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The price of getting your B.C. driver’s licence: driving college, highway exams and extra

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Auto insurance coverage for brand spanking new drivers in B.C. with an L or N licence

In B.C., auto insurance coverage is bought by means of the ICBC’s dealer community. When you could have your L, you’ll be able to’t take out your personal auto insurance coverage coverage but, since you’ll be able to’t drive independently. As an alternative, you’ll should be listed as a secondary driver on one other coverage (say, certainly one of your dad and mom), which usually prices $130 to $230 per 12 months

When you get your N, nevertheless, and also you determine to take out your personal auto insurance coverage coverage, the prices will improve significantly. New drivers in B.C. who’ve simply earned their N will pay as a lot as $3,000 per 12 months for their very own auto insurance coverage coverage—a 10-fold improve of what they paid once they had the L.

Getting your full licence in B.C.

The ultimate step within the graduated licencing system is to get your full, unrestricted licence. When you’ve had your N licence for twenty-four months with a clear driving file, you’ll be able to go in your Class 5 highway take a look at, which prices $50, at any ICBC licensing workplace. When you’ve accomplished a Graduated Licencing Program course from an ICBC-accredited driving college, the wait time decreases from 24 to 18 months. 

The Class 5 highway take a look at is a barely tougher model of the Class 7 highway take a look at. At this stage, you’ll be examined on issues like turning, altering lanes and parking, in a wide range of driving environments. To your Class 5 take a look at, your examiner can take you on the freeway, into busy industrial areas and thru massive intersections. 

When you don’t go the Class 5 take a look at, you’ll want to attend 14 days earlier than you’ll be able to take the take a look at once more.

Going to driving college in B.C.

All through the graduated licencing course of, driving college will help you be taught the abilities you want. The prices and kinds of driving classes you’ll want will differ relying on which step of the graduated licencing course of you’re at. 

  • L stage: To arrange for the L information take a look at, you should use the ICBC’s free Study to Drive Good app (accessible for iOS and Android). You may as well purchase a observe workbook or a web-based L take a look at prep device. These are comparatively cheap, sometimes costing $20 to $50. It’s a worthwhile funding, although, as a result of every further L take a look at try prices $15, in addition to a number of hours of your time. 
  • N stage: You’ll wish to discover taking a course that’s tailor-made that can assist you go your Class 7 highway take a look at. There are two kinds of programs. The primary (and costlier) possibility is enrolling in a Graduated Licencing Program (GLP) course. GLP programs sometimes price $1,400 to $1,600. Sadly, in contrast to in different Canadian provinces corresponding to Ontario, going by means of a GLP in British Columbia doesn’t decrease your auto insurance coverage, nevertheless it has different perks. When you full a GLP with an ICBC-approved driving college, you’ll be able to qualify for a six-month wait time discount between the time you get your N and the time you get your full licence (18 months as an alternative of 24 months). Moreover, in case you’re a highschool pupil, you will get two highschool credit. As an alternative of taking a GLP course, the opposite possibility on the N stage is to take another preparation course for the Class 7 highway take a look at. Prep programs exterior of the GLP are normally considerably cheaper, starting from $900 to $1,200. Given the restricted monetary advantages of the GLP, most driving college students in B.C. go for the non-GLP possibility.
  • Class 5 highway take a look at stage: Lastly, while you’re getting ready in your Class 5 take a look at, it’s a good suggestion to take a number of observe classes with a driving college. These classes sometimes price between $75 to $150 per hour. They’ll cowl what you want to know for the Class 5 take a look at.

Total, taking classes with an ICBC-certified driving college could make you a safer driver and improve your possibilities of passing your highway exams on the primary attempt. Secure driving habits are one thing that you simply construct for all times, and investing in driver’s ed early in your licencing journey will pay dividends. 

What’s a B.C. driver’s summary?

You might hear the time period “B.C. driver’s summary.” Often known as the driving file, that is an official doc that covers your driving historical past. It highlights any infractions, accidents or demerit factors gathered over the previous 5 years. 

You possibly can get hold of your driver’s summary on-line, in individual at an ICBC workplace, or by cellphone. Sometimes, driving abstracts are required when making use of for a job that entails driving, shifting to a brand new province or nation, or searching for an insurance coverage quote. There is no such thing as a price to get your