About the graduated licensing program (GLP) in B.C.

Graduated licensing is a two-stage program designed to help you become a safe driver for life—and reduce your risk of crashing while learning. As a new driver, it typically takes 36 months to get your driver's licence.

 The learner’s (L) licence stage:

The first stage is the learner’s L stage (L) licence with restrictions to help reduce the risks while learning to drive.

After 12 months of prohibition-free driving, you qualify to take your first road test—the Class 7 road test. You can stay in the learner’s (L) stage as long as you need to. Your learner’s (L) licence is valid for 2 years, but can be renewed by re-qualifying on the knowledge test in the learner’s (L) stage. Once you pass the road test, you will receive a novice (N) licence.

To get a B.C. driver’s licence, you must be 16 years old. Your parent or a legal guardian must give consent for your application if you're under 19.

The novice (N) licence stage:

For the novice (N) stage some of the learner’s (L) licence stage restrictions are removed.

You will be eligible to take the second Class 5 road test to exit the GLP after 24 months of prohibition-free driving in the Novice (N) licence stage. Once you pass this test, you will graduate to your full-privilege driver's licence.

Want to reduce your novice (N) stage by six months?

You can reduce your novice (N) licence stage by six months by taking an ICBC-approved driver training course. The approved course must be taken while you are still in the learner's (L) stage and you must

• be violation free, and
• have no at-fault crashes

in order to keep your six month reduction.