Services -> New BC Residents

If you are new to B.C. and drive a vehicle, you need to obtain a B.C. driver's licence within 90 days after moving here. It is best to apply for your B.C. driver's licence well within 90 days of moving to British Columbia.

 

New residents who hold a Canadian, American, Austrian, German, Swiss, Japanese or South Korean licence can usually complete their licence exchange the same day, provided they bring: Primary and secondary identification, Their current licence, and Proof of driving experience (Acceptable translations of these documents may be required.)

 

New residents who hold any other type of driver's licence will require more time because a road test is required.

 

Note: If you wish to apply for a full-privilege BC driver's licence (Class 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1), you need to prove you have held a licence for at least 24 months. Otherwise, you will be placed in BC's Graduated Licensing Program. If you hold only an out-of-province learner's licence, you are eligible to apply for a Class 7 GLP learner's licence.

 

The tests you will need to take to get a B.C. licence depend on the type of licence you have now.

Canadian, American, Austrian, German, Swiss, Japanese or South Korean driver's licence. You will be issued a new equivalent class B.C. driver's licence. In most cases, you will not need to take a road test if you hold: a Canadian or American passenger car or an Austrian, German or Swiss Category B or German Class 3 driver's licence for passenger cars, or a Japanese Ordinary driver's licence or a South Korean Class 2 Ordinary driver's licence for passenger cars, or a Canadian licence equivalent to a B.C. Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 (commercial) licence and your licence is valid or expired less than 3 years ago.

 

If you have any other type of driver's licence.
You will need to qualify for a B.C. licence if your driver's licence is from a jurisdiction other than B.C. and does not meet the Canadian licence criteria or does meet the Canadian licence criteria but you've had your full-privilege licence for less than 24 months , or has expired more than 3 years ago, or has been cancelled or revoked. To qualify for a B.C. licence, you will need to pass a road signs test, a knowledge test, a vision screening and a road test. You will also need to meet the medical and application requirements.

 

If you never held a full-privilege driver's licence, or have had one for less than 24 months.
you must complete B.C.'s Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) to receive your B.C. licence.

How to get a licence for new drivers?

For new drivers, getting your full-privilege Class 5 driver's licence generally takes about three years. Here arethe steps you'll go through :
Apply for (Class 7L) licence
To apply, you must be at least 16 years old. You must also have proper identification documents to apply. You will have take a knowledge test and meet other standards of driver fitness. Apply at any driver licensing office.

Learner stage
After passing the knowledge test, you'll get a Class 7 learner's licence. You can now drive supervised with certain licence restrictions.

Class 7 road test
After twelve months in the learner stage, you are eligible to take your Class 7 road test. (this may be reduced by three months if you take an approved driver education course from an approved GLP driving school). Approved courses are designed to help you attain the driving skills, knowledge and attitudes you need to become a safe driver. It can also make a difference because the learner stage can be reduced by three months if you successfully complete an ICBC-Approved Driver Education Course.

Grade 11 Credits
The B.C. Ministry of Education has granted two credits (Grade 11) for the ICBC-Approved Driver Education Course taught by driver training schools. Students who have completed the approved course should take their Declaration of Completion to their high schools to receive the credit.

Features:

• You will perform various maneuvers while an ICBC driver examiner marks your ability to drive in a safe, smooth, controlled manner.
  • intersection maneuvers (driving straight through, turning right, turning left)
  • backing up
  • entering traffic
  • changing lanes
  • parking on a hill
  • starting on a hill
  • angle parking
  • parallel parking
  • stall parking (driving forward and backing up into a stall)
  • two- and three-point turns
  • merging on and off a highway
  • general driving (e.g., driving straight, driving on hills and curves)
• Examiner checks that you use the key driving skills.
  • Observation
  • Hazard perception>
  • Space margins
  • Speed control
  • Steering
  • Communication
• Examiner assesses your See-Think-Do skills.

See-Think-Do is a driving strategy that helps you to be a safe and competent driver. See: Scan for hazards. Pay attention to other road users and the areas where hazards could occur.Think: Decide which hazards are most dangerous. Think quickly about possible solutions. Decide on the safest solution.Do: Do maneuvers to keep yourself and others safe.

• Includes an assessment of hazard perception skills.

At certain points during the Class 7 and Class 5 road tests, the examiner will ask you to name out loud the hazards you see. Identify all potential hazards within the block ahead of you, immediately beside you and behind you. Identify all the real hazards you see, including yellow or orange road signs that warn of construction zones or danger.
Use one or two words, such as, "truck turning left" or "jaywalker." If you are unable to find the right word in English to describe a hazard, you may point at it.


• Test takes about 45 minutes.
  
  
  • You must book the Class 7 road test in advance.
  • Test fee: $35. If you pass, a Class 7 novice photo driver's licence, which is valid for 5 years, will cost an additional $75.
  • Once you pass the Class 7 road test, you get your Class 7 driver's licence and enter the novice stage of Graduated Licensing.
  • If you don't pass, you may take the test again after 14 days. (You will have to pay the $35 fee again.)