Drivers Licence & ID

Basic Qualifications

Parental Consent
Anyone under 18 years of age that is not married or self-supporting must provide consent from a parent or guardian for a first time licence/ID Card or vehicle registration. The parent or guardian must present acceptable identification, and accompany the minor to the office.

Vision Requirements/Medical Documentation
You will be required to pass an eye exam, with the minimum standard determined by the class of licence you are requesting. Medicals are required for driver's licences at certain intervals based on age, the first one required at age 75. Also, anyone applying for a class 1, 2, or 4 licence will need to have a medical submitted. Regardless of age or class of licence, you are legally obligated to report any existing medical condition, disability, or disease. You may submit directly to Alberta Transportation for review, or we can do so on your behalf.

Residency
Individuals must be legal residents of Alberta, and legally present in Canada. In order to obtain an Alberta driver's licence or identification card, you must provide proof (work visa, permanent resident card, Canadian Citizenship, etc.) that you are lawfully entitled to be in Canada and proof that you are an Alberta resident (utility bill, residential lease agreement, letter from Alberta based employer etc.)

Proof of Identification Requirements

Who You Are

Photo documents that contain your legal name and date of birth.

  • Alberta operator's licence or identification card
  • Photo driver's licence (from another jurisdiction)
  • Passport (if it is a foreign country passport, you must have an appropriate immigration document as well)
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Citizenship Card
  • Firearms Possession Certificate
  • Métis Nation of Alberta Card (new version)
  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card (Federal Issued)

What You Have

Support documents that contain two data elements such as name, date of birth, signature, or address.
An item from the first category is acceptable.

Birth or Marriage Certificate

  • Birth or Marriage Certificate
  • Work Visa or Student Visa
  • Telephone, cable, gas, or utility bill
  • Government employee ID
  • Health Care Card

The following are not acceptable

  • Interim/temporary driver's licence
  • Business cards
  • Membership cards (ie, Costco, Video, Grocery Store cards)
  • Insurance Pink Cards or Registration Cards


Please contact us if you have questions regarding presentation of an unmentioned document

NOTE: Expired documentswill not be accepted.

Licence Class

Class One Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • Any motor vehicle, or combination of vehicles, other than a motorcycle
  • Class 6 type vehicles, for learning only

The minimum learning or licencing age is 18.

Requirements: knowledge test, vision screening, medical report, airbrake certificate and road test.

Vehicle for road test: a tractor-trailer combination with 3 or more axles, equipped with airbrakes.

Class 2 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • Any motor vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that the holder of a Class 3, 4, and 5 operator's licence may operate
  • Any bus
  • Class 1 and 6 type vehicles, for learning only

The minimum learning or licencing age is 18.

Requirements: knowledge test, vision screening, medical report, airbrake certificate (if using a vehicle with airbrakes only) and road test.

Vehicle for road test: a bus with a seating capacity exceeding 24 including the operator.

Class 3 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • Any motor vehicle, or combination of vehicles that the holder of a Class 5 operator's licence may operate
  • A single motor vehicle with three or more axles
  • A motor vehicle with three or more axles towing a trailer with one or more axles, if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes
  • Class 2 and 4 type vehicles without passengers
  • All motor vehicles included under Class 1, 2, and 6 for learning only

Is not permitted to:

  • Drive a vehicle that has a seating capacity of more than 15, while that vehicle is transporting any person in addition to the operator
  • To transport passengers for hire

The minimum learning or licensing age is 18.

Requirements: knowledge test, vision screening, airbrake certificate (if using a vehicle with airbrakes only) and road test.

Vehicle for road test: Any single motor vehicle having three or more axles.

Class 4 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • A taxi, ambulance or bus (including school or kindergarten buses) where seating capacity is not over 24, excluding the operator
  • All motor vehicles included under Class 5
  • All motor vehicles included under Class 1, 2, 3, and 6 for learning only

The minimum learning or licensing age is 18.

Requirements: knowledge test, vision screening, medical report, and road test (road test can be waived if the operator currently holds a Class 1, 2, or 4 licence).

Vehicle for road test: any two axle motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle.

Class 5 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • A two axle single motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle
  • A two axle motor vehicle towing a trailer with one or more axles, if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes
  • A recreational vehicle or any combination of a recreational vehicle and a trailer, if the trailer has not more than two axles and is not equipped with airbrakes
  • A moped
  • Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 type vehicles, for learning only

Is not permitted to:

  • Drive any vehicle that has a seating capacity of more than 15, while that vehicle is transporting any person in addition to the operator
  • To transport for hire

The minimum learning age is 14.

The minimum licensing age is 16.

Requirements: road test.

Vehicle for road test: any two axle motor vehicle excluding a motorcycle.

Class 6 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • A motorcycle or a moped
  • All motor vehicles under Class 5, for learning only

The minimum learning or licensing age is 16.

Requirements: Knowledge test, vision screening and a road test.

Vehicle for road test: motorcycle without sidecar.

Class 7 Licence

Permits an operator to drive:

  • A moped
  • A motor vehicle referred to in the Class 5 category, as a learner only
  • A motorcycle, as a learner only, if the operator is at least 16 years of age

The minimum learning or licensing age is 14.

Requirements: knowledge test and vision screening.

ID Cards

ID Cards are available for individuals who do not have a Driver's Licence. The minimum age is 12 years old. Please read the Basic Qualifications and Proof of Identification Requirements above for more information. Please note that they are mailed out, and take 5-10 business days to receive.

