Guides for ICBC knowledge test candidates
Clear, up-to-date guides that walk you through booking your test, the day itself, BC road signs, and how the Graduated Licensing Program works for drivers and riders.
How to book your ICBC knowledge test
The ICBC knowledge test must be booked by appointment at a driver licensing office, and you can book online or in person. The test costs $15 and is free for seniors aged 65 and older. It has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 40 correctly to pass. The test is offered in 12 languages, and you must bring two pieces of accepted identification to your appointment.
Read the guide →What to expect at the ICBC driver licensing office
A knowledge test visit to an ICBC driver licensing office follows a predictable sequence: check-in, a vision screening, the touch-screen test, your result, and a licence photo if you pass. The test has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need 40 correct to pass. Most visits take roughly an hour from arrival to leaving. If you pass, you leave the same day as a Class 7L learner driver.
Read the guide →ICBC road signs explained
British Columbia road signs fall into four main groups: regulatory signs, warning signs, construction signs, and information or guide signs. You can identify most signs by their shape and colour before you even read the words. The ICBC knowledge test includes road sign questions, and a portion of those use the sign image alone with no text. Learning the sign system by category is the fastest way to recognise any sign correctly under test conditions.
Read the guide →Class 7L, 7N and 5: BC licence classes explained
British Columbia uses a Graduated Licensing Program with three stages for car drivers: Class 7L learner, Class 7N novice, and full Class 5. New drivers hold the Class 7L for at least 12 months, then pass a road test for the Class 7N, which is held for at least 24 months before the Class 5 road test. Both the L and N stages require zero blood alcohol and drugs, prohibit electronic devices, and carry passenger limits. A full Class 5 licence removes the learner and novice restrictions.
Read the guide →Motorcycle licensing in BC, step by step
Motorcycle licensing in British Columbia follows the Graduated Licensing Program with three stages: Class 6L learner, Class 6N novice, and full Class 6. Riders pass a knowledge test for the Class 6L, then the Motorcycle Skills Test, then a road test for the Class 6N, and finally an advanced road test for the full Class 6. Each stage carries restrictions on passengers, riding hours, and gear, and the learner and novice stages require zero blood alcohol and drugs. An approved Department of Motor Vehicles helmet is mandatory for every rider.
Read the guide →