Driving Tests

Nova Scotia Class 5N Rules: Curfew, Passengers and Zero Alcohol

informational·how to guide·Published October 13, 2026·Updated October 20, 2026

What are the Class 5N rules in Nova Scotia?

A Nova Scotia Class 5N driver cannot drive from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless a supervising driver is the only passenger, or the Registrar gives written authorization for work, school, volunteer firefighting or ground search and rescue, with no passenger. Carry 1 front passenger at most, and no more rear passengers than seat belts. Blood alcohol must be 0 mg, and 6 demerit points mean a suspension.

Where the Class 5N rules come from

The rules come from the Driver's Licence Regulations (N.S. Reg. 226/2026) and the Driver Licensing Requirements Regulations (N.S. Reg. 236/2026), in force from October 19, 2026, under the Traffic Safety Act, which repealed the Motor Vehicle Act. The novice driver term comes from the Interpretation Regulations (N.S. Reg. 221/2026), and the demerit steps from the Traffic Safety Act. The curfew form and its fee come from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Newly Licensed Driver page. This guide is current as of 2026, and it follows the regulations where an older RMV page words a rule differently. Confirm the rules with the Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles (novascotia.ca) before you drive.

Class 5N rules at a glance

Class 5N rules at a glance
Rule	What it means
Curfew	No driving on a highway from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless one of two exceptions applies
Passengers	No more than 1 in the front seat; in the rear, no more than the rear seat belts
Alcohol	0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood
Drugs	No drugs in your body, except drugs you may legally use for a medical purpose
Supervising	A 5N driver cannot act as a supervising driver
Vehicles	Class 5 vehicles, but not 3-wheeled motor vehicles, farm tractors or farm machines
Suspension	6 demerit points
Length	At least 24 months before a full Class 5 licence

Can you drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on a Class 5N?

A supervising driver sits in the front passenger seat, and there is no other passenger

Yes. The supervising driver must hold a valid licence for the vehicle and must not be a learner, a newly licensed driver or another novice driver.

You drive for work (including between home and work), to attend an educational institution, or to respond as a volunteer firefighter or ground search and rescue worker, and you carry no passenger

Yes, if you hold written authorization from the Registrar.

You hold the authorization, but a friend or family member rides with you

No. With the authorization, nobody else may be in the vehicle.

You drive home from a friend's house alone, with no authorization

No. A social trip is not an approved reason, so the curfew applies.

How to apply for the curfew authorization (Form APP33)

1
Check that your reason qualifies
The approved reasons are work (including the drive between home and work), attending an educational institution, and responding as a volunteer firefighter or ground search and rescue worker.
2
Complete and sign the application form
RMV guidance names Form APP33, the application for an exemption from the nighttime driving curfew, for a job reason. For a school, volunteer firefighter or ground search and rescue reason, ask the RMV which form to use. Fill in all parts of the form and sign it.
3
Send the form with the CAD 33.10 fee
Submit the signed form with the fee of CAD 33.10.
4
Carry the authorization when you drive
Keep the Registrar's written authorization with you when you drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., and show it to a peace officer on demand.

How many passengers can a Class 5N driver carry?

How many passengers can a Class 5N driver carry?
Situation	Passengers allowed
Any time except 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger in the front seat, and in the rear seats no more passengers than seat belts
12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., with a supervising driver	No other passenger besides the supervising driver
12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., with Registrar authorization	None

Zero alcohol and drugs for a newly licensed driver

The alcohol and drug condition is part of every licence held by a learner, a newly licensed driver or another novice driver. You must not drive with any alcohol in your blood: the limit is 0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. You must also not drive with any drug in your body that you may not legally use for a medical purpose. Test yourself with the free practice question on the Class 5N alcohol condition.

What a Class 5N driver cannot do

Act as a supervising driver. Learners, newly licensed drivers and other novice drivers cannot supervise.
Get a Class 4 licence, the class for vehicles for hire and ambulances. A Class 4 applicant must hold a Class 5 or Class 6 licence, "but not as a newly licensed driver".
Drive a public passenger vehicle or a vehicle for hire. The driver must be at least 19 years old and not a learner or a newly licensed driver.
Drive a 3-wheeled motor vehicle, a farm tractor or a farm machine. A Class 5N licence covers Class 5 vehicles, but not these vehicles.

Demerit points on a Class 5N licence

At 4 demerit points on a Class 5N licence, the Registrar may require you to attend a meeting with the Registrar or take part in a driver training program. At 6 points, your driving privilege must be suspended, and the suspension lasts 6 calendar months. The new driver demerit points guide explains when the 6 months start and how points come off your record.

How long the Class 5N stage lasts

You must hold a Class 5N licence for at least 24 months in total before you can get a full Class 5 licence. Time on a Class 6N licence also counts toward the 24 months. You must also complete one approved course or program, for example a Class 5 driver education course with at least 25 hours of theory and 10 hours in a vehicle. The guide to the full Class 5 licence explains the other courses and the steps.

Key takeaways

From 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., you need a supervising driver and no other passenger, or written Registrar authorization and no passenger.
Apply for the authorization with a CAD 33.10 fee. RMV guidance names Form APP33 for a job reason; for school or volunteer duty, ask the RMV which form to use.
Carry no more than 1 front passenger, and no more rear passengers than rear seat belts.
Zero alcohol, no drugs unless legally permitted for a medical purpose, and a suspension at 6 demerit points.
Next step: practise the rules on the free Nova Scotia Class 7 practice test.

Class 5N rules in Nova Scotia: common questions

Can a Class 5N driver drive alone in Nova Scotia?

Yes. The rule that requires a supervising driver applies to licensed learners. A Class 5N driver can drive a Class 5 vehicle alone at any time except from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. In those hours you need a supervising driver and no other passenger, or the Registrar's written authorization and no passenger.

Can I practise driving a large truck on a Class 5N licence?

Yes, for training and practice only, with a supervising driver who holds a licence for that vehicle. A Class 5N holder may practise in a vehicle of another class. This rule does not cover a motorcycle, a 3-wheeled motor vehicle or a public passenger vehicle.

How many friends can ride with me on a Class 5N licence?

At any time except 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., no more than 1 passenger can sit in the front seat, and in the rear seats you can carry no more passengers than there are seat belts. From 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., you can carry no passenger other than a supervising driver, or no passenger at all if you drive with the Registrar's written authorization.

Can I drive home from a late shift without the authorization?

No. Work is an approved reason, but you must also hold the Registrar's written authorization, have it with you and carry no passenger. Without it, you can drive from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. only with a supervising driver beside you and no other passenger.