Topic: Driver Education

MPI has created a series of handbooks, manuals and other educational tools to help you prepare for a driving test and learn the rules of the road – for all types of vehicles.

Other learning aids include:

If you want to take driving lessons before testing for your Class 5 licence, click here to find a list of permitted schools near you.

These schools must employ only instructors who hold valid instructor permits, meaning that they have the necessary training, skills and knowledge to properly train students to be safe drivers. They will also have properly equipped and permitted vehicles which have been inspected by our Permit Unit to meet safety and training standards.

Note that instructors must use the school’s permitted vehicle and cannot use a customer’s personal vehicle. In addition, instructors cannot take you along a route that is used during a driving test.

Your rights as a student

Students have the right to ask the school or instructor to see their valid permits, to ensure that they are getting the best training available. Unpermitted schools or instructors are not acting within the law.

As a student, you have the right to receive a receipt for any services you have paid for.

You may want to clarify with your school or instructor whether you will be responsible for the cost of a red light ticket received during a lesson, and who is responsible for the deductible in the case of a collision during a lesson.

Complaints

You can launch a complaint via email to MPI’s Permit Unit if:

  • If you believe your instructor has behaved inappropriately in any way.
  • You believe a training vehicle is unsafe.

If complaints are upheld against an instructor or school, they can be sanctioned. See a list of sanctions imposed by MPI.

Additional information

For information on Class 1 driving schools, see our Mandatory Entry-Level Training page.

Learn more about Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). If you are exempt from GDL, see information on authorized instruction.

Driving Instructor Permits

Driver training permits are governed by the Driver Training Schools, Driving Instructors and Training Vehicles Regulation 46/2006 under the Drivers and Vehicles Act (DVA).

A permit is required when a person is being paid to teach the theory or practice of driving. In order to teach, an instructor must be employed by a driving school and the school must use only vehicles with a permit for the purpose of training. Refer to the documents linked below for requirements to obtain the necessary permits.

An individual’s driving experience is one of the factors that determine eligibility for an instructor’s permit. If you suspect your driving record or driving history might not meet the requirements, please complete the pre-authorization prior to proceeding with the requirements.

Driving Instructor permits are valid for a period of up to one year, from April 1 to March 31 annually.

Applications and Renewals

To obtain a Driving Instructor permit, applicants must submit an application demonstrating their ability to meet the established criteria.

Expired permits cannot be renewed. Permit holders who wish to maintain their permit must apply for renewal prior to March 31 of each year. MPI will distribute renewal documents to permit holders annually in January, enabling permitted instructors to update their information as required.

For more information, please see the following:

Driving Instructor Responsibilities

Permitted Driving Instructors must act in accordance with all relevant legislation, including:

All permitted instructors must conduct business in a fair and appropriate manner. This includes complying with Manitoba Public Insurance’s driver training and testing policies and adhering to the Driver Training Professional Code of Conduct.

Driving Instructors offering Class 1 instruction have additional obligations which are defined in the Training Standards.

Non-Compliance

Driving Instructors who fail to meet their obligations may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including revocation of the permit. Disciplinary actions are dependent upon the severity of the offense and the compliance history of the permit holder. For more information on disciplinary procedures, please see Verifying Permit Holder Compliance.

Imposed sanctions may be posted publicly.

Questions, concerns and complaints

If you have any questions regarding obtaining a permit, require information about the status of a permit, or would like to report a concern about a permitted driving school, please contact us. MPI will investigate any and all complaints received.

Manitoba Public Insurance, Driver Training Permit Unit

Telephone: 204-985-8063

Toll free: 1-800-665-2410 ext. 8063

Email: [email protected]

Driver Training School Permits

Driver training permits are governed by the Driver Training Schools, Driving Instructors and Training Vehicles Regulation 46/2006 under the Drivers and Vehicles Act (DVA).

Driver Training School permits are valid for a period of up to one year, from April 1 to March 31 annually.

Applications and Renewals

To obtain a Driver Training School permit, applicants must submit an application demonstrating their ability to meet the established criteria.

Expired permits cannot be renewed. Permit holders who wish to maintain their permit must apply for renewal prior to March 31 of each year. MPI will distribute renewal documents to permit holders annually in January, enabling permitted Driver Training Schools to update their information as required.

