Every person with that glowing green N on the back of their car knows the pains of getting your Class 7 license. Regardless, if you want to be a fully-fledged driver, you have to take your Class 5 test next. Although, it’s a total toss-up whether you’ll even be able to book your test, since ICBC themselves have acknowledged the backlog of drivers in the queue to book their exams.
Things might be changing, though. And hopefully for the better.
NO MORE (SECOND) ROAD TEST
Public Safety Minister Garry Begg announced that new legislation will remove the second road test required to move to a Class 5 license. This comes from the aforementioned test backlog that ICBC has been grappling with as of late. Due to an increase in demand and a lack of examiners to go around, some ICBC customers have been waiting up to multiple months just to book their driver’s licensing tests.
The removal of the second test is meant to reduce those waiting times.
THE NEXT STEPS
If this proposed legislation passes, then it means drivers holding a Class 7 license who maintain a clean driving record can then be promoted to a Class 5 license.
This comes with a caveat: N drivers will be under a 12-month restriction period where they will have to uphold that crystal-clean driving record. That means absolutely no infractions on their name, ranging from speeding to distracted driving, to other, more serious infractions.
With its approval, this legislation will kick into effect in early 2026. ICBC says that they will “provide more details in the months ahead” as we await more information.
GAMING THE SYSTEM
Since the legislation’s announcement, more and more N-drivers are electing to delay their final driving test. For some, it is because they have already maintained their novice license for many years, and so another year and a half of waiting will hardly change anything. For others, it is to avoid doing another test.
Many Redditors have expressed that they are “gaming the system” or have “played the long game” when it comes to their final road test.
Still, N drivers are welcome to book a test for their Class 5 license. It just depends on which waiting game you want to play.
What do you think about the new legislation?
