In Manitoba, a Class 5 licence allows you to operate a passenger vehicle, a bus (not carrying passengers), a truck with two axles as well as a moped and Class 3 vehicle registered as a farm truck. Find out more here.
To obtain a Full Stage Class 5 licence, you 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.
- Establish your identification and register as a Manitoba Public Insurance customer.
- Meet the required vision and medical standards.
- Pass a knowledge test.
- Complete the Learner Stage (minimum nine months) unless you have a 5 Authorized Stage (5A) licence.
- 5A licence holders can attempt the road test once they have passed the knowledge test, have practiced, and are ready.
- Pass a road test.
- Once you have passed the road test, you will move into one of the following stages:
- 5L drivers move into the Intermediate Stage (minimum 15 months).
Establishing your identity and registering as a customer
You will need to register as a customer before you can schedule your knowledge test appointment.
This will speed up the process because we can begin verifying your identification right away. That means your photo card can be processed without delay once you’ve passed the test.
You’ll also avoid any surprises or delays that could result on the day of the test if you don’t bring the right identification.
Find out how to establish your identity and register as a customer here.
Vision and medical standards
If you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive safely, you must inform Driver Fitness before taking the knowledge test:
Driver Fitness
Box 6300
Winnipeg Manitoba R3C 4A4
Phone: 204-985-1900 or toll-free 1-866-617-6676
If a medical report is required, it must be approved by Driver Fitness before you can take the knowledge test.
Those who fail to meet minimum vision standards, with or without corrective lenses, cannot obtain a driver’s licence. If corrective lenses are required for driving, this will be indicated on your licence.
Knowledge test
About the test
The Class 5 knowledge test assesses your knowledge of traffic laws, safe driving practices and recognition of road signs. To prepare for your knowledge test, review the Driver’s Handbook and take our driving quizzes.
Cost
A knowledge test costs $10.
Time limits and guidelines
There is a 30-minute time limit to complete a knowledge test. It is not an open book test. It is administered using a computer.
Computer-based Class 5 knowledge tests have audio for all languages offered so that you can listen to the questions and answers in addition to reading them.
Cell phones and electronic devices are not allowed in the test area.
Languages
Knowledge tests are available in English and French. In addition, we provide knowledge testing in 28 other languages:
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Amharic |
Kurdish |
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Arabic |
Lao |
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Bosnian |
Low German |
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Simplified Chinese |
Polish |
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Cree |
Portuguese |
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Croatian |
Punjabi |
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Czech |
Romanian |
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Farsi |
Russian |
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German (High) |
Saulteaux |
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Hindi |
Serbian |
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Hungarian |
Spanish |
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Italian |
Tagalog |
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Khmer |
Ukrainian |
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Korean |
Vietnamese |
When booking your appointment, please specify your language preference, and if you would like to have the audio option. For other accessibility needs, please click here.
Next steps
After passing a knowledge test and meeting the visual and medical standards, you will be required to purchase a licence for $20, plus base driver premium charges of up to $45 and any applicable additional driver premium. With this licence, if you are in the GDL program you will be in the Learner Stage (5L) for a minimum of nine months. If you are not in the GDL program, you will be in the Authorized Stage (5A) and be eligible to take a road test the next day.
If you are in the GDL program and are not successful on your knowledge test, there is a seven-day waiting period before you can take the test again. If you are not in the GDL program, there is a one-day waiting period before you can take the test again.
If you are outside of the GDL program, you can repeat a knowledge test the next working day.
Road test – About the test
Once you can perform the basic driving techniques, are at least 16 years of age and have held a Learner’s Stage Class 5 (5L) licence for at least nine months, you can take a road test. If you hold a Class 5 Authorized licence (5A) you can take a road test the next day after passing the knowledge 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. For a full list of driving skills and details on how to perform them safely on your test and beyond, please review your Driver’s Handbook.
It is not permissible to use any device to record a road test, road test route or make any recording (visual or audio) of any MPI employee, any person attending an MPI testing site or any individual taking an MPI-conducted driver examination.
Location
Road tests must be booked at your closest location. Winnipeg residents must take their Class 5 road test at Winnipeg Service Centre.
Cost
A road test costs $30.
Languages
All road tests are conducted in English or French. Examiners use straightforward and clear language when giving directions. To prepare for the road test, you should be familiar with the following terms:
- This street right turn
- This street left turn
- When safe lane change left
- When safe lane change right
- Stop
- Go
- Pick up your speed
- Slow down
- Park the car in one spot
- Don’t stop here
- Keep going
- Pull over to the right
- Too far from the curb
- Try again
Only the examiner and the driver are allowed in the vehicle during the road test.
