Compare
Class 7 vs Class 5 road test
Side by side
| Class 7 road test | Class 5 road test | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | Every learner (Class 7L) going for an N | Some new residents, licences expired 3+ years, RoadSafetyBC re-exams |
| When you can take it | After 12 months as a learner (9 months if 25+) | After passing the knowledge test, for new residents |
| Length | About 35 minutes with feedback | About 40 minutes with feedback |
| Fee | $50 | $50 |
| Standard | Safe, smooth and controlled; not perfect | An experienced driver with excellent vehicle control |
| Pre-trip check | Controls, seatbelt, seat, mirrors, head restraints | Car safety check, controls and hand signals |
| Hazard perception | Assessed as a skill | You may be asked to name hazards out loud |
| Pass gets you | Class 7 novice (N) licence | Class 5 licence |
| Retake waits | 14, 30, then 60 days | 14, 30, then 60 days |
If you’re an N driver now
You probably don’t need the Class 5 road test. After 24 months of safe driving under 25 (18 months with an approved course) or 12 months of safe driving at 25+, with no prohibitions, suspensions, or speeding or device convictions, you pass a Driving Record Assessment at an ICBC office. You then hold a Class 5 with a zero alcohol/drug restriction for 12 months. Details on the N licence page.
Preparing for either test
Both tests mark the same see-think-do skills from Learn to Drive Smart, and ICBC’s Tuning up for drivers walks you through every manoeuvre. A few lessons with a licensed instructor can find habits your supervisor misses: ask local schools.
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.
Questions people ask
+Which is harder, the Class 7 or the Class 5 road test?
The Class 5. It expects excellent vehicle control and may ask you to point out hazards as you drive.
+Do I need both road tests in B.C.?
Not anymore for most drivers. Since October 19, 2026 the second road test was replaced by a Driving Record Assessment.
Sources
- ICBC, Get your N · checked October 26, 2026
- ICBC, Get your full licence · checked October 26, 2026
- ICBC, Changes to the Graduated Licensing Program · checked October 26, 2026
- ICBC, Driver licensing fees · checked October 26, 2026
- ICBC, Learn to Drive Smart: your guide to driving safely (PDF, March 2026 edition) · checked October 26, 2026
Updated October 26, 2026. Not affiliated with ICBC or the Government of British Columbia.
Keep going
- The ICBC Class 7 road testHow the ICBC Class 7 road test works: booking online, the $50 fee, the 48-hour cancellation rule, what to bring, vehicle checks and what the examiner looks for.
- The ICBC Class 5 road testSince October 19, 2026 most B.C. N drivers skip the Class 5 road test. Who still takes it, what the 40-minute test covers, the pre-trip check and the $50 fee.
- The N: B.C.’s novice licenceB.C. novice (N) licence rules after the October 2026 changes: passengers, N sign, zero alcohol, no phones, and the record check that replaced the second road test.