Your first licence

A Class 5 licence allows you to drive passenger vehicles and light trucks (cars, SUVs and pickups). It’s the most common type of licence in Manitoba.

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.

If you have never held a driver’s licence before, you need to successfully complete Manitoba’s Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) program. GDL applies to all driver licence applicants, regardless of age.

More information

• Your driver’s licence fee contains two parts: a $20 fixed fee and a $45 base driver premium.
• If you keep driving safely, your licence (and insurance) will cost less over time. See information on our Driver Safety Rating.
• All new drivers should consider taking lessons from a driving school with a valid permit.
• If you are a licensed driver who is moving to Manitoba see the New to Manitoba page about transferring your licence.
• You are able to renew your licence, provide changes and have your photo taken at any Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre.
• Class 5 road test customers at Bison, Brandon, Gateway, St. Mary’s and Steinbach Service Centre may be asked to complete a 15-minute virtual driver assessment prior to their road test. More information here.

How to register for the GDL program

1. Register through an Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre. You need proper identification to register as a customer.

2. Book your knowledge test at an Autopac agent or Service Centre.

3. When you have passed your knowledge test and vision test you will be issued a learner licence and will enter the GDL Learner stage.

Class 5 GDL stages

There are three GDL stages with specific restrictions that will reduce the opportunity and likelihood for you to engage in risky driving behaviour.

L – Learner stage

I – Intermediate stage

F – Full stage

Time within the learner and intermediate stages is only earned if the driver holds a valid licence. The driver will not earn credit for time served in the stage if their licence is suspended, prohibited or expired.

A stage may be extended as a result of interventions from a Novice Driver Hearing.

Learner (L) stage (minimum nine months)

To apply for a Class 5 learner licence, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age, or a minimum of 15 years, six months and enrolled in a high school driver education course.
• Have parental consent if you are under 18 years of age.
• Pass a knowledge test and meet the vision and medical standards. If you fail the knowledge test, you must wait a minimum of seven days before you may take another knowledge test.

During the learner stage, you must follow these restrictions:

• not have drugs or alcohol in your system while operating a motor vehicle
• be accompanied by a supervising driver who
  — is the only front seat passenger
  — holds a valid, minimum Class 5 full stage licence
  — has held a full Class 5 licence for at least three years
  — is under .05 blood alcohol concentration and is able to pass a drug screening test
• limit other passengers in the back seat(s) up to the number of functioning seatbelts

While in the learner stage, you are not allowed to:

• tow vehicles
• operate Class 3 motor vehicles registered as a farm truck
• operate off-road vehicles along or across a highway (unless you hold a minimum Class 6 intermediate stage licence)

You may apply for a motorcycle (Class 6) learner licence, however you may not apply for authorized instruction in Classes 1–4 (Commercial). You may operate a moped providing you are at least 16 years of age.

Intermediate (I) stage (minimum 15 months)

To graduate to this stage, you must pass the Class 5 road test. If you fail the road test, you must wait a minimum of 14 days before you may take another road test.

During the intermediate stage, you must follow these restrictions:

• not have drugs or alcohol in your system while operating a motor vehicle
• limit passengers at these times:
  — 5 a.m. to midnight: one passenger in the front seat and up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat(s)
  — midnight to 5 a.m.: either one passenger, or when accompanied by a qualified supervising driver in the front seat you may have additional passengers up to the number of functioning seatbelts in the back seat(s)

During the Class 5 intermediate stage, you may:

• tow vehicles
• operate a Class 3 motor vehicle registered as a farm truck
• operate off-road vehicles along or across a highway
• apply for authorized instruction in licence Classes 2–4 if you are 18 years of age or older and meet the vision and medical standards

You are only required to complete the intermediate stage once. Credit for time served in the intermediate stage in Class 5 will be given for the intermediate stage in Class 6 and vice versa.

Full (F) stage

On completion of the 15-month intermediate stage, you will graduate to the full licence stage. Drivers in the full stage:

• not have drugs or alcohol in your system while operating a motor vehicle for the first 36 months
• may apply for authorized instruction in Class 1 if at least 18 years of age and meet medical standards
• may upgrade to full Class 1–4 after passing the appropriate tests
• may supervise novice drivers after three years in the Full stage

Violating restrictions

Violating any condition or restriction on your driver’s licence is considered an offence. You will be subject to a full driver record review to determine whether additional licensing sanctions will be imposed. You may also be subject to a full driver record review if you have a driving conviction or collision.

The result of a full driver record review may include one or more of the following:

• licence suspension
• special driving course (at the driver’s expense)
• passenger restrictions
• time of day restrictions
• other driving restrictions

Violating the drug-and-alcohol restriction could result in a roadside suspension, or further impaired driving sanctions if you are convicted of a Criminal Code offence. You may also be denied insurance coverage. See more information.

Restrictions

A driver's licence restriction is a limitation that may be placed on a driver’s licence. You must comply with any restrictions when you are operating a motor vehicle. Any driver’s licence restrictions you may have will be displayed on the back of your licence.

The possible restrictions/codes are shown in the table below: