Getting your British Columbia learner licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who is eligible to apply for a Class 7L licence.
• You can list what to bring to a driver licensing office.
• You can describe the vision and medical screening.
• You can explain how long a learner licence lasts and how to renew it.
• You can list the main restrictions on a learner driver.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 16 to apply.
• If you are under 18, a custodial parent or legal guardian must come with you to consent.
• You need one piece of primary ID and one piece of secondary ID; photocopies are not accepted unless certified by the issuing agency.
• You must pass the knowledge test and a vision and medical screening.
• The learner licence is valid for two years; to renew it you must retake the knowledge test.
• You receive an L sign that must be shown at the back of the vehicle whenever you drive.
• Fees apply for the knowledge test and the learner licence; ICBC lists current fees.

Your checklist for the licensing office

Go to an ICBC driver licensing office. If you have already passed the knowledge test online, you still visit an office to finish the process and get your licence.

• One primary ID, for example a Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport or permanent resident card.
• One secondary ID, for example a bank card or credit card with your name and signature, or a student card with photo.
• A custodial parent or legal guardian if you are under 18 (you may be able to apply to bypass this if you do not live with one).
• Payment for the knowledge test and the learner licence.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see well.
• If you take the knowledge test in the office, arrive at least an hour before closing.

Vision and medical screening

Staff check your sharpness of vision, field of vision, colour vision, depth perception and whether you have double vision. If you do not pass, you may be sent to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If you need glasses or contacts to drive, a restriction is printed on your licence.

You are also asked about your health. If there is a question about your ability to drive, you may need a medical exam, and RoadSafetyBC makes the final decision. The site has a separate guide on medical fitness and reporting.

Rules from day one on your L

When you pass, you get a Class 7L licence, an L sign and a copy of Tuning Up for Drivers, ICBC's practice guide. These limits apply every time you drive:

• A supervisor aged 22 or older with a valid Class 1 to 5 licence and no zero-tolerance restriction must sit beside you.
• Drive only between 5 a.m. and midnight.
• Carry no more than one passenger besides your supervisor, unless they are immediate family.
• Zero alcohol and zero drugs, including cannabis.
• No hand-held or hands-free electronic devices.
• Display the L sign where drivers behind can see it.

Common mistakes

• Arriving with only one piece of ID. You need both a primary and a secondary document.
• Forgetting a parent or guardian when you are under 18.
• Bringing photocopies of documents. Only originals, or copies certified by the issuing agency, are accepted.
• Letting your L expire without planning. Renewing means taking the knowledge test again.

Test yourself: Getting your British Columbia learner licence

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

Go deeper

• BC Learner Licence Rules
• BC N Licence Rules
• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in BC