Category: Alberta

Photo: Acefitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With an Alberta Class 7 learner’s licence you may drive a car only with a supervisor aged 18 or older who holds a full Class 5 licence and sits in the front passenger seat. You cannot drive between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., you must have zero alcohol, you cannot carry more people than there are seat belts, and your licence is suspended at 8 demerit points. Here is what each rule means in practice.

Alberta Class 7 restrictions checklist

• Supervisor: 18 or older, holding a full (non-GDL) Class 5 or higher, in the front passenger seat.
• Curfew: no driving between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
• Alcohol: 0 percent at all times. Under Alberta’s IRS ZERO: Novice program, the same zero tolerance applies to drugs.
• Passengers: no more people than there are seat belts.
• Demerits: suspension at 8 points.
• Moped: you may ride a moped by yourself.

Who can supervise a learner in Alberta?

A fully licensed (non-GDL) driver aged 18 or older with a Class 5 or higher. A Class 5-GDL (probationary) driver cannot supervise, even a sibling or friend. The supervisor must sit beside you in the front passenger seat, not the back.

Scenario: your older brother is 19 and got his Class 5-GDL last year. He cannot supervise you. Your parent with a full Class 5 can.

The midnight to 5 a.m. rule

A Class 7 driver cannot drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., with or without a supervisor. Plan evening practice to finish before midnight.

Zero alcohol and drugs

Learners must have a 0 percent alcohol level whenever they drive. If police find any alcohol or drugs in a Class 7 or Class 5-GDL driver, the IRS ZERO: Novice penalties are:

• an immediate 30-day licence suspension
• a 7-day vehicle seizure
• a $200 fine plus a 20 percent victim fine surcharge

Criminal Code charges can apply on top. See Alberta demerits and Immediate Roadside Sanctions and impaired driving in Canada for new drivers.

Passengers and seat belts

There is no fixed passenger number for Alberta learners. The limit is the number of seat belts. Every occupant must wear one, and the driver is responsible for children aged 6 to 15 (and younger children over 18 kg) wearing a seat belt. Children under 6 who weigh 18 kg or less need a child restraint.

Carrying more passengers than seat belts brings a $211 fine and, for learners and probationary drivers, 2 demerit points.

Demerits as a learner

Demerits within 2 years	What happens (GDL drivers, including Class 7)
4 to 7	Cautionary notice by mail
8 or more	1-month suspension
Second suspension within a year	3-month suspension
Third suspension within 2 years	6-month suspension

After a suspension your licence comes back with 3 demerit points, which stay for 2 years. Common learner tickets: distracted driving (3 points), speeding (2 to 6 points depending on speed), following too closely (4 points). Three offences carry 2 points only for GDL drivers: driving between midnight and 5 a.m. (learners), carrying more passengers than seat belts, and driving with a supervisor who is not fully qualified.

Phones and devices

Alberta’s distracted driving law applies to all drivers on all roads, even when stopped at a red light. You cannot hold a phone, text, enter GPS information or groom while driving. The penalty is a $390 fine and 3 demerit points. A GPS fixed to the vehicle and programmed before you set off is allowed, and anyone may call 911 on a hand-held phone.

How long you stay a learner

You must hold your Class 7 for at least 12 months and be at least 16 before you can take the Class 5 road test. Use that year for regular supervised practice in different conditions. A licensed driver training course requires at least 10 hours of in-vehicle instruction plus 15 hours of classroom.

Common questions

Can a Class 7 learner drive on the highway in Alberta?

Alberta’s Class 7 rules list no highway ban. The supervisor, curfew, alcohol, seat belt and demerit rules apply on every road.

Can I drive with friends as a learner?

Yes, if your supervisor is in the front seat and there is a seat belt for every person.

Can I drive alone on a Class 7?

Only a moped. A car always needs a qualified supervisor.

Does my supervisor need to hold the licence for a set number of years?

Alberta’s rule is a fully licensed (non-GDL) driver aged 18 or older with a Class 5 or higher, sitting beside you. Choose someone experienced and calm.

What licence comes next?

The Class 5-GDL. See Alberta Class 5 GDL probationary rules and the overview in learning to drive in Alberta.

