British ColumbiaPASSENGER VEHICLES MOTORCYCLESTo obtain a licence in BC to drive a passenger vehicle, BC's Graduated Licensing Program (GPL) includes two stages: the Class 7L Learner stage, which precedes the Class 7N Novice stage.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
![]() Minimum entry age: 17 years ![]() Minimum exit age: 18 years and 6 months
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
![]() Parental consent ![]() Successfully passed test ⁄ course: Class 7 road test ![]() Time completion: Held a Class 7L Learner licence for 12 cumulative months
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
![]() Parental consent ![]() Successfully passed test ⁄ course: Class 5 road test ![]() Time completion: Held a Class 7 licence for 24 consecutive months without a driving prohibition - reduced by 6 months if an approved driver education course is successfully completed in the learner stage and drivers have no violations (tickets) or at-fault crashes (found to be 50% or more at fault) for the first 18 months of the Novice stage
STAGE DURATION
![]() Minimum duration: See above for time completion requirements ![]() Maximum holding period: No limit (5 year licence, can be renewed without re-qualifying/re-testing for licence)
DRIVING RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS
![]() BAC level while driving: 0.0 BAC ![]() Must display "N" sign⁄plate when driving: Mandatory ![]() Night restrictions ![]() Passenger restrictions: Limit of 1 passenger, unless accompanied by a supervisor who is 25 years or older with a valid Class 1-5 licence (immediate family allowed with no supervisor) ![]() Road restrictions
SUSPENSION & PROHIBITION
![]() Lower driver penalty point threshold: 2-6 (discretionary,instead of 15-19). If a driving prohibition is received, the driver goes back to the beginning of the novice stage after serving their prohibition time, losing all experience time ![]() See Suspension & Prohibition section for Class 7L drivers
DRIVER IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
![]() Voluntary defensive driving course
ADDITIONAL CLASS 7N GLP FEATURES
![]() N⁄A FOOTNOTE
Due to BC's licensing rule that an individual can only hold either GLP or non-GLP licences at the same time, it is possible for someone to exit the GLP class 7N and 8N stage and enter the class 6L stage earlier than identified above. If a GLP driver held both passenger vehicle and motorcycle licences at the same time and completed the GLP exit test with one, the other licence would automatically be converted to a non-GLP licence. This licensing scenario is relatively rare due to the limited number of GLP drivers who are applying for 2 licence classes at the same time.CONTACT INFORMATION
Jason LuchiesSenior Policy Advisor, Insurance Corporation of Britich Columbia (ICBC) P.O. Box 3750 Victoria, BC V8W 3Y5 Phone: (250) 414-7879 Email: Jason.Luchies@icbc.com Website: Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - Driver Licensing: http://www.icbc.com/licensing/ |
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