Getting and keeping your licence · Alberta Class 7 Prep

1.Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Every new driver in Alberta joins the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, whatever their age. It gives new drivers support and experience in a controlled setting before they drive without limits.
Inside GDL you hold one of two licences: Stage One is the Class 7 learner's licence and Stage Two is the Class 5-GDL probationary licence. Leaving GDL gives you a full Class 5 (non-GDL).
Getting from a Class 7 to a full Class 5 takes a minimum of 3 years.
Passing the Class 5 road test is what moves you from Class 7 to Class 5-GDL. Since April 1, 2023, there is no advanced road test to leave GDL.
Both GDL stages share three core rules: a zero alcohol and drug level when driving, no more passengers than seat belts, and a suspension at 8 demerit points.

Stage	Licence	Minimum age	To move on
Stage 1	Class 7 learner's licence	14	Hold it for at least 12 months, then pass the Class 5 road test
Stage 2	Class 5-GDL probationary licence	16	Complete 24 months of probation, with no suspension or demerits in the last 12 months
Stage 3	Full Class 5 (non-GDL)	18	GDL is finished

Official source: Licensing information ↗ · Get drivers licence steps ↗ · Class 5 drivers licence ↗

2.Getting a Class 7 learner's licence

You can apply for a Class 7 learner's licence once you are 14 years of age or older.
If you are under 18 and applying for the first time, a parent or legal guardian must go with you to the registry office, show proof of guardianship and sign a consent form. No signature is needed if you can prove you are married or self-supporting.
A parent or guardian may withdraw that consent in writing until you turn 18. If they do, your licence is suspended.
You must pass a knowledge test and a vision test. The knowledge test is drawn from the Driver’s Guide and covers safe driving practices, driving laws and road signs.
The knowledge test has 30 multiple-choice questions and you need 25 correct to pass.
Bring your glasses or contact lenses to the vision assessment. If you do not meet the vision standard, you are referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist to complete a Vision Referral form.
A driver’s licence is only issued to Alberta residents: people lawfully entitled to be in Canada who make their home in Alberta and are ordinarily present here. You must also show valid identification.

Official source: Get drivers licence steps ↗ · Licensing information ↗ · Drivers knowledge test ↗

3.Driving with a Class 7

Always drive with a supervisor over 18 who holds a full Class 5 licence or higher, sitting in the front passenger seat. A Class 5-GDL driver cannot be your supervisor.
You may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., even with a supervisor.
Your alcohol and drug level must be zero whenever you drive, or ride a motorcycle.
You may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts in the vehicle.
Your licence is suspended at 8 demerit points, compared with 15 for a fully licensed driver. A GDL driver gets a warning letter at four to seven points within two years.
Breaking a GDL condition costs 2 demerit points: driving between midnight and 5 a.m. (Class 7 only), carrying more passengers than seat belts, or driving with a supervisor who is not fully qualified.
With a Class 7 you may learn in any Class 5 vehicle with a supervisor and ride a moped on your own. Learning on a motorcycle needs you to be 16 or older with a supervisor who holds a Class 6 non-GDL licence.

Official source: Class 7 learners licence ↗ · Class 5 drivers licence ↗ · Licensing information ↗ · Driving within the law ↗

4.Class 5-GDL and leaving GDL

To become a Class 5-GDL probationary driver you must be at least 16, have held your Class 7 for at least 12 months (longer if you were suspended) and pass the Class 5 road test. Under 18, you also need parental or guardian consent.
Some road-test errors fail you whatever your point total, such as speeding, not stopping completely at a stop sign or before a right turn on red, and failing to yield the right-of-way.
As a probationary driver you keep the zero alcohol and drug rule, may carry no more passengers than seat belts, and are suspended at 8 demerit points.
A Class 5-GDL driver cannot re-class to a commercial licence (Class 1, 2, 3 or 4) and cannot supervise a learner.
Probation lasts at least 24 months. You can shorten it by up to 6 months by completing a Class 5 or Class 6 driver training program at a school licensed by Transportation and Economic Corridors; the course adds condition code (U) to your record.
To exit GDL you must be at least 18, have finished the 24 months of probation, and have had no suspensions or demerits in the last 12 months. There is no further test.
Once you leave GDL you hold a full Class 5, you are allowed more demerit points, the zero alcohol and drug condition is removed, and you may supervise a learner or re-class to Class 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Official source: Get drivers licence steps ↗ · Licensing information ↗ · Class 5 drivers licence ↗

