How to Get a Driver's Licence in the NWT (2026)

Photo: Alan Sim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the Northwest Territories you can get a Class 7 learner’s licence at 15, move to a Class 5P probationary licence at 16 after a year as a learner and a road test, and upgrade to a full Class 5 at 17 at the earliest. The whole Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program takes at least two years. This guide is for new NWT drivers and their parents: every step, what it costs and where to go.

Key facts

Minimum age for a learner’s licence (Class 7): 15.
Learner stage: at least one year, always with a supervisor, no driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., no other passengers.
Probationary stage (Class 5P): at least 12 months suspension-free, from age 16.
Full Class 5: from age 17, with fewer than 6 demerit points. The upgrade is not automatic.
Zero alcohol for every GDL driver and every driver under 22.
Study book: the NWT Driver’s Manual (free PDF from Driver Services).

The three GDL stages at a glance

Stage	Licence	Minimum age	Minimum time	How you move on
1. Learner	Class 7	15	1 year	Pass the NWT Class 5 road test
2. Probationary	Class 5P	16	12 months, suspension-free	Apply in person at a Driver and Vehicle office
3. Full	Class 5	17	None	Fewer than 6 demerit points

Full stage-by-stage conditions are in NWT learner and probationary rules.

How to get your NWT learner’s licence, step by step

Study the NWT Driver’s Manual. The written test comes from it. The PDF is free on the Driver Services site; printed copies and flash cards cost $11.55 each at Driver and Vehicle offices (as of November 2026).
Go to a Driver and Vehicle office in person. First licences are in-person only. Bring the completed application form, proof of legal name and date of birth with acceptable photo ID (for example a birth certificate or passport), and proof that you live in the NWT (such as a utility bill or lease).
Book and pay for the written exam. You can book online or at an office. It must be booked and paid in advance.
Pass a vision screening and the knowledge test. The test has two parts: 20 questions on road rules and 20 on road signs. See NWT knowledge test and road test.
Receive your Class 7. Your year of supervised practice starts now.

What does an NWT driver’s licence cost?

Fees listed by Driver Services, as of November 2026:

Item	Fee
Written exam, Class 6 or 7 (signs test included)	$47
Road test (practical exam), Class 5 or 6	$47
New licence, 1 year	$46
New licence, 3 years	$84
New licence, 5 years	$110
Replacement licence (lost, damaged or stolen)	$33

A fee applies to each attempt, including retests. Seniors 60 and over pay less. The Driver Services pages also show a second, lower set of figures, so confirm the amount before booking.

Who can supervise a learner in the NWT?

Your supervisor must hold a full (non-probationary) licence for the class you are learning, with at least 24 months of full Class 5 experience. Time they spent on a GDL licence does not count. The manual’s learning table sets 19 as the minimum age for a Class 5 supervisor. They sit with you every time you drive and must have zero blood alcohol while you are driving.

The road test and the move to Class 5P

You can take the Class 5 road test once you are 16 and have held your Class 7 for 12 months. You provide the car. The test lasts at least 45 minutes and you can take only one road test a day. Pass, and you get a Class 5P probationary licence.

Getting your full Class 5

After 12 months on Class 5P without a suspension, and once you are 17, you can upgrade to a full Class 5. Driver Services says this does not happen automatically: you must visit a Driver and Vehicle office. A demerit suspension during GDL adds time to your stage (see NWT impaired driving and demerits).

A Class 5 covers two-axle vehicles other than a motorcycle, bus, taxi or ambulance, towing up to a towed gross weight of 4,500 kg, recreational vehicles and mopeds. It does not cover carrying passengers for hire, or vehicles with air brakes unless you have an air brake endorsement.

Learning to ride a motorcycle in the NWT

Motorcycle learners follow the same GDL path: Class 7 at 15, no riding 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and a supervisor with at least 24 months on a full Class 6 who rides with you or follows in another vehicle. Class 6P is the probationary stage and must be held 12 months before a full Class 6.

Moving to the NWT with a licence

New residents can drive on a valid licence from elsewhere for up to 30 days, then must switch to an NWT licence and surrender the old one. Licences from other Canadian provinces and territories and from US states are accepted for the same class without testing. Germany (Class 5) and the Isle of Man (Classes 5 and 6) are also accepted without tests. Others must pass the knowledge test and road test. Canadians from elsewhere who stay in the NWT for more than 90 days must get an NWT licence, unless they are students at an NWT school. You can only hold one valid licence, and only NWT residents can get one. Non-resident visitors can use an International Driving Permit with their home licence: tourists for up to 90 days, and other non-residents for up to 12 months or until it expires. More detail: exchanging a licence in Canada.

Registering and insuring a vehicle in the NWT

Vehicles and trailers must be registered before use on the road, and driving uninsured is illegal. The minimum is $200,000 in third-party liability, and you must show your pink insurance card when registering and when an officer asks. When buying, have the seller sign the back of the registration and get a bill of sale. You can move your plate to a newly bought vehicle, but you must transfer the registration within 14 days.

Study and safety guides for NWT learners

Common questions

Can I get my licence at 15 in the NWT?

You can get a Class 7 learner’s licence at 15. You cannot drive alone until you have a Class 5P, which needs you to be 16 and to have held the Class 7 for a year.

Do I need driver training to get a licence?

The NWT manual recommends professional driver training but does not list it as a requirement. Ask Driver Services whether it shortens any stage before you rely on one.

Can I apply for my first licence online?

No. A first licence is in-person only at a Driver and Vehicle office. You can book and rebook exams online.

Does my Class 5P turn into a full licence automatically?

No. After 12 suspension-free months you must visit a Driver and Vehicle office to upgrade.

I’m 18. Do I still go through GDL?

Yes. The NWT stages apply to every new driver regardless of age. You still need a year as a learner and a year on 5P.

How long is an NWT licence valid?

You can buy a 1, 3 or 5-year licence. A renewal notice is sent 45 days before expiry, but renewing on time is your responsibility. Class 5, 6 and 7 holders need a medical exam at 75, at 80 and every 2 years after that. Your licence can carry conditions such as corrective lenses, a restricted driving area or daylight driving only; the codes are explained on the back. By law you must report a name or address change right away.

Sources

Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Infrastructure, “Driver’s Manual: A guide to safely operate cars and light trucks”, revised August 2022 (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
Government of the Northwest Territories, “Get a driver’s licence for the first time” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
Government of the Northwest Territories, “Book, cancel, or rebook a written or practical examination” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
Government of the Northwest Territories, “Driver manuals” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
Government of the Northwest Territories, “Transfer a licence to the NWT” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
Government of the Northwest Territories, “Information for foreign nationals” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)

How to Get a Driver’s Licence in the NWT: Learner to Class 5