Getting your Northwest Territories learner licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who is eligible for a Class 7 licence.
• You can gather the documents needed for a first licence application.
• You can explain what happens at the vision screening.
• You can describe the order of steps from application to holding your learner's licence.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be 15 or older to apply for a Class 7.
• An NWT licence is only issued to residents of the Northwest Territories.
• First licence applications are taken in person only, at a Driver and Vehicle office.
• You need a completed application form, proof of legal name and date of birth with acceptable photo ID, and proof of NWT residency.
• You must pass a vision screening and a knowledge test on the rules of the road and signs.
• If you do not meet the vision standard, you will be asked for a Report of Visual Functions from a vision specialist.
• A fee is charged for each written exam, and exams must be booked and paid for in advance.

Your document checklist

Driver and Vehicle Services lists these items for a first licence. Bring originals, and call your local office first if you are unsure whether a document is acceptable.

• A completed driver's licence application form (copies are available at Driver and Vehicle offices).
• Proof of your legal name and date of birth, plus acceptable photo ID, such as a birth certificate or passport.
• Proof that you live in the NWT, such as a utility bill or a residential lease.
• Your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them, for the vision screening.

Step by step to your Class 7

1. Download or pick up the NWT Driver's Manual and study it. The knowledge test questions come from it.
2. Book and pay for the written exam online or at a Driver and Vehicle office.
3. Visit the office in person with your documents.
4. Complete the vision screening with a driver examiner.
5. Pass the knowledge test on rules of the road and road signs.
6. Receive your Class 7 learner's licence. Your minimum one-year learner stage starts now.

Fees and parental consent

Driver and Vehicle Services charges a fee for each written exam, each road test and the licence itself, and you pay again for any retest. The published fee tables have changed over time, so check the current amounts with your local office before you go.

If you are under 18, ask the office whether a parent or guardian must sign or attend with you. We could not confirm the current parental consent rule from the official pages, so check with the licensing authority rather than relying on what applies in other provinces.

Who counts as a resident

A resident is someone lawfully entitled to be in the NWT whose home is in the territory and who is ordinarily present there. Applicants from outside Canada must show suitable immigration documents, and people on student or work visas can only be licensed for the period their visa covers. The deeper guide on the NWT knowledge test and road test explains what to expect at the exam desk.

Common mistakes

• Arriving without proof of NWT residency. Bring a utility bill, lease or similar document in your name or your household's name as the office directs.
• Forgetting glasses or contacts. If you need them to see well, bring them for the vision screening.
• Turning up without a booking. Written exams must be booked and paid for in advance.
• Trying to apply online. A first licence must be applied for in person.

Test yourself: Getting your Northwest Territories learner licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in the NWT
• NWT Knowledge Test and Road Test