5.Licence classes and what a Class 5 covers

Alberta has 7 classes of driver’s licence. Class 5 is the most commonly held, for cars and other light vehicles.
A Class 5 lets you drive a vehicle with only two axles, a recreational vehicle with not more than three axles, a moped, and tow a trailer that has no air brakes.
A Class 5 does not allow a motorcycle (except for learning), a vehicle seating more than 15 while it carries anyone besides the driver, or passengers for hire.
Driving a vehicle with air brakes requires an air brake endorsement (Q), earned by completing an approved Alberta air brake course.
Carrying passengers for pay needs a Class 4. It is not needed for occasional rides where you are only reimbursed for kilometres driven or out-of-pocket costs such as gas and parking.
Driving with the wrong licence class is against the law, and it is an offence for an owner to let someone without the proper class drive their vehicle.
Re-classing to another class (other than Class 7 to Class 5) needs a knowledge test and a vision test; moving to Class 1, 2 or 4 also needs a medical report.

Class	What it lets you drive
Class 7	A moped by yourself; Class 5 or Class 6 vehicles with a qualified supervisor
Class 5-GDL and Class 5	2-axle single motor vehicle, motorhome without air brakes, trailer without air brakes, moped or recreational vehicle
Class 6	Motorcycle or moped
Class 4	Taxi, ambulance, or bus that seats up to 24 people excluding the driver; all Class 5 vehicles
Class 3	Single motor vehicle with 3 or more axles, plus anything a Class 5 may drive
Class 2	Bus, plus anything a Class 3, 4 or 5 may drive
Class 1	Any motor vehicle other than a motorcycle

Official source: Get drivers licence steps ↗ · Licensing information ↗

6.New residents, visitors and exchanging a licence

If you move to Alberta from elsewhere in Canada, you may drive on your out-of-province licence for your first 90 days. Within those 90 days you must apply for an Alberta licence and surrender the old one.
It is illegal to hold more than one driver’s licence.
Visitors with a valid licence from outside Alberta may drive the same class of vehicle here for up to one year without getting an Alberta licence.
Alberta has reciprocal licensing agreements with places such as Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. A valid licence of equivalent class from one of them can be exchanged for a Class 5.
Coming from a place without an agreement, you may apply to have your previous driving history credited. If approved, you skip GDL and may take the Class 5 road test without holding a Class 7 for a year.
Applicants from outside Canada must disclose any medical condition or disability that may affect safe driving, and produce immigration and residency documents along with acceptable identification.

Official source: Licensing information ↗

7.Medical fitness, condition codes and endorsements

You must disclose any medical or physical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, such as diabetes, seizure disorders, heart conditions or sleep disorders, and submit a Driver Medical Intake Form completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Drivers aged 75 or older must give a completed Driver Medical Intake Form when applying for or renewing a Class 7, 6, 5 or 3 licence, and have their vision assessed at a registry agent.
If you do not submit a required form, your application or renewal can be refused and your existing licence can be suspended until the documents arrive. Driving without disclosing a condition can also be treated by courts as negligence after a collision.
A condition code on your licence shows a special requirement. For example, if you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision standard, your licence carries a code saying so.
An endorsement code shows specific training or a permitted vehicle feature, such as a driver education course or air brakes.
Your codes are printed on the front of the licence in the Cond/End section, and some are explained on the back. Codes marked with an asterisk in the guide do not appear on the licence.

Code	Meaning
A	Adequate lenses (condition)
B	Special conditions (condition)
C	Periodic medical (condition, not shown on the licence)
H	Daylight driving only (condition)
J	Outside mirrors (condition)
K	Automatic transmission (condition)
L	Hand controls (condition)
Q	Air brakes (endorsement)
S	School bus (endorsement)
U	Completed driver education course (endorsement, not shown on the licence)

Official source: Licensing information ↗

8.Carrying, replacing and renewing your licence; registration and insurance

You must have your licence with you whenever you drive. A peace officer can ask you to produce your licence, insurance and registration.
If your licence is lost, stolen, destroyed or unreadable, apply for a replacement at a registry agent right away. If it was stolen, report it to the police and bring a copy of the police report.
The province no longer mails renewal reminders (except to Albertans with disabilities). You can sign up for free electronic reminders, but renewing on or before the expiry date is your responsibility.
The law requires the information on your licence to be current and accurate. Change your name, address or licence class at a registry agent.
Motor vehicles and trailers on Alberta roads must be registered. Licence plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle, and cannot be transferred to another person. After moving to Alberta, register your vehicle within three months.
A vehicle cannot be registered to someone under 18 unless a parent or guardian also signs, and that consent can be withdrawn in writing, which suspends the plate and registration.
Every motor vehicle must carry public liability insurance, and driving an uninsured vehicle is illegal. Your insurer issues a pink financial responsibility card, which you show when registering a vehicle and when a peace officer asks.

Official source: Licensing information ↗