Sources

• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing: Cars and Light Trucks”, Spring 2023 edition (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 7 learner’s licence” (alberta.ca)
• Alberta King’s Printer, “Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation, AR 320/2002”, current as of 1 October 2026, section 31 (kings-printer.alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Steps to getting your licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Impaired driving penalties” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Occupant restraint laws” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Demerit driving suspension” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Distracted driving” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Roadside worker safety” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver error” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 5 driver training” (alberta.ca)

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Alberta Class 7 knowledge test (the learner’s test) has 30 multiple-choice questions and you need 25 correct to pass. You take it at an Alberta registry agent, you can try once per day, and you pay a fee for each attempt. This page covers what to bring, the 25 languages, support options and how to prepare.

Key facts

• 30 multiple-choice questions; pass mark 25 out of 30 (about 83 percent).
• One attempt per day; a fee every time.
• Taken at Alberta registry agent offices, with a vision test on the same visit.
• Minimum age 14; parental or guardian consent if you are under 18.
• Available in 25 languages, plus audio and oral options.

How many questions are on the Alberta learner’s test?

Thirty. All are multiple choice and cover Alberta traffic laws, road signs and safe driving, taken from the Driver’s Guide for cars and light trucks. You can miss up to 5.

What does the Alberta knowledge test cost?

Registry agents charge for the test. The Government of Alberta sets the maximum charge in its Registry Agent Product Catalogue, so check the current figure with your registry agent before you go. Remember you pay again for each retake.

What to bring

• Acceptable ID (see the Government of Alberta’s ID requirements for licences).
• Written consent from a parent or guardian if you are under 18.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them, because the vision test happens at the registry too.
• Payment for the test and, if you pass, the licence card.

Phone ahead: not every registry office offers every service.

Languages available for the Class 7 test

The Class 7 test runs on computers at test stations and is offered in 25 languages:

Amharic, Arabic (Modern Standard), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Cree, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Oromo, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese.

If you have some difficulty with English, you may use a paper English conversion dictionary for the Class 7 test.

Help if reading the test is hard

You may qualify for support if you have difficulty reading or understanding English, hearing loss, or a learning or medical condition such as dyslexia.

• Audio test: a narrated version through headphones. Some registries charge for disposable headphones.
• Oral test: a registry employee or a professional sign language interpreter reads the questions and answers aloud. All oral tests are in English.
• Translator: for the Class 7 test you must first try at least 3 times using the available options, then email Alberta’s driver examinations office to request one. If your language is not on the list above, you can bring a translator with a valid Translation Identification Number (TIN) to your first test without trying 3 times.

How to study for the Alberta Class 7 test

1. Read the current Driver’s Guide from alberta.ca. Follow the Alberta Driver’s Guide study plan.
2. Learn sign shapes and colours first: regulatory, warning, school and playground, construction and guide signs.
3. Memorize the numbers Alberta asks about: 30 km/h school and playground zones and their hours, the 150 m rule behind emergency vehicles, and demerit limits. See school and playground zones.
4. Know right of way at uncontrolled intersections and traffic circles: Alberta intersections and traffic circles.
5. Learn the learner rules you will live by: Alberta Class 7 learner rules.

What happens after you pass

1. The registry tests your vision. If you do not meet the standard, you are referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist to complete a Vision Referral form.
2. You buy a Class 7 learner’s licence card.
3. You leave with a temporary licence valid for 30 days. The card should arrive within 21 business days. If it does not, call the number on the back of the temporary licence, and report it to a registry within 60 days of applying or you may pay for a replacement.

Your 12-month learner period before the road test starts now. The full path is in learning to drive in Alberta.

Common questions

What if I fail the Alberta knowledge test?

You can try again the next day. You pay the fee again each time.

Can I take the Alberta learner’s test online?

No. Alberta lists registry agent offices as the place to take the test.

Can I take the test at 14?

Yes. The minimum age for a Class 7 is 14, with parental or guardian consent.

Is the Alberta test in French?

Yes. French is one of the 25 languages, and a French edition of the Driver’s Guide is also available.

Is there a time limit?

Ask your registry agent before you start.

