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Alberta handbook · chapter 1 · 18 min read

Licensing Information

Licensing Information Graduated driver licensing Regardless of age, all new drivers are part of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. This program ensures new drivers get the support, skills, and experience they need to handle the complex task of driving. GDL improves road safety by creating a safe and controlled environment for all new drivers.

As a GDL driver, you will hold one of the following driver’s licences:

Stage 1: Learner (Class 7) To obtain a Class 7 learner’s licence you must:

 be 14 years of age or older  pass a vision screening  pass a knowledge test on the rules of the road

 have parental consent if you are under 18 years of age

 have valid identification.

Learner’s conditions:

Stage 2: GDL Probationary (Class 5-GDL) To become a probationary driver you must:

 hold your Class 7 leaner’s licence for a year (this time will be extended if you receive a suspension of your driving privileges)

 be 16 years of age or older  pass the Alberta Class 5 road test.

Probationary conditions:

(non-GDL) To exit the GDL program you must:

 be at least 18 years of age  be in the probationary stage for a minimum of two years

 be free of suspensions or traffic violations within the last 12 months of the probationary stage, including zero alcohol and/or drug level when driving.

You can reduce your probationary stage by up to six months, if:

When you pass the knowledge test you must take the knowledge test permit you purchased to do the test to a registry agent to ensure your driver’s licence is updated.

The Class 7 electronic driver knowledge test is available in the following 25 languages:

• Hindi • Italian • Korean • Oromo • Polish

There is a fee for each knowledge test that you take, and you can take only one test per day.

Vision requirements A vision assessment is required before you are eligible to obtain an Alberta driver’s licence. If you do not meet the vision standards, you will be referred to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to have a Vision Referral form completed. If you have corrective glasses or contact lenses, bring them with you for your vision assessment.

Class 5 road test The vehicle for your road test must be in acceptable working condition and must have the following:

Passing the Class 5 road test allows drivers to move from a Class 7 learner’s licence to a Class 5-GDL driver’s licence. This test determines whether a learner has developed the necessary driving skills such as safe vehicle handling, judgement, and knowledge of the rules of the road to become a Class 5-GDL probationary driver. • enough fuel for a road test.

When you pass the Class 5 road test you must take the road test permit you purchased to do the test to a registry agent to ensure your driver’s licence is updated. The road test permit is not a driver’s licence. • determining right-of-way at intersections and while changing lanes

This road test is approximately 45 minutes. This will include the driver examiner’s pre-test instructions and summary of your results. You will be required to demonstrate the ability to operate your vehicle safely without supervision while interacting with other road users. • exhaust system/muffler • mirrors

The test will include identifying and operating your vehicle’s controls. This includes:

• demonstrating knowledge and skill at intersections with and without sign and signal controls • interacting with other road users in a non-obstructive manner • parking – perpendicular, uphill, or downhill parking, and parallel (drivers over 65 are not required to complete a parallel park).

Some common reasons for not passing the road test Drivers earn points for mistakes made during a road test, with a set limit for each test. If the maximum points for errors are exceeded, the driver fails the test. Regardless of point totals, the following actions result in automatic failure:

Class 7 (GDL) A person 14 years of age or older may apply for a learner driver’s licence.

A parent or guardian must give consent on the application if the person applying is under 18 years of age. For learning and while accompanied by a fullly-licensed driver, the holder of a Class 7 driver’s licence may operate the following:

Class 5-GDL The minimum licensing age is 16 years.

Anyone under the age of 18 years applying for a driver’s licence must have parental or guardian consent.

The holder of a Class 5-GDL driver’s licence may operate the following:

• a vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination that the holder of a Class 5 driver’s licence may operate.

Class 5 non-GDL The minimum licensing age is 18 years. The holder of a Class 5 non-GDL driver’s licence may operate the following:

• a vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination that the holder of a Class 5 driver’s licence may operate.

Vehicles that may be operated with a Class 5 driver’s licence:

A Class 4 driver’s licence is NOT required when the vehicle owner or operator, or the operator’s employer, drives a private passenger vehicle for the transportation of passengers on an incidental or occasional basis and receives compensation for:

· members of the operator’s household

· persons for whom the operator is a legal guardian.

Air brake endorsement (Q) When a person successfully completes an approved Alberta air brake course through an authorized agency, an air brake endorsement (Q) will be placed on that driver’s licence.

