British Columbia has a graduated licensing program that prepares those who want to obtain their driver’s licence. It has three stages: Class 7L (learner’s licence), Class 7 (novice licence) and the full Class 5 licence. That means 3 different exams you’ll have to pass as a student driver. As soon as they turn 16 years old, residents of British Columbia may apply for a learner’s licence.
Those under 19 years of age must get a parent or legal guardian to sign consent. To obtain the Class 7L licence, you must pass a knowledge exam and a vision screening test. We recommend that you start learning the traffic signs and road rules well before your knowledge test. After all, your goal is to pass this exam on the first try, so your chances increase when you show up prepared.
But for that, you’ll need an appointment.
You will need an appointment for the knowledge test in British Columbia. Before you book, it is important to know that you must be a resident of this province to apply. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) makes this process easy, allowing everyone to book an appointment online.
Visit the ICBC website and create an account if you don’t already have one, or log in if you do. Knowledge tests differ based on the type of licence you are applying for (car, motorcycle, commercial) so choose the one that you need.
Their website has an interactive map where you can see all the ICBC driver licensing offices. Choose the one that is convenient for you, but remember that availability can vary. You must show up at this location on the date of the appointment to take your written knowledge test. Some offices offer Saturday appointments for those who cannot easily take time off from work on a weekday.
You must arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to check in. Take this into account when choosing an appointment slot for your knowledge test. If the ICBC office you have selected is far from your current location, you should take the commute time into account as well.
All appointments are valid for 45 minutes, which is more than enough time to complete the written test as long as the ICBC office stays open. Therefore, you should make an appointment that starts at least one hour before the office’s closing time.
Once you’ve chosen a location, you can view available dates and times. If there are no free slots in the near future, remember that you don’t need to rush this process. This means you get more time to learn, rehearse and practise on a simulated ICBC knowledge test. It is based on the official “Learn to Drive Smart” manual and there are 50 questions similar to the ones you’ll encounter in the actual exam.
There is a $15 fee for all knowledge tests, but seniors over 65 can take them for free. You’ll need to pay this amount during the booking process, either with a credit card or debit card. Alternatively, you can pay directly at the licensing office with cash, credit card, debit card or personal cheque. If you fail the test, the same fee applies for each subsequent attempt.
After payment, confirm your booking details and make sure they are correct. You will receive a confirmation email with the date, time and location of your test. ICBC will also send two reminder emails so you can prepare for the upcoming test. The confirmation and reminder emails will contain a link that you can use to change your appointment if necessary. You can also change your appointment through the ICBC website.
Even though we live in a digital age, you may prefer to interact with an ICBC representative, especially if you have questions or concerns. That’s why you can also book the knowledge test by calling the ICBC Driver Licensing Customer Contact Centre. They offer the possibility to book tests up to 6 weeks in advance, and you can use the following numbers to make your booking:
Once you call, you’ll likely encounter an automated system that asks you to leave a voice message. Soon after, an ICBC representative will call you back to finalize your appointment details. They will request your personal information and ask you to choose a preferred time and location for the test.
Due to high demand, you may need to prepare for long waiting times both for a callback and for scheduling a test at your preferred time. Make yourself available, but don’t stick to your phone for hours on end. Meanwhile, you should gather all the necessary details for the appointment while you wait for them to call you back.
Phone booking has an advantage over the online alternative. A customer service representative can answer any questions related to the booking process or the exam itself, providing a personalized answer.
