The Saskatchewan road test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can book a road test and prepare the documents you need.
• You can check that your vehicle will pass the examiner's inspection.
• You can list the skills the examiner assesses.
• You can avoid the mistakes that cause an automatic fail.

What you need to know and understand

• You must have held a Class 7 licence for at least nine months.
• You supply the vehicle, and it must be the right class and in safe working order.
• Road tests are in English, and examiners use simple directions such as lane change, shoulder check, two-point turn and parallel park.
• No pets or passengers other than exam staff may be in the vehicle.
• Speeding, failing to stop or yield, disobeying lights or needing the examiner's help are automatic fails.
• If you fail a Class 5 road test, you must wait two weeks before retesting, and you pay a fee for each test.
• A pass is valid for 12 months, but you must upgrade to Class 5 at a motor licence issuer before driving alone.

Booking and arriving

Road test slots in smaller centres are reserved for local residents. Your test will be rescheduled if you are late, lack proof of driver education, have not held your learner licence for nine months, have not paid the fee or your vehicle is unsafe.

1. Book online with MySGI, or call or visit a motor licence issuer. Add your cellphone number to get text reminders.
2. Bring your photo ID. If your driver education is not on your SGI file, bring your Driver Education Certificate.
3. Arrive on time. Park, turn off the engine, stay in the vehicle and text Here if you signed up for texts.
4. Keep your phone on so the examiner can call you. Your supervising driver should wait in the waiting room.

Vehicle check

• Horn, signal lights, brake lights and headlights work.
• Wipers, defrost, seatbelts, airbags and speedometer work.
• One valid plate is properly attached at the rear.
• The windshield has no obstructing cracks, stickers or tint, and there is no aftermarket tint on the front side windows.
• Driver and front passenger doors open properly, and the car is clean and free of strong odours.

What the examiner scores

You will fail for exceeding the speed limit, being 50 per cent or more responsible for a collision, failing to stop or yield, disobeying traffic lights, needing the examiner's help, or a combination of minor errors. You get a full report explaining every error. Our guide to what SGI examiners score has more examples.

• Obeying signs, signals and lane markings.
• Starting, stopping, turning and lane driving.
• Shoulder checks and spotting hazards early.
• Controlled and uncontrolled intersections.
• Backing up, parallel parking and two-point turns.
• Speed choice and steering technique.

Common mistakes

• Skipping shoulder checks on lane changes and before pulling away.
• Rolling through stop signs instead of stopping completely.
• Drifting a few km/h over the limit, which is an automatic fail.
• Bringing a car with a cracked windshield or tinted front windows.

Test yourself: The Saskatchewan road test

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

Go deeper

• SGI Driver’s Handbook Study Guide
• Saskatchewan Gravel and Grid Road Driving for New Drivers
• SGI Road Test