Types of licences
The table below explains the types, or classes,
of B.C. driver licences. Use this table to determine the class of
licence you wish to get.
| Class |
Typical Vehicles |
Minimum Age |
Class 1 |
Semi-trailer trucks and all other motor
vehicles or combinations of vehicles except motorcycles See Commercial
licence. |
19 |
Class 2 |
- Buses, including school buses, special
activity buses and special vehicles
- Trailers or towed vehicles may not
exceed 4,600 kilograms except if the
bus and trailers or towed vehicles do
not have air brakes
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 4
See
Commercial licence. |
19 |
Class 3 |
-
Trucks with more than two axles, such
as dump trucks and large tow trucks,
but not including a bus that is being
used to transport passengers
- Trailers may not exceed 4,600
kilograms except if the truck and
trailers do not have air brakes
- A tow car towing a vehicle of any
weight
- A mobile truck crane
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 5
See Commercial
licence. |
18 |
Class 4
(unrestricted)
|
- Buses with a maximum seating
capacity of 25 persons (including
the driver), including school buses,
special activity buses and special
vehicles used to transport people with
disabilities
- Taxis and limousines
- Ambulances
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 5
See Commercial licence. |
19 |
Class 4
(restricted)
|
-
Taxis and limousines (up to
10 persons including the driver)
- Ambulances
- Special vehicles with a seating
capacity of not more than 10 persons
(including the driver) used to
transport people with disabilities
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 5
See Commercial licence. |
19 |
|
Class 5 or 7
|
-
Two axle vehicles including cars,
vans, trucks and tow trucks
- Trailers or towed vehicles may not
exceed 4,600 kilograms
- Motor homes (including those with
more than two axles)
- Limited speed motorcycles** and allterrain
vehicles (ATVs)
- Passenger vehicles used as school
buses with seating capacity of not
more than 10 persons (including the
driver)
- Construction vehicles
- Three-wheeled vehicles - does not
include three-wheeled motorcycles
(trikes) or motorcycle/sidecar
combinations
- Does not include Class 4 vehicles or
motorcycles
See Passenger vehicle
licence. |
16 |
|
Class 6 or 8
|
Motorcycles, all-terrain cycles, allterrain
vehicles (ATVs)
See Motorcycle (have
licence) or Motorcycle
(1st licence). |
16 |
|
Class 4 or 5 with heavy trailer endorsement
(code 20)
|
-
Trailers or towed vehicles exceeding
4,600 kilograms provided neither the
truck nor trailer has air brakes
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 5
See Passenger vehicle
licence. |
18 |
|
Class 4 or 5 with house trailer endorsement
(code 51)
|
-
Recreational (house) trailers
exceeding 4,600 kilograms provided
neither the truck nor trailer has
air brakes
- Any motor vehicle or combination of
vehicles in Class 5
You can visit our section on Towing a Recreation Trailer and download a copy, or contact your nearest driver licensing office for a copy. |
18 |
* Limited-speed motorcycles — Can be operated with any class of driver's licence. Learners require a Class 6 or Class 8 motorcycle learner's licence. Limited-speed motorcycles cannot be operated with any other type of learner's licence.
A limited-speed motorcycle has:
- a motor with a piston displacement
of 50 cc or less, or a power source that produces a maximum
of 1.5 kW
- a power drive system that does
not require clutching or shifting after the drive system
is engaged
- a maximum speed of 70 km/h on
level ground
- a maximum weight of 95 kg
- wheels with a diameter of at least
254 mm
Need
more information about driver licensing requirements for operating
a motorcycle, moped, or motor scooter? (Requires
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