Politics · Canada · 3 hrs ago
B.C. removes second road test for eligible novice drivers
Starting Oct.
19, B.C. novice drivers with clean records can skip the second road test when upgrading to a Class 5 licence with restrictions.
The change applies to drivers with a Class 7 novice or Class 7, 8 novice licence.
Instead of a test, ICBC will assess their driving records, as part of changes to the Graduated Licensing Program, which began more than 25 years ago.
Drivers over 25 must show 12 months of safe driving, while drivers under 25 need 24 months, or 18 months if they completed an approved course.
The new rules keep safe-driving requirements while removing a testing step, which ICBC says may reduce barriers for people in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
After meeting the requirements, drivers must visit a licensing office to upgrade; second road tests scheduled for Oct.
19 or later will be cancelled, and ICBC says it will email those drivers about next steps.
B.C. is removing the second road test for eligible novice drivers from Oct. 19.
Drivers with a clean record can qualify for a Class 5 licence with restrictions through a Driving Record Assessment instead.
The assessment requires a period of safe driving, with the length depending on a driver’s age and completion of an approved course.
ICBC says the change is intended to align B.C. with evolving road safety practices and reduce barriers to licensing.
- Who
- Drivers with a Class 7 novice or Class 7, 8 novice licence who have a clean driving record.
- What
- They will no longer need a second road test to obtain a Class 5 licence with restrictions; eligibility will be assessed through their driving record.
- When
- The changes take effect on Oct. 19, 2026.
- Where
- British Columbia.
- Why
- ICBC says the change aligns B.C. with evolving road safety practices and reduces licensing barriers, especially in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Supporters of removing the second road test
Opponents of removing the second road test
Necessity
Supporters of removing the second road test
One reader called the N test “ridiculous and completely unnecessary.
Opponents of removing the second road test
Some readers opposed the change, saying Vancouver is a terrible place to drive and licences are handed out like candy.
Daily Hive reported that the licensing changes would take effect the following day.
The changes take effect, and second road tests scheduled for that date or later will be cancelled.
- Effective date
- Oct. 19, 2026
- Licence classes affected
- Class 7 novice and Class 7, 8 novice
- Over 25
- 12 months of safe driving required
- Under 25
- 24 months of safe driving, or 18 months with an approved GLP course
- Where to upgrade
- A licensing office
3 sources
What people are saying
It’s time we made some changes to align B.C. with evolving road safety practices and graduated licensing programs in other jurisdictions,
Removing the second road test will also mean reducing barriers to getting licensed, especially for drivers in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, where access to road tests may be limited,
I think it’s a wonderful idea to put an end to the N test. It’s ridiculous and completely unnecessary,