The Alberta road test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check you are eligible and book your test.
• You can prepare a test vehicle that meets the requirements.
• You can describe the skills the examiner assesses.
• You can explain how scoring and automatic fails work.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 16 and have held your Class 7 for at least one year.
• Class 5 road tests are booked through a registry agent, using the 9-digit MVID number shown on your licence.
• All outstanding fines owed to the Government of Alberta must be paid before you can book.
• The test takes about 45 minutes, including instructions and your results summary.
• Points are deducted for errors, and you fail if you get more than 75 points.
• Some actions, such as endangering others or breaking traffic laws, are an automatic fail.
• After passing, take your road test permit to a registry agent; the permit itself is not a licence.

Your test vehicle

The vehicle must be legal and safe. Check it the day before.

• Valid licence plate and insurance.
• Working headlights, brake lights, signals and horn.
• Speedometer, brakes and parking brake.
• Clear windshield and working wipers.
• Good tires, mirrors, seat belts and exhaust.
• Working driver and passenger doors.
• Enough fuel for the test.

What you will be asked to do

• Identify and use your vehicle's controls.
• Steer, brake and control speed smoothly.
• Choose the right lane for turns and obey speed zones.
• Handle intersections with and without signs or signals.
• Decide right of way, including during lane changes.
• Park: perpendicular, on a hill, and parallel.

Common reasons for failing

Points come off for missed skills such as mirror and blind spot checks, rule errors such as wrong turns, and poor manoeuvres such as signalling too early or late or being too hesitant. The guide lists these as automatic fails:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions.
• Not stopping completely at a stop sign or before a right turn on red.
• Failing to yield at an intersection or during a lane change.
• Blocking traffic by driving too slowly or stopping for no reason.
• Climbing the curb while parking, or needing more than three attempts to park.
• Not slowing or looking properly at uncontrolled intersections.

Common mistakes

• Skipping shoulder checks because you checked the mirrors.
• Rolling stops. Make every stop complete.
• Driving far below the limit out of nerves, which can count as obstructing traffic.
• Bringing a car with a warning light or a cracked windshield that blocks the view.

Test yourself: The Alberta road test

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

Go deeper

• Alberta Road Test
• Class 5 GDL Alberta
• Alberta Learner’s Test