B.C. GLP Changes on October 19, 2026: Second Road Test, DRA and New Timelines

A sourced guide to B.C.'s October 19, 2026 GLP changes: the Driving Record Assessment, age-based timelines, restricted Class 5 stage and transition rules.

By Shanaya's Driving School · Updated July 21, 2026 · 8 min read · ICBC Updates

B.C.'s Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) changes on October 19, 2026. On that date, eligible drivers with a Class 7 novice or Class 7, 8 novice licence will use a Driving Record Assessment (DRA) instead of a second road test to move to a Class 5 or Class 5, 6 licence with restrictions. The Class 7 road test from learner to novice remains part of the program. These details come from ICBC's GLP changes page and the Government of B.C. announcement.

This article explains the public rules available on July 21, 2026. Your age, current licence, driving record and the date of any booked test can change how the transition applies to you, so use ICBC's page to confirm your individual requirements.

What changes on October 19

The learner-to-novice road test stays. The DRA replaces the second road test for eligible novice drivers.
The first Class 5 is restricted for 12 months. Restriction 55 requires zero blood alcohol and zero blood drug content while driving.
Drivers under 25 keep a 12-month learner stage and a 24-month novice stage, or 18 months as a novice if they complete an ICBC-approved GLP course and satisfy its other conditions. The new restricted-Class-5 year comes after that.
Drivers 25 and older have a nine-month learner stage, a 12-month novice stage and then the 12-month restricted-Class-5 stage.
Second road tests booked for October 19 or later will be cancelled. ICBC says it will email affected drivers with next steps.

Driving Record Assessment eligibility

A DRA is an in-office review of your driving record, not an on-road test. According to ICBC's published criteria, you must meet all of the following to upgrade:

If you are under 25: at least 24 months of safe driving, or 18 months if you completed an ICBC-approved GLP course during the learner stage.
If you are 25 or older: at least 12 months of safe driving.
No convictions for excessive speed or use of electronic devices during that time.
No driving prohibitions or suspensions during that time.

Tickets already have consequences under the current GLP. ICBC says even one ticket may trigger a record review and a possible prohibition, and the current Class 5 eligibility rule requires 24 consecutive months without a prohibition. RoadSafetyBC also applies its Driver Improvement Program at lower point levels for new drivers. The new rule is more specific: an excessive-speed or electronic-device conviction during the required DRA period prevents the driver from meeting the published criteria. Do not assume that another type of ticket has no consequence; check your record and ask ICBC about your eligibility. See ICBC's GLP penalty guidance and the Province's Driver Improvement Program.

How long until an unrestricted Class 5?

The table below adds the minimum published stages for a new driver who progresses without an interruption. It does not include extra time caused by waiting, an unsuccessful road test, a prohibition, suspension or a disqualifying conviction.

Each row is one step of the licensing path, in order. The Stage column says whether that step is waiting time or a test, and the three columns beside it show what applies to you.
Stage	Old model	New model, under 25	New model, 25 and older
Class 7L learnerWaiting time. The minimum you must hold the learner licence before you may book the Class 7 road test. You drive only with a qualified supervisor beside you.	12 months	12 months	9 months
Learner to noviceA test, not waiting time. Passing it lets you start driving on your own. This step does not change on October 19, 2026.	Class 7 road test	Class 7 road test	Class 7 road test
Class 7 noviceWaiting time. The minimum you must hold the novice licence before you can move up. You drive alone, display an "N" sign and follow passenger limits.	24 months, or 18 with an ICBC-approved GLP course	24 months, or 18 with an ICBC-approved GLP course	12 months
Novice to Class 5A step, not waiting time. It removes the "N". Before the change it is a second drive with an examiner; afterwards it is an in-office check of your driving record, with no driving at all.	Second road test	Driving Record Assessment	Driving Record Assessment
Class 5 with restriction 55Waiting time, and a brand new stage. The minimum you must hold a Class 5 that requires zero alcohol and zero drugs while driving, before that restriction lifts.	Did not exist	12 months	12 months
Total to an unrestricted Class 5All the waiting times added together, from your first day as a learner to a licence with no GLP conditions left.	36 months, or 30 with an ICBC-approved GLP course	48 months, or 42 with an ICBC-approved GLP course	33 months

For drivers under 25, that is 48 months from the start of the learner stage to an unrestricted Class 5 using the ordinary minimums, or 42 months if the driver qualifies for the six-month approved-course reduction. The under-25 learner and novice minimums do not change, but the new 12-month restricted-Class-5 stage means the time to an unrestricted licence does change.

