Driving Tests

Class 7 Level 1 Rules in New Brunswick: Supervisor, Passengers, Night

informational·how to guide·Published September 18, 2026

What are the New Brunswick Class 7 Level 1 rules?

A New Brunswick Class 7 Level 1 driver must have a supervising driver in the seat beside them. That person needs a licence that is not a learner's licence, held for at least 3 years. No other passengers may ride along. You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. Alcohol and drugs are zero tolerance. These rules apply to every Level 1 driver, at any age.

Where these rules come from

New Brunswick sets the Level 1 conditions in section 84 of the Motor Vehicle Act. The Government of New Brunswick explains them on its graduated licences page, and the New Brunswick Driver's Handbook repeats them. The phone and impoundment rules come from the province's driver distraction and impaired driving pages. Where the wording differs, this guide follows the Act. The Act calls Level 1 and Level 2 the "stage one" and "stage two" learner's licence. Rules are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Service New Brunswick (gnb.ca) before you drive.

Who can sit with a Level 1 driver in New Brunswick?

A licensed driver must sit in the seat beside you. You cannot drive alone at any hour.
That driver must hold a valid licence that is not a learner's licence, and it must cover the type of vehicle you drive.
That driver must have held a licence for at least 3 years. It does not have to be a New Brunswick licence.
The Government of New Brunswick words this as one person with a Class 5 or better licence and at least 3 years of driving experience, in the front passenger seat.
If the vehicle has no seat beside the driver, a licensed driver must watch and supervise you from a seat inside the vehicle.

Can friends ride with a Level 1 driver?

No. Only your supervising driver may be in the vehicle with you. The Motor Vehicle Act says no other person may be in or on the vehicle. That covers friends, brothers and sisters, and anyone in the back seat, even when your supervisor sits beside you. Level 2 has its own passenger rules, which the guide to the Level 2 rules and the night driving exemption explains.

Can a Level 1 driver drive at night?

Yes, with your supervising driver beside you, but never between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. A supervising driver does not change this ban. Because the ban starts at midnight, a drive that begins at 11:30 p.m. must end before 12. The night driving exemption from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles is only for Level 2 drivers (the stage two licence).

Is there an emergency exception for a Level 1 driver?

Following the supervisor, passenger or midnight rule would have put you or someone in the vehicle under an immediate threat to health or safety

The Act gives you a defence if you are charged. You must be able to show that the threat existed or was likely to exist.

You want to drive late, or give a friend a ride home

No defence applies. Let your supervising driver drive, or wait until 5 a.m.

Alcohol and drugs for a Level 1 driver

The limit is zero for alcohol and for drugs. Under the Motor Vehicle Act, a Level 1 driver may not have any alcohol in the blood. The Act also bans a drug that the regulations name, when approved drug screening equipment can detect it. Even one drink before you drive breaks the rule. Test yourself with the free question on the alcohol and drug rule for a graduated licence.

What happens if a Level 1 driver breaks the zero tolerance rule?

What happens if a Level 1 driver breaks the zero tolerance rule?
Situation	Result
Any breach of the zero tolerance rule	A one-year suspension, then a return to the beginning of the graduated licence period. A passed road test or driver training course earns no credit.
Conviction for an alcohol or drug offence committed on a learner's licence	The Registrar revokes any licence you hold and suspends your driving privilege for at least one year. You start again at the beginning of stage one (Level 1).
The vehicle you drove	A mandatory seven-day impoundment for novice drivers who break the zero tolerance rule.

Phones and other devices

Phone rules are the same for every driver in New Brunswick. Using a hand-held device while you drive is illegal. You may make or take calls only with a hands-free or single-touch phone, and you may call 911 in an emergency. Texting is never allowed. You may look at a portable GPS screen, but you cannot program or handle it. A breach can bring a $340.50 fine and the loss of five points. Set your GPS before you leave, and ask your supervising driver to take calls for you.

How long Level 1 lasts

You reach Level 1 when you pass the written test. Your licence shows an "L" on the front.
The minimum age is 16. Applicants under 18 need parental consent witnessed by a non-relative.
You need at least 12 months in Level 1 before the Level 2 road test, or 8 months if you passed a licensed driver training course in the previous 2 years. The Level 2 road test guide covers the next step.
All new drivers spend at least 24 months in the graduated program before a full licence.

Key takeaways

A Level 1 driver always needs a supervising driver beside them who has held a licence for at least 3 years.
No other passengers may be in the vehicle.
You cannot drive from 12 midnight to 5 a.m., even with your supervising driver.
Alcohol and drugs are zero tolerance. A breach means a one-year suspension and a restart at the beginning of Level 1.
Next step: practise on the free New Brunswick Class 7 Level 1 practice test.

New Brunswick Level 1 rules: common questions

Can my mom or dad supervise me on a Level 1 licence?

Yes, a parent can supervise you if they meet the same conditions as any supervising driver. They must hold a valid licence that is not a learner's licence, for the type of vehicle you drive. They must have held a licence for at least 3 years, and they must sit in the seat beside you. No one else may ride along.

Can a friend with a Level 2 licence supervise me?

No. Level 2 is still a learner's licence (the stage two learner's licence), and your supervising driver must hold a licence that is not a learner's licence. The supervisor must also have held a licence for at least 3 years. A parent or another experienced driver who meets both conditions can supervise you instead.

Can I drive home from work after midnight on Level 1?

No. The ban from 12 midnight to 5 a.m. applies to every Level 1 driver, and a supervising driver does not change it. The work and school exception and the Registrar's night exemption are for Level 2 drivers only. If your shift ends late, ask your supervising driver to drive you, or arrange another ride.

Does the zero alcohol rule still apply if I am over 21?

Yes. New Brunswick puts every first-time driver on a Class 7 Level 1 licence, whatever the age, and the zero alcohol condition applies to every Level 1 driver. An adult who starts on Level 1 must keep zero alcohol and zero drugs while driving, the same as a 16-year-old.

Can I use hands-free calling on a Level 1 licence?

Yes. The phone law is the same for all drivers: you may make or take calls only if your phone is hands-free or single-touch, and you may call 911 in an emergency. You cannot hold or handle the phone, and texting is never allowed. You can also ask your supervising driver to take the call.