Driving Tests

How to Get Your Class 7 Level 1 Learner's Licence in New Brunswick (2026)

informational·how to guide·Published September 24, 2026

How do you get a Class 7 Level 1 learner's licence in New Brunswick?

You must be at least 16 years old. Under 18, you need parental consent witnessed by a non-relative. You pass the knowledge tests online or in person, wait at least four business days, then go to a Service New Brunswick (SNB) office for a vision test (20/40 best eye), proof of identification and proof of residency. Level 1 lasts at least 12 months, or 8 with a driver training course.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Government of New Brunswick pages on graduated licences, written and road tests and driver's licence fees, the Driver's Licence Testing Requirements, the Parental Consent Form and the Motor Vehicle Act, as of 2026. The test question counts come from the New Brunswick Driver's Handbook; where it differs from a newer gnb.ca page, this guide follows gnb.ca. Confirm the rules with Service New Brunswick (gnb.ca) before you drive.

The steps to a Class 7 Level 1 licence

1
Check your age
You must be at least 16 to apply. There is no upper age limit: anyone who applies for a first driver's licence, at any age, starts with a Class 7 Level 1 licence.
2
Get the consent form signed if you are under 18
A parent or a legally appointed guardian with legal custody signs the Parental Consent Form. A non-relative must witness the signature.
3
Take the knowledge tests
Take the tests online, or book an in-person test at an SNB office online or through TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600. You choose one option, not both. For the online test, you pay first and then get an access code that you can save and use later. As of August 1, 2026, the first attempt costs $25 (CAD).
4
Wait at least four business days
After you pass all the required tests, wait at least four business days before you visit an SNB office. This wait does not apply at the Campobello office.
5
Visit an SNB office
Pass a vision test (20/40 best eye). If you do not hold a licence yet, bring one proof of identification and two proofs of residency. Bring the signed consent form if you are under 18.
6
Start driving in Level 1
Once you pass every part of the exam except the road test, you can get your Class 7 Level 1 licence. It shows an "L" on the front. Finish within six months of the start of the process, because test results are valid for 6 months.

What is on the Class 7 Level 1 knowledge test?

For a Class 7 Level 1 licence, you take a road sign recognition exam and a rules of the road knowledge exam. The New Brunswick Driver's Handbook says the sign test has 20 signs: you must identify the stop, yield and school zone signs correctly and make no more than four errors on the other signs. The rules test has 20 multiple choice questions, and you need 16 correct answers to pass. Confirm the current test format with SNB. Speeds and distances on the test are in metric units only. The guide to the New Brunswick written test explains each part.

If you do not pass the knowledge test

You fail the first attempt

Wait one day, then try again.

You fail the second attempt

Wait one week before your third attempt.

You fail three attempts

Book an appointment to take the test in person at a Service NB Driver Examiner office.

The New Brunswick graduated licence at a glance

The New Brunswick graduated licence at a glance
Stage	How you get there	Minimum time
Class 7 Level 1	Pass the knowledge tests and the vision test	12 months, or 8 months with a driver training course
Class 7 Level 2	Pass the road test after your time in Level 1	12 months
Class 5 (full licence)	Apply for it after Level 2. No road test is needed	24 months in total on Levels 1 and 2

How a driver training course shortens Level 1

The 8-month option needs a licensed driver training course that you passed within the previous 2 years. You show the course's green certificate for the road test. The course is optional, and it does not shorten the whole program: your total time on Levels 1 and 2 stays at least 24 months. The practice question on when a Level 1 driver may take the road test checks this rule.

Class 7 Level 1 conditions in short

A supervising driver sits in the front passenger seat. That driver holds a Class 5 or better licence and has at least 3 years of driving experience.
No other passengers may ride with you.
You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
Zero alcohol and zero drugs. A breach brings a one-year suspension, and then you start the graduated licence period again.
The guide to Level 1 rules for passengers and night driving explains each condition.

Key takeaways

You must be at least 16. Under 18, you need parental consent witnessed by a non-relative.
Take the knowledge tests online or in person, then wait at least four business days before you visit an SNB office.
At the SNB office, pass the vision test (20/40 best eye) and show your identification and proofs of residency.
Level 1 lasts at least 12 months, or 8 months with a driver training course. Levels 1 and 2 together last at least 24 months.
Next step: practise on the free New Brunswick Class 7 Level 1 practice test. It is in English only.

Learner's licence in New Brunswick: common questions

Can I take the New Brunswick learner's licence test online?

Yes. You can take the knowledge tests online or in person, but you choose only one option. Online, you pay first and get an access code, and you can save the code to use later. After you pass, you still go to an SNB office for the vision test and your documents.

Is a Level 1 licence the same as a learner's permit?

Yes. A Level 1 licence is what people used to call a learner's permit, and it is a Class 7 licence. The Motor Vehicle Act calls Level 1 the stage one learner's licence and Level 2 the stage two learner's licence.

Can I get a Class 7 Level 1 licence if I am over 18?

Yes. Anyone who applies for a first driver's licence, at any age, starts with a Class 7 Level 1 licence. At 18 or older you do not need the consent form, but you still wait 12 months (or 8 with a driver training course) before the road test.

Can my parent take back their consent after I get my licence?

Yes. Before you turn 18, a parent or guardian may withdraw the consent at any time with a written application to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The Registrar may then cancel your licence. The practice question on written consent for applicants under 18 covers the basic rule.

I had a full licence in another country. Do I still wait 12 months in Level 1?

No, if you can prove it. The Level 1 waiting period before the road test is waived when you have proof that you held a full licence in any jurisdiction. Some exceptions to testing apply when you exchange a licence from another jurisdiction, so ask SNB about an exchange first.