After you pass in Yukon: novice restrictions and your licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list every novice licence condition.
• You can explain the late-night co-driver rule and its exemption.
• You can apply the passenger and vehicle limits.
• You can describe how and when you graduate.
• You can explain what resets your novice time.

What you need to know and understand

• You must hold the novice licence for at least 18 months in a row without breaking any GDL condition.
• Between midnight and 5 a.m. a co-driver must be with you, unless you have been approved for a midnight work exemption.
• You may not tow a trailer while you hold a novice licence.
• Zero alcohol and drugs applies to you and, when one is required, to your co-driver.
• No electronic devices while driving, even hands-free.
• Passengers may not outnumber the seatbelts, and no one may ride in the box of a truck.
• You may drive a passenger vehicle of up to 4,000 kg gross vehicle weight with no more than nine seats including yours.
• When you qualify, you apply for the full-privilege Class 5 licence at any Motor Vehicles office.

Learner versus novice at a glance

• Supervision: learners always need a co-driver; novices only between midnight and 5 a.m.
• Driving hours: learners only 5 a.m. to midnight; novices any time, with a co-driver late at night.
• Passengers: learners two including the co-driver unless extra are close family; novices one per seatbelt and none in a truck box.
• Vehicle size: learners up to 4,000 kg and seven seats; novices up to 4,000 kg and nine seats.
• Alcohol, drugs and devices: zero tolerance and no devices in both stages.
• Towing: no trailers in either stage.

Keeping your clock running

Your 18 months must be continuous. Breaking a novice condition, reaching the GDL demerit limit of 7 points or an alcohol or drug violation sends your clock back to zero and you restart the novice stage. New drivers' records are closely monitored, and tickets can bring warning letters, suspensions or prohibitions. A parent or guardian of a driver under 18 can also ask the Registrar to add restrictions to the licence.

Graduating and beyond

After 18 clean months, visit a Motor Vehicles office to apply for your full-privilege Class 5 licence. Once you have it, hands-free devices become legal, though still distracting, and the GDL demerit limit no longer applies. A full Class 5 also acts as a learner's licence for other classes. Towing heavy trailers or driving heavy recreational vehicles needs extra endorsements. Keep building skills: consider an advanced or defensive driving course. Our Yukon novice driver guide on this site has more detail.

Common mistakes

• Driving home alone after midnight from a late shift without an approved midnight work exemption.
• Hitching up a trailer for a camping trip. Novice drivers may not tow.
• Squeezing in an extra friend without a seatbelt.
• Taking a quick hands-free call. It breaks a GDL condition and resets your time.
• Waiting for the full licence to arrive by mail. You must apply for it.

Test yourself: After you pass in Yukon: novice restrictions and your licence

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 Yukon
• Yukon Novice Driver Rules
• Yukon Learner’s Test and Learner Licence Rules