Effective 19 October 2026, British Columbia has eliminated the second road test in its Graduated Licensing Program (GLP). Novice drivers with clean records can now obtain a Class 5 licence via a Driving Record Assessment or, in many cases, receive an automatic upgrade. The change, announced earlier this year and now live, aims to reduce testing backlogs and lower barriers for residents in remote communities who previously had to travel long distances for an exam. For international transfers and newcomers, the shift is significant. Holders of a Class 7 licence – often foreign workers who exchanged an overseas permit – can progress to full driving privileges sooner, provided they have no prohibitions, electronic-device convictions or excessive-speed tickets. The new Class 5 will carry a 12-month zero-alcohol and zero-drug restriction, aligning with other provinces’ novice regimes. ICBC has begun mailing eligibility letters; drivers who qualify for an automatic upgrade need not visit a licensing office. Others must book a 15-minute in-office assessment appointment. Fees for the assessment mirror the cancelled road-test fee, keeping costs neutral. The provincial government cites Australian research suggesting that a clean driving record predicts crash risk at least as well as an exit test. From a global-mobility standpoint, the update eases operational logistics. Corporations relocating staff to Vancouver or Victoria have struggled with multi-month waits for Class 5 tests, affecting vehicle leases, insurance rates and travel-policy compliance. Employers should remind assignees that insurance premiums may still reflect novice restrictions during the 12-month zero-tolerance period. The policy will be reviewed after 18 months. If collision-rate data remain stable, B.C. could make the change permanent, and other provinces may follow suit, further simplifying driver-licence conversion for foreign nationals across Canada.
Source: DriveSmartBC