If you are not fluent in English, we recommend you bring an English speaking person with you to the appointment so they can help translate basic instructions and expectations before the road test begins. They can also translate the results after your road test is completed. Please note: This person can’t come with you on the road test.
Class 5 road test scoring
A class 5 road test will be discontinued as soon as one of the following occurs:
- The driver fails the parallel parking exercise.
- The driver causes interference with other road users.
- The driver causes a collision with another road user or object.
- The driver commits a serious traffic offence or dangerous action.
- The driver has to be assisted by the driver examiner.
- The driver accumulates 11 general errors on the road test.
Whenever possible, the parallel parking exercise will be performed at the start of the test.
As soon as one of these actions occurs, the driver examiner will direct the driver back to the service centre or mobile location. The driver must request, schedule, and pay for another road test to make another attempt.
The driver examiner cannot answer questions during the road test, including:
- If you are passing or failing.
- If you have made a mistake.
- How to do something.
The driver examiner can only discuss the road test once it is finished, and you are both back inside the building. The driver examiner can answer questions about directions (where to turn, going straight, etc.) including repeating directions.
Road test – Preparing for the test
Review the rules of the road
To pass your test, you need to be able to perform a number of driving skills and techniques, including:
- Wearing your seatbelt at all times when the vehicle is in motion.
- Knowing the location of vehicle controls such as ignition, wipers, lights and defrost, and how to use them.
- Maintaining good steering control with hands in the proper position at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock on the steering wheel.
- Signaling prior to both left and right turns, while ensuring your vehicle is in the correct lane and properly positioned before each turn.
- Coming to a complete stop when required (red light, stop sign), at the correct location.
- Changing lanes safely (including moving around parked cars or other obstacles) by shoulder checking and signaling correctly.
- Accelerating smoothly from any stopped position.
- Observing speed limits and recognizing school zone areas with reduced speed. Regardless of the posted speed limit, drivers are expected to always drive at a speed appropriate for road conditions.
- Reversing safety, after performing the proper checks.
- Giving the right of way to pedestrians and oncoming traffic, when required.
For a full list of driving skills and details on how to perform them safely on your test and beyond, please review your Driver’s Handbook.
Top 10 driving tips
After analyzing the top high-risk driving behaviours shown during road tests, below are the top 10 tips to correct dangerous actions and keep our roads safe for all Manitobans:
1. Exceeding the posted speed limit (especially in school zones).
2. & 3. Unable to properly parallel park within three attempts or four minutes, and striking the poles within parallel parking.
4. & 5. Failing to make a proper left turn, establishing, and turning in front of oncoming traffic.
6. Proceeding from a stop sign when it’s not safe because of pedestrians or other vehicles.
7. Entering an intersection on a red light or entering on a late yellow light and failing to clear before the light turns red.
8. Stopping unnecessarily where there’s no stop sign or other traffic control device.
9. Failing to shoulder check and signal when changing lanes.
10. Failing to signal when leaving a parked position on a street, in the MPI garage or before moving after the parallel parking explanation.
Road test – Components of the test
Ensure you bring your valid 5L or 5A driver’s licence and a valid registration certificate for the vehicle you will be using, or your test will be cancelled.
Your driver’s licence cannot be expired or lapsed.
Take the time to review the restrictions (found listed on the back of your licence) carefully. You must comply with any and all of those listed on your licence at the time of your road rest. If you feel any are incorrect, you must have them corrected at a MPI Service Centre prior to your road test appointment. It can’t be corrected at the time of your appointment.
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 – including having a functioning headrest on the passenger seat. 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 infrastructure or agricultural equipment.
There are five parts to a road test in Manitoba:
1. Greeting
You must check in 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. If you fail to do so, your test may be cancelled. You will need to pay to rebook your test.
You must have a supervising driver with you when checking in for your road test appointment. They will not be allowed in the car during the test but must be with you when you check in. You can have them help with translating instructions before the road test, and with the explanation of any errors at the end.
After you check in, a driver examiner calls you, introduces themselves, checks your documents, and asks you to sign the road test sheet.
You will then proceed to your vehicle together.
2. Vehicle check
The examiner will ask you to get in and start the vehicle.
