Newfoundland and Labrador graduated licensing stages

By the end of this topic you can

• You can name the two novice levels and the full licence that follows.
• You can say how long you must stay at each level and how driver education shortens Level I.
• You can list the main limits on learners and on Level II novice drivers.
• You can explain what happens to your progress if you are suspended as a novice.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 16 to start, and under 19 you need a parent or legal guardian to consent.
• Level I lasts at least 12 months, or 8 months if you pass an approved driver education program.
• You leave Level I by passing a road test, which moves you to Level II.
• Level II lasts 12 months before you hold a full Class 5 licence.
• Novice drivers at both levels must have a blood alcohol level of zero.
• A novice who reaches 6 demerit points in one year is suspended.

Level I, Level II and full: what changes at each step

Think of the program as a ladder. Each rung gives you a little more freedom, but only after you have shown you can handle the last one.

• Level I (Class 5I learner): you pass a written test and a vision test. You may only drive with an accompanying driver who has held a full Class 5 licence for at least four years and sits in the front seat beside you. No passengers apart from that driver, no driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and a NOVICE DRIVER sign on the back of the vehicle.
• Level II (Class 5II novice): you pass a road test. You can drive alone, but between midnight and 5 a.m. you need an accompanying driver with four years' full Class 5 experience, unless you carry proof of a work schedule signed by your employer. Passengers are limited to the number of seatbelts.
• Full Class 5: after 12 months at Level II, the novice restrictions end.

How long the whole journey takes

The quickest route is about 20 months: 8 months at Level I with approved driver education, then 12 months at Level II. Without driver education it is at least 24 months. Because you can start at 16, the earliest you can reach Level II is 16 years and 8 months with driver education, or 17 without it.

Your learner licence is valid for two years. If it lapses for more than 12 months you must pass the written test again before it can be reissued.

Why breaking the rules costs you time

Novice drivers have a lower demerit point limit than experienced drivers: 6 points within one year triggers a suspension, and you get a warning letter at 3 points. Suspensions for novices run 2 months for a first, 4 months for a second and 6 months for a third. After any suspension you must apply to the Registrar for reinstatement and start your current level again, so the clock goes back to zero.

Our separate guides to novice rules and to novice demerit points go into more detail on these limits.

Common mistakes

• Thinking adults skip the program. It applies to all new drivers regardless of age.
• Booking a road test too early. Count 12 months from your learner licence date, or 8 months only if you completed an approved driver education program.
• Assuming Level II has no night rule. Between midnight and 5 a.m. you still need an accompanying driver unless the work exemption applies.
• Treating a suspension as a short pause. A novice suspension restarts your current level.

Test yourself: Newfoundland and Labrador graduated licensing stages

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 Newfoundland and Labrador
• Newfoundland Demerit Points for Novice Drivers
• Newfoundland Novice Rules