Driving Tests

Manitoba Class 5 Knowledge Test: Time Limit, Languages and Rules

informational·how to guide·Published October 1, 2026

How long is the Manitoba Class 5 knowledge test, and what are the rules?

You get 30 minutes for the Manitoba Class 5 knowledge test. It covers traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs. It is not open book, and phones and electronic devices are not allowed. You book by appointment with an Autopac agent, on a weekday. The test costs CAD 12. If you fail in the GDL Program, you wait seven days to try again.

Where this information comes from

The test rules come from the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) Driver's Handbook pages on key points about your tests and scheduling a test. The age, medical and fee rules also come from the Driver's Handbook (Class 5 section), the MPI Graduated Driver Licensing guide dated August 26, 2026, and the Driver Licensing Regulation (M.R. 47/2006). This guide is current as of 2026. The official Driver's Handbook does not give the number of questions or the pass mark. Confirm the rules with Manitoba Public Insurance (mpi.mb.ca) before you drive.

Manitoba Class 5 knowledge test at a glance

Manitoba Class 5 knowledge test at a glance
Item	Rule
Time limit	30 minutes
Topics	Traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs
Open book	No
Phones and devices	Not allowed in the test area
Languages	English, French and more than 20 other languages
Booking	By appointment only, through an Autopac agent
Days	Weekdays only, not on holidays
Fee	CAD 12 per test (cost may change)
Tries per day	One test of the same class
Wait after a fail (GDL)	7 days

What the Manitoba knowledge test covers

The test checks what you know about traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs. You must pass it to get a Class 5L licence. The 5L is the Learner Stage, the first stage of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program, and it lasts at least nine months. Try the practice question on what the Class 5 knowledge test assesses to check that you know the three test areas.

How to book and take the Manitoba knowledge test

1
Tell Driver Fitness about any medical condition
If you have a disease or disability that may affect safe driving, tell Driver Fitness before the test. If a medical report is required, Driver Fitness must approve it before you can take the test.
2
Register with MPI and bring identification
Before the test, register as an MPI customer and show proper identification documents. An Autopac agent is the most convenient place to register. The guide to Manitoba ID documents explains what to bring.
3
Get written approval if you are under 18
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must give written approval for the test.
4
Book and pay at an Autopac agent
All knowledge tests are by appointment only. Visit any Autopac agent to pay and to book, and name your language. The agent can list the open appointments at any testing location. Some booking and payment services are also in MPI Online Services.
5
Check in 15 minutes early
Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. Leave your phone and other electronic devices out of the test area, and finish within 30 minutes.

Driver education, early learners and Mobile Test Units

You take the Driver Education Program

The program charges include one knowledge test. If you are under 16, give a completed driver education form before you take the test.

You are 15 years and 6 months or older, but under 16

Under the Driver Licensing Regulation, the registrar may issue a Class 5L licence if you are enrolled in a high school driver education course and have completed its online training and classroom instruction.

You want to take the test at a Mobile Test Unit

Ask any Autopac agent for the Mobile Test Unit locations and schedules, or look for them at mpi.mb.ca.

Retakes: one try a day and a 7-day wait

You can complete only one knowledge or road test of the same class in a day. If you are in the GDL Program and you fail the knowledge test, you must wait at least seven days before you take it again. The charge is CAD 12 per test, so you pay again for each retake. The guide to Manitoba test fees and retakes covers the costs in more detail.

What comes after you pass the knowledge test

Meet the visual and medical standards.
Buy a Learner Stage licence for CAD 20 plus base driver premium charges of up to CAD 45, plus any applicable additional driver premium.
Spend at least nine months in the Learner Stage before the Class 5 road test. The road test costs CAD 35.

How to prepare for the Manitoba knowledge test

Study the MPI Driver's Handbook, with a focus on the three test areas: traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs. Then check yourself on the free Manitoba Class 5 practice test on this site. The practice test is in English only. The question on the conditions of the knowledge test checks the time limit and the closed-book rule.

Key takeaways

You get 30 minutes for a test on traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs. It is not open book, and phones are not allowed.
Book by appointment with an Autopac agent on a weekday, and name your language when you book.
The fee is CAD 12 per test. In the GDL Program, you wait seven days after a fail.
Tell Driver Fitness about any medical condition before the test.
Next step: practise on the free Manitoba Class 5 practice test.

Manitoba knowledge test: common questions

Can I take the Manitoba knowledge test on a weekend?

No. Knowledge tests and road tests take place on weekdays only, and not on holidays. Book your appointment through an Autopac agent. The agent can tell you which appointments are open at any testing location in Manitoba.

Can I use my phone or the handbook during the Manitoba knowledge test?

No. The knowledge test is not open book, and cellular phones and electronic devices are not allowed in the test area. You have 30 minutes to finish, so study the Driver's Handbook well before your appointment, and leave your phone outside the test area.

Who do I tell about a medical condition before the Manitoba knowledge test?

Tell Driver Fitness before the test if you have a disease or disability that may affect safe driving. Call Driver Fitness at 204-985-1900 or toll-free at 1-866-617-6676. If a medical report is required, Driver Fitness must approve it before you take the test. Manitoba Health does not pay for a medical report that a third party asks for, so you pay that cost.

Can I take the Manitoba knowledge test in French or another language?

Yes. Knowledge and road tests are available in English and French. The Class 5 knowledge test is also available in more than 20 other languages. Name your language when you book your appointment with an Autopac agent.

Where do I get the Manitoba Driver's Handbook?

You can buy the Driver's Handbook from an Autopac agent or a Manitoba Public Insurance Service Centre. You can also get a copy at mpi.mb.ca. The GDL guide says that you are ready for the knowledge test when you have read the handbook and fully understand it.