Photo: SriMesh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Under Saskatchewan’s GDL rules, a Novice 1 driver may carry only one passenger who is not immediate family, and a Novice 2 driver must go 12 months without an at-fault collision, conviction or suspension. All new drivers, from Learner to Novice 2, must keep zero alcohol and drugs and cannot use any cellphone while driving. This guide sets out every SGI restriction by stage, with real examples.
SGI GDL restrictions by stage
| Rule | Learner (Class 7) | Novice 1 | Novice 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum time | 9 months | 6 months | 12 months incident-free |
| Supervising driver in front passenger seat | Always | No | No |
| Non-family passengers | Limited only by seatbelts, except midnight to 5 a.m. | One only | No limit beyond seatbelts |
| Midnight to 5 a.m. | Passengers other than the supervisor must be immediate family | One non-family passenger rule still applies | No extra rule |
| Passengers limited to seatbelts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cellphone (hand-held or hands-free) | Banned | Banned | Banned |
| Alcohol and drugs | Zero | Zero | Zero |
| Right-hand drive vehicle | Banned | Banned | Banned |
| Can supervise a learner | No | No | No |
| Commercial licence or school bus endorsement | No | No | No |
Who counts as immediate family?
The 2026-27 handbook lists: spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, step-parent, step-grandparent, stepsibling, foster parent, foster child, foster sibling, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law and child-in-law. Cousins, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends are not on the list.
Learner rules in Saskatchewan
- A supervising driver must sit in the front passenger seat at all hours.
- The supervisor must hold a Class 5 or higher (or equivalent from a Canadian or U.S. jurisdiction), have held a valid licence for at least 365 days in the past three years, and not be a novice.
- Between midnight and 5 a.m., everyone in the car apart from the supervisor must be immediate family.
- Driving without a supervisor can get the vehicle impounded for 3 days on a second offence within 12 months.
Novice 1: the one-friend rule
After you pass the Class 5 road test and upgrade your licence, you drive alone as Novice 1 for at least six months. You can carry one passenger who is not immediate family. Every other passenger must be immediate family, and there can be no more passengers than seatbelts.
Scenarios
- Two friends after a game: not allowed on Novice 1. One friend can ride; the second needs another lift.
- Your friend plus your two younger siblings: allowed, if everyone has a seatbelt.
- Driving your cousin home at 1 a.m. on Novice 1: one non-family passenger, so allowed under the one-passenger rule. The family-only night rule in the handbook table is a learner rule.
- Your learner sister wants you to supervise her: not allowed. No GDL driver can be a supervising driver.
Novice 2: 12 months incident-free
Novice 2 lasts until you have driven 12 months with no:
- at-fault collision
- traffic conviction
- licence suspension
If you have an incident, the 12 months start again from the loss date (collision) or conviction date. Time without a valid licence (suspension, refusal or non-renewal) does not count. Every incident also puts you in the GDL Improvement program.
Phone rules for new Saskatchewan drivers
GDL drivers cannot use hand-held or hands-free cellphones while driving. That includes Bluetooth, built-in vehicle systems and speakerphone. Two exceptions apply to all drivers: calling 911, and making a call while parked at the side of the road. A second conviction within 12 months for using a device while driving, or for driving without due care, means a 7-day impoundment of the vehicle you are driving, even if it is your parent’s.
Zero alcohol and drugs
Any detectable alcohol or drugs means a roadside suspension, impoundment and more. Full details are in zero tolerance for new drivers in Saskatchewan.
Common questions
Is there a curfew for Novice drivers in Saskatchewan?
No driving curfew. The midnight to 5 a.m. rule in SGI’s table limits who can ride with a learner; it does not stop anyone from driving at night.
Can a Novice 2 driver carry more than one friend?
Yes, as long as there is a seatbelt for everyone.
Can I use Google Maps on Novice 1?
GDL drivers cannot use any type of cellphone while driving, hand-held or hands-free. Set the route before you start and leave the phone alone.
What if I get a ticket in Novice 2?
Your 12-month incident-free clock restarts from the conviction date, and the GDL Improvement program applies.
Do these rules apply if I am over 25?
Yes. Saskatchewan GDL applies to new drivers regardless of age.
See also: learning to drive in Saskatchewan, SGI road test, and how other provinces compare in Canadian graduated licensing compared.
Sources
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook: A guide to safe driving 2026-27” (sgi.sk.ca)
- SGI, “Graduated Driver Licensing program” (sgi.sk.ca)
- SGI, “Graduated Driver’s Licencing program” restrictions chart (sgi.sk.ca)