Graduated Licensing Program

Anyone applying for a first driver's licence, whether as a teen or an adult, enters the Graduated Licensing Program. This program is part of ICBC's and the BC government's commitment to save lives, reduce injuries, and keep insurance rates affordable.

Program Features

In Graduated Licensing, you need to pass two stages before you get your full privilege driver's licence: the Learner stage and the Intermediate stage. During both stages, there are driving restrictions. Some of these conditions are in force for the entire length of the program, but others are lifted once you reach the Intermediate stage. You spend at least 36 months in the program before you obtain your full privilege driver's licence (or 30 months if you successfully complete a driver education course approved by ICBC).

Why Graduated Licensing?

New drivers, regardless of age, are almost twice as likely to cause a collision as experienced motorists. In fact, one in five drivers is involved in a crash within the first two years on the road. In Graduated Licensing, you gain driving experience more gradually, under conditions that expose you to less risk. By the time you've finished the program, you'll have had the chance to drive in different seasons and conditions and on different roads. And that means you'll become a safer, more skilled driver.

Program Conditions (New Drivers)

Once you have a learner's licence (Class 7L) you may begin to practise driving under certain conditions: The Learner stage lasts a minimum of 12 months, but you may reduce this period by three months if you successfully complete a driver education course that's approved by ICBC and had a course start date prior to March 31, 2007 for the Graduated Licensing Program. New drivers must follow these conditions in the Learner stage:

Co-Pilot Requirement

During the Learner stage, a fully licensed adult must accompany you whenever you drive. Your co-pilot must hold either a full privilege British Columbia driver's licence (Class 5) or a British Columbia commercial driver's licence (Class 1, 2, 3 or 4) and be 25 years of age or older.

Zero Blood Alcohol Content

During both the Learner and Intermediate stages, your blood alcohol content must be zero when you're driving.

"L" New Driver Sign

When you get your learner's licence, you will receive a magnetic "L" which is your new driver sign. You must display this sign when driving, either in the rear windshield or attached to the rear exterior of your vehicle. The sign must be clearly visible to other drivers from behind your vehicle, unmodified or damaged and must be facing the correct direction.

Passenger Restriction for Class "L"

You may carry a maximum of two passengers: your licensed adult supervisor and one additional passenger.

Driving Hours

You may drive only between five a.m. and midnight.

The Level 1 Road Test

Once you've spent at least 12 months in the Learner stage (or 9 months if you've successfully completed an "approved" driver education course that started on or before March 31, 2007), you may take the Level 1 road test(Class 7N). If you pass the Level 1 road test (Class 7N), you receive a Class 7 Novice driver's licence and move into the Intermediate stage of Graduated Licensing. All new drivers are REQUIRED to have completed a minimum of 60 hours on road practise before taking this test. Students who have enrolled in a Graduated Licensing Program after March 31, 2007 and have completed a minimum of 60 hours as well as the required In-Class training will receive a 6 month time reduction off of their Novice licencing stage, reducing the waiting time to 18 months from 24 months before the driver is eligable to take their Class 5 road test.

 

The Intermediate Stage (Novice Licence)

The Intermediate stage lasts a minimum of 24 months but you may reduce this period by six months if you successfully complete a driver education course that's approved by ICBC and had a course start date after March 31, 2007 for the Graduated Licensing Program. In this stage, you may drive a passenger vehicle unaccompanied. You will also need to display the "N" new driver sign and follow the zero blood alcohol content condition.

Passenger Restriction for Class "N"

You are limited to one passenger unless you have a supervisor 25 years or older with a valid Class 1 - 5 driver's licence. This restriction does not apply to immediate family members: mother, father, sister, brother, child, spouse or grandparent; including step and foster relationships.

The Level 2 Road Test (Class 5)

Once you've spent at least 24 months in the Intermediate stage or 18 months if you have completed an ICBC approved Graduated Licencing Program with a start date after March 31, 2007, you may take the Level 2 test (Class 5) . If you pass, this road test you will obtain your Class 5 driver's licence. This test has been refined to reflect the necessary qualities that ICBC and the Province of British Columbia hope to see drivers display in the future. This test will not simply be a repeat of your first road test, but will look to your abilities to share the road safely and courteously with others. As well you will probably be given the task of Hazard Recognition while on the test. This test is longer and more extensive in the testing process than the previous Class 7N road test. Brush up courses and additional information is available from Bestway prior to taking the Class 5 road test. 

An ICBC "Approved" driver education course will two High School credits toward graduation in B.C. public schools. The credits, which count toward the 52 needed for high school graduation and will be granted for driver education courses passed after Aug. 1, 1998. That's when ICBC's Graduated Licensing Program to reduce new-driver crashes came into effect. Take your copy of the ICBC Declaration of Completion into your high school office to obtain this credit if you qualify and have taken an "Approved" GLP course with Bestway. If you have completed an approved course with Bestway, and do not have your blue copy of the Declaration of Completion, please contact our office at 604-444-4468 for a duplicate.

Graduated Licensing Fees

	Knowledge test, vision test, road signs test	$15
	Class 7L photo learner driver's licence	$10
	Level 1 Road Test (Class 7N)	$35
	5-year Class 7 photo novice driver's licence*	$75
	Level 2 Test Price (Class 5)	$50
	Class 5 upgrade of novice licence when expiration is > 6 months*	$17
	Class 5 upgrade of novice licence when expiration is < 6 months*	$75
	Tuning Up manual (replacement) "L" or "N" new driver signs (replacement)	$5 + GST