Sources

• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing: Cars and Light Trucks”, Spring 2023 edition (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s knowledge test” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 7 learner’s licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Steps to getting your licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 5 driver’s licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s road test” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver guides” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Reacting to emergency vehicles” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Demerit driving suspension” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “School and playground zones” (alberta.ca)

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a driver’s licence in Alberta you move through three stages: a Class 7 learner’s licence from age 14, a probationary Class 5-GDL licence after at least 12 months and a road test, and a full Class 5 licence after 24 months of probation with a clean record. The whole process takes at least 3 years. This guide is for new Alberta drivers and their parents, and it links to a detailed guide for every step.

Key facts (Government of Alberta, checked November 2026)

• Class 7 learner: age 14 or older, parental or guardian consent under 18, pass a knowledge test and a vision test.
• Class 5-GDL: age 16 or older, at least 12 months on a Class 7, pass a road test.
• Full Class 5: age 18 or older, 24 months of probation (up to 6 months off with licensed driver training), no suspensions or demerits in the last 12 months.
• The advanced road test was removed on 1 April 2023. You no longer need a second road test to leave the GDL program.
• Learners and GDL drivers have zero alcohol and drug tolerance and a lower demerit limit (8 points) than fully licensed drivers (15 points).

The three stages at a glance

Stage	Minimum age	How you get it	Main restrictions
Class 7 learner’s licence	14	Knowledge test and vision test at a registry agent	Supervisor 18+ with a full Class 5 in the front seat; no driving 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.; zero alcohol; no more passengers than seat belts; suspended at 8 demerits
Class 5-GDL (probationary)	16	At least 12 months on Class 7, then pass the Class 5 road test and a vision test	Zero alcohol and drugs; no more passengers than seat belts; suspended at 8 demerits; cannot supervise a learner; no commercial upgrades
Full Class 5 (non-GDL)	18	24 months as a GDL driver, no suspensions or demerits in the last 12 months	Standard rules; demerit suspension at 15 points

Step 1: Get your Class 7 learner’s licence

1. Study the Alberta Driver’s Guide (cars and light trucks). Use the Alberta Driver’s Guide study plan to work through it.
2. Go to a registry agent with acceptable ID and take the knowledge test: 30 multiple-choice questions, 25 correct to pass, once per day, with a fee each attempt. Full details are in the Alberta Class 7 knowledge test guide.
3. Pass the vision test at the registry.
4. Buy your Class 7 licence card. You get a temporary licence valid for 30 days; the card should arrive by mail within 21 business days.

The rules you must follow as a learner are covered in Alberta Class 7 learner rules.

Step 2: Practise for at least 12 months

You must hold your Class 7 for at least 12 months before you can take the Class 5 road test, and you must be at least 16. Driver education is recommended but not mandatory. A licensed course in Alberta means at least 15 hours of classroom and 10 hours of in-vehicle instruction, and finishing one can later cut up to 6 months off your probation.

Hours alone are not enough. To get the school’s Notice of Driver Education Course Completion you must attend all classes and pass the course’s knowledge and practical assessments. Keep the notice: it is what insurers ask for if they offer a discount. These course assessments are separate from the government knowledge and road tests.

Use this time to cover the topics the road test checks:

• Intersections, traffic circles and right of way
• School zones, playground zones and school buses
• Mountain, rural highway and wildlife driving
• Winter driving in Canada

Step 3: Pass the Class 5 road test

Book through a registry agent or online through the Alberta Road Test Scheduler. You need your 9-digit Motor Vehicle Identification (MVID) number from your licence, and any outstanding Government of Alberta fines must be paid first. Registry agents set their own Class 5 road test fees and must publish them online. You fail with more than 75 points, or automatically for dangerous or illegal driving. See the Alberta Class 5 road test guide.

After you pass the road test and a vision test, you buy a Class 5-GDL licence card at the registry.

Step 4: Complete 24 months of probation

As a GDL driver you keep zero alcohol and drug tolerance, the seat belt passenger limit and the 8-point demerit limit. To exit you need to be at least 18, have completed 24 months of probation and have no suspensions or demerits in the last 12 months. The full rules, and how the 6-month driver training reduction works, are in Alberta Class 5 GDL probationary rules.

