Photo: Ycleymans, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a driver’s licence in Newfoundland and Labrador, every new driver, at any age, goes through the Graduated Driver Licensing Program: pass a written and vision test for a Class 5 Level I (learner) licence at 16 or older, hold it at least 12 months (8 with an approved driver education course), pass a road test, then spend 12 months at Level II before a full Class 5. This guide is for new drivers and parents in Newfoundland and Labrador and sets out each step, the rules at each level, and what it costs.
Key facts
- Minimum age: 16. Under 19 needs a parent or guardian’s consent.
- Written test pass mark: 85 per cent. You can take the Class 5 test online through MyGovNL.
- Level I (Class 5I): at least 12 months, cut to 8 with an approved driver education program.
- Level II (Class 5II): 12 months.
- Zero blood alcohol at both levels.
- Fees (Motor Registration fees policy dated 21 December 2023, the policy linked from gov.nl.ca as of November 2026): Class 5I licence $60, Class 5 road test $78.
The Newfoundland and Labrador GDL path at a glance
| Stage | How you get there | Minimum time | Main restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I: Class 5I (learner) | Age 16+, written test, vision test | 12 months (8 with approved driver education) | Supervisor with 4+ years as a Class 5 driver, no other passengers, no driving midnight to 5 a.m., NOVICE DRIVER sign, 0% BAC |
| Level II: Class 5II (novice) | Pass the road test | 12 months | Midnight to 5 a.m. only with a 4-year licensed driver (work exemption), passengers limited to seatbelts, 0% BAC |
| Full Class 5 | 12 months at Level II | None | Standard rules |
The program has applied to all new drivers regardless of age, and covers both Class 5 (passenger vehicles and light trucks) and Class 6 (motorcycle). You are a “novice” for the whole of Level I and Level II.
Step 1: Study the Driver’s Handbook
Motor Registration Division publishes the Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s Handbook as a free PDF on gov.nl.ca. The written test is based on it and on the Highway Traffic Act and Regulations. Focus on the licensing chapter, road safety, traffic signs and pavement markings, and rules of the road.
Step 2: Pass the written test
- Multiple choice questions on rules of the road, safe driving practices and road sign recognition.
- Pass mark: 85 per cent.
- Take it online in English through MyGovNL, or at a Motor Registration office. French and Ukrainian versions are offered at offices by appointment.
- A passed result is valid for six months.
Full details: Newfoundland and Labrador written test.
Step 3: Vision test, photo and ID check
After passing the written test, book an appointment at a Motor Registration office. You may not drive until you have attended it. At the appointment:
- Your written test result is validated.
- You take a vision test.
- You are photographed.
- Your original identity documents are checked: proof of age, identity and, if applicable, legal presence in Canada. Photocopies are not accepted unless certified.
- If you are under 19, a parent or legal guardian signs consent on the application. They can withdraw consent in writing until you turn 19, and your driving privileges are then suspended.
- You pay the Class 5I fee and leave with a temporary permit. The card arrives by mail.
What ID to bring
Motor Registration needs at least two documents that together prove your full legal name, date of birth, legal presence in Canada and a photo. Examples from the handbook include a government-issued birth certificate or Canadian passport plus a secondary document such as a Social Insurance card, MCP card or a Newfoundland and Labrador school photo ID. A driver’s licence or ID card from another Canadian jurisdiction is not accepted on its own as proof of identity. You also need proof of address showing your full name, such as a utility bill no older than two months, a bank statement, or a residential lease signed by both landlord and tenant. If you have no document to prove your photo or address, a Guarantor Declaration is used instead: for a minor, a parent or guardian signs it; adults complete one too. Check the full list on the Motor Registration “Identification Documentation” page before you go.
Step 4: Drive as a Level I learner
The Class 5I licence is valid for two years. While you hold it you must:
- Drive only with an accompanying driver who has at least 4 years’ experience as a Class 5 driver, sitting in the front seat beside you, with 0% BAC.
- Have 0% BAC yourself.
- Carry no other passengers.
- Not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Display a NOVICE DRIVER sign on the rear of the vehicle.
Every rule explained, with the sign specification: Newfoundland and Labrador novice rules.
Step 5: Consider an approved driver education course
Completing an approved driver education program at a school approved by Motor Registration cuts the Level I wait from 12 months to 8. Motor Registration lists the approved schools by area on gov.nl.ca: the schools in its Table A are the ones approved to deliver the graduated licensing program, while Table B lists commercial driver training schools. Check that your course is a Table A program and ask how completion is documented. See road test and driver education credit.
Step 6: Pass the road test
- Book once you have 12 months at Level I (8 with driver education).
- Pay the fee ($78 for Class 5 as of the current fees policy) at least 24 hours before the test.
