The Class Licence System and Graduated Driver Licensing

Basic Class 5 Licensing Requirements

Who must take a driver test

You must take a driver test for the class of vehicle you wish to drive if you:

Have never been licensed for that class of vehicle
Have not held a Manitoba licence within the past four years
Hold a licence from outside Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions whose licences are not exchangeable

You may be required to be re-tested if you:

Have been involved in traffic collisions or convictions
Have had your licence suspended
Have a disease or disability that may affect your ability to drive safely

Graduated Driver Licensing

Drivers who applied for their first Class 5 driver’s licence on or after April 1, 2002 are in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program and are subject to the GDL stages and restrictions.

Manitoba Class 5 driver’s licence stages are:

L Learner Stage (minimum 9 months)*

I Intermediate Stage (minimum 15 months)**

F Full Stage

* Supervising driver must be a fully licensed driver for at least 36 months, have less than .05 blood alcohol concentration and not fail a drug screening test.

** A driver is only required to complete the Intermediate Stage once. Therefore, time served in the Intermediate Stage in Class 6 will be applied to the Intermediate Stage in Class 5.

Application and test requirements

An applicant for a Class 5L licence (Learner Stage) must be a minimum of 16 years of age. At age 15 1/2, an applicant may apply for a Class 5L licence if enrolled in MPI’s Driver Z Program, in a course that is currently in progress.

Consent of either a parent or legal guardian is required if the applicant is under 18 years of age.

A) Knowledge Test

For a Class 5 licence: Before taking the test, you must register as a Manitoba Public Insurance customer and provide proper identification documents. The most convenient way to register is through an Autopac agent. The test assesses your knowledge of traffic laws, safe driving practices and recognition of road signs. (It’s not an open book test and cellular phones or electronic devices cannot be used during the test.) The test charge is $10 per test.*

If an applicant is under 18 years of age, parent or legal guardian approval is required to take the knowledge test. (See More Information section.) Driver education students under the age of 16 must provide a completed driver education form before taking the knowledge test for a driver’s licence.
After passing the knowledge test and meeting the visual and medical standards, in order to drive you will be required to purchase a licence for $20 plus base driver premium charges of up to $45, plus any applicable additional driver premium.

*Charges for the Driver Education Program include one knowledge test.

B) Visual and medical requirements

Applicants who fail to meet minimum medical or vision standards may not be eligible to obtain a driver’s licence. Vision or medical information may be required to determine if an applicant meets the necessary medical and vision standards. The applicant’s driver licence or right to obtain a driver’s licence may be suspended pending review of the medical information. If corrective lenses or other restrictions are required for driving, they will be indicated on the driver’s licence.

Before taking a knowledge test, an applicant for a driver’s licence who has a disease or disability that may affect their ability to drive safely must inform Driver Fitness, Box 6300, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4A4, 204–985–1900 or toll-free at 1–866–617–6676.

If a medical report is required, it must be approved by Driver Fitness before you can take the knowledge test or enroll in the driver education course.

Manitoba Health will not pay for third party requests for a medical report including any related examinations, tests or telephone calls to the physician. Applicants are responsible for these costs.

C) Road Test

The Class 5 road test not only measures your ability to operate a Class 5 vehicle, it also identifies errors that need to be corrected. You will be required to operate your vehicle in typical traffic situations in a safe and legal manner. You will be judged on your driving skills.

Only authorized Manitoba Public Insurance employees may ride with you during the test.

Please ensure you check in 15 minutes before your appointment time.

You must supply a vehicle in good working order and a Vehicle Registration Certificate confirming the vehicle is properly registered and insured. The vehicle must have adequate seating for the driver examiner. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the road test with your fees not being refunded. Road tests will not be conducted in heavy or agricultural equipment.

Applicants for a driver’s licence who have not held a driver’s licence any time prior to April 1, 2002, from any jurisdiction, are subject to a nine-month learning period before they’re eligible to take a road test. Applicants who demonstrate dangerous driving during their road test may have to obtain permission from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles before attempting another road test.

