Photo: Angela, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a driver’s licence in Nunavut, you apply for a Class 7 learner’s licence at 15 by passing a written knowledge test and a vision check. You practise with an experienced licensed driver, then pass a road test for a Class 5 licence from age 16. This guide covers each step, the fees in the regulations, and the restricted licence option for driving only in Nunavut.
Key facts (Nunavut, as of November 2026)
- Class 7 learner’s licence: minimum age 15.
- Class 5 (cars and light trucks) or Class 6 (motorcycle): minimum age 16.
- Commercial Classes 1 to 4: minimum age 18.
- Written test pass mark: 80%.
- Your supervisor must hold a valid Class 5 licence with at least 2 years’ experience.
- Practice before your first road test: at least 4 weeks on your learner’s licence.
- Zero alcohol and no detectable drugs for learner and probationary drivers.
Nunavut licence classes for new drivers
| Class | What it lets you drive | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Class 7 | A Class 5 or Class 6 vehicle, only while you are learning to drive it. The regulations treat it as Nunavut’s learner’s licence. | 15 |
| Class 5 | Two-axle vehicles such as cars, pickups and vans (not a bus, taxi, ambulance or motorcycle). It also covers a recreational vehicle, a moped, and towing where the total stays within 4,500 kg. | 16 |
| Class 6 | Motorcycles. | 16 |
A Class 5 licence does not let you drive a vehicle with air brakes unless your licence specifically permits it.
Step 1: Get your Class 7 learner’s licence
According to the Nunavut Driver’s Manual, you need to:
- Be at least 15.
- Show suitable identification. The Government of Nunavut’s “Apply for a Driver’s Licence” page lists the ID it accepts.
- Meet the vision standard.
- Pass the written knowledge test. It has at least 20 questions on the rules of the road and vehicle operation, and you need 80% to pass.
The fee for a Class 5, 6 or 7 examination is $30. A 5-year licence costs $70 (Driver’s Licence Regulations, Schedule E, as amended in 2021). Confirm the fees with Nunavut Motor Vehicles before you go. The test itself is covered in detail in Nunavut written knowledge test and road test.
Step 2: Practise with a qualified supervisor
Under the Driver’s Licence Regulations, a learner must be accompanied by someone who:
- holds a valid licence for the type of vehicle you are driving, and
- has at least 2 years’ experience driving that type of vehicle on a Class 5 licence (3 years for Classes 1 to 4).
The supervisor must instruct you while you drive. A supervisor with 2 years on a Class 5 is the minimum. A parent who drives the same roads you will use daily is ideal.
Nunavut’s restricted manual sets a practice period of at least 4 weeks on a learner’s permit before a first road test for Class 5 or 6. Ask Nunavut Motor Vehicles whether night-driving or passenger conditions apply to your Class 7 before you start driving.
Step 3: Take the road test for Class 5
To move up to Class 5 you must already hold a Class 6 or 7 licence and pass a road test in a Class 5 vehicle. Road tests are by appointment only. You must arrive with a qualified accompanying driver if you drive yourself there. Bring a vehicle with valid registration and a liability insurance card, or the test can be refused. Full details are in the test guide.
Restricted licences: driving only in Nunavut
Nunavut also issues restricted licences, with a separate Restricted Driver’s Manual for residents who only need to drive in the territory. A restricted licence carries a B endorsement (drive in Nunavut only) or a G endorsement (drive only within 100 km of your home community). See Nunavut restricted driver’s licence: B and G endorsements.
Registering and insuring a vehicle
Every vehicle on Nunavut roads must be registered and carry at least $200,000 in liability insurance. Plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. If you sell, keep them, and if you move them to another vehicle, get a new registration within 14 days. New residents have 30 days to switch registration.
Rules that apply from day one
- Zero alcohol and drugs. Under the Traffic Safety Act, a minor or novice driver with any alcohol, or detectable amounts of another drug, faces a 30-day roadside licence suspension. Learner’s and probationary licence holders count as novice drivers.
- No hand-held phones. No one may drive on a highway while holding or using a hand-held electronic device. Hands-free mode is allowed under the Act.
- Follow your endorsements. Every condition printed on your licence is binding, and the Registrar can refuse to renew a licence if you ignore them.
Most driving in Nunavut communities also means sharing the road with ATVs and snowmobiles. See driving in Iqaluit and Nunavut communities.
Where to apply
Nunavut has Motor Vehicles offices in its regional centres, including Iqaluit. In communities without an office, the Government Liaison Officer program handles driver services. Motor Vehicles can be contacted by phone at 1-888-975-5999 or by email at [email protected].
How long a Nunavut licence lasts
A licence normally expires on your birthday in the fifth year after the year it was issued. Adults can choose a 10-year licence instead ($140, as of November 2026). Renew in person, up to a year after expiry; after that you must be re-examined. Sign your licence in ink, carry it whenever you drive, report a lost one to the RCMP and tell the issuing office about a new name or address within 15 days. Class 5, 6 and 7 holders need a medical at 75, at 80 and every two years after that.
Common questions
Can I get my learner’s licence in Nunavut at 15?
Yes. Class 7 is available from 15. You must be 16 before you can be issued a Class 5 licence.
Who can supervise me?
Someone with a valid licence for that vehicle type and at least 2 years’ experience on a Class 5 licence. They must sit with you and instruct you.
Is there a minimum time I must hold Class 7?
The restricted manual sets at least 4 weeks of practice before a first road test. If you fail, you must practise for at least 2 more weeks, and after a second or later failure the examiner sets the period. Confirm the current period with Nunavut Motor Vehicles.
I moved to Nunavut with a licence from another province. Do I start again?
Usually not, but you must get a Nunavut licence within 30 days of becoming a resident. An outside licence expired for more than a year means re-examination, and temporary permits are not accepted. See exchanging a foreign or out-of-province licence in Canada, then confirm the exchange process with Nunavut Motor Vehicles.
Can I learn on a motorcycle with Class 7?
Yes, Class 7 covers learning on a Class 6 motorcycle. A learning rider may not ride after sunset or in a 70 km/h or faster zone. Their instructor must have 2 years’ riding experience and either ride on the motorcycle with the learner or follow on another vehicle, keeping the learner in view. All riders must wear helmets.
How does Nunavut compare with other provinces?
See graduated licence rules by province and how to get a driver’s licence in Canada.
Sources
- Government of Nunavut, “Driver’s Licence Regulations, Consolidation of” with amendments R-042-2018, R-041-2021 and R-008-2025 (nunavutlegislation.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Traffic Safety Act, Consolidation of” (nunavutlegislation.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Nunavut Driver’s Manual” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Apply for a Driver’s Licence” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Driver’s Manuals” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Motor Vehicles Offices” (gov.nu.ca)