New Brunswick · Learner’s testHow do you get a New Brunswick driver’s licence?
| Stage | Licence | Minimum time |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Class 7 Level 1 | 12 months, or 8 after a driver training course |
| Level 2 | Class 7 Level 2 | 12 months, and 24 months in all |
| Full licence | Class 5 | Apply once the 24 months are done |
A road test moves you from Level 1 to Level 2. If a driver training course got you to Level 2 early, you spend the rest of the 24 months there. It’s your job to apply for Class 5 once Level 2 is done. If you don’t, GDL sanctions could affect your driving privileges.
Class 7 Level 1 rules
At Level 1:
- You drive only with one accompanying driver who has a Class 5 or better licence and at least 3 years of experience, in the front passenger seat
- No other passengers
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs
Class 7 Level 2 rules
After the road test, at Level 2:
- No more than 3 passengers, with only one in the front seat
- If you’re under 21, no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless a licensed driver (Class 5 or better, at least 3 years of experience) is with you, and then with no other passengers
- Work and school trips are exempt automatically, and other purposes need a written application to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles
- Zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs
Breaking the zero alcohol and drug rule at either level brings a one-year suspension. Losing all your points brings a three-month suspension. Either way, you go back to the start of the graduated period, with no credit for a road test or course you passed.
New Brunswick licence classes
| Class | What it lets you drive | Min. age |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Truck tractors and semi-trailers, and trucks towing trailers with air brakes | 18 |
| Class 2 | Buses with more than 24 passengers | 18 |
| Class 3 | Vehicles with three or more axles, and heavier towed vehicles without air brakes | 18 |
| Class 4 | Taxis, ambulances, vehicle-for-hire and buses under 25 passengers | 18 |
| Class 5 | Two-axle vehicles other than ambulances, taxis and buses, towing up to 4,500 kg | After GDL |
| Class 6 | Motorcycles, and Class 9 vehicles | 16 |
| Class 7 | Level 1 learner, then Level 2 (Class 5 vehicles, not mopeds) | 16 |
| Class 8 | Farm tractors only | 14 |
| Class 9 | Motor-driven cycles and farm tractors | 14 |
Classes 1 to 4 also need a completed GDL program and a medical, and Class 1 applicants complete Mandatory Entry-Level Training. Endorsement letters widen a licence: B for school buses, at 21 with a year of driving experience, and E for air brakes. Motorcycle endorsements are on the motorcycle page.
How do you renew a driver’s licence in NB?
You can renew:
- Online through Service New Brunswick (SNB)
- By phone with SNB TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600
- At a Service New Brunswick centre
Classes 9, 8, 7 and 5 renew every four years. Class 3 renews every four years until 65 and every two years after that, and Classes 4, 2 and 1 every four years until 45 and every two years after that.
Licence fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Licence, any class, valid 4 years | $100 |
| Renewal, every 4 years | $100 |
| Renewal for 2 years, where it applies | $50 |
| Replacement licence, any class | $25 |
These fees took effect on August 1, 2026.
Sources: Government of New Brunswick · Department of Justice and Public Safety and 2 more. Checked November 2026.
- Government of New Brunswick: Graduated drivers licences ↗
- Government of New Brunswick: Driver’s licences (classes, renewal and fees) ↗
- Department of Justice and Public Safety: Driver’s Licence Testing Requirements, Motor Vehicle Branch (PDF) ↗
- Government of New Brunswick: Fee increases, Department of Justice and Public Safety ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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