Common Q&A About Acquiring a License in British Columbia

Are you planning to drive in British Columbia, but you don’t have a driver’s license? Or maybe you’ve been a B.C resident, but you don’t know what it takes to acquire a driver’s license. If that’s you, we’ve done our homework to answer the most common questions most people ask about acquiring a driver’s license in British Columbia. Let’s get started!

Q. What do I need to apply for a driver’s license in British Columbia?

A. First, you need to be 16 years old and above to qualify for a learner’s license. Of course, you need to present valid documents to confirm your date of birth, residency status, and identity. Also, you need to pass a knowledge test by correctly answering 40 out of 50 multiple-choice questions. Once you’ve proved your knowledge of the road rules in British Columbia, you will be issued a learner’s license as the first step of the process.

Q. How long does it take to acquire a driver’s license in British Columbia?

A. Since British Columbia uses a graduated license system like most provinces in Canada, it will take you at least 3 years to acquire a full driver’s license if you have no prior experience.
To begin with, if you have a learner’s license, you’re required to use it for a minimum of 12 months before you can acquire a novice driver’s license. Once you’ve been issued a novice license, you can use it for 2 years before you graduate to a full driver’s license.
However, if you have an out-of-province driver’s license, it could take you less time to obtain a B.C driver’s license depending on your experience.

Q. Do I need to attend a driving school in British Columbia?

A. No. Applicants are not mandated by the law to enroll in driving schools in B.C to graduate. However, if you complete a credited driver’s ed course, you can qualify for the advanced road test with a novice driver’s license after 18 months.

Q. Can I drive in British Columbia with an out-of-province license?

A. Yes. If you have an out-of-province license, you can legally drive in British Columbia for up to 90 days. But if you’re an international student or a temporary foreign worker, you can use a foreign license to drive for 12 months.

Q. Can I exchange my country’s driver’s license for a British Columbia full driver’s license?

Yes. If you have a full driver’s license from your home country that was issued more than 2 years ago, you can exchange it for a British Columbia full driver’s license. However, for that to happen, you must be from a country with a reciprocal agreement with British Columbia.
To be specific, the countries with a reciprocal agreement with British Columbia include the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Japan, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, the Isle of Man, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, Jersey, South Korea, Taiwan, Guernsey, Austria, and Switzerland.
Visitors from non-reciprocal countries are required to take a driving test to obtain a driver’s license in British Columbia.

Q. Do I need a motorcycle license if I want to ride a scooter or moped in British Columbia?

No, you don’t need a motorcycle license to ride a moped or scooter in British Columbia; as long as it’s classified as a “limited speed motorcycle”. That means that your scooter or moped shouldn’t have a maximum speed of over 70 mph and an engine displacement that exceeds 50 cc.
Nevertheless, you need a class 5 or class 7 driver’s license to ride a scooter or moped in British Columbia. If your scooter or moped exceeds 70 mph or 50 cc engine displacement, you will require a motorcycle license.

Q. What if I want to drive a commercial bus or truck in British Columbia?

If you want to drive a truck or bus in British Columbia, you must first possess a full Class 5 driver’s license. After you’ve gained experience, you can apply for class 1, 2, or 3 licenses in B.C depending on which classification of truck or bus you want to drive. For instance, if you want to drive a semi-trailer truck, you can apply for a class 1 license but if you want to drive a school bus, you need a class 2 license.
On the other hand, if you want to drive a taxi, uber, ambulance, or limousine, you can legally do it using a class 4 license.

Q. What if I fail the B.C road test?

If you fail the B.C driving test, you still have another chance to retake it. Applicants who fail the first time can retake the road test after 14 days. If it’s your second attempt, you can book another appointment after 30 days. But if you fail more than twice, you retake the road test after 60 days.