Any demerits or an impaired driving sanction can delay your full licence. Read Alberta demerits and Immediate Roadside Sanctions before you start driving alone.

What changed in Alberta driver licensing

• 1 April 2023: the advanced road test was removed. GDL drivers no longer take a second road test to get a full Class 5.
• Driver’s Guide: check that you are studying the current edition from alberta.ca (see the study plan for how to check).

What a Class 5 licence lets you drive

• A 2-axle single motor vehicle (car, SUV, pickup).
• A recreational vehicle (motorhome) with up to 3 axles.
• A 2-axle vehicle or 2-axle recreational vehicle towing a trailer with any number of axles, if the trailer has no air brakes.
• A 3-axle recreational vehicle towing a trailer with 1 or 2 axles and no air brakes.
• A moped.
• Any vehicle with air brakes also needs an air brake (Q) endorsement.

A Class 7 learner may ride a moped alone, but can drive Class 5 or Class 6 vehicles only with a qualified supervisor.

Documents, medical rules and your licence card

• Carry your licence whenever you drive. A peace officer can ask for your licence, vehicle registration and insurance card (the pink financial responsibility card).
• A parent or guardian who signed consent for a minor can withdraw it in writing until the minor turns 18, and the licence is then suspended.
• After passing a knowledge test or road test, take the permit you bought for the test to a registry agent so your licence record is updated. The road test permit is not a licence.
• You must disclose any medical or physical condition that could affect your driving. You may be asked for a Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form, completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner. Drivers 75 and older need one when they apply or renew.
• Condition codes on the card show requirements such as corrective lenses (A) or automatic transmission only (K); the U endorsement records a completed driver education course.
• Report a lost, stolen or damaged licence to a registry agent straight away (a stolen licence to police too), and update your name or address there. Alberta no longer mails renewal reminders, so renewing on time is up to you.
• Vehicles and trailers must be registered and insured. A vehicle owner moving to Alberta has three months to register the vehicle.

Moving to Alberta with a licence

New permanent residents must exchange their licence within 90 days. If you have held a Class 5 for less than 2 years, you may be placed in the GDL program. See exchanging a foreign or out of province licence in Canada. Temporary residents such as students and visitors cannot get an Alberta licence but may be able to keep using their home licence.

• Visitors: a valid out-of-province licence lets you drive the same class of vehicle in Alberta for up to one year.
• Full-time students: you may drive on your home licence if it is valid for that vehicle, you carry the documents your home jurisdiction requires, and you carry proof you are a full-time student in Alberta.
• From elsewhere in Canada: surrender your old licence within 90 days. It is illegal to hold more than one licence.
• Reciprocal countries (Class 5 exchange): the Spring 2023 guide lists Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Isle of Man, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. US Class 5 holders can also exchange. Confirm the current list with a registry agent.
• Other countries: you can apply to have your previous driving history credited. If approved, you skip the GDL program and can road test for Class 5 without holding a Class 7 for a year.

Common questions

Can I get my learner’s licence at 14 in Alberta?

Yes. The minimum age for a Class 7 is 14, with written parental or guardian consent if you are under 18.

How long does it take to get a full licence in Alberta?

At least 3 years: 12 months as a learner, then 24 months on a Class 5-GDL. Licensed driver training can cut the GDL period by up to 6 months.

Do I still need the advanced road test?

No. It was removed on 1 April 2023.

Is driver education mandatory in Alberta?

No, it is recommended. Completing a licensed Class 5 course can shorten your probation and may lower your insurance rate.

Can a GDL driver supervise a learner?

No. The supervisor must be 18 or older and hold a full (non-GDL) Class 5 or higher.

How does Alberta compare with other provinces?

Alberta has the youngest learner age in Canada. See Canadian graduated licensing compared and learning to drive in Canada.

Sources

• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing: Cars and Light Trucks”, Spring 2023 edition (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Steps to getting your licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 7 learner’s licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 5 driver’s licence” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s knowledge test” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Driver’s road test” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Class 5 driver training” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Demerit driving suspension” (alberta.ca)
• Government of Alberta, “Exchange a licence from outside Alberta” (alberta.ca)