Driving Tests

Newfoundland and Labrador Class 5I Learner's Licence: Rules and Steps

informational·how to guide·Published July 1, 2026

How do I get a learner's licence in Newfoundland and Labrador?

You must be at least 16. Pass the written test with 85%, then attend an appointment for the vision test, photo and identity check. If you are under 19, a parent or guardian must sign. The Class 5I licence costs CAD 60 and is valid for two years. You hold it 12 months (8 with approved driver education) before the road test.

Where these rules come from

The rules in this guide come from the Motor Registration Division (MRD) of Newfoundland and Labrador: its Graduated Driver Licensing page, its licence application process page, the Driver's Handbook and the MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023). The law is the Highway Traffic Driver Regulations, 1999. Where a page words a rule differently, this guide follows the regulations. The rules are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Motor Registration Division (gov.nl.ca/motorregistration) before you drive.

Does the graduated licence program apply to adults?

Yes. The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program applies to all new drivers regardless of age, and you must complete it to get a driver's licence in the province. A 30-year-old first-time driver starts at Class 5I (Level I), the same as a 16-year-old. After Level I comes Class 5II (Level II). The registrar issues a full Class 5 licence only after you complete both levels.

How to get a Class 5I learner's licence, step by step

1
Check your age
You can apply from age 16. If you are under 19, you also need consent from a parent or guardian (see the next section).
2
Pass the written test
The test has questions on the rules of the road, safe driving and road signs, and the pass mark is 85%. You can take the Class 5, Level I test online on MyGovNL, the government portal. See how the online permit test works. A passed result is valid for six months.
3
Make an appointment
After you pass, make an appointment. You are not allowed to drive until you attend it. If you took the test online, you go to a Motor Registration office or a Government Service Centre, and your learner's permit is not valid until you do.
4
Bring original documents
You must show proof of age, identity and, if it applies, proof of your legal presence in Canada. All documents must be originals.
5
Take the vision test and pay the fee
At the appointment, staff validate your written result, test your vision, take your photo and examine your documents. You pay the fee for the permit at this visit: CAD 60 for a two-year Class 5I licence. There is no refund for a Class 5I licence.
6
Collect your temporary permit
You get a temporary permit at the appointment, and the card comes by mail. You are now a Class 5I novice driver, and the Level I rules below apply.

What parental consent do you need under 19?

If you are under 19, a parent or legal guardian must approve and sign your application before the MRD issues a learner's licence. For a first licence, the parent or guardian goes with you to a Motor Registration office and shows proof of guardianship. You do not need the signature if you can show documents that prove you are married or self-supporting.

Class 5I rules at a glance

Class 5I rules at a glance
Rule	What it means
Alcohol	0% blood alcohol content (BAC) for you and for your accompanying driver
Accompanying driver	Sits in the front seat next to you and has held a Class 5 licence, or its equivalent from another jurisdiction, for at least 4 years
Passengers	None, except the accompanying driver
Driving hours	No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
Sign	NOVICE DRIVER on the rear of the vehicle, in black letters at least 5 cm high on a white background

Can this person sit beside you as your accompanying driver?

Your friend got a Class 5 licence two years ago

No. The person must have held a Class 5 licence for at least 4 years.

Your uncle has held a Class 5 licence for ten years and has been drinking

No. The accompanying driver must have 0% BAC.

Your aunt has held a Class 5 licence from another province or country for 5 years

Yes, if she meets the other rules. The regulations accept a Class 5 licence or its equivalent from another jurisdiction.

Your parent meets every rule but wants to sit in the back seat

No. The accompanying driver must sit in the front seat, next to you.

Where to put the NOVICE DRIVER sign

The law asks for the sign in a conspicuous position on the rear of the vehicle. In the rear window, the lower corner directly behind the driver blocks the least of your view. The trunk or the rear bumper is also acceptable. Check yourself with the practice question on the novice sign.

How long is a Class 5I licence valid, and can you renew it?

A Class 5I licence is valid for two years from the date of issue. You can renew it at a Motor Registration office. If you let it expire for more than 12 months, you must pass the written test again before the MRD re-issues it.

How long before you can take the road test?

You have no approved driver education

Spend at least 12 months at Level I before the road test.

You finished an approved Driver Education Program

The time can drop to 8 months.

You are close to the end of your two-year Class 5I period

Make your road test appointment before the period ends. Bring a valid Class 5I licence.

What happens at the road test?

To leave Level I, you must pass an on-road test. It takes about 30 minutes, and the fee for the Class 5 and 6 road test is CAD 78. If you pass, you move from Class 5I to Class 5II. See what to expect on the Class 5 road test.

What if a Class 5I driver breaks the rules?

Breaking a Level I rule is an offence with a fine under the regulations. If police find you over 0% BAC, they suspend your licence at the roadside, and you must complete an Alcohol Education Program. A novice driver can have only six demerit points in one year before a suspension. After any suspension, you must apply to the Registrar to get your licence back. Level I then starts again from the beginning, so your wait for the road test restarts.

Key takeaways

The GDL program applies to every new driver, whatever the age. You can apply from age 16; under 19, a parent or guardian must sign.
Pass the written test (85%), then attend your appointment for the vision test, photo and identity check. Do not drive before that appointment.
Level I rules: 0% BAC, an accompanying driver with 4 years as Class 5 in the front seat, no other passengers, no driving from midnight to 5 a.m., and a NOVICE DRIVER sign.
The licence costs CAD 60 and is valid for two years. Wait 12 months (8 with approved driver education) before the road test.
Next step: practise on the free Newfoundland and Labrador Class 5I practice test. It is in English only.

Class 5I learner's licence in Newfoundland and Labrador: common questions

Who can ride with me when I have my Class 5I?

Only your accompanying driver. Friends and brothers or sisters may not ride along. The law has two exceptions for driver education: a parent or guardian may ride while an authorized driving instructor teaches you, and when the instructor is your accompanying driver, up to 3 other learners may sit in the back seat for the lesson. Test yourself with the question on Class 5I passengers.

Can I drive after midnight with my learner's licence?

No. A Class 5I driver may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. The rule applies even when your accompanying driver sits beside you. Plan evening practice so that you are off the road before midnight.

Does my accompanying driver have to be a parent?

No. Any driver can accompany you if that person has held a Class 5 licence, or its equivalent from another jurisdiction, for at least 4 years, has 0% BAC and sits in the front seat next to you. A grandparent, a family friend or an older brother or sister can do it.

Do I keep the NOVICE DRIVER sign on when my parent drives the car?

No. Show the sign only when a driver with a learner's permit drives the vehicle. Take it down when your parent or another driver uses the car alone, and put it back on the rear before your next practice drive.

Can my parents withdraw their consent?

Yes. A parent or legal guardian can withdraw consent in writing at any time before you turn 19. If they do, your driving privileges are suspended. The regulations also let another person whom the registrar accepts sign the application in place of a parent or legal guardian.