Types of Licenses

Class 5 & Class 7

With a Class 5 or Class 7 license you may operate:

  • a two-axled motor vehicle except for those listed under exclusions
  • a motorhome (including those with more than 2 axles)
  • a limited speed motorcycle (moped)
  • an all-terrain vehicle or all-terrain cycle
  • a construction vehicle
  • a two-axled vehicle with towed vehicles, provided the towed vehicles in that combination don't exceed 4,600 kilograms

Exclusions

These two-axled vehicles cannot be operated with a Class 5 or 7 license:

  • a motorcycle
  • a bus
  • school bus
  • special activity bus
  • special vehicle
  • taxi or
  • ambulance when used as designed

Minimum age: 16.

Note: You may operate a school bus with a Class 5 or 7 license provided that the bus is a passenger vehicle with a seating capacity of not more than 10 passengers including the driver (refer to the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation 11.01).

Class 6 & Class 8

With a Class 6 or Class 8 license you may operate:

  • motorcycles
  • all-terrain cycles
  • all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

Minimum age: 16.

Professional License Classes

License Classes 1 - 4 are the professional license classes, which allow you to operate vehicles such as buses, taxis and large trucks.

Note: You must have an air brake endorsement (restriction 15) on your driver's license to operate any vehicle equipped with air brakes, other than a construction vehicle.

Class 1

A class 1 driver's license permits you to operate any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles except for a motorcycle. Minimum age: 19.

Class 2

A Class 2 driver's license permits you to operate:

  • a bus
  • school bus
  • special activity bus or special vehicle
  • any combination of vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed 4600 kgs, provided the vehicles do not have air brakes
  • any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 4 license is required
  • all vehicles in class 4 and 5

Minimum age: 19.

Class 3

A Class 3 driver's license permits you to operate:

  • a mobile truck crane
  • a tow car and its recovered vehicle
  • all vehicles in Class 5
  • motor vehicle with three or more axles except for a bus when used for its intended purpose
  • combination of vehicles where the towed vehicles in that combination do not exceed 4600 kgs
  • a combination of vehicles without air brakes where the towed vehicles exceed 4600 kgs

Minimum age:18.

Class 4

A Class 4 driver's license permits you to operate:

  • all vehicles in Class 5
  • an ambulance or taxi
  • a school bus
  • special activity bus
  • special vehicle
  • a bus with a seating capacity of not more than 25 persons including the driver

Minimum age: 19.

For more information about driver licensing in British Columbia, check out the ICBC website and click on Driver Licensing. Look around their site. They have great information there and some fun stuff too.