The following process applies to applicants who currently hold an out-of-country licence:

You can hold an out-of-country licence and operate a vehicle under the conditions of that licence for the shorter of three months or until the home licence expires or until you receive your Manitoba Class 5 Learner’s (5L) or Authorized Instruction (5A) Stage licence.
Once the 5L or 5A Stage licence has been issued, you must surrender the out-of-country licence and drive according to the conditions of the Manitoba licence stage. This means you will require a supervising driver.

Change of name or address

You’re required to notify your Autopac agent or Manitoba Public Insurance within 15 days of any change in your name or address.

Graduated Driver Licensing

The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program is a three-stage licensing process that is designed to help new drivers, regardless of age, acquire the knowledge and skill needed to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Whether you are 16 or 60 years old, GDL enables new drivers to gain experience under conditions where the risk of having a collision is lower.

The three stages of GDL are the Learner Stage, the Intermediate Stage and the Full Stage. Each stage has specific restrictions for new drivers that reduce the opportunity and likelihood for risky driving behaviour.

Class 5L Licence (Learner Stage) (minimum 9 months)

The first licence for a new driver is a Learner Stage licence. To be eligible to apply for a Learner licence, you must be at least 16 years of age, or a minimum of 151/2 years of age and enrolled in a high school driver education course that is currently in progress. Parental consent is required if you’re under 18 years of age. You must pass a knowledge test and meet the vision and medical standards.

Learner drivers must follow these restrictions:

Cannot have drugs or alcohol in your system
Be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver as the only front seat passenger (The supervising driver must hold a valid licence and have held a Class 5F licence for at least three years. The supervising driver must have less than .05 blood alcohol concentration and must not fail a drug screening test.)
Restrict other passengers to the back seat(s) up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat of the vehicle
No towing of vehicles
No operating of Class 3 motor vehicles registered as a farm truck
No operating of off-road vehicles (ORVs) along or across highways

Class 5I Licence (Intermediate Stage) (minimum 15 months)*

To graduate to this stage, you must pass a road test. While in the Intermediate Stage, you must follow these restrictions:

Cannot have drugs or alcohol in your system
Restrict passengers between 5 a.m. to midnight to one passenger in the front seat and passengers in the back seat(s) up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat of the vehicle
Restrict passengers between midnight to 5 a.m. to either one passenger or a qualified supervising driver in the front seat and passengers in the back seat(s) up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat of the vehicle

Drivers in the Intermediate Stage may tow vehicles, operate a Class 3 motor vehicle registered as a farm truck, and operate ORVs along or across highways.

* A driver is only required to complete the Intermediate Stage once. Therefore, time served in the Intermediate Stage in Class 5 will be applied to the Intermediate Stage in Class 6 and vice-versa.

Drug and Alcohol Restriction

Class 5F Licence (Full Stage)

After spending a minimum of 15 months in the Intermediate Stage, you will graduate to the Full Stage. For the first 36 months you must continue to have no drugs or alcohol in your system. You’re eligible for a Full Class 1-4 driver’s licence after passing appropriate tests if you are at least 18 years of age and meet medical standards. You may supervise novice drivers after three years in the Full Stage.

Class 5L (Learner)

Minimum 9 months

Passed knowledge Test →

Learner Stage

Minimum age 16 (151/2 if in a high school driver education course currently in progress)
Must pass knowledge test
Minimum nine months in this stage, excluding licence interruptions
Cannot have drugs or alcohol in system
Only supervising driver as front seat passenger
Supervising driver must be a fully licensed driver for at least 36 months, and have less than .05 blood alcohol concentration and not fail a drug screening test
May carry passengers up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the rear of the vehicle
No towing permitted
May not operate a Class 3 motor vehicle registered as a farm truck
May not operate off-road vehicles along or across highway
May not obtain Authorized Instruction in Classes 1–4
May operate heavy and agricultural equipment while accompanied by a supervising driver

Class 5I (Intermediate)