An air brake endorsement is required for drivers of vehicles with:

Driver examiner Driver examiners are responsible for ensuring only qualified individuals receive a driver’s licence. Road tests must be conducted only by persons designated by the Government of Alberta as driver examiners.

Registry agent offices are the primary sites for road tests to begin and end. On a road test, no passengers or pets are allowed. An exemption to this is when an examiner is accompanied by a government official during a training or monitoring session.

Class 4, 5, and 6 road tests are delivered by licensed driver examiners through Alberta registry agents on behalf of the Government of Alberta. Licensed driver examiners are trained, licensed, monitored, and audited by the government. Road tests can be scheduled through an Alberta registry agent. through the online scheduling system.

More information on road tests is available online at: www.alberta.ca/drivers- road-test.aspx

Driver’s licence A driver’s licence is required to operate a motor vehicle and is issued pursuant to the Traffic Safety Act. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person’s driver’s licence is in that person’s possession. On the request of a peace officer, a person driving a motor vehicle shall produce their subsisting driver’s licence, insurance, and registration. Ensure that these documents are with you every time you operate a motor vehicle.

Applying for your Alberta driver’s licence Driver licensing services are provided through the Alberta registry agent network.

When applying for an Alberta driver’s licence you must provide identification.

For information on identification requirements visit: www.alberta.ca/id- requirements-for-identification-cards.aspx

A driver’s licence may only be issued to residents of Alberta. A resident is a person lawfully entitled to be in Canada, who makes their home in Alberta and is ordinarily present in Alberta.

Class 1, 2, and 3 commercial road tests are conducted by Government of Alberta driver examiners and can be scheduled through an Alberta registry agent or online

Applicants originating from outside Canada or the United States must produce suitable immigration documents to be considered as residents.

Parental consent requirement Minors (under 18) applying for a driver’s licence for the first time must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them to a registry office, show proof of guardianship, and sign a consent form. The guardian has the right to revoke their consent in writing until the minor turns 18. If revoked, the licence will be suspended. A parent/guardian signature is not needed if the minor provides proof of marriage or self-support.

Non-Alberta licen C e for tourists and visitors Visitors to Alberta with a valid out-of- province licence or permit for a specific vehicle class are allowed to drive the same class of vehicle in Alberta without obtaining a local licence for up to one year. Applicants for Class 1, 2, or 4 licences must provide a medical report and pass a vision screening.

For more information on exchanging a licence from another province, visit: www. alberta.ca/exchange-non-alberta-licences. aspx

From the United States Licence holders from the United States, other than those holding Class 5, 6, or 7, must complete all requirements.

You must present proof-of-residency documents when applying. For details, inquire at your local registry agent office.

Jurisdictions with reciprocal licensing agreements Alberta currently has reciprocal licensing agreements with the following jurisdictions:

Depending on the class of licence, driver’s licence equivalency restrictions may apply to individuals exchanging a driver’s licence from another jurisdiction within Canada. • Taiwan (Class 5) • United Kingdom (Northern Ireland – Class 5 and 6) • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, and Wales – Class 5). A valid licence from a jurisdiction that has a reciprocal licensing agreement with Alberta can be exchanged for a Class 5 licence when the applicant presents a valid licence of equivalent class.

All other licence classes require testing and vision screening. The applicants must disclose all medical conditions and physical disabilities that may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. All applicants must produce immigration and residency documentation along with acceptable identification.

Jurisdictions without reciprocal licensing agreements A person coming to Alberta from outside Canada may apply to have their previous driving history credited to their Alberta driving record. A successful application will grant exemption from the GDL program and allow for Class 5 road testing without being required to hold a Class 7 learner’s licence for one year. More information about the process for exchanging a licence from a non- reciprocal jurisdiction is available at any registry agent office.

Students A student is not required to obtain an Alberta driver’s licence when operating a motor vehicle if the following apply:

A person 75 years of age or older, who applies for a driver’s licence, or is renewing their existing driver’s licence, must provide a Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form, and have their vision assessed at an Alberta registry agent office. The Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form must be completed and signed by a physician or a nurse practitioner.

You may be requested to provide a medical report, regardless of your age, to determine your medical fitness to operate a motor vehicle.

The basic road test may be requested, for any driver, if there are concerns about their medical fitness.

• The student must carry proof showing that they are a full-time student in this province.

