Class 7 Practice TestPractice test

Graduated licensing: stage 1

Class 7L: the B.C. learner’s licence

You can get your L on or after your 16th birthday by passing the ICBC knowledge test. The L lets you practise with a qualified supervisor while you build the skills for the Class 7 road test. ICBC updated the Graduated Licensing Program on October 19, 2026; the rules below are ICBC’s current ones.

Learner restrictions

From ICBC’s Get your L page. Learn to Drive Smart (March 2026 edition) still lists a supervisor age of 25; ICBC’s live page now says 22.
RuleWhat it means
Qualified supervisorSomeone 22 or older with a valid Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 without a zero BAC/BDC restriction, seated beside you.
PassengersOne passenger plus your supervisor. Immediate family don’t count toward the limit.
HoursNo driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
L signYour red, magnetic L sign on the back of the vehicle whenever you drive. Lost it? A replacement is free at any driver licensing office, or print ICBC’s temporary one.
Alcohol and drugsZero. Not one drink.
Electronic devicesNone, hand-held or hands-free, except to call 911. That includes GPS programming, choosing music and earbuds, even at a red light.

How long you stay a learner

  • At least 12 months before the Class 7 road test if you’re under 25.
  • At least 9 months if you’re 25 or older.
  • You must stay prohibition-free. A prohibition stops the clock until your licence is reinstated.
  • Your learner’s licence is valid for 2 years. If it expires you retake the knowledge test, but you don’t have to wait any extra time for the road test.

There’s no rush: ICBC says take the road test when you feel ready. Learn to Drive Smart suggests at least 60 hours of practice, and ICBC’s parents page breaks the year into milestones with about 20 hours each.

Insurance while you practise

Make sure you’re listed as a driver on your supervisor’s insurance, and on every vehicle you practise in. If you crash and aren’t listed, the owner could face ICBC’s Unlisted Driver Accident Premium.

Take a GLP course: up to 6 months off your N

If you’re under 25 and finish an ICBC-approved (GLP) driver training course during your L, you can take 6 months off the N stage later, as long as you have no at-fault crashes, violations or prohibitions in your first 18 months as an N. Approved courses have at least 32 hours of instruction, must be finished within a year, and can earn 2 high school credits. Ask a school about it through our driving school request.

Penalties

Breaking a learner restriction, or any other ticket or prohibition, brings graduated licensing penalties. One ticket can trigger a review of your record and a driving prohibition.

Next: your N

When your time is up and you’re ready, book the Class 7 road test. Pass it and you move to the novice (N) stage.

Free referral

Want a lesson or two before your road test?

Tell us your nearest ICBC office and what you need: a road test refresher, lessons from scratch, or a car for test day. We’ll pass it to up to three local driving schools.

Find a driving school

Questions people ask

+How old must my supervisor be?

22 or older, with a valid Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 licence and no zero alcohol/drug restriction, sitting beside you.

+How many passengers can a learner have in B.C.?

One passenger plus the supervisor. Immediate family don’t count toward the limit.

+Can a learner drive at night in B.C.?

Yes, except between midnight and 5 a.m.

+How long do I have to hold my L in B.C.?

12 months if you’re under 25, 9 months if you’re 25 or older, prohibition-free.

+How long is a B.C. learner’s licence valid?

2 years.

+Can I use Google Maps as a learner?

Not while driving. L drivers can’t use any electronic device, including GPS, except to call 911. Set the route before you go.

Sources

Updated October 26, 2026. Not affiliated with ICBC or the Government of British Columbia.

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