Minimum 15 months

Passed road test → graduate to full stage→

Intermediate Stage*

Must pass Class 5 road test
Minimum 15 months in this stage, excluding licence interruptions
Cannot have drugs or alcohol in system
Passenger limits:
- From 5 a.m. to midnight: one passenger in the front seat and additional passengers in the back seat(s) up to the number of functioning seatbelts
- From midnight to 5 a.m.: one passenger or, when accompanied by a qualified supervising driver in the front seat, additional passengers up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat(s)
Towing permitted
May operate heavy and agricultural equipment
May operate a Class 3 motor vehicle registered as a farm truck
May operate off-road vehicles along or across highway
May apply for Authorized Instruction in Class 2–4 if at least 18 years of age and meet medical standards
May not apply for Authorized Instruction in Class 1

* Time served in the Intermediate Stage in Class 6 will be applied to the Intermediate Stage in Class 5. Therefore, a driver is only required to complete the Intermediate Stage once.

Class 5F (Full)

36 months

Full Stage*

Cannot have drugs or alcohol in system for first 36 months
May upgrade to Class 1F–4F after passing appropriate tests
May supervise after three years in Full Stage
May apply for Authorized Instruction in Class 1 if at least 18 years of age and meet medical standard

Keep your licence valid!

The Manitoba driver’s licence is valid for up to five years. The driver’s licence charge and base driver premium are assessed annually and due for payment on your anniversary date, which is four months less one day after your birthday. For example, if your birthday is Sept. 21, your anniversary date is Jan. 20. If drivers in the Learner or Intermediate Stage don’t keep their licence active, they will not earn credit for the period of time they’re not licensed. If you own a vehicle, your Autopac will be renewed and expire at the same time as your driver’s licence.

Authorized Instruction (A Stage) (non-GDL Learner Stage)

An Authorized Instruction Stage applies to:

Drivers who held a Learner’s licence prior to April 1, 2002
Experienced drivers whose licence has been de-classed
Experienced drivers transferring to Manitoba and requiring driver examinations
Drivers who are learning to operate Class 1–4 vehicles
Operators of heavy and agricultural equipment

Drivers with a Class 5A licence must:

Be at least 16 years of age
Not have drugs or alcohol in their system
Be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver, as the only front seat passenger (The supervising driver must hold a valid licence and have held a Class 5F licence for at least three years. The supervising driver must have less than .05 blood alcohol concentration and must not fail a drug screening test.)
Not operate a Class 3 motor vehicle registered as a farm truck
Not operate off-road vehicles along or across highways

For Classes 1–4 Authorized Instruction, you must:

For Classes 2-4, hold at least a Class 5 Intermediate or Authorized Instruction licence
For Class 1, hold at least a Class 5 Full licence
Be a minimum of 18 years of age
Pass the knowledge test and meet the vision and medical standards
Complete a minimum two week learning period
Cannot have drugs or alcohol in your system if you’re under the drug and alcohol restriction in Class 5
Be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver who holds a valid licence, has held a Class 5F licence for at least three years, and a licence in the class of vehicle being driven for at least two years (The supervising driver must have less than .05 blood alcohol concentration and must not fail a drug screening test.)

Operating Heavy and Agricultural Equipment

A valid Class 5I licence (Intermediate Stage) or higher is required to operate heavy and agricultural equipment on provincial highways and roads in urban areas. These types of vehicles include tractors, self-propelled farm equipment such as combines, and heavy equipment such as front-end loaders, cranes, forklifts and graders. Provincial highways and urban roads don’t include rural municipal roads, service roads or winter roads controlled or maintained by a local government, such as a rural municipality

Any person whose driver’s licence is prohibited, suspended and/or disqualified for any reason can be charged with driving while suspended/disqualified if they’re operating heavy or agricultural equipment on provincial highways and roads in urban areas. A conviction for this offence may result in a further suspension of their driving privileges for up to and including lifetime.

Any driver who is subject to a drug and alcohol restriction while operating a Class 1–5 motor vehicle will also be subject to this restriction while operating heavy and agricultural equipment on any roadway.