Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The MPI knowledge test is the first test for a Manitoba Class 5L learner licence. It is computer-based, has a 30-minute time limit and costs $12 (as of November 2026). If you are in the Graduated Driver Licensing program and fail, you wait seven days to retest. This guide covers what is on the test, how to book it and how to prepare.
Key facts
- Covers traffic laws, safe driving practices and road sign recognition.
- 30-minute limit. Not open book. No phones or electronic devices in the test area.
- Fee: $12 per attempt. Driver education program charges include one knowledge test.
- Retest wait: seven days if you are in GDL. MPI’s testing page says one day if you are not.
- Available in English, French and, according to MPI’s testing page, 28 other languages, with audio.
How many questions are on the MPI knowledge test, and what is the pass mark?
For the number of questions and the pass mark, check with your Autopac agent or MPI when you book. Prepare to know the whole handbook rather than aiming for a score.
What the knowledge test covers
MPI says the test assesses three things. Each one maps to handbook chapters:
| Test area | Handbook chapters to study |
|---|---|
| Traffic laws | Ch. 1 GDL rules, Ch. 6 Driving Responsibly (speed, right-of-way, school buses, emergency vehicles, railway crossings), Ch. 8 Backing and Parking (illegal parking distances), Ch. 12 Unsafe Driving and Consequences |
| Safe driving practices | Ch. 5 Starting, Lane Changing, Curves and Turning; Ch. 7 Sharing the Road; Ch. 10 Poor Driving Conditions; Ch. 11 Driving Emergencies and Collisions |
| Road sign recognition | Ch. 4 Signs and Signals: sign shapes and colours, warning, regulatory, construction and guide signs, traffic signals and pavement markings |
Signs and signals to know cold
Chapter 4 is the one most learners underestimate. These are the shapes and signal rules from the Manitoba handbook:
- Octagon: stop signs only. Come to a complete stop.
- Triangle, point down: yield. Slow down and stop if needed.
- Diamond: warning of possible danger on or near the road.
- Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon: school area.
- Triangle with the tips cut off: slow-moving vehicle.
- Crossbuck: railway crossing. Trains always have the right-of-way.
- Square or rectangle: regulates traffic or directs the driver.
- Times on signs use the 24-hour clock, so 16:00 means 4 p.m.
- Red light: after a full stop you may turn right, unless a sign says otherwise. You may also turn right or left from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
- Green left arrow with a red light: left turn only. A right turn is illegal even with no sign.
- Flashing amber: slow down, be ready to stop and yield to pedestrians.
- Transit priority signal (white vertical bar on black): only buses may go. Other vehicles stay stopped.
- Four-way stop: the first vehicle to stop goes first. If two stop together, the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.
- Yellow lines separate opposite directions. White lines separate lanes going the same way. A solid line on your side means no passing.
Numbers Manitoba learners are often asked about
| Rule | Manitoba figure |
|---|---|
| Default speed limit | 90 km/h rural, 50 km/h urban, unless posted |
| Following distance | At least four seconds in ideal conditions; at least six seconds on gravel |
| Signal before turning | At least 30 m before; 150 m outside cities, towns and villages |
| Stopping for a school bus with red lights | At least 5 m away, from either direction |
| Stopped at a railway crossing | At least 5 m from the nearest rail in a restricted speed area, 15 m elsewhere |
| Passing a stopped emergency or tow vehicle | Maximum 40 km/h where the limit is under 80 km/h; 60 km/h where it is 80 km/h or more |
| Passing a cyclist | At least 1 m of space |
| Headlights | Half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise, and whenever visibility is 60 m or less |
| Dim high beams | At least 450 m from oncoming vehicles; 60 m when following |
| No parking near a fire hydrant / crosswalk | 3 m |
| No parking near a stop sign at an intersection | 9 m |
| No parking near a railway crossing | 30 m from the nearest rail, unless posted |
| Supervising driver’s blood alcohol | Under .05 |
How to book the knowledge test in Manitoba
- Register as an MPI customer and prove your identity, normally through an Autopac agent.
- If you are under 18, get parent or legal guardian approval. Driver education students under 16 need a completed driver education form.
- Tell MPI about any disease or disability that may affect your driving before the test. Driver Fitness must approve any required medical report first.
- Pay and book through an Autopac agent or MPI online services, up to 60 days ahead. Tests run on weekdays, except holidays. Choose your language and audio preference when you book.
- Check in 15 minutes early. MPI’s testing page says the Gateway Service Centre in Winnipeg also takes walk-in knowledge tests on weekdays, with proof of purchase and valid ID.
If you fail the MPI knowledge test
- In the GDL program, you wait at least seven days before your next attempt.
- You can only take one knowledge test of the same class per day.
- Each attempt costs $12.
How to prepare
- Read the MPI Driver’s Handbook, “Driving Safely in Friendly Manitoba”, chapter by chapter.
- Use MPI’s free online driving quizzes. MPI says they are not sample questions from the real test, but they check that you understand the basics.
- Make a sheet of every distance, speed and time in the handbook. The table above is a start.
- Once you pass, read the Manitoba learner stage rules before your first drive.
Common questions
Can I take the MPI knowledge test at 15 and a half?
Yes, if you are enrolled in a high school driver education course that is in progress. If you are under 16, bring the completed driver education form.
Is the Manitoba knowledge test multiple choice?
It is computer-based. MPI’s practice quizzes are multiple choice. Check the format of the real test with MPI when you book.
Can I take the knowledge test in another language?
Yes. MPI’s testing page lists English, French and 28 other languages, including Cree, Saulteaux and Tagalog, all with audio. The road test is in English or French only.
What happens after I pass?
You meet the vision and medical standards and buy your Class 5L licence: $20 plus a base driver premium of up to $45 and any additional premium. Then you begin at least nine months in the Learner Stage.
Can I bring my phone?
No. Phones and electronic devices are not allowed in the test area.
Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Manitoba. Next step: the Manitoba road test.
Sources
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Testing for your Class 5 licence” (mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driver’s Handbook: Key Points About Your Tests” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driver’s Handbook: Scheduling Your Knowledge or Road Test” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driver’s Handbook: Basic Class 5 Licensing Requirements” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “The Class Licence System”, dated 19 October 2026 (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driver’s Handbook”, Chapters 4 to 8 and 10 (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driving Quizzes” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)