For more information please see the following:

Driver Training School Responsibilities

Permitted Driver Training Schools must act in accordance with all relevant legislation, including:

The Highway Traffic Act

The Drivers and Vehicles Act

Driver Training Schools, Driving Instructors and Training Vehicles Regulation, Man. Reg. 46/2006

Many of the key requirements for Class 1 driver training providers have been summarized in Class 1 Regulatory Requirements.

All Permitted Driving Schools must conduct business in a fair and appropriate manner. This includes complying with Manitoba Public Insurance’s driver training and testing policies and adhering to the Driver Training Provider Professional Code of Conduct.

Driver Training Schools offering Class 1 instruction have additional obligations which are defined in the Training Standards, which are provided to instructors and schools.

Non-Compliance

Driver Training Schools who fail to meet their obligations may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including revocation of the permit. Disciplinary actions are dependent upon the severity of the offense and the compliance history of the permit holder. For more information on disciplinary processes, please see Verifying Permit Holder Compliance.

Note that Imposed sanctions may be posted publicly.

Student Expectations

All students who receive training from permitted instructors and schools are entitled to quality training in an environment that is safe, and is respectful of their well-being and dignity. Students must also act in a manner that enables quality and fairness in teaching.

For more information, please review the Driver Training Student Expectations.

Questions, concerns and complaints

If you have any questions regarding obtaining a permit, require information about the status of a permit, or would like to report a concern about a permitted driving school, please contact us. MPI will investigate any and all complaints received.

Manitoba Public Insurance, Driver Training Permit Unit

Telephone: 204-985-8063

Toll free: 1-800-665-2410 ext. 8063

Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources

Finding a driving school

Driver Z login

Current students: access your current Driver Z account with your User ID and password here.

Program overview

Driver Z is driver education for the next generation.

Using a mix of online and in-car learning, Driver Z gives students the tools, knowledge and confidence to improve their driving ability, reduce risk, and prevent collisions.

Online

In addition to in-car training, students are required to access Driver Z online – either on a smartphone or computer – to log in, complete course work and track their progress. The site hosts interactive eLearning activities, instructional videos and an online practice log.

What else is new and exciting? The program has been gamified! Driver Z is organized on a map that spans six zones. Complete eLessons, attend virtual classes and practice with a supervising driver to progress through the map and earn points and stars as you go. As you rack up the points, you unlock progress badges.

How do I register?

If you’re at least 15 ½ years old, you can register for Driver Z.

The Driver Z registration process has three key steps – visit an Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre to get set up as an MPI customer, pay, and register for a course.

To save time and make the registration process as smooth as possible, parents/guardians and students can complete two of three steps in advance of choosing a course date – getting set up a customer and paying for the course.

Once these two steps are complete, parents/guardians or students can register for available Driver Z registration courses monthly in two ways – visiting your Autopac broker or an MPI Service Centre or calling MPI’s Contact Centre at 204-985-7000 or toll-free 204-665-2410.

For more information about our monthly registration process and the current courses available, visit our Course Finder page.

Customer set-up

A parent or guardian must be with the student at the Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre to become an MPI customer, or they can sign a Parental Consent Form and the teen can go on their own.

To get set up as a customer, you will need to bring identification. Use our Proving My identity tool to find the documents you need, or bring one of the combinations below:

Option 1

A Vital Statistics issued birth certificate + one documents* showing where you live + a signed Declaration of Guarantor of Proof of Identity form, which is available on the MPI website.

Option 2

Canadian passport + two documents* showing where you live.

Option 3

Certificate of Indian Status + birth certificate + two documents* showing where you live.

Option 4

Secure Certificate of Indian Status + two documents* showing where you live.

Option 5

Foreign passport (with acceptable evidence showing entitlement to be in Canada) + two documents* showing where you live.

Option 6

Canadian passport + one document* showing where you live + a signed Declaration of Guarantor of Proof of Identity form, which is available on the MPI website.

* a bank statement, income tax statement or confirmation letter from your employer dated within 90 days. For a complete list of acceptable documents, visit establishing your identity.

Having trouble finding two address documents?
A Guarantor Declaration can help. A Guarantor is someone who can verify your identity. To act as a Guarantor, a person must be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada, have known you personally for at least two years and work in one of the occupations listed on the Declaration of Guarantor of Proof of Identity form (e.g., teacher, principal, doctor, etc.).

Don’t forget: you will need to provide an email address when registering for Driver Z. Parent or guardians will also need to access Driver Z using an email. Student email addresses cannot be the same as their parent or guardian’s email address that they plan on using as a co-pilot for Driver Z.

