Driving Tests

Manitoba New Driver Penalties: Zero Alcohol, Suspensions and DSR

informational·how to guide·Published September 13, 2026

Can a new driver in Manitoba have any alcohol or cannabis?

No. A new driver in Manitoba cannot drive with any alcohol in the blood, or after taking cannabis or another drug that approved drug screening equipment detects at or above the screening threshold. The rule covers Class 5L, Class 5I and the first 36 months of Class 5F. A breach brings an immediate 24-hour roadside suspension, a Driver Improvement and Control (DI&C) review and a reinstatement charge.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) Graduated Driver Licensing guide dated 26/08/2026, the MPI online Driver's Handbook page on consequences and The Highway Traffic Act, C.C.S.M. c. H60. It also uses the Driver's Handbook pages on Driver Improvement and Control, the Driver Safety Rating and drugs, The Drivers and Vehicles Act and the Driver's Licence Regulation (M.R. 180/2000). Where the law and MPI wording differ, the law wins. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Manitoba Public Insurance (mpi.mb.ca) before you drive.

Who must drive with zero alcohol and zero drugs?

Section 26.3 of The Highway Traffic Act says that no novice driver may drive, or have care or control of, a motor vehicle with any alcohol in the blood. The same section bars driving after drugs if approved drug screening equipment detects a drug at or above the screening threshold.
The rule applies to Class 5L and Class 5I drivers. A regulation sets the same rule for a Class 5F driver until the driver has held the Full Stage licence for three years (36 months). To be safe, do not drive after any alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. The free question page on cannabis and impaired driving checks this rule.

What happens when a new driver breaks a GDL rule?

What happens when a new driver breaks a GDL rule?
What happened	What can follow
Alcohol or drugs in the system (zero alcohol and drug rule)	An immediate 24-hour roadside suspension, a DI&C record review for an additional suspension, and a driver's licence reinstatement charge
Another GDL restriction, such as a passenger or supervisor rule	A DI&C record review. It can lead to an additional suspension, a remedial driving course at your cost or more licence restrictions
A conviction for a driving offence, or a collision	A DI&C record review with the same possible outcomes

What if I break a passenger or supervisor rule?

Under section 26.1(3) of The Highway Traffic Act, a novice driver who breaks a condition or restriction of the licence commits an offence. A novice or supervising driver who breaks a rule in the novice driver regulations commits an offence too. The penalties are in section 239 of the Act. This penalty does not stop a licence suspension or cancellation under other parts of the Act.

Learner and intermediate rules that new drivers break

You hold a learner licence and drive a Class 5 vehicle with no supervising driver in it

The law says a learner-stage novice driver cannot operate a Class 5 vehicle unless a supervising driver is in it. See the guide to the supervising driver rules.

You hold a learner licence and a friend sits in the front seat next to the supervising driver

The law allows no one else in the front seat except the supervising driver.

You hold an intermediate licence and carry two passengers from midnight to 5:00 a.m. with no supervising driver

The law allows no more than one passenger in that period unless a supervising driver is in the vehicle.

A charge says your supervising driver did not qualify

The law gives a defence if you show that you took all reasonable measures to comply with the regulations.

What are tiered and three-month suspensions?

For any driver, a blood alcohol concentration of .05 to .079, a "warn" on a screening device, or a failed drug screening test, physical coordination test or drug recognition evaluation brings an immediate Tiered Administrative Licence Suspension. Its length depends on earlier suspensions in a 10-year period. A DI&C intervention may follow, from a warning letter to a further suspension.
A blood alcohol concentration of .08 or over, a "fail" on a screening device, or a refusal to give a breath, saliva or blood sample brings an immediate three-month suspension. Both suspensions also bring a reinstatement charge.

Tiered suspension lengths in a 10-year period

Tiered suspension lengths in a 10-year period
Occurrence	Licence suspension
First	72 hours
First, with a person under 16 in the vehicle	7 days
Second	15 days
Third	30 days
Fourth and later	60 days

How the Driver Safety Rating scale works for a new driver

With your first Manitoba licence, you start at the "base" level of the Driver Safety Rating (DSR) scale.
Each year of safe driving after that moves you up the scale.
Traffic convictions, at-fault claims and alcohol- or drug-related administrative suspensions move you down the scale.
In most cases, a move down the scale means higher premiums.
A tiered or three-month suspension moves you five levels down. The free question page on tiered suspension effects checks this rule.
MPI says a conviction for using a hand-operated electronic device while driving brings a CAD 672 fine and five levels down. The guide to the Manitoba cellphone driving penalty has the full rule.

Who is a novice driver for the DI&C Program?

For the Driver Improvement and Control Program, a novice driver has not held a Full Stage licence for more than one year. This includes Learner and Intermediate Stage drivers and drivers in the first year of the Full Stage. An experienced driver has held a Full Stage licence for at least one year.
For novice drivers, DI&C interventions start earlier than for experienced drivers. They can follow an at-fault collision, a traffic conviction, a serious driving offence charge, a 24-hour roadside suspension or a tiered suspension. The interventions depend on your driving behaviour, not on your age or gender.

Can I lose insurance coverage or appeal a suspension?

If you break the zero alcohol and drug rule or another GDL restriction, you may be denied insurance coverage.
A DI&C review after a GDL breach can end in a licence suspension. You may appeal that suspension to the Licence Suspension Appeal Board on the grounds of exceptional hardship.

Key Takeaways

A new driver in Manitoba cannot drive with any alcohol in the blood, or with a drug that screening equipment detects, in Class 5L, Class 5I and the first 36 months of Class 5F.
A breach brings an immediate 24-hour roadside suspension, a DI&C record review and a reinstatement charge.
Tiered suspensions run from 72 hours to 60 days. A three-month suspension applies at .08 or over, a "fail" or a refused sample. Both move you five levels down the DSR scale.
A DSR drop means higher premiums in most cases, and a GDL breach may lead to denied insurance coverage.
Next step: practise on the free Manitoba Class 5 practice test.

Manitoba new driver penalties: common questions

Is it illegal to drive high in Manitoba if cannabis is legal?

Yes. Cannabis is legal to use in Canada, but it is illegal to drive when you are impaired by THC. Any driver who fails a drug screening test, physical coordination test or drug recognition evaluation gets an immediate tiered suspension. For a new driver, a drug result at or above the screening threshold on approved drug screening equipment also breaks the zero drug rule.

What happens if I fail or refuse a roadside breath test in Manitoba?

A "fail" on a screening device, or a refusal to give a breath, saliva or blood sample to police, brings an immediate three-month Administrative Licence Suspension. You may also face enhanced roadside sanctions: an administrative penalty, vehicle impoundment, one year in the Ignition Interlock Program and a drop of 10 levels on the Driver Safety Rating scale.

Does the zero alcohol rule end when I am no longer a novice driver?

No. The Drivers and Vehicles Act says a driver stops being a novice after at least 12 months in the Full Stage. The zero alcohol and drug rule lasts longer. It applies for the first 36 months in the Full Stage, so a Class 5F driver in the second or third year must still drive with no alcohol and no drugs.

Do I need an addictions assessment after two suspensions?

Yes, after tiered suspensions. A driver who gets two or more Tiered Administrative Licence Suspensions in a 10-year period must complete an Impaired Driver Assessment at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM). The driver pays for the assessment. A three-month suspension also brings a mandatory Impaired Driver Assessment at the driver's expense.