- B.C. announced yesterday that driver’s licence changes would be coming into effect later this year, in October 2026.
- Effective Oct. 19, 2026, drivers with a Class 7 novice or Class 7, 8 novice licence and a clean driving record do not have to take a second road test to get a Class 5 licence with restrictions.
- Instead of the second road test, drivers will be subject to a Driving Record Assessment, where they must demonstrate safe driving to be eligible to upgrade their licence, followed by a 12-month restriction period.
- The changes have prompted some interesting reactions, including from some who feel roads will be less safe, and it also revealed that many never even bothered taking the second road test, holding on to their 'N' for years.
- In October 2025, when the licensing changes were first pushed through legislation, critics said the absence of a ticket did not equal an indicator of a good driver.
- ICBC says that the Graduated Licensing Program was introduced over 25 years ago and that it is time it made changes to align with evolving road safety practices in other jurisdictions.
- The province says nearly all jurisdictions worldwide do not have a second road test in their graduated licensing program, including three of the four provinces in Canada with the lowest motor-vehicle crash death rates.
- Some public reactions included concerns about safety, with one reader commenting, “They give out licences like candy, most people should absolutely not be on the road, and now they’re making it easier.”
- Conversely, some expressed support for the changes, with one reader stating, “It’s a complete waste of time, and backlogs driving tests. There are huge waits because of this Good driving comes with practice.”
British Columbia's decision to remove the second road test for novice drivers, effective October 19, 2026, has sparked diverse reactions.
The province aims to streamline the licensing process, allowing drivers with a clean record to upgrade to a full Class 5 licence after a Driving Record Assessment.3
ICBC states, “Evidence shows that driving experience gained over time predicts long-term safety as reliably as a single road test,” according to Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general.6
The new process requires drivers to demonstrate 24 months of safe driving behavior before receiving their full licence, followed by a 12-month restricted period where they cannot have any alcohol or drugs in their system while driving.
Critics argue that the absence of a second road test could lead to unsafe drivers on the road. “What we do know is the class five road test does work, because it makes it that so a driver who cannot pass that test does not move on with less restrictions,” said Kate Harris, CEO of DriveWise BC.
Supporters of the change believe it will alleviate long wait times for road tests and reduce barriers for those in rural areas. “It’s a complete waste of time, and backlogs driving tests,” commented one reader.10
The province notes that “nearly all jurisdictions worldwide do not have a second road test in their graduated licensing program,” including Alberta, which recently dropped its requirement.7
The changes reflect a shift in policy aimed at improving accessibility while maintaining road safety standards.
“Instead of a second road test, drivers with a clean record will undergo a Driving Record Assessment and then face a 12-month restricted period. Minister Nina Krieger argued that driving experience over time predicts safety as reliably as a single road test, and the change will also reduce barriers in rural and Indigenous communities.”
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