BC drivers with an ‘N’ no longer need a second road test as new rules take effect

For British Columbians who have been driving around with an ‘N’ on the back of their vehicle, getting rid of it just got a whole lot easier.

As of Monday, October 19th, ICBC has officially scrapped the second road test previously required to move from a novice licence to a Class 5 licence.

The change is part of an overhaul of BC’s driving program, which has been in place for more than 25 years.

Instead of booking another road test, eligible drivers can now upgrade their licence through a driving record assessment.

Essentially, ICBC will look at how long you’ve been driving and whether you’ve managed to keep a clean driving record. And depending on your age, you could qualify sooner than you think.

The rules are a little different depending on how old you are. Drivers under 25 must have at least 24 months of safe driving experience with their N.

That can be reduced to 18 months for those who completed an approved driver training course. For drivers 25 and older, the wait is shorter. They only need 12 months of safe driving experience.

However, there’s a catch. To qualify, drivers must have no suspensions or driving prohibitions, and no convictions for excessive speeding or using electronic devices during the required period.

Those who meet the requirements can visit an ICBC driver licensing office to complete the assessment and upgrade their licence.

ICBC has also introduced a one-time automatic upgrade for certain eligible N drivers. Those who qualified were sent letters ahead of the October 19th changes, letting them know their licence would be upgraded automatically.

That means some drivers won’t even need to visit an ICBC office to make the switch.

For everyone else, ICBC says drivers can check their driving record for an “Earliest Exit Date” to see when they can apply.

While the second road test is gone, getting your Class 5 doesn’t mean you’re completely finished with the graduated licensing process.

Drivers who upgrade will have a new 12-month restriction requiring zero alcohol and zero drugs in their blood while driving.

Once those 12 months are up, the restriction automatically expires, provided the driver hasn’t received a suspension or prohibition.

After a driver has upgraded, they will no longer have to display the N sign and will no longer have to adhere to the usual novice passenger restrictions.

The BC government announced the changes earlier this year, saying the goal was to make the licensing process easier while continuing to encourage safe driving habits.

The government also pointed out that requiring a second road test can create challenges for people living in rural and remote communities, where testing appointments aren’t always easy to access.

For anyone who’s been holding onto their N for years simply because they haven’t gotten around to booking that second test, the new rules could finally make upgrading a little less of a hassle.

Drivers can find more information, including eligibility requirements and how to upgrade, on ICBC’s website.