Graduated Drivers Licence (GDL)

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is a program that will ensure new drivers, regardless of age, get the support, skills and experience they need to handle the complex task of driving. Practice and driver experience is what makes safe drivers. It will take a minimum of three years to complete both the learners and probationary stages of Graduated Driver Licensing. It will take four years if you get your Learner's Licence at 14 years of age.

The following information highlights the key ingredients of GDL:

Stage one – Learner (Class 7)

To obtain a Learner's licence you must:

  • be 14 years of age or older
  • pass a knowledge test and vision screening
  • have parental consent if you are under 18 years of age
  • valid identification

Learner's conditions

  • Must hold a Learner's licence (Class 7) for at least one year.
  • Must be accompanied by a fully licensed (non-GDL probationary) driver who is 18 years of age or older and is seated next to the driver.
  • Not permitted to drive from midnight to 5 a.m.
  • Not permitted to have more passengers than seat belts.
  • They will be suspended at 8 demerit points (compared to fully licensed drivers who are suspended at 15 demerit points)
  • Have a zero alcohol level.

If learning to drive a motorcycle, you must be 16 years of age and are not permitted to drive during nighttime hours. You must be accompanied by a fully licensed (non-GDL probationary) driver who is 18 years of age or older and is either seated on the motorcycle with you or is following you in or on another motor vehicle.

Stage two – GDL probationary (Class 5)

To become a probationary driver you must:

  • Be 16 years of age or older.
  • Pass the standard Alberta Class 5 road test.

Probationary conditions

  • Must spend a minimum of two years as a probationary driver.
  • No more passengers than seat belts.
  • They will be suspended at 8 demerit points (compared to fully licensed drivers who are suspended at 15 demerit points)
  • Have a zero alcohol level.
  • No upgrading to a commercial licence (Classes 1, 2, 3 or 4).
  • Cannot serve as an accompanying driver to a learner.

Stage three – Non-probationary licence (Class 5)

To become a fully licensed driver you must:

  • Have been suspension free for the last year of the two-year probationary stage.
  • Pass an advanced road test.

Out of Province/Country Vehicles

If you are a new resident to the province, you may apply for an Alberta Driver's Licence.

Canadian Licence exchange:

A valid licence from another Canadian jurisdiction can be exchanged for the equivalent Alberta class. Testing is not normally required, but medical and vision requirements must be met. You will be required to surrender your home jurisdiction licence. You will be required to provide proof of residency, and additional identification. Please read above regarding basic requirements and Proof of Identification Requirements.

Reciprocal Country Licence Exchange:

The following countries have Reciprocal Licensing Agreements with Alberta:

  • Austria
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Germany
  • Isle of Man
  • Japan
  • Northern Ireland
  • Republic of Korea
  • Switzerland
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain (excluding Southern Ireland)

A valid licence from these countries can be exchanged for a Class 5 when the applicant is presenting a valid licence of an equivalent class. A Class 6 operator's licence will only be issued to valid Swiss Class A, A1 licence and a Japanese International driver's licence which permits the holder to operate a motorcycle. All other classes requested would require testing. You will be required to provide proof of residency, immigration documents, and additional identification. Please read above regarding basic requirements and Proof of Identification Requirements.

Non-Reciprocal Country Licence Exchange:

If you have a licence from a country other than the ones specified above, you will first have to complete a knowledge exam and be issued a Class 7 licence. You will be required to surrender your out-of-country licence, before being issued a Class 7 licence. Your out-of-country licence will be forwarded to the government for authentication. You may be exempt from the GDL Program if you are submitting a class 5 equivalent licence. This means you will have your waiting periods waived if approved. You will wait approximately 10 days for approval. Once approved, you can take a road test. If you have between one and two years driving experience, you may only take the basic road test, and once passed will be issued a Class 5 GDL licence. If you have more than 2 years driving experience, you may take the Advanced road test, and once passed will be issued a class 5 licence (no GDL). All licences surrendered must be in English, or have a translation by an approved translator. Please read above regarding basic requirements and Proof of Identification Requirements. Some countries may require extra documents, such as a certification or authentication letter. Please ask our staff for more details. Or see the guide: http://www.servicealberta.ca/pdf/mv/GDL_UG_Feb_20_2014.pdf

Replace a Lost or Stolen Driver's Licence/ID Card

You will be required to meet the Proof of Identification Requirements above. If you have a picture on the Motor Vehicle System, we can use this as one requirement. This means you will still need to present one piece of acceptable identification, and answer knowledge verification questions. If you have had your licence stolen, you should report it to the RCMP. We will ask you to provide a file number in this case. We will issue you a temporary licence, and your permanent card will come in the mail in 5-10 business days.

Change of Address

Please bring your existing licence, and a second piece of acceptable identification. Please read the Proof of Identification Requirements above for additional information. We will issue you a temporary licence, and your permanent card will come in the mail in 5-10 business days.

Renewing your Driver's Licence/ID Card

Please bring your existing licence, and a second piece of ID. Please read above for Basic Requirements and Proof of Identification Requirements. If your licence has been expired for more than 6 months, you will also be required to provide proof of residency. If your licence has been expired for more than 3 years, you will be required to also undergo all testing. We will issue you a temporary licence, and your permanent card will come in the mail in 5-10 business days.