License Classes in B.C.

Private Licenses

Class 5 & Class 7
With a Class 5 or Class 7 license you may operate:

• a two-axled motor vehicle except for those listed under exclusions
• a motor home (including those with more than 2 axles)
• a limited speed motorcycle (moped)
• an all-terrain vehicle or all-terrain cycle
• a construction vehicle
• a two-axled vehicle with towed vehicles, provided the towed vehicles in that combination don’t exceed 4,600 kilograms

Exclusions:
These two-axled vehicles cannot be operated with a Class 5 or 7 license:

• a motorcycle
• a bus
• school bus
• special activity bus
• special vehicle
• taxi or
• ambulance when used as designed
• Minimum age: 16

Note: You may operate a school bus with a Class 5 or 7 license provided that the bus is a passenger vehicle with a seating capacity of not more than 10 passengers including the driver (refer to the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation 11.01).

Class 6 & Class 8
With a Class 6 or Class 8 license you may operate:

• motorcycles
• all-terrain cycles
• all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
• Minimum age: 16

Professional License Classes

License Classes 1 – 4 are the professional license classes, which allow you to operate vehicles such as buses, taxis and large trucks.

Note: You must have an air brake endorsement (restriction 15) on your driver’s license to operate any vehicle equipped with air brakes, other than a construction vehicle.

Class 1
A class 1 driver’s license permits you to operate any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles except for a motorcycle.
Minimum age: 19

Class 2
A Class 2 driver’s license permits you to operate:

• a bus
• school bus
• special activity bus or special vehicle
• any combination of vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed 4600 kgs, provided the vehicles do not have air brakes
• any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 4 license is required
• all vehicles in class 4 and 5
• Minimum age: 19

Class 3
A Class 3 driver’s license permits you to operate:

• a mobile truck crane
• a tow car and its recovered vehicle
• all vehicles in Class 5
• motor vehicle with three or more axles except for a bus when used for its intended purpose
• combination of vehicles where the towed vehicles in that combination do not exceed 4600 kgs
• a combination of vehicles without air brakes where the towed vehicles exceed 4600 kgs
• Minimum age:18

Class 4
A Class 4 driver’s license permits you to operate:

• all vehicles in Class 5
• an ambulance or taxi
• a school bus
• special activity bus
• special vehicle
• a bus with a seating capacity of not more than 25 persons including the driver
• Minimum age: 19

For more information about driver licensing in British Columbia, check out the ICBC website and click on Driver Licensing.