Motorcycle licensing in BC, step by step

Motorcycle licences in British Columbia are Class 6, and new riders earn them through the Graduated Licensing Program. There are three stages, and you advance through a mix of waiting periods and tests.

Riders who already hold a full Class 5 car licence move through the program faster than riders who hold no licence, because the GLP credits driving experience they already have.

The Class 6L learner stage is the entry point. To get it, you pass a motorcycle-specific knowledge test and a vision screening at a driver licensing office. The motorcycle knowledge test is built from the Learn to Ride Smart guide, which covers rider-specific rules, hazards, and machine control.

Once you hold the Class 6L, you may begin learning to ride, but only under firm restrictions designed to keep an inexperienced rider out of the highest-risk situations.

• You may ride only during daylight hours — not between sunset and sunrise.
• You may not carry any passengers.
• You must ride within sight of a qualified supervisor who holds a valid full Class 6 licence.
• Your speed is limited to a maximum of 60 km/h.
• You may not ride on certain high-speed limited-access highways.
• You must maintain zero blood alcohol content and zero drug concentration.
• You must wear an approved motorcycle helmet, and you must display GLP signage as required.

The Motorcycle Skills Test, or MST, is a low-speed, off-road assessment of basic machine control. It takes place in a controlled area rather than in traffic, and it checks that you can handle the motorcycle safely before you ride at higher speeds or without a supervisor in sight.

You can take the MST after you have held your Class 6L for at least 30 days. The test covers manoeuvres such as slow control, turning, swerving, and braking. Passing the MST removes the 60 km/h speed limit and the requirement to ride within sight of a supervisor, but the other learner restrictions — no passengers and no night riding — still apply until you advance further.

After you pass the Motorcycle Skills Test, you take the Class 6 road test in traffic. Passing it moves you into the Class 6N novice stage. The novice stage gives you far more freedom than the learner stage, but it is still a restricted licence.

• You may ride unsupervised, at any hour, on any road.
• Passenger limits and other novice conditions apply as set by ICBC for your stage.
• You must maintain zero blood alcohol content and zero drug concentration.
• You must wear an approved motorcycle helmet whenever you ride.
• You hold the Class 6N for a set novice period before you are eligible for the final road test.

The length of the novice period depends on your situation, and riders who already hold a full car licence may have a shorter path. Confirm the current novice-period length with ICBC.

After completing the novice period with a clean record, you take the advanced Class 6 road test. This test is more demanding than the earlier road test and assesses your judgement and hazard awareness in real traffic at full road speeds.

Passing the advanced road test earns you a full, unrestricted Class 6 motorcycle licence. The learner and novice restrictions are lifted: you may carry passengers, ride at night, and ride on all roads, subject to the normal rules that apply to every rider.

By law, every motorcycle rider and passenger in British Columbia must wear a helmet that meets an approved safety standard. Beyond the legal minimum, experienced riders treat protective gear as essential, not optional, because a motorcycle offers none of the crash protection a car does.

• An approved motorcycle helmet that fits properly and is securely fastened — this is mandatory.
• Eye protection such as a face shield or goggles if your helmet does not have a visor.
• A sturdy riding jacket and pants, ideally abrasion-resistant with armour at the impact points.
• Full-fingered gloves and over-the-ankle boots.
• Bright or reflective elements so other road users see you clearly.

The motorcycle knowledge test is your first step, and it focuses on rider-specific knowledge. Like the car knowledge test, it is multiple choice and includes road sign questions.

1. Study the Learn to Ride Smart guide, the official source the motorcycle test is built from.
2. Review road signs, since sign questions appear on the motorcycle test as well.
3. Take repeated motorcycle knowledge practice tests until your scores are consistently strong.
4. Book your knowledge test appointment at a driver licensing office once you are scoring well.