How to Get Your Learner's Licence in BC (Class 7L, 2026)
How do you get a Class 7L learner's licence in B.C.?
In British Columbia, you can get a Class 7L on or after your 16th birthday. Pass ICBC's knowledge test (40 of 50 right), online or at a driver licensing office. Then pass a vision screening test and show two pieces of ID at the office. Under 18, a parent or legal guardian must consent. The test costs CAD 15 for each attempt, and the licence CAD 10.
Where these rules come from
This guide uses the ICBC Get your L page, the ICBC fees page and the ICBC accepted ID page. It also uses the ICBC online knowledge test, booking, Class 7L, graduated licensing and driver training pages, the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, the B.C. government news release of July 20, 2026, and Order in Council 350/2026, which changed the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) rules on October 19, 2026. The information is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with ICBC (icbc.com) before you drive.
What must a parent or guardian do if you are under 18?
For an in-person test, bring a signed and witnessed consent form from your parent or legal guardian, or have your parent or legal guardian come with you. After an online test, bring the form with the original signature to your office appointment, or have your parent or guardian sign it there. On October 19, 2026, the B.C. government lowered the age of consent to apply for a driver's licence from 19 to 18.
Steps to get your Class 7L in B.C.
- 1Study, then practise
Study ICBC's Learn to Drive Smart guide, which works like a textbook for the test. Then take ICBC's practice knowledge test. Almost one in five test questions are about road signs.
- 2Choose the online or the in-person test
You can take the knowledge test online or at an ICBC driver licensing office. You must be a resident of British Columbia to apply for a B.C. licence.
- 3Pass the knowledge test
The test has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need 40 right. You have 45 minutes. See what the knowledge test covers.
- 4Pass the vision screening and show your ID at an office
Go to an ICBC driver licensing office, pass a vision screening test and show two pieces of accepted ID, plus the consent form if you are under 18. The practice question on the checks before you get a Class 7L covers this step.
Online or in-person B.C. knowledge test: what is different
| Topic | Online test | In-person test |
|---|---|---|
| Where | On a desktop or laptop computer with a working webcam, while you are in Canada or the U.S. A smartphone or tablet cannot be used. | At an ICBC driver licensing office. |
| Before you test | Register with an email address and one piece of accepted primary ID. | Book an appointment and bring accepted ID. |
| Test fee | Pay online by Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card. | Same fee as the online test. |
| After you pass | Visit an office, pass a vision screening test and apply for your licence. | Pass a vision screening test at the office and apply for your licence. |
| ID at the office | Two pieces of accepted ID, including the same primary ID you used to register. | Two pieces of accepted ID: one primary and one secondary. |
What ID to bring for a B.C. learner's licence
- Primary ID, for example: a Canadian birth certificate (most are accepted), a Canadian passport or a permanent resident card. An expired passport or permanent resident card is not accepted.
- For a first application, ICBC recommends a Canadian birth certificate or a primary immigration or citizenship document.
- Secondary ID, for example: a school student card, or a health card from a Canadian province or territory that shows your printed name and your signature or photo.
- A student, work, visitor or temporary resident permit (IMM1442) counts as primary ID if it shows your full legal name and date of birth. If it expires within 6 months, you can get only a paper interim licence.
What a B.C. Class 7L costs (CAD, as of 2026)
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test, online or in person | CAD 15 | For each attempt. Seniors 65 and older pay nothing. |
| Class 7 or 8 photo learner licence | CAD 10 | Includes renewals or replacement. |
| First pass, in total | CAD 25 | CAD 15 for the test plus CAD 10 for the licence. Each retest adds CAD 15. |
| Class 7 road test (later) | CAD 50 | The Class 7 or 8 graduated licensing program (GLP) road test. |
How long does a Class 7L last, and when can you take the road test?
A Class 7L stays valid for 2 years. Before the Class 7 road test, you must hold it for at least 12 months if you are under 25, or 9 months if you are 25 or older. If your L expires, you must take the knowledge test again, but you do not wait extra time for the road test. The practice question on how long you must hold your L covers this rule.
What comes after your Class 7L in B.C.
Class 7L rules to follow from your first drive
- Supervisor: at least 22 years old, sitting beside you in the front passenger seat.
- Insurance: make sure that you are listed as a driver on your supervisor's insurance policy.
- Passengers: one passenger, not counting your supervisor. You can carry more passengers if all the others are immediate family, such as a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling.
- Phones: no hand-held or hands-free cellphones or other electronic devices, except to call 911 in an emergency.
- L sign: show your red, magnetic L sign on the back of the car whenever you drive.
- Hours: no driving between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- Alcohol and drugs: none. You must not drive with alcohol, cocaine or THC in your body.
- The guide to each Class 7L rule in detail has the rest.
Key takeaways
- You can get a Class 7L on or after your 16th birthday. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must consent.
- Pass ICBC's knowledge test (40 of 50), online or in person. Then pass a vision screening test and show two pieces of ID at an office.
- The knowledge test costs CAD 15 for each attempt, and a photo learner's licence costs CAD 10, so a first pass costs CAD 25.
- Your L stays valid for 2 years. You can take the road test after 12 months as a learner if you are under 25, or after 9 months if you are 25 or older.
- Next step: practise on the free British Columbia Class 7 practice test.
B.C. learner's licence: common questions
Do I need an appointment for the ICBC knowledge test?
Yes, book one. Appointments are required for knowledge tests, although some ICBC driver licensing offices can also serve walk-in customers, depending on how busy the office is. The online test is a separate option.
What happens if I fail the B.C. knowledge test?
You can take it again after one day in person, or after 24 hours online. Each attempt costs CAD 15, including a retest after your learner's licence expires. Seniors 65 and older do not pay.
How long is my online knowledge test result good for?
Your online result is valid for one year. Visit a driver licensing office within that year to apply for your licence, because passing online does not license you to drive.
Who can supervise me with a Class 7L in B.C.?
From October 19, 2026, your supervisor must be at least 22 years old. The supervisor must hold a valid licence that is not a learner's or Class 7 licence. That licence must also be free of the zero blood alcohol and drug (BAC/BDC) restriction that new Class 5 drivers get.
Does a driver training course shorten graduated licensing in B.C.?
It can. If you are under 25 and complete an ICBC-approved GLP driver training course in the learner stage, you could be eligible to cut your novice (N) stage by 6 months. ICBC states this as 18 months of driving instead of 24 before the upgrade. Keep a clean driving record, and complete the whole course within one year while you hold your L.
Can I take the ICBC knowledge test in another language?
Yes. The online and in-person tests are available in 12 languages: English, Arabic, Croatian, French, Farsi, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. The free practice test on this site is in English only.
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