They check the vehicle to ensure it meets safety standards. If there are vehicle deficiencies, the road test may be cancelled.
The driver examiner (or other staff member) will be checking that:
- All turn signals work (front and back of the car).
- All brake lights work (including the third centre light) and they show a red light.
- Both front headlights and both rear running lights are working.
- Licence plates are valid and attached to the front and back of the car. The front licence plate cannot be in the front window.
- Windshield has no major chips or cracks.
- Windshield wipers work and there is washer fluid (if needed for weather).
- Heater/defrost works and keep windows clear (if needed for weather).
- The inside of the car is clean and has no strong smells.
- The car is in good overall condition and safe for the road.
If you have any questions about whether or not your vehicle can be used for the road test – for example if the windshield has chips or cracks, you can go to any MPI service centre that does road tests (before your road test day) and ask to speak with a driver examiner.
3. Explanation of the test
The examiner will explain how the test will be conducted. This is your opportunity to ask questions. Once the road test begins, the driver examiner cannot talk about the test, including if you are passing or failing, until you are back.
During the road test:
- The driver examiner will say “this street left” or “this street right” and will also point in that direction. You do not need to know street names.
- If the driver examiner does not say anything, it means keep driving straight.
- If they need you to make a lane change to get ready for a turn, they will say “when safe, lane change left or right”. It is up to you to make the lane change safely.
- All other lane changes are up to you to make (parked cars, pedestrians, obstacles).
- There will be no back lanes, U-turns, or parking lots other than MPI on your road test.
4. On-road portion
When on the road test, you need to demonstrate the following skills throughout:
- Vehicle condition and equipment: The examiner will ask you to check basic operating features of your vehicle.
- Vehicle control: You must demonstrate the ability to control the vehicle when starting, stopping, steering, shifting, signaling, backing, parking and turning.
- Backing exercise (parallel parking): You will have up to three tries or four minutes – whichever is first, to park within the 1.85 m by 7.5 m (6 feet by 25 feet) space. For each try you get up to three movements of the vehicle (for example: reverse-forward-reverse). When finished, both the front and back of the vehicle need to be 18 inches (46 cm) or closer to the curb. You cannot touch a pole, go over the curb, or do anything dangerous.
- Rules of the road: You must follow all rules of the road and drive safely.
5. Explanation of the test results
Once the road test is complete, the examiner will review your test results with you and answer any questions you may have.
Next steps
If you are in the Class 5 Authorized Stage (5A), you will move to a Class 5 Full licence after passing the road test.
After an unsuccessful road test, there is a 14-day waiting period before you may take the test again. You can schedule your appointment for any time after this waiting period is over.
After three unsuccessful road test attempts, you are required to take a minimum of five hours of professional instruction from a driving school with a permit from MPI before booking a fourth road test. Five hours of professional instruction will also be required before booking each road test after your fourth road test.
A signed Driving Instruction Verification form, including the driving instructor’s permit number, must be presented to an Autopac agent in order to pay for and book the fourth attempt. An additional five hours of driving instruction will be required prior to each additional attempt.
All driving schools must have a valid permit from MPI. To ensure a school has a valid permit, customers should ask the school or instructor to see their permit or contact the Permit Unit at 204-985-8063 or [email protected].
How to book
Appointments
Most knowledge and road tests are by appointment only. Visit an Autopac agent or use our website to pay for your test and schedule your appointment. You can schedule your appointment 60 days in advance. Walk-in knowledge tests are available at MPI’s Gateway Service Centre in Winnipeg from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. (For walk-in testing, customers must first visit a Service Centre or Autopac agent to purchase the test, and then attend the walk-in location with proof of purchase and valid ID).
Minors require parental consent, provided at an Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre, to purchase services online.
Both knowledge and road tests are conducted during weekdays only (with the exception of holidays). Saturday appointments are available in Winnipeg.
Your Autopac agent can provide you with details of available appointments at any testing location. See Mobile Test Unit locations and schedules for customers outside of Winnipeg.
Please note: You will need to give written consent for another individual, including a parent or legal guardian, to purchase and book a road test on your behalf. This requirement is dictated by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) which prohibits us from releasing any information about another customer without their written consent.
Location
Road tests must be booked at your closest location. Winnipeg residents must take their Class 5 road test at Winnipeg Service Centre.
Rescheduling or cancelling your appointment
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must notify your Autopac agent or change your appointment online at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, you will forfeit the service and any applicable fees.