# Class 7L: the B.C. learner’s licence > The B.C. learner’s licence (Class 7L) rules in 2026: supervisor 22+, one passenger, no driving midnight to 5 a.m., L sign, zero alcohol, and how long until your N. Canonical: https://class7practicetest.ca/class-7-learners-licence Last updated: 2026-10-26 You can get your L on or after your 16th birthday by passing the [ICBC knowledge test](https://class7practicetest.ca/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.* | Rule | What it means | | --- | --- | | Qualified supervisor | Someone 22 or older with a valid Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 without a zero BAC/BDC restriction, seated beside you. | | Passengers | One passenger plus your supervisor. Immediate family don’t count toward the limit. | | Hours | No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. | | L sign | Your 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 drugs | Zero. Not one drink. | | Electronic devices | None, 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](https://class7practicetest.ca/driving-schools). ## 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](https://class7practicetest.ca/icbc-road-test). Pass it and you move to the [novice (N) stage](https://class7practicetest.ca/n-licence-bc). ## 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 - [ICBC, Get your L](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/Get-your-L) (checked 2026-10-26) - [ICBC, Get your N](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/Get-your-N) (checked 2026-10-26) - [ICBC, Changes to the Graduated Licensing Program](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/graduated-licensing-program-changes) (checked 2026-10-26) - [ICBC, For parents of teen drivers](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/new-drivers/For-parents-of-teen-drivers) (checked 2026-10-26) - [ICBC, Learn to Drive Smart: your guide to driving safely (PDF, March 2026 edition)](https://www.icbc.com/assets/en/63cHBOAVpOAQGOOMBFhFbL/driver-full.pdf) (checked 2026-10-26) Not affiliated with ICBC or the Government of British Columbia. ## Related - [The ICBC knowledge test, step by step](https://class7practicetest.ca/icbc-knowledge-test) - [The ICBC Class 7 road test](https://class7practicetest.ca/icbc-road-test) - [The N: B.C.’s novice licence](https://class7practicetest.ca/n-licence-bc) - [Supervising a learner driver in B.C.](https://class7practicetest.ca/for/parents-supervising-a-learner)