Last updated: September 28, 2026 · Sources: B.C. government news release (July 20, 2026) and ICBC
The short version
- From October 19, 2026, B.C. drops the second road test (the Class 5 “exit” test).
- Instead, ICBC looks at your driving record. Keep it clean and you move up to Class 5.
- Many eligible drivers will get a one-time automatic upgrade, with no office visit needed.
- New Class 5 drivers then spend 12 months on a restricted licence with zero alcohol and zero drugs.
- The first road test stays. You still need it to get your N.
For more than two decades, getting a full driver’s licence in British Columbia meant passing two road tests. The first gets you your N. The second, often the more stressful one, gets you to Class 5.
That second test is going away. On July 20, 2026, the Province announced a set of changes to the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP), and they take effect on October 19, 2026. Here is what changes, who it affects, and what to do if you’re an N driver right now.
One test day is replaced by your whole N period
Under the new rules, ICBC won’t judge you on a single morning behind the wheel. It will look at how you actually drove during your novice stage, through a Driving Record Assessment.
The government’s reasoning is simple. “Evidence shows that driving experience gained over time predicts long-term safety as reliably as a single road test,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The Province also points out that nearly all jurisdictions worldwide don’t use a second road test, and that three of the four Canadian provinces with the lowest motor vehicle fatality rates don’t have an exit test.
So this isn’t a lower bar. It’s a different one. Instead of one test, your record is watched through your N stage and then through a new restricted Class 5 stage.
Before and after, side by side
For a driver under 25:
| Stage | Before Oct 19, 2026 | From Oct 19, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Learner (L) | 12 months | 12 months (no change) |
| First road test | Required for your N | Still required (no change) |
| Novice (N) | 24 months, or 18 with an approved GLP course | 24 months, or 18 with an approved GLP course (no change) |
| Second road test | Required for Class 5 | Gone. Replaced by a Driving Record Assessment |
| Restricted Class 5 | Didn’t exist | New: 12 months, zero alcohol and zero drugs |
| Full Class 5 | Right after the second test | After the 12-month restricted period |
How the Driving Record Assessment works
It is not another in-car test. It’s a check of your record. According to ICBC, you must meet all of these:
✅ Enough safe driving. Under 25: at least 24 months, or 18 months if you completed an ICBC-approved GLP course as a learner. 25 or older: at least 12 months.
✅ No convictions for excessive speeding or using an electronic device during that period.
✅ No driving prohibitions or suspensions during that period.
Here’s the part that matters most day to day: a conviction for excessive speeding or electronic device use restarts your novice period. One phone ticket can cost you months.
Good news for many N drivers
The Province says eligible drivers may get a one-time, automatic upgrade from Class 7 to Class 5 when the rules start, with no need to visit an office. Drivers who don’t get the automatic upgrade can complete the assessment at any ICBC driver licensing office, Service BC office or driver licensing agent. ICBC will send letters to drivers in the program this fall explaining exactly what applies to them.
The new 12-month restricted Class 5
Passing the assessment doesn’t mean full privileges on day one. You first get a Class 5 with a 12-month restricted period. The Province has confirmed that during those 12 months:
- you must have zero blood alcohol and zero drugs in your system when driving, and
- any violations get more scrutiny than they would for an experienced driver.
Still waiting on ICBC
ICBC hasn’t yet published a few details: whether you keep displaying the N sign during the restricted period, how passenger limits work during it, whether the assessment has a fee, and exactly how and when the restriction comes off. We’ll update this article when those are announced.
A faster route if you’re 25 or older
Research shows new drivers aged 25 and up crash less than drivers aged 16 to 24. So the Province is giving them a shorter path:
- Learner stage: 9 months instead of 12
- Novice stage: 12 months instead of 24
That’s a big deal for newcomers to Canada who are learning to drive as adults. It could cut a full year or more off the process. ICBC hasn’t explained how the rules apply if you turn 25 partway through, so check your ICBC letter.
Other changes arriving the same day
- Parental consent age drops from 19 to 18. If you’re 18 and were waiting for a parent or guardian to sign, you won’t need that signature anymore.
- Immediate family exemption for passenger limits. This is meant to help larger families and people in First Nations, rural and remote communities get more practice. The details haven’t been published yet.
- Motorcycles are next. These changes cover the car path (Class 7 to Class 5). Separate changes to the Motorcyclist Licensing Program take effect in 2027.
Already have a Class 5 road test booked?
If your test is on or after October 19, 2026, ICBC will cancel it and email you with next steps.
If your test is before October 19, you have a real choice to make:
| Take the test now if… | Wait for October 19 if… |
|---|---|
| An employer, insurer or rental company needs a full, unrestricted Class 5 soon. Check their exact wording.
You want to skip the new 12-month restricted period, including its zero-alcohol rule. |
Test-day nerves are your biggest obstacle.
Your record is clean and you expect to qualify for the assessment, possibly with the automatic upgrade. |
Either way, the rule that matters most doesn’t change: keep your record clean. Under the new system, your driving record is your test.
What driving schools should tell students
- The first road test now carries everything. It’s the only road test left in the program. Failing it delays every step after it.
- The 18-month route is a selling point. An ICBC-approved GLP course still cuts the novice stage from 24 to 18 months for drivers under 25, one of the fastest legal paths to Class 5.
- Lessons now protect a record, not just prepare for an exam. One speeding or phone conviction restarts the clock.
- Talk about the restricted period early. Students should hear about zero alcohol and zero drugs for 12 months before they qualify, not after.
- Don’t give blanket advice to students with tests booked. Walk through the trade-offs above, and wait for ICBC’s letters before advising on N signs, fees or how the restriction ends.
For most new drivers in B.C., this is a welcome change. The stressful exit test disappears, adults get a faster path, and the reward for driving carefully is clear. The trade-off is a year of stricter rules after you upgrade, and less room for mistakes along the way. Watch your mailbox this fall: ICBC’s letter will tell you exactly where you stand.
Sources: Government of B.C., “Supporting road safety, streamlining licensing for new drivers” (news release, July 20, 2026); ICBC, “Changes are coming to the Graduated Licensing Program” and road test booking information. This article is general information. Check your ICBC letter or icbc.com for rules that apply to you.
