Photo: GoToVan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a driver’s licence in BC you go through ICBC’s Graduated Licensing Program (GLP): pass a 50-question knowledge test for your learner (L) licence, practise with a supervisor for at least 12 months, pass the Class 7 road test for your novice (N) licence, then pass a Driving Record Assessment to move to Class 5. Since 19 October 2026 there is no second road test. This guide maps every stage, with links to the detailed posts.
Key facts
- Minimum age for an L: 16.
- Tests: one knowledge test, one road test (Class 7) and a Driving Record Assessment.
- Whole program: about 3 to 4 years if you drive safely, according to ICBC.
- Zero alcohol, zero drugs and no electronic devices (not even hands-free) through the L and N stages.
The four stages of BC graduated licensing
| Stage | How you get it | Minimum time (under 25) | Minimum time (25+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Learner (Class 7L) | Knowledge test plus vision and medical screening | 12 months | 9 months |
| 2. Novice (Class 7, N) | Class 7 road test | 24 months (18 with an ICBC-approved course taken as an L) | 12 months |
| 3. Class 5 with restrictions | Driving Record Assessment (DRA) | 12 months at 0 BAC/BDC | 12 months at 0 BAC/BDC |
| 4. Full Class 5 | Automatic after 12 safe months; no new card needed | n/a | n/a |
Stage 1: getting your L in BC
- Turn 16. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must consent. The province lowered the consent age from 19 to 18 as part of the 19 October 2026 changes, so ignore older pages that still say 19.
- Study Learn to Drive Smart and take ICBC’s free practice test.
- Pass the knowledge test: 50 multiple-choice questions, 40 correct to pass, online at home or at a driver licensing office.
- Visit an ICBC driver licensing office for the vision screening, medical questions, photo and licence fee.
Details: ICBC knowledge test.
Learner restrictions at a glance
- Qualified supervisor aged 22 or older beside you (Class 1 to 5, no 0 BAC/BDC restriction)
- One passenger besides the supervisor, unless they are immediate family
- Driving only between 5 a.m. and midnight
- L sign displayed on the rear
Full rules: BC learner licence rules.
Stage 2: the Class 7 road test and your N
After 12 months as an L (9 if you are 25 or older), book the Class 7 road test. It takes about 40 minutes and scores ICBC’s see-think-do skills. ICBC recommends at least 60 hours of practice first.
- ICBC Class 7 road test
- See-think-do explained
- BC N licence rules: N sign, one passenger, no devices
Stage 3: the Driving Record Assessment (new from 19 October 2026)
ICBC replaced the Class 5 road test with a Driving Record Assessment. To pass it you need:
- under 25: at least 24 months of safe driving on your N (18 months if you completed an approved GLP course as a learner)
- 25 or older: at least 12 months
- no convictions for excessive speed or electronic device use in that time
- no prohibitions or suspensions in that time
You then hold a Class 5 with a zero alcohol and drug restriction for 12 months. A prohibition or suspension restarts that 12 months. Full walk-through: BC drops the Class 5 road test.
What can slow your progress
- A prohibition as an L pauses your learner clock until your licence is reinstated.
- A prohibition as an N wipes the time you have built up; you start the novice period again.
- Excessive speeding or device convictions stop you passing the DRA.
See penalty points, Driver Risk Premium and prohibitions.
Study the BC handbook by topic
The knowledge test draws on ICBC’s Learn to Drive Smart. These guides follow its chapters:
- BC road signs, signals and markings (chapter 3)
- BC rules of the road (chapter 4)
- See-think-do (chapter 5)
- Sharing BC roads (chapter 6)
- BC personal strategies (chapter 7)
- Emergency strategies for BC drivers (chapter 8)
Courses, moving to BC and other provinces
- ICBC-approved driving courses: the 6-month N reduction and Grade 11 credits
- Moving to BC: you can drive on your old licence for 90 days
- Learning to drive in Canada and graduated licensing compared by province
Common questions
Do I still need a Class 5 road test in BC?
Not if you are upgrading from a Class 7 N with a clean record. From 19 October 2026 the Driving Record Assessment replaced it.
What is the fastest way to a full BC licence?
Under 25: 12 months as an L, 18 months as an N with an approved course taken during your L, then 12 months of Class 5 with restrictions. That is about 3.5 years. At 25 or older: 9 months, 12 months, then 12 months.
Can I book the DRA at Service BC?
No. ICBC says to book at an ICBC driver licensing office, not a Service BC location or driver licensing agent, and to choose the “Driving Record Assessment” service type. Walk-ins are also accepted.
How long is a BC learner licence valid?
Two years. To renew it you retake the knowledge test.
What do BC licence fees cost?
The online knowledge test is $15 (as of November 2026). Licence and road test fees are listed on ICBC’s Fees page; check the current figures before you go.
Do I need to apply for a full licence after the 12-month restriction?
No. ICBC says you get the full Class 5 after 12 months with no prohibitions or suspensions, without applying for a new card.
Sources
- Government of British Columbia, news release “Changes to driver licensing take effect Oct. 19” (2026PSSG0061-000847, news.gov.bc.ca)
- ICBC, “Graduated licensing” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Graduated Licensing Program changes” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Get your L” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Take the online knowledge test” (icbc.com)
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart, chapter 9: Your licence” (icbc.com)