Choosing a course

Once you are set up as a customer and the student is 15 1/2, visit our Course Finder to view which courses you are eligible for. Course Finder will display details on when you can view upcoming courses and when the next registration date is for Driver Z.

Please remember that students must be present when registering in-person for a Driver Z course or if you are registering over the phone they must be on the call. A parent or guardian cannot register for you.

What to expect

Within 31 days of the course start date, you will receive an email with instructions to log on to the Driver Z online application and begin required pre-learning activities (Zone 1, activities 1-29) before Kick-Off.

Zone 1: Electric Avenue

Cruise through Electric Avenue before the first virtual class Kick-Off. Log in, complete all 29 online activities and set up your co-pilot. This zone may take up to 12 hours to complete.

Zone 2 & 3: From Easy Street to Road Sage

Attend the Kick-Off virtual class with your co-pilot, attend 20 hours of virtual class learning and keep up with your eLessons!

You will write your knowledge test in class five. If you pass, you need to purchase your Class 5L licence and begin in-car practice lessons (good luck!).

Zone 4: Highway to Help

On the Highway to Help, you’ve passed your knowledge test and are attending instructor-led in-car training (14 hours) while continuing to keep up with online requirements between lessons (2 hours).

Zone 5: Life in the Slow Lane

It’s all you! Complete at least 45 hours of in-car practice time (which must be verified by a co-pilot). If you go beyond 45 hours of in-car practice, you earn twice the points for each hour!

Zone 6: Boulevard of Dreams

This is it – the final stretch! The more you practice, the more points you get. As you do, you rise on the leaderboard and level up, collecting badges. Then, at seven months after the knowledge test and with at least 45 hours of verified practice time, you are eligible to book a readiness assessment with your instructor.

For information about driver testing, including knowledge and road tests, as well as vision and medical requirements, please visit the Testing for your Class 5 licence page.

For more information about obtaining your Class 5 licence, including the Graduated Driver Licensing restrictions in each stage, visit the Get a passenger vehicle class 5 licence page.

Why practice is so important

Applying what you’ve learned in a practical setting will help you build your confidence behind the wheel and reduce your risk as a novice driver. During the program, you must complete a minimum of 45 hours of practice time; we recommend you acquire 100 hours of in-car practice time.

Enlist a safe driving team to help you reach your goal! Everyone wants to see you succeed and become a safe driver. The online application allows you to invite up to eight co-pilots to help you achieve the minimum required amount of in-car practice time.

The role of co-pilots and supervising drivers

We all work together to help young drivers gain the skills and knowledge they need behind the wheel. Think of it as a safe driving team.

To successfully complete Driver Z, you will need a safe driving support team which includes at least one co-pilot and a supervising driver (and yes, they can be the same person).

Supervising driver: someone who sits next to you while you acquire practice time. This individual must have held their Class 5 Full stage (5F) driver’s licence for at least three years.

Co-pilot: someone who will log on to Driver Z (either on a computer or phone) to verify your practice time online. Your co-pilot must be an MPI customer. You can invite up to eight co-pilots to share the responsibility. Co-pilots must complete eLessons 1-6 online.

FOR STUDENTS AND CO-PILOTS – ASSIGMMENT BEFORE YOUR FIRST VIRTUAL CLASS

Students – Before Kick-Off, you must:

  1. Set up your Driver Z account. (Check your email for instructions).
  2. Complete Electric Avenue (Zone 1). Don’t leave this to last minute – traveling Electric Avenue may take 12 hours to complete.
  3. Set up co-pilots through your Driver Z account (you can have up to eight). Electric Avenue (Activity 2) teaches you how to do this.
  4. Make sure your co-pilots complete their own Electric Avenue (Activities 1 through 6).
  5. Bring one of your co-pilots to Kick-Off.

Co-pilots – Before Kick-Off, you must:

  1. Make sure you accept the email invitation to participate in the program (students will send invitations by email through their Driver Z account).
  2. Complete eLessons 1-6 (can take up to three hours).
  3. Check your Driver Z account often!

We’ll send emails and messages to your Driver Z account with important course-related information. Expect your first email within 31 days of the course start date!

Helpful resources

Check out our Driver Z Quick Tips reference for more information including a visual timeline of what to expect and how students and parents can best prepare for a student’s first class.

Technical support

If you’re registered for Driver Z and are having issues accessing your account, review the Support Guide or contact MPI at 204-985-7000.

Additional program-specific support is available on Driver Z online.

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