Photo: Sebastian Kasten, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Driving in Iqaluit and other Nunavut communities means sharing short, often gravel or snow-packed roads with ATVs, snowmobiles, pedestrians and dogs. Speeds are low: Iqaluit’s default limit is 30 km/h unless signs say otherwise. This guide is for new drivers and their families. It covers the territorial and Iqaluit rules for ATVs and snowmobiles, what that means when you are behind the wheel, and the Arctic conditions to plan for.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- In Nunavut law, an “all-terrain vehicle” includes snowmobiles, three-wheelers and quads (vehicles up to 900 kg built for cross-country travel).
- Iqaluit speed limit: 30 km/h unless posted (City of Iqaluit, 2022).
- ATVs on a highway: 30 km/h unless a sign sets a different ATV limit, and never over 50 km/h (All-terrain Vehicles Act).
- In Iqaluit, ATVs and snowmobiles used on roads must be registered and insured, and riders must wear helmets. A traditional-use exemption applies (see below).
- No one may drive while holding or using a hand-held electronic device (Traffic Safety Act).
ATV and snowmobile rules every Nunavut driver should know
Knowing what ATV and snowmobile riders are allowed to do helps you predict where they will be. Under Nunavut’s All-terrain Vehicles Act:
- On a roadway, an ATV must keep as close as practical to the right-hand edge. It must not ride side by side with another vehicle except when passing, and must not carry more people than it was designed for.
- ATVs may not use sidewalks.
- At night, an ATV on a highway needs a white headlight visible for 100 m and a red tail light visible from 150 m.
- Outside a municipality, ATVs generally may not use the roadway or shoulder. They may cross it after stopping, unloading passengers and yielding to all traffic, at a point with clear views both ways.
- For quads and three-wheelers on a highway: riders must be at least 14, wear a helmet fastened with a chin strap, and carry no more than two people. An infant in an amauti does not count.
- Each community council can make its own ATV bylaws, so rules differ between communities. Check your hamlet’s bylaws.
The consolidated text of the Act online is not fully up to date, so confirm details with your municipality or Nunavut Motor Vehicles.
Iqaluit rules for ATVs, snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles
The City of Iqaluit’s public notices (2022 and 2024) under Traffic Safety Bylaw 894 say:
- Registration and insurance. ATVs and snowmobiles on municipal roads need valid registration and insurance. Snowmobiles register with the City ($25 a year in the City’s 2022 notice). ATVs register with the Government of Nunavut Motor Vehicles Division.
- Traditional use. Snowmobiles and ATVs used for traditional purposes do not need registration and insurance. The operator must be going to or from the land or sea ice by the most direct route.
- Helmets. Required for ATV, UTV and recreational off-road vehicle operators in the city, unless travelling for traditional purposes to or from the land or sea ice. Seatbelts must be worn where the manufacturer fitted them.
- Age. No one under 14 may operate an ATV unless accompanied on it by an adult.
- Crossings. ATV riders must stop before crossing any highway and have no right of way at ATV crossings.
- Dirt bikes need registration, insurance, a headlamp and a tail light to use city roads.
- Playgrounds. No vehicle may be operated in a playground area.
The City’s 2022 notice listed fines of up to $575 for an ATV without valid insurance (the ATV can also be seized) and $150 for no valid registration. Check current amounts with City of Iqaluit Municipal Enforcement.
What this means when you are driving a car or truck
- Expect ATVs and snowmobiles on the right edge and at trail crossings. Children’s mini snowmobiles (120cc or 200cc) are covered by the same rules and are easy to miss.
- Slow down near trail crossings, schools and playgrounds. At 30 km/h you can stop for someone who misjudges a crossing.
- Give sleds and qamutiit room. Snowmobiles often tow sleds that swing wide on turns.
- Look twice at night and in low light. Some machines and riders have no lights or reflectors.
- Pass only on the left. Iqaluit prohibits passing on the right unless there is a right-turn lane, and driving on the shoulder to pass.
- Phones down. Hand-held devices are banned for every driver. Hands-free use is allowed under the Traffic Safety Act.
Arctic conditions to plan for
- Snow-packed and icy surfaces for much of the year. Braking distances grow, so leave a much bigger gap and brake early.
- Blowing snow and whiteouts. If you cannot see, slow right down and turn on your low beams. Consider waiting it out rather than pushing on.
- Long periods of low light. Keep your windshield, mirrors and lights clear of frost and snow before every trip.
- Gravel and dust. When you meet a vehicle raising heavy dust, turn on your headlights, get well over to your side and slow to no more than 60 km/h. Do the same for flying stones.
- Plows and road crews. Give snowplows the right-of-way and pass with caution. Maintenance equipment with a red flag or flashing amber light also has the right-of-way.
- Between communities. Outside cities and towns the basic limit is 90 km/h, day or night, unless posted. Never stop on the travelled part of the road: pull onto the shoulder and use your emergency lights.
- Cold starts. Carry warm clothing even for short trips. A breakdown at the edge of town can still be dangerous.
For winter technique, emergency kits and skid recovery, see winter driving in Canada for new drivers. For caribou on the road, see moose, deer and caribou.
Common questions
Can I drive a snowmobile on the road in Iqaluit?
Only if it is registered and insured, unless you are using it for traditional purposes and going directly to or from the land or sea ice. Follow all traffic signs and keep right.
Do I need a driver’s licence to ride an ATV in Nunavut?
Licensing for ATV operators is set by each community’s bylaws under the All-terrain Vehicles Act. Ask your municipal office or City of Iqaluit Municipal Enforcement.
How old do you have to be to ride an ATV in Iqaluit?
Under 14, you may only operate an ATV with an adult on board. The territorial Act sets 14 as the minimum to operate a quad or three-wheeler on a highway.
Who has the right of way at an ATV crossing?
Road traffic. The ATV rider must stop and cross only when it is safe.
Are helmets required on snowmobiles in Iqaluit?
Yes, unless the rider is using it for traditional purposes and going to or from the land or sea ice.
What licence do I need to drive a car here?
A Class 7 learner’s licence with a qualified supervisor, then Class 5. If you only drive locally, a restricted licence may suit you. See Nunavut restricted driver’s licence.
Full guide: learning to drive in Nunavut. Test prep: Nunavut written knowledge test and road test.
Sources
- Government of Nunavut, “All-terrain Vehicles Act, Consolidation of” (nunavutlegislation.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Traffic Safety Act, Consolidation of” (nunavutlegislation.ca)
- City of Iqaluit, “Snowmobile and ATV use on Municipal Roads” (iqaluit.ca)
- City of Iqaluit, “Mini Ski-doos and off highway vehicles” (iqaluit.ca)
- City of Iqaluit, “Road Safety” (iqaluit.ca)
- City of Iqaluit, “Reminder: Helmet / Insurance / Registration / Licence Plate Required For All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)” (iqaluit.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Nunavut Driver’s Manual” (gov.nu.ca)