Class 7L, 7N and 5: BC licence classes explained
Last reviewed: May 18, 2026
British Columbia does not hand new drivers a full licence on day one. Instead, the Graduated Licensing Program, or GLP, builds driving privileges in stages, so skill and experience grow before restrictions are lifted. This guide explains the three car-driver stages — Class 7L, Class 7N, and Class 5 — including the restrictions, time periods, and how Class 5 fits with other BC licence classes.
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What is the Graduated Licensing Program?
The Graduated Licensing Program is the pathway every new car driver in British Columbia follows. It recognises that the riskiest period for any driver is the first few years, so it eases drivers into full privileges through two supervised and restricted stages before granting an unrestricted licence.
The three stages for a passenger-vehicle licence are the Class 7L learner stage, the Class 7N novice stage, and the full Class 5 licence. Moving from one stage to the next requires both time and a test.
| Stage | Minimum time held | Test to advance |
|---|---|---|
| Class 7L (learner) | 12 months | Class 7 road test |
| Class 7N (novice) | 24 months (18 with an approved driver-training course taken during the L stage) | Class 5 road test |
| Class 5 (full) | Ongoing — full privileges | None |
What are the Class 7L learner restrictions?
You earn a Class 7L learner licence by passing the knowledge test and a vision screening. You can do this on or after your 16th birthday, with parental or guardian consent if you are under 19. The Class 7L lets you start learning to drive, but always under supervision and with firm limits.
- A qualified supervisor — at least 25 years old and holding a valid Class 5 or higher licence — must sit beside you in the front passenger seat whenever you drive.
- You may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Passengers are limited to the supervisor plus, where the seating allows, immediate family members.
- You must display an L sign on the back of the vehicle.
- You must maintain zero blood alcohol content and zero drug concentration.
- You may not use any electronic device, including hands-free, while driving.
- You must hold the Class 7L for at least 12 months before taking the Class 7 road test.
Penalties are strict in the GLP
What are the Class 7N novice restrictions?
After holding the Class 7L for at least 12 months, you can take the Class 7 road test. Passing it moves you into the Class 7N novice stage. The novice stage is far less restrictive than the learner stage — you may now drive on your own — but key limits still apply.
- You may drive unsupervised at any hour, including overnight.
- You may carry only one passenger, unless you are accompanied by a supervisor (someone 25 or older with a valid Class 5 or higher licence) or the additional passengers are immediate family members.
- You must display an N sign on the back of the vehicle.
- You must maintain zero blood alcohol content and zero drug concentration.
- You may not use any electronic device, including hands-free, while driving.
- You must hold the Class 7N for at least 24 months of safe driving before the Class 5 road test — or 18 months if you completed an ICBC-approved driver-training course during your learner stage.
Driver training can save time
What does a full Class 5 licence allow?
After you complete the novice stage with a clean record — no driving prohibitions — you take the Class 5 road test. Passing it earns a full, unrestricted Class 5 licence. The L and N stages are now behind you.
- You no longer need an L or N sign on your vehicle.
- Passenger limits no longer apply, so you may carry as many passengers as the vehicle is built and equipped for.
- The zero blood alcohol and drug restriction is lifted, although the general legal limits and good judgement still apply.
- The electronic-device restriction tied to the GLP is lifted, but BC's distracted-driving law still prohibits hand-held device use for every driver.
From start to finish, the Graduated Licensing Program for car drivers takes a minimum of about three years.
How does Class 5 relate to other BC licence classes?
Class 5 is the standard non-commercial passenger-vehicle licence. It lets you drive most cars, vans, and light trucks, and small recreational vehicles, but it is not a licence for every vehicle on the road.
- Classes 1 to 4 are commercial classes — for tractor-trailers, buses, and taxis — each with its own testing and medical requirements.
- Class 6 is the motorcycle licence, with its own graduated stages of 6L, 6N, and 6.
- Class 7 is the learner and novice version of Class 5; Class 8 is the learner and novice version of Class 6.
- Endorsements can be added to a Class 5 licence, such as a Code 15 air-brake endorsement or a House Trailer endorsement for larger trailers.
Class 5 is a foundation
Are the GLP rules changing?
The British Columbia government has announced planned updates to the Graduated Licensing Program intended to take effect in 2026, including changes to stage lengths and to road-test requirements. The details depend on regulations being finalised.
Because the program may change, always confirm the current stage lengths, restrictions, and tests with ICBC before you plan your timeline. The structure described in this guide reflects the long-standing GLP framework that new drivers have followed.