How to book your ICBC knowledge test

To take the knowledge test for a passenger vehicle licence, you must be at least 16 years old. You can take the test on or after your 16th birthday, not before. If you are under 19, a parent or legal guardian must give consent, which is normally provided at the driver licensing office.

There is no upper age limit. Newcomers to British Columbia who hold a licence from another province or country may also need to pass a knowledge test as part of exchanging or applying for a BC licence, depending on where their existing licence is from.

The knowledge test is by appointment only — it is not offered as a walk-in service. ICBC gives you two ways to book.

1. Online: Use the appointment booking tool on the ICBC website. Choose a driver licensing office, select an available date and time, and provide your details to confirm the appointment.
2. In person or by phone: Visit a driver licensing office during business hours or call to arrange an appointment with staff.

Booking online is usually the fastest way to secure a convenient time, and it lets you compare availability across nearby offices. Book early if you have a specific date in mind, since popular offices can fill up.

The knowledge test costs $15. Seniors aged 65 and older can take the knowledge test for free. You pay the fee at the office when you check in for your appointment.

Driver licensing offices accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit cards, and personal cheques. If you fail the test and need to take it again, you pay the fee again for each attempt (seniors 65 and older continue to test for free).

You must bring two pieces of accepted identification to every visit to a driver licensing office. Together your documents need to prove your legal name, date of birth, and signature, and at least one must establish your identity to ICBC's standard.

• Primary identification — for example, a passport, a Canadian birth certificate, a permanent resident card, or a Canadian citizenship document.
• Secondary identification — for example, a BC Services Card, a credit or debit card with your signature, or another government-issued document.
• Proof of British Columbia residency, if requested.
• Parental or guardian consent if you are under 19, plus the parent or guardian if the office requires it.
• Payment for the $15 fee, unless you are 65 or older.

The official ICBC knowledge test is available in 12 languages: English, French, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, Modern Standard Arabic, Croatian, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.

ICBC's free online practice knowledge test is available in seven of those languages — English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Modern Standard Arabic. Practising in the language you will test in helps you get comfortable with the wording before your appointment.

Yes. If you cannot make your appointment, you can reschedule or cancel it through the same channel you used to book — online or by contacting the driver licensing office. Do this as early as you can so the time can be released to other test-takers and so you can secure a new slot before your preferred dates fill up.

Arriving late may mean losing your appointment, so plan to reach the office with time to spare for parking, check-in, and a vision screening.

The knowledge test has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need 40 correct answers to pass. If you do not reach 40, you do not pass that attempt, but failing is not the end of the road — you can take the test again.

You will need to book another appointment and pay the $15 fee again (seniors 65 and older test for free on every attempt). ICBC normally asks you to wait a short period before retesting so you have time to study the material you missed. Use that time well: review the Learn to Drive Smart guide and take repeated practice tests until your scores are consistently above the passing mark.