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​​​​​​Getting your commercial driver's licence

If you want to drive a taxi, bus or other commercial vehicle, here's how to get licensed.

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Commercial licence requirements

How to get a commercial licence

Before applying for a commercial licence, make sure that you meet the requirements.

Requirements for getting a commercial licence

 

Age

  • 19 for a Class 1, 2 or 4 licence

  • 18 for a Class 3 licence or heavy trailer endorsement

Driving experience

  • A full-privilege B.C. driver's licence (Class 5 or 6) or an out-of-province equivalent.

  • If you're new to Canada, see moving to B.C.

​Driver training

  • ​To become a Class 1 licensed commercial driver you may need to complete B.C.’s new Class 1 Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) course. See the MELT FAQs for more information.

Commercial driving record

  • A commercial driving record with less than four penalty point incidents in the past two years, plus

  • no driving-related criminal convictions within the past three years.

Fines and debts

  • All fines and debts owing to ICBC must be paid.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions may prevent you from getting a commercial licence. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Certain types of epilepsy

  • Certain psychiatric conditions

  • Certain neurological conditions

  • Certain heart conditions

  • Certain diabetic conditions

  • Certain sleep disorders

The existence of a medical condition does not necessarily mean you will be ineligible to obtain a commercial licence. It is important that you disclose your conditions during your application process so that an individual determination can be made early in the process. To facilitate this, additional information about any relevant condition that you have may then be provided by your doctor when completing a Drivers Medical Examination Report.  

Physical disabilities

If you're an amputee or have another physical disability that may affect your driving ability, you might need a prosthetic device or specific vehicle modification to help you qualify.

Steps to get a commercial driver's licence

To get your licence, you'll need to get a learner's licence before taking your road test for a full-privilege licence.

Get your learner's licence

To get your learner's licence you'll need to pass a:

  • knowledge test
  • road signs test and
  • meet medical standards.

If you'll be driving with air brakes, you'll also have to take the air brake knowledge test.

Get your learner's licence

Get your full licence

To get your full licence, you'll need to pass a commercial road test, which includes a:

  • pre-trip inspection test (including air brakes if applicable)
  • road test, and
  • driver's medical exam

Get your full licence

Commercial learner's licence

Get your commercial learner's licence

To get your learner's licence you'll need to study and pass a knowledge test. You might also need to pass an air brake knowledge test if applicable.

Once you get your learner's licence, it's valid for one year, and can be renewed by taking and re-passing the knowledge test.

Step 1: Study

The beginning of the guide explains which chapters to study for your licence type.

Step 2: Take your test(s)

*Tests not available at Surrey Guildford.

Bring with you:

Moved less than three years ago from another province or country?

Money saving tip

If you take your knowledge test for a commercial licence and air brake at the same time, you'll only be charged a single fee.

About the commercial knowledge test

Commercial air brake knowledge test

Before taking the air brake knowledge test:

Learn more about the air brake endorsement.

What to expect at the driver licensing office

First, staff at the driver licensing office will check that you meet all licensing requirements.

Then, they'll check your vision and ask you questions about your medical health. You'll need to disclose any known medical conditions that may affect your driving. This may also need to be reviewed by RoadSafetyBC before receiving your learner's licence.

After these checks, you'll take your knowledge test(s).

Full-privilege commercial licence

Get your full-privilege commercial licence

To get your full-privilege commercial licence, you'll need to pass a road test and driver medical exam. There's no rush to take the test-make sure you've practiced with learner's licence and take it when you feel ready.

Step 1: Practice driving

To get ready for your road test:

  • practice driving with a qualified supervisor
  • consider taking professional driver training
  • complete Class 1 Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT), if applicable

Step 2: Book your road test

Call to book your commercial road test.

You can't book your test online.

What to bring to your road test:

  • Accepted ID
  • Any glasses or contacts you need
  • Payment for the test(s)
  • Your learners licence
  • Your Class 1 MELT Declaration of Completion, if applicable
  • A vehicle suited to the Class of licence you're testing for

Step 3: Take your road test

When you arrive for your road test, you'll first complete an application form. The road test will consist of:

  • a pre-trip inspection test
  • a pre-trip air brake test, if applicable, and
  • the road test.

Bring an appropriate vehicle for your road test, and any items necessary for the pre-trip test. If your vehicle has air brakes, bring the tools and equipment required for an air brake adjustment.

For more information, see Driving Commercial Vehicles.

After passing the tests, you'll need to:

You'll also receive a driver medical examination form to have completed by a doctor.

Learn more about the commercial driver road test

Commercial driver road test

Prepare for your road test

The commercial driver road test is broken up into two pieces—the pre-trip inspection test and the actual road test. The tests are taken on the same day.

If you are applying for a Class 1 licence, you will require Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT).

Pre-trip inspection test

For this portion of the test, your driver examiner will ask you demonstrate a typical pre-inspection. During the pre-trip you'll explain to your driver examiner in detail what you're checking and testing in each part of the vehicle. You'll be asked when you'd typically conduct these tests as a commercial driver.

If you are applying for a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 unrestricted commercial licence, you must also complete and submit a written trip-inspection report.

Need to retake the pre-trip inspection?

If you're not successful on the pre-trip inspection test but pass the road test, you only have to re-take the pre-trip inspection. (You will need to pay the pre-trip test fee again.)

As of June 25, 2018, you can take the pre-trip inspection test again after 7 days.

Commercial driver road test

Your driver examiner will be looking for how well you demonstrate your commercial driving skills.

Your examiner will ask you to:

  • start and stop
  • shift gears
  • turn, steer, back up and park
  • merge with highway traffic and exit from highways, and
  • drive in traffic.

If you are taking a Class 1 road test, you must first complete the Class 1 Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) course.

Class 1 only: You'll also need to couple and uncouple a tractor unit from a trailer.

Taking the road test more than once

After your first test attempt, you can take the test again after 14 days.

If you take the test two or more times and you don't pass, you can try again after 30 days.

Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT)

​Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training​

If you're looking to operate a large tractor-trailer commercially in British Columbia that requires a Class 1 licence, you'll likely need to take a Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) course. 

B.C.'s comprehensive MELT program became a requirement for all new Class 1 applicants on October 18, 2021. The 140-hour course is designed to align with the new national Class 1 entry-level training standard introduced as part of the National Safety Code. The course includes theory learning, practical training at driving school and on-highway driving and includes learning about the operation of air brakes.

MELT is offered by driving schools in British Columbia approved by ICBC to deliver the course. See our list of approved schools to compare locations and costs of the course.

Eligibility requirements

To enroll in a MELT course, you must:

  • Be 19 years of age
  • Be able to meet medical fitness and vision standards
  • Meet our pre-screening standards
  • Qualify on a Class 1 knowledge test and be issued a learner's licence

Once you qualify on MELT, you must take a Class 1 road test before a licence can be issued.

MELT for those moving to B.C.

Canadian Class 1 holders

If you currently hold a Canadian Class 1 driver's licence with more than 24 consecutive months of Class 1 experience and it has not been expired for more than three years, you are not required to take MELT. 

Review our frequently asked questions if you have less than 24 months of Class 1 experience.

B.C. currently accepts MELT courses from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta. Ontario and Alberta applicants, please review requirements in our frequently asked questions.

Class 1 drivers coming to Canada

All Class 1 drivers with a licence issued outside of Canada are required to take MELT.

For more information on MELT, review our frequently asked questions​​.​​​