- Bring the payment receipt, your valid Class 5I licence, valid insurance and the vehicle’s registration.
- The test takes about 30 minutes and includes a vehicle check, a parking test and an on-road drive.
After passing, a clerk processes your licence and you pay the licence fee. A passed road test result is valid for 12 months.
Step 7: Level II, then a full licence
As a Class 5II novice you can drive alone, but for 12 months you must keep 0% BAC, carry no more passengers than there are seatbelts, and drive between midnight and 5 a.m. only with an accompanying driver who has 4 years’ experience and 0% BAC (unless you have a work exemption). After 12 months at Level II you move to a full Class 5. A Class 5II driver cannot upgrade to a commercial class until they have held a valid Class 05 licence for at least one year.
What happens if you break novice rules
- Any alcohol (over 0% BAC): immediate roadside suspension.
- Demerit points: a warning letter at 3 points; suspension at 6 points within one year.
- After any suspension you must apply to the Registrar for reinstatement and restart the level you were on.
See demerit points for novice drivers.
Costs to get a Newfoundland and Labrador licence
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Class 5I learner licence (valid 2 years) | $60 |
| Class 5 road test | $78 |
| Class 5 or 5II licence (valid 5 years) | $125 ($115 if renewed online) |
| Licence reinstatement after suspension | $200 |
Figures are from the Motor Registration fees policy dated 21 December 2023. Check the current figure with Motor Registration before booking. There is no refund on a Class 5I licence.
Moving to Newfoundland and Labrador with a licence
- From another Canadian province or territory: use your licence for the first 90 days, then exchange it. A Class 5 is accepted without testing.
- From the United States: exchange without written, vision or road tests if you are 17, your licence is valid (or expired no more than five years) and you have the required ID.
- From a country with an agreement: the handbook lists Class 5 exchange for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine and Denmark, and Class 5 and 6 exchange for France, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan and Belgium. Exchanges are done at a Motor Registration office. Confirm the current list before you apply.
- From a country without a reciprocal agreement: you may get partial GDL exemption and go straight to written, vision and road tests.
- Time you spent licensed in another province, territory or country can be credited against the Level I or Level II minimum, but only at the Registrar’s discretion. Have your driving record assessed before you plan your test dates.
More: exchanging a foreign or out of province licence in Canada.
Keeping your licence and vehicle legal
- Registration and insurance: every vehicle must be registered and insured, and both documents stay in the vehicle for police to see. A registered owner convicted of driving without insurance is suspended for three months, pays a $200 reinstatement fee and any fines, and the vehicle may be impounded. Registration runs for 12 months and can be renewed online.
- Buying or selling privately: tell Motor Registration within 10 days. A motor vehicle inspection certificate is also required.
- Moving or changing your name: tell Motor Registration within 10 days.
- Lost, stolen or unreadable licence: replace it right away ($25 in the handbook). Report a stolen one to police first.
- Renewal: licences last five years and expire on your birthday. If yours has been expired under five years, you can renew without tests. Over five years, you take written, vision and road tests. At 10 years or more, you go through graduated licensing again.
- Glasses or contacts: if you need them to drive, your licence carries restriction code 1.
- Health: you must disclose any condition that could affect your driving, and medical professionals must report concerns to the Registrar. Class 5 drivers file medical reports at 75, at 80 and every two years after that.
Driving hazards specific to Newfoundland and Labrador
Moose are the big one. The handbook estimates the province is home to about 110,000 moose. Read moose on Newfoundland roads, plus the national guides on winter driving and impaired driving.
Common questions
How long does it take to get a full licence in Newfoundland and Labrador?
At least 24 months: 12 at Level I and 12 at Level II. With approved driver education it is at least 20 months (8 plus 12).
Can I get my learner’s licence at 15?
No. You must be at least 16.
Do adults have to go through graduated licensing?
Yes. The program applies to all new drivers regardless of age.
Can I drive straight after passing the online test?
No. You must attend the in-person appointment for the vision test, photo and ID check first.
What happens if my learner’s licence expires?
You can renew it at a Motor Registration office. If it has been expired for more than 12 months, you must retake the written test.
How does Newfoundland and Labrador compare with other provinces?
See Canadian graduated licensing compared and learning to drive in Canada.
Sources
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Graduated Driver Licencing Program” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Licence Application Process” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Identification Documentation” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Approved Driving Schools” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, “Driver’s Handbook” (gov.nl.ca)
- Department of Digital Government and Service NL, Motor Registration fees policy, 21 December 2023 (gov.nl.ca)
- House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, “Highway Traffic Driver Regulations, 1999”, NLR 110/98 (assembly.nl.ca)