Photo: Ycleymans, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Novice driver rules in Newfoundland and Labrador come in two levels. Level I learners (Class 5I) need a supervisor with 4 years’ Class 5 experience, carry no other passengers, may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m., and must display a NOVICE DRIVER sign. Level II drivers (Class 5II) drive alone but have a midnight to 5 a.m. limit and a seatbelt passenger cap. Both levels require 0% blood alcohol. This page sets out each rule for learners and the parents supervising them.
Level I and Level II rules side by side
| Rule | Level I (Class 5I learner) | Level II (Class 5II novice) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum time | 12 months (8 with approved driver education) | 12 months |
| Supervising driver | Always. At least 4 years as a Class 5 driver, in the front seat beside you | Only between midnight and 5 a.m. |
| Your BAC | 0% | 0% |
| Supervisor’s BAC | 0% | 0% (when one is required) |
| Passengers | None except the accompanying driver | No more than the number of seatbelts |
| Midnight to 5 a.m. | No driving at all | Only with a 4-year licensed driver, or with a work exemption |
| NOVICE DRIVER sign | Required | Not required (the sign is for learners only) |
| Commercial upgrade | Not eligible | Only after holding a valid Class 05 for at least one year |
Who can supervise a Level I learner?
The accompanying driver must:
- hold, and have held for at least 4 years, a full Class 5 licence or the equivalent licence from another province or country (time on a learner or novice licence does not count toward the 4 years)
- have 0% blood alcohol content, not just be under the legal limit
- sit in the front seat, beside the learner
A parent who drinks one beer at dinner cannot supervise that evening.
No passengers: what it really means
At Level I the only other person in the vehicle can be your accompanying driver. No friends, no siblings in the back. The one exception in the handbook: a parent or guardian may be present if you are enrolled in a driver education program and are with a licensed instructor. The Driver Regulations allow one or more parents or guardians in the car during a lesson with an authorized driving instructor; it does not cover informal practice with family.
At Level II you can carry passengers, but only as many as there are seatbelts. As the driver, you are responsible for making sure passengers under 16 are properly restrained.
The midnight to 5 a.m. curfew
- Level I: you may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., even with a supervisor.
- Level II: you may drive in those hours only with an accompanying driver who has at least 4 years’ experience and 0% BAC.
- Work exemption (Level II): you can drive alone in those hours for work. Keep confirmation of your work schedule, signed by your employer, in the vehicle and show it to a police officer on request.
The NOVICE DRIVER sign rules
- Lettering at least 5 cm high.
- Black lettering on a white background.
- Displayed in a conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle.
- Acceptable spots in the handbook: the lower left corner of the rear window directly behind the driver (recommended, as it blocks the least vision), the trunk, or the rear bumper.
- Display it only when a learner is driving. Take it down when a fully licensed driver takes the wheel.
Not displaying the sign is a demerit point offence: 3 points under the Highway Traffic Demerit Point System Regulations.
Making your own sign
The rules set the wording, size and colours, not a product. A sign printed or lettered with NOVICE DRIVER in black capitals at least 5 cm tall on white meets the stated specification. Check it is readable from behind and does not block your rear view.
Zero alcohol for novices
If a novice driver (Level I or II) is over 0% BAC, police suspend the licence immediately at the roadside.
| Offence | Suspension |
|---|---|
| 1st | 2 months |
| 2nd | 4 months |
| 3rd | 6 months |
You must also complete an Alcohol Education Program, apply to the Registrar for reinstatement, and restart your level from the beginning. The Registrar may also require an alcohol dependency evaluation or treatment. Criminal Code penalties can apply on top: see impaired driving in Canada for new drivers.
Zero does not end with Level II. The handbook and the Highway Traffic Act keep drivers under 22 at zero blood alcohol even after they leave the novice levels. Drivers 22 or older on a full licence face a roadside suspension at 50 mg or more: 7 days for a first time, 14 days for a second and two months for a third within 24 months. At 80 mg or more, the vehicle is impounded, the licence is suspended for 7 days, and a further 90-day suspension follows. A Criminal Code impaired conviction means 12 months for a first offence, plus at least 12 months on an ignition interlock.
Police can also use a saliva test strip to check for THC, methamphetamine and MDMA. Refusing to give a sample is an offence under both provincial and federal law.
Breaking a GDL restriction
Contravening a restriction on a novice or accompanying driver carries 3 demerit points under the Highway Traffic Demerit Point System Regulations. With a novice limit of 6 points in one year, two restriction tickets can mean a suspension and a restart. Details: demerit points for novice drivers.
Common questions
Can a learner in Newfoundland drive with friends in the car?
No. At Level I the only permitted passenger is the accompanying driver.
Can my older brother supervise me?
Only if he has at least 4 years’ experience as a full Class 5 driver, has 0% BAC and sits in the front seat.
What time can a Level II driver drive alone?
Any time except midnight to 5 a.m., unless you have a work exemption.
Do I need a novice sign at Level II?
The handbook says the sign should be displayed only when the vehicle is driven by a driver with a learner’s permit, so no.
Can I drink a small amount as a Level II driver?
No. Novice drivers at both levels must have 0% BAC.
Does the curfew apply to adult learners?
Yes. The program and its restrictions apply to all new drivers regardless of age.
For the full licensing path, start at learning to drive in Newfoundland and Labrador. To compare curfews in other provinces, see Canadian graduated licensing compared.
Sources
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Graduated Driver Licencing Program” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, “Driver’s Handbook” (gov.nl.ca)
- House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, “Highway Traffic Demerit Point System Regulations”, CNLR 753/96 (assembly.nl.ca)
- House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, “Highway Traffic Driver Regulations, 1999”, NLR 110/98 (assembly.nl.ca)