For drivers 25 and older, adding those minimum stages gives 33 months to an unrestricted Class 5. The Province's official backgrounder sets out both age-based paths. Totals in the table are the sum of the published stage minimums, not a figure ICBC publishes directly.

What restriction 55 means

After a successful DRA, the Class 5 licence has restriction 55: zero blood alcohol and zero blood drug content while driving. ICBC says the expiry date will appear on the back of the licence and the restriction expires automatically after 12 months. No separate removal appointment is required.

If the driver receives a prohibition or suspension before the restriction expires, the full 12-month period restarts on the date the licence is reinstated. This reset is narrower than saying every ticket automatically restarts the restriction. Read ICBC's restriction 55 explanation and contact ICBC if a violation appears on your record.

If your second road test is booked around the change

ICBC says a second road test booked for October 19, 2026 or later will be cancelled and it will email the driver with next steps. Until the change takes effect, an eligible novice driver can still choose to take the second road test.

The two outcomes are not identical. Under the existing model, passing a Class 5 road test before October 19 leads to an unrestricted Class 5. Under the new model, an eligible driver completes the DRA and then holds a Class 5 with restriction 55 for 12 months. Before changing or keeping an appointment, confirm your eligibility and options with ICBC; this article cannot determine which choice is suitable for an individual driver.

Passenger, supervisor and consent changes

Learner passengers: a Class 7L learner currently may carry one passenger in addition to the required supervisor. From October 19, the learner may carry more than one passenger only when all passengers other than the supervisor are immediate family. This is the new family exception described on ICBC's Class 7L page.
Novice passengers: Class 7 novice drivers already have an immediate-family exception. Their existing rule allows one passenger unless all passengers are immediate family or a qualified supervisor is seated beside the driver.
Supervisors: from October 19, the minimum age drops from 25 to 22. ICBC says the supervisor must have an unrestricted Class 5 licence, be legally able to drive and sit beside the learner or novice driver.
Consent: the age at which a person can apply for a driver's licence without parental or guardian consent drops from 19 to 18.

Other transition details

The Province says some drivers who are already in the GLP may qualify for a one-time automatic upgrade from Class 7 to Class 5 without an in-office DRA. Its July 20 announcement does not define the eligible group. It says ICBC will begin sending letters in early fall 2026 explaining how current GLP drivers are affected. Rely on that notice or confirm directly with ICBC rather than assuming an automatic upgrade.

The B.C. release says DRAs will be available at Service BC offices, driver licensing agent offices and ICBC driver licensing offices. ICBC's booking instructions say online DRA appointments can be made only for an ICBC driver licensing office, not for Service BC or a driver licensing agent; walk-in service is also described. Confirm service availability at the location before travelling.

Approved GLP course: what the reduction requires

A driving-school licence and approval of a GLP course are different things. ICBC licenses driving schools to operate; a licensed school must complete a separate process before ICBC approves a particular Class 7 GLP course. Confirm both the school and the course in ICBC's licensed-school directory and approved-GLP-school list.

ICBC describes the approved Class 7 course as 32 hours: 16 hours of classroom theory, 12 hours of individual on-road instruction and four discretionary hours. For an under-25 driver to qualify for the six-month novice-stage reduction, ICBC says the course must be completed within 365 days while the student holds a Class 7 learner's licence. The student must then have no violations or at-fault crashes during the first 18 months of the novice stage. Starting but not completing the course does not shorten the 24-month requirement. See ICBC's full approved-course requirements.

Practical checklist

Check your current licence type and age against ICBC's GLP changes page.
Review your driving record against every DRA criterion, not only the time requirement.
If a second road test is booked, compare its date with October 19 and wait for ICBC's email if it will be cancelled.
If considering the course reduction, verify that the provider and specific course are on ICBC's approved GLP list before paying.
Confirm your DRA location and whether it accepts appointments or walk-ins.

Independent-school disclosure

Shanaya's Driving School is an independent driving school. It is not ICBC and cannot decide DRA eligibility, change a driving record, guarantee a test result or issue a licence. For official decisions, contact ICBC. If you choose optional professional practice for the learner-to-novice road test, see our driving lessons or road-test preparation. These services are separate from an ICBC-approved GLP course unless ICBC's current approved-course list says otherwise.

Official sources

Sources were reviewed on July 21, 2026. ICBC may refine operational details before the October 19 effective date.

Last substantive review: July 21, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with ICBC before changing an appointment or making a licensing decision.