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Nunavut’s learner’s test is a written knowledge test with at least 20 questions on the rules of the road and how to drive. It also includes sign identification, and you need 80% to pass. Pass it, along with a vision check, and you get a Class 7 learner’s licence. Later you take a road test, by appointment, for a Class 5 licence. This page covers both tests for learners in Iqaluit and every other Nunavut community.
Key facts (Nunavut, as of November 2026)
- Written test: at least 20 questions; pass mark 80%.
- Examination fee for Class 5, 6 or 7: $30 (Schedule E, Driver’s Licence Regulations).
- Road test: by appointment only. Cancel late or not at all and you may lose the test fee.
- Bring to the road test: your licence, vehicle registration and a liability insurance card.
The Nunavut written knowledge test
What is on it
The Driver’s Licence Regulations require a written test of at least 20 questions on the rules of the road and the operation of the vehicle class you are learning. According to the Nunavut Driver’s Manual, the test has two parts:
- rules of the road and safe driving practices
- sign identification
The pass mark for every written test in Nunavut is 80%. On a 20-question test, that means 16 correct. If you fail one part, you rewrite only that part.
How to prepare
- Study the Nunavut Driver’s Manual from the Government of Nunavut. Every test question comes from that material.
- Learn sign shapes and colours as well as the wording. Sign identification is its own part of the test.
- Know the numbers in the manual, such as speed limits, following distances and stopping rules. A partial guess will not get you to 80%.
Rules and numbers to learn from the manual
| Topic | The rule |
|---|---|
| Speed | 90 km/h outside cities and towns, day or night, and 50 km/h inside them, unless posted. Never drive too fast to stop in the clear distance ahead |
| Sign colours | Red: stop or prohibition. Green: movement allowed or direction. White: regulation. Orange: construction. Blue: school or service. Yellow: general warning. Brown: off-road facilities |
| Following distance | Keep at least a 2-second gap, and more on slippery roads |
| Traffic lights | Red: stop, then turn right if no sign forbids it and the way is clear. Amber: do not enter unless the light changes as you are entering. Flashing red: treat as a stop sign. Flashing amber: slow down and go with caution. Turning on green: pedestrians have the right-of-way |
| Road lines | Yellow separates opposite directions and white separates the same direction. Broken lines allow passing or lane changes; solid lines do not |
| Signalling | Signal about 30 m ahead in town and 150 m on the highway. Use hand signals if your lights fail |
| Uncontrolled intersections | Both drivers slow down. The vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right |
| Traffic circles | Traffic entering yields to traffic in the circle, and the vehicle on the right yields to the vehicle on the left |
| Emergency vehicles | Pull to the right edge, clear of the intersection, and stop until they pass. Never follow within 150 m of a fire engine |
| School buses | Stop from the front or rear for a bus stopped with flashing lights. Wait until it moves, the lights stop or the driver waves you on |
| Crosswalks | Stop for anyone in a crosswalk. Passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian is illegal. Do not overtake in a school or playground zone |
| Railway crossings | When you must stop: at least 5 m from the nearest rail outside a municipality, and at least 15 m inside one. Never shift gears on the crossing |
| Parking | Within 30 cm of the curb. Not within 6 m of a crosswalk or fire station driveway, 3 m of a hydrant, 5 m of a stop sign or signal, or 15 m of a railway crossing, and never on a bridge or in an intersection |
| Hill parking | Uphill with a curb, wheels left. Uphill without a curb, and downhill, wheels right |
| Passing | Not within 30 m of an intersection, railway crossing, bridge or tunnel |
| Headlights | Dim within 300 m of an oncoming vehicle and within 60 m of a vehicle ahead |
| Cyclists | Bicycles are small and easy to miss, and young riders can be unsteady. Check your mirrors and blind spots before turning |
| Towing | A trailer over 680 kg gross needs brakes. Use two separate hitches, and fit outside mirrors if your rear view is blocked |
| Seat belts | Required by law for the driver and every passenger, with child restraints for small children |
| Snowplows | Give them the right-of-way and pass with caution |
| Collisions | Stop, help and exchange details. Report at once to the RCMP if anyone is hurt or killed, or total damage is over $1,000 |
What to bring
- Identification from the list on the Government of Nunavut’s “Apply for a Driver’s Licence” page.
