Minimum age for a car driving licence in British Columbia (2026)

Last reviewed: 10 October 2026

In short: In British Columbia the learner's (L) licence can be had from age 16; learners may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. and may carry only one passenger besides the supervisor. The novice (N) licence follows a road test after at least a year of practice, and N drivers may carry only one passenger unless a supervisor aged 25 or over is present or the passengers are immediate family. The full licence follows after 24 months with the N (18 with an approved course). From 19 October 2026 the second road test is replaced and the minimum age of an L supervisor falls to 22.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age for a car licenceCar (category B) driving licence⚠ Not yet verified
Earliest age to drive a car supervisedCar (category B) driving licence16 years [1]
Driving before the minimum ageCar (category B) driving licenceFrom 19 October 2026 the second road test is replaced. Under 25: at least 12 months as an L learner, then the Class 7 road test for the N; after at least 24 months of driving as an N (18 months after an approved GLP course completed in the L stage) with no prohibitions or suspensions and no convictions for electronic-device use or excessive speed, a Driving Record Assessment at a driver licensing office upgrades to a Class 5 licence with restrictions. Aged 25 or older: at least 9 months as an L, the Class 7 road test, then at least 12 months as an N with a clean record before the assessment. The Class 5 licence carries a zero blood alcohol and drug restriction for 12 months. [2]
Visitors on a foreign licence: ageCar (category B) driving licence⚠ Not yet verified
Learner's permit from ageCar (category B) driving licence16 years [3]
Supervised driving hours requiredCar (category B) driving licenceNo number of supervised hours is stated; the learner stage is a minimum period instead. ICBC states at least 12 months of supervised Class 7L driving before the Class 7 road test (under 25) and, under the changes from 19 October 2026, at least nine months for learners aged 25 or older. [1]
Night-time limit for new driversCar (category B) driving licenceA Class 7L (learner) driver must not drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. [3]
Passenger limit for new driversCar (category B) driving licenceFrom 19 October 2026: a learner (7L) may carry more than one passenger besides the supervisor if all other passengers are immediate family; otherwise one passenger. A novice (Class 7) driver aged under 25 may carry only one passenger unless all passengers are immediate family or a supervisor aged at least 22 (25 before that date) is present. Novice drivers aged 25 or older no longer need to display the N sign or have a supervisor to carry more than one passenger. [4]

Notes

  • The page states an L can be had from the 16th birthday and the first road test (for the N) can be taken after at least a year of practice with a qualified supervisor; 17 is the earliest age that follows from those two statements. Driver training does not shorten the learner stage in the text read.
  • From 19 October 2026 the minimum age of a learner's supervisor falls from over 25 to 22 (ICBC). The supervisor must hold a valid Class 1-5 licence without the zero-alcohol, zero-drug restriction. The Motor Vehicle Act Regulations read on 15 October 2026 still state 25.
  • From 19 October 2026 ICBC replaces the second (Class 5) road test with a Driving Record Assessment for Class 7 drivers with a clean record, followed by a 12-month restriction period (restriction 55: zero blood alcohol and drug content). Until then the road test remains available; second road tests booked on or after that date are cancelled. Some drivers receive a one-time automatic upgrade on 19 October 2026.
  • No age rule for visitors with a licence from outside the province or territory was found.
  • ICBC groups the learner period by age: at least 12 months for learners under 25 and at least nine months for learners aged 25 or older, under the changes taking effect on 19 October 2026. How age is counted (at the change date or at application) is not stated.
  • From 19 October 2026 (ICBC): a learner may carry more than one passenger if all other passengers are immediate family; the supervisor's minimum age falls to 22. Novice drivers under 25 already may carry several passengers if all are immediate family. The regulation text read on 15 October 2026 has not yet been amended.

Sources

  1. ICBC: You have a Class 7L licence (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC): Changes to the Graduated Licensing Program (consulted 15 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Province of British Columbia (King's Printer): Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, B.C. Reg. 26/58, Division 30 (Drivers' Licences) (consulted 10 October 2026) · all sources
  4. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC): You have a Class 7 licence and you're under 25 (consulted 15 October 2026) · all sources

British Columbia and neighbouring provinces and territories

Province or territoryMinimum age for a car licenceEarliest age to drive a car supervisedDriving before the minimum ageVisitors on a foreign licence: age
British Columbia
⚠ Not yet verified
16, with a supervisor aged 22+ (from 19 Oct 2026)
L at 16, N road test, then record check (from 19 Oct 2026)
⚠ Not yet verified
Alberta
16 (Class 5-GDL, after 12 months as a learner)
14, with a supervisor aged over 18
Class 5-GDL from 16 after 12 months; full at 18
⚠ Not yet verified
Yukon
16
15 (learner's licence)
⚠ Not yet verified
⚠ Not yet verified
Northwest Territories
16 (Class 5P, after a year as a learner)
15, with a supervisor (24 months' experience)
Class 5P from 16 after one year as a learner
⚠ Not yet verified

More rules in British Columbia

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.