Driver’s Licence Classes

A person who applies for, or renews, a Class 1, 2, or 4 driver’s licence must provide a completed Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form. This will be required every five years to age 45, then every two years until the age of 65, and annually thereafter.

Condition codes and endorsements

Condition codes A condition code may be added to a driver’s licence to indicate special requirements. For example, all drivers must meet specific vision requirements to operate a vehicle. If you require glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision to meet these standards, you will have a condition code on your driver’s licence indicating this requirement. Some drivers may require a medical examination by a doctor or a nurse practitioner, which would also be indicated by a condition code.

In more extreme situations, a change in a person’s situation can make it impossible to safely operate a vehicle. These situations are not common, but do mean that the person is not able to be licensed to operate a vehicle. Each condition or endorsement corresponds to a letter code which may be shown on the driver’s licence. Conditions and endorsements specific to you are placed on the front of the licence, in the Cond/End section. Some of the condition codes and endorsements have an explanation on the back of the driver’s licence. Driver licence condition codes:

A Adequate Lenses

B Special Conditions

C Periodic Medical*

D Periodic Vision Report*

E Periodic Driver Examination*

F Valid Temporary Licence

G Temporary Resident

H Daylight Driving Only

J Outside Mirrors

K Automatic Transmission

L Hand Controls

M Under Transportation and Economic Corridors Review*

N Excludes Class 2 and 4

P Testing to be conducted by Provincial Examiner only*

T Special Medical*

Driver licence endorsements:

Endorsement codes Q Air Brakes

An endorsement code on a driver’s licence shows that the person has had specific education or training, such as completing a novice driver education course or a course specific to operating a school bus. An endorsement may also indicate that the person is permitted to drive a vehicle that has a specific feature, such as a vehicle with air brakes. S School Bus

V Extended Length Vehicle Combinations

U Completed Driver Education Course*

*Do not appear on the driver’s licence Re-classing your licence When re-classing your driver’s licence (excluding Class 7 to Class 5), you must present proof that you have completed a knowledge test and vision test through a registry agent office.

Re-classing your driver’s licence from your current class to a Class 1, 2, or 4 licence will also require a medical report. See the medical requirements section for more information.

A fee is charged for each knowledge test, road test, and for the final licence re- classification service.

For information knowledge test fee, visit: www.alberta.ca/drivers-knowledge-test.aspx

For information on road test fee, visit: www.alberta.ca/drivers-road-test.aspx.

Driving with the wrong licence class is against the law. It is an offence for vehicle owners to allow their vehicle to be used by someone who does not have the proper class of licence for that vehicle.

Replacing your Alberta driver’s licence Renewing your Alberta driver’s licence The Government of Alberta has stopped mailing out reminders about driver’s licences and vehicle registration. Albertans with disabilities will continue to receive reminders in the mail. Albertans can sign up for electronic reminders by visiting E-registry or MyAlberta and signing up for free reminders. It is your responsibility to renew your driver’s licence on or before the expiry date.

Updating your Alberta driver’s licence To change the information on your driver’s licence, such as your name, address, or licence class, visit an Alberta registry agent office.

You are required by law to ensure the information on your licence is current and accurate. You may be required to provide proper identification before any change, replacement, or renewal can be made.

To replace, renew, or update your Alberta driver’s licence, contact a registry agent by visiting: https://www.alberta.ca/lookup/ find-a-registry-agent.aspx If your driver’s licence is lost, stolen, destroyed, or is unreadable, you must apply for a replacement immediately at a registry agent office.

If your driver’s licence is stolen, you must report it to the police, and provide a copy of the police report to the registry agent when you apply for your replacement.

Registration and insurance

Registration Motor vehicles and trailers travelling on Alberta roadways must be registered.

Registration certificates cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 18 years, unless the application for registration is also signed by a parent or guardian. A parent or guardian has the right to withdraw consent in writing at any time. If consent is withdrawn, the licence plate and vehicle registration will be suspended. The signature of your parent or guardian is not required if you can prove you are married or self-supporting.

In Alberta, licence plates remain with the owner of the vehicle and are not transferable to another person.

A vehicle owner must register their vehicle within three months of moving to Alberta.

Insurance requirements All motor vehicles must be insured with a public liability insurance policy as outlined in the Alberta Insurance Act.

It is illegal to operate an uninsured motor vehicle.

Your insurance company issues a financial responsibility card (pink card) which must be presented when registering a vehicle and when requested by a peace officer.

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Traffic Control