- Your glasses or contacts if you need them. You will also have a vision check, and you must meet the vision standard.
- The fee. Confirm the current amount and payment options with Motor Vehicles first.
The Nunavut road test
When you can take it
You must be at least 16 and hold a valid Class 7 (or Class 6) licence before you can be issued a Class 5. Nunavut’s restricted manual sets at least 4 weeks of practice on a learner’s permit before a first road test. After a failed test, practise for at least 2 weeks. After a second or later failure, the examiner sets the period. Confirm the wait with Nunavut Motor Vehicles before you book.
Booking
- Road tests are by appointment only. Book through a Motor Vehicles office, or through the Government Liaison Officer in a community without an office.
- Give notice if you need to cancel. If you fail to notify the office, you may forfeit the test fee.
- Pay the fee when you book. Each retest needs a new fee and receipt.
- Arrive on time. Late applicants can be refused.
Ask when the next road test date is for your community, and book well before you need the licence, for example before starting a job that needs one.
Test-day checklist
- Your Class 7 learner’s licence
- Vehicle registration
- A liability insurance card for the vehicle
- A Class 5 vehicle with a clean interior and a clearly visible rear licence plate
- Working steering, foot brake, emergency brake, wipers, rear-view mirror, muffler, horn, headlights, signal, brake and tail lights, tires and speedometer
- A qualified accompanying driver if you drive yourself to the test: arrive without one and the test is refused
What the examiner checks
Since 2021, Nunavut’s regulations require knowledge and road tests to meet the national minimum testing standard (National Safety Code Standard 2, “Knowledge and Performance of Tests”). The manual says you are checked on:
- starting out, stopping and turning
- traffic signs and signals
- lane driving
- controlled and uncontrolled intersections
- parallel parking and backing
- spotting hazards as they develop
- other safe driving practices, and your attitude towards others
Locally, also watch for pedestrians, ATVs and snowmobiles, especially near crossings, and suit your speed to gravel and snow. No pets or passengers are allowed except exam staff or authorized personnel, though the examiner can make an exception where language is a problem. The examiner will not coach you or ask for anything illegal, and will explain any errors afterwards. The test is refused or stopped if you show signs of alcohol or drug impairment, or drive so poorly that continuing would be dangerous. The manual’s most common failure reasons are inexperience, over-confidence and traffic law violations.
After you pass
You receive a Class 5 licence, which can carry endorsements such as corrective lenses or automatic transmission only. If you only need to drive locally, ask about a restricted licence. See Nunavut restricted driver’s licence. Zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs still applies while you hold a learner’s or probationary licence.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Nunavut learner’s test?
At least 20, under the regulations. You need 80% to pass.
Can I take the knowledge test in Inuktitut?
The manual says the examiner may give an oral test to anyone who cannot read and understand the written one, and may allow an interpreter. Ask your Motor Vehicles office or Government Liaison Officer ahead of time.
What if I fail the written test?
You rewrite only the part you failed. Each examination has a fee, so ask the office how soon you can rebook.
Can I use my own car for the road test?
Yes, if it is a Class 5 vehicle with valid registration and insurance and is in safe condition.
What happens if I miss my road test?
Without notice, you may forfeit the fee and need to pay again to rebook.
Do I need a road test for Class 7?
No. Class 7 needs the written test, a vision check and ID. The road test is for Class 5 or 6.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Nunavut. For province comparisons, see 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, “Nunavut Driver’s Manual” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Apply for a Driver’s Licence” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Motor Vehicles Offices” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Traffic Safety Act, Consolidation of” (nunavutlegislation.ca)