Licence classes

Your licence class says which vehicles you are allowed to drive. A car licence does not let you ride a motorcycle or drive a bus, and each of those needs its own class.

Most provinces and territories use numbered classes, with Class 5 for ordinary cars. Ontario is the main exception and uses letters.

By the end of this topic you can

You can name the car licence class in your province.
You can explain the difference between a learner class and a full class.
You can say which class covers motorcycles where you live.
You can recognise that buses, trucks and ambulances need higher classes.

What you need to know and understand

In most provinces, Class 5 is the regular licence for cars, vans and light trucks.
BC uses Class 7 for learner and novice car drivers. Alberta uses Class 7 for learners and Class 5-GDL for probationary drivers.
Ontario uses Class G for cars, vans and small trucks, with G1 and G2 as graduated levels.
Ontario motorcycle licences are Class M, with M1 and M2 as graduated levels.
In BC and Alberta, Class 6 covers motorcycles.
Commercial classes cover heavier vehicles: in Ontario, A is tractor-trailers, B and E are school buses, C and F are other buses, and D is heavy trucks.

Numbers or letters?

Western, Atlantic and northern jurisdictions mostly follow a numbered system where lower numbers mean bigger or more specialised vehicles, such as Class 1 for semi-trailer trucks. Class 5 is the everyday car licence. Ontario uses letters instead. If you move between provinces, your class is converted to the closest match.

Ontario's classes at a glance

A: any tractor-trailer combination
B: any school bus
C: any regular bus
D: heavy trucks over 11,000 kg
E: school buses carrying up to 24 passengers
F: regular buses up to 24 passengers, and ambulances
G: cars, vans and small trucks
M: motorcycles, including mopeds and limited-speed motorcycles

Learner classes and what they allow

Learner classes allow you to practise with a supervisor. In Alberta, a Class 7 holder may drive a Class 5 vehicle only with a supervising driver who is over 18 and holds a full Class 5 licence. In BC, the novice stage is Class 7 for cars and Class 8 for motorcycles. Your class will change as you move through graduated licensing.

Common mistakes

Assuming a car licence lets you ride a scooter or moped. Check which class covers it in your province.
Mixing up Alberta's Class 7 (learner) with BC's Class 7 (learner and novice).
Renting or borrowing a larger vehicle, such as a big RV or a bus, without checking the class needed.
Thinking your learner class lets you drive alone.

Practice tip: Look at the class printed on your licence card with your supervisor, then read your handbook's list of what that class allows.

Test yourself: Licence classes

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

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Go deeper

Sources: Ontario MTO Official Driver's Handbook, Getting your driver's licence: licence classes (ontario.ca); Alberta government, Steps to getting a driver's licence (alberta.ca); ICBC, Graduated Licensing Program changes (icbc.com). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.

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