Your BC Driver’s Licence is more than just your certification to operate a vehicle. It’s your proof of identity, age, residence, and more. That’s why it’s important to keep your driver’s licence safe and to also make the most of it.
In this week’s blog, we’ll be sharing some of the information you should know about your driver’s licence and licence classifications.
Classes of Licence
Your card identifies which licence class you hold, which determines which type of motor vehicle you are legally allowed to operate. In British Columbia, the licence classes are as follows:
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Class 5 or 7 Licence
- To drive cars, vans, trucks, construction, utility vehicles (2 axles maximum) and motorhomes (may exceed 2 axles)
- To tow trailers or vehicles up to 4,600kg
- To ride a limited speed motorcycle or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
- To ride 3-wheeled vehicles but does not include 3-wheeled motorcycles (trikes) or motorcycle/sidecar combinations
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Class 6 or 8 Licence
- To ride motorcycles, all-terrain cycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
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Class 1 Licence
- Semi-trailer trucks
- All other class 1-5 motor vehicles or combination of vehicles
- Motorcycles not allowed
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Class 2 Licence
- To drive buses, including school buses, special activity buses and special vehicles
- To drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles in class 4
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Class 3 Licence
- To drive trucks with more than two axles, such as dump trucks and large tow trucks but does not allow driving a bus carrying passengers
- To drive a tow car towing a vehicle of any weight
- To drive a mobile truck crane
- To drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles in class 5
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Class 4 Licence (Unrestricted)
- To drive 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
- To drive taxis and limousines
- To drive for a ride-hailing service such as Uber or Lyft
- To drive ambulances
- To drive any vehicle in class 5
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Class 4 Licence (Restricted)
- To drive taxis and limousines (with a seating capacity up to 10 persons including the driver)
- To drive for a ride-hailing service such as Uber or Lyft
- To drive ambulances
- To drive special vehicles with a seating capacity of not more than 10 persons (including the driver) used to transport people with disabilities
- To drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles in class 5
Enhanced Driver’s Licence
B.C.’s enhanced driver’s licence (EDL) and enhanced identification card (EIC) are approved secure documents for entry into the U.S. by land and water - remember that you will need to have a passport to travel by air. Both the EDL and EIC denote your identity and Canadian citizenship, meaning that you can carry one less piece of identification with you and are equipped with security features to prevent fraud and identity theft. Choosing to obtain an enhanced driver’s licence makes travelling easier, as you are able to have access to an express lane at certain border crossings. It is also a less expensive alternative to a passport, costing only an additional $35 for a 5-year licence versus the $120 cost of a Canadian passport.
In order to get an EDL, you’ll need to make a special appointment with ICBC. This licence takes longer for ICBC staff to process and cannot be handled like a typical licence application or renewal.
New Information (January 2021)
Due to lack of interest, ICBC will be phasing out the Enhanced Driver's Licence, ending in September of 2025, when all current cards will have expired. Active licences and ID cards will remain valid through their expiry, and existing cards will not be renewed.
Organ Donor
Becoming an organ donor is a personal choice that no one can make for you, but everyone is encouraged to register their decision for organ donation. One organ donor can save the lives of 8 individuals once they have passed on, giving the gift of life to new families. There are no restrictions in terms of age, sexual orientation, previous or current medical conditions, or where you've previously lived.
You can declare your organ donor status on your Driver’s Licence or Identification Card, plus you can combine it with your BC Medical Card, if you choose. If you require multiple forms of picture ID, request that your licence or BCID be separate from your Medical Services Card, and you will be issued two separate cards. Don’t forget to discuss your organ donor wishes with your loved ones, so they know your intentions.
Moving
Moving soon? You are required by law to change your address on your identification card or driver’s licence within 10 days. If you’re looking to change your name, you must provide proof of a marriage, divorce, or legal change of name certificate.
Are you new to BC or Canada? We wrote a full blog post on updating your driver’s licence from your previous province or country of residence, but the important elements to remember are:
- You must change your driver’s licence or identification card within 90 days of moving to Canada.
- A current driver’s licence or driving record must show at least two years of good driving experience to be validated in BC.
- Without two years’ experience, you’ll typically receive a Class 7 or 8 licence with graduated licensing restrictions imposed.
- You may not need to change your licence if you are just temporarily visiting, have a temporary foreign worker exemption, or a student exemption.
We strongly encourage all new residents of British Columbia to take a driving course to ensure that you’re familiar with the rules of the road and the unique terrain and roadways you may come across.
Licence Responsibilities
Let’s face it – we’ve all lost something important before but what happens when it’s your driver’s licence that you’ve misplaced? You can replace your licence by visiting a licencing office in person with acceptable proof of identity. You’ll need both a primary proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport, and a secondary proof of identity, such as a credit card or a Nexus card, that has your name imprinted on the card. It’s important to note that if your licence is damaged you must replace it and if your licence has been stolen, be sure to file a police report before you replace it. Stolen or lost identification cards can be used for identity theft, and this is not something you want to happen!
Unless they receive a driving prohibition, most drivers will typically hold onto their licence with no issue for the full duration that it’s valid for. All classes of licence, except for the class 7 learner stage, are valid for five years and as your driver’s licence comes to expire you will need to visit an ICBC office to renew it. There is a renewal fee of $75, and we recommend renewing your licence sooner rather than later - you can renew your licence up to 6 months ahead of time. If you do drive with an expired licence, there are fines and consequences that could affect your future driving privileges ranging from getting a warning and not being allowed to drive, extending to getting a $500 fine and up to six months in jail for a first offence.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, many of the services we’ve discussed can only be obtained with a pre-scheduled appointment with ICBC. Make sure that you contact them before trying to walk-in to any of their offices, as they may not be able to help you.
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Once you have been driving for even a short while, you may start to take your driver’s licence for granted - it’s always there when you need it and rarely gives you any trouble. It’s important to remember, though, that it’s a privilege that we have and we should be making the most of it by knowing as much as we can about it.