Getting your commercial driver's licence in B.C.

To get your commercial vehicle licence, you need to study Driving Commercial Vehicles, take the appropriate knowledge test, practice driving under a Learner’s licence, and take the commercial road test.

Do I qualify?

To qualify for a commercial licence, you must:

• Hold a full-privilege B.C. driver's licence (Class 5 or 6) or an out-of-province equivalent.
• Have and provide an acceptable driving record with less than four penalty point incidents in the past two years and no motor vehicle-related criminal convictions within the past three years. 
• Be at least 19 if applying for a Class 1, 2 or 4 licence.
• Be at least 18 if applying for a Class 3 licence or for a heavy trailer endorsement.

Note: If you're submitting out-of-province driving records, make sure they're original copies that were issued directly by your former licensing office in the past 90 days. Unfortunately, we can't accept photocopies, faxes, printouts or letters. Records are considered valid for up to 90 days after their date of issue.

Steps to get a commercial driver's licence

1. Study Driving Commercial Vehicles

To be prepared for your test, read and study  Driving Commercial Vehicles. You can pick up a copy from your nearest driver licensing office, or download it here. The beginning of the guide explains which chapters you need to study for the type of licence you need.

2. Take the commercial knowledge test

You will need to pass a knowledge and road signs test for Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 licences, and meet medical standards.

When you come in for your test, you need to bring:

• required ID
• corrective lenses for the vision test, if needed, and
• money for the test and licence fees.

Your parent or a legal guardian must give consent for your application if you're 18.

You can take the test at any driver licensing office except these locations:

• Burnaby (Metrotown)
• Cloverdale
• Richmond (Ironwood Plaza)
• Surrey (Guildford)

 More on the commercial knowledge test »

3. Practice with your commercial Learner’s licence

If you pass the knowledge test, you will be issued a commercial Learner’s licence.

More on the commercial Learner’s stage »

4. Take the commercial road test

The commercial road test has three parts:

• pre-trip inspection test (including an air brake pre-inspection if applicable)
• road test, and
• driver’s medical exam.

More about the commercial road test »