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

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

For more information visit mpi.mb.ca or call us at 204–985–7000 (in Winnipeg) or 1–800–665–2410 (outside Winnipeg).