After you pass in Northwest Territories: novice restrictions and your licence
Passing the road test gives you a Class 5P probationary licence. You can now drive on your own, but you are still a GDL driver, and a set of rules applies for at least the next 12 months.
These limits are there because the first year of solo driving is the riskiest. Keep a clean record and the move to a full Class 5 is straightforward.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can list the conditions on a Class 5P licence.
- You can explain how passengers are limited on a 5P.
- You can state what delays your upgrade to a full Class 5.
- You can describe the rules that still apply after you get a full licence.
What you need to know and understand
- You must hold the Class 5P for at least 12 months without a suspension.
- No more than one passenger may ride in the front seat.
- You may never carry more passengers than there are seatbelts.
- You must have zero blood alcohol whenever you drive.
- Reaching 6 or more demerit points leads to a suspension and extra time on 5P.
- You cannot upgrade to a commercial Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 or supervise a learner while on 5P.
- The NWT manual does not list a night-time curfew for Class 5P drivers.
- To get a full Class 5 you must be 17 or older, have fewer than 6 points and apply in person.
Learner versus probationary: what changes
- Supervisor: required on Class 7; not required on 5P.
- Night driving: banned 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Class 7; no curfew listed for 5P.
- Passengers: none except the supervisor on Class 7; one in the front and no more than the seatbelts allow on 5P.
- Alcohol: zero on both.
- Demerit limit: 6 points on both.
From 5P to full Class 5
- Drive for at least 12 months on your 5P without a suspension.
- Make sure you are at least 17 and have fewer than 6 demerit points.
- Visit a Driver and Vehicle office in person. The upgrade does not happen automatically and there is no second road test.
- Receive your full Class 5. You can now act as a supervisor once you have built up 24 months on a full licence.
Rules that follow you
A full licence lifts the GDL passenger limits, but some rules continue. If you are under 22, you must still have no alcohol or drugs in your system when you drive. Every driver remains subject to the demerit point system, the distracted driving law and the impaired driving suspensions at .05 and over .08.
If a suspension happens while you are on 5P, it adds time to your stage and resets the 12 suspension-free months you need. The deeper guide on learning to drive in the Northwest Territories explains the whole journey.
Common mistakes
- Giving two friends a ride with both trying to sit in the front. Only one front-seat passenger is allowed.
- Assuming the 5P becomes a full licence on your 17th birthday. You must apply in person after 12 suspension-free months.
- Thinking the zero-alcohol rule ends with a full licence. It continues until you are 22.
- Collecting two phone tickets. That is 6 points and a suspension.
Test yourself: After you pass in Northwest Territories: novice restrictions and your licence
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Driver's Manual (Basic): a guide to safely operate cars and light trucks, revised August 2022, Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Infrastructure, Chapters 1 and 9; Get a driver's licence for the first time, Government of the Northwest Territories, Driver and Vehicle Services; Impaired Driving, Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Infrastructure. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.