is slowing down to stop.
Children are often injured as pedestrians as they cross the road to get on or off the bus.
Remember, it doesn’t matter which direction you are coming from, STOP whenever approaching a school bus with activated alternately flashing red lights or an extended STOP sign.
The only time you do not have to STOP, is when the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway, you should slow down and be aware of the pedestrians.
Paying special attention in school zones and around school bus stops, can ensure a safe school year for our children. If you would like more information about school zones and school bus safety go to saferoads.com.
Lethbridge Vehicle hopes these tips will remind you to be cautious and alert so that everyone can have a safe start to the school year.
August 2011 Article
The questions on every 14 year-old’s mind:
When can I get my Learners License? Are they changing the age to write? Where can I do the test? What do I have to know? How long does it take?
Getting your Learners License may seem to be a big, scary step into the world of responsibility for both parents and kids, but at Lethbridge Vehicle we can make this step easy for everyone.
When you come in to write the test, you must bring in acceptable ID.
1. An original Birth Certificate – this is a MUST
2. 2nd piece of Identification – any one of the following: SIN card, Alberta Health card, Passport. No photocopies are accepted.
3. If the person writing is under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must
be present at time of writing with their Driver’s License / Identification Card.
The exam is 30 questions multiple choice. You must get 25/30 or 85% to pass. You can take as long as you would like to write, there is no time limit. If you don’t make it on the first try, study the manual, and come in the next day to try again.
All the information on the test is in the Basic Operator’s License handbook. These handbooks are available free of charge at our office.
For a chance to practice your knowledge, go to the website: www.saferoads.com. You can find two practice tests to help you before you come in to see us.
Learners License testing can be done at our office any time from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.
Last of all, the Alberta Government has no plans to change the age to receive a learners license, the age will remain at 14 years old.
Contact us at (403) 329-1193 if you have any questions or for more information. The staff at Lethbridge Vehicle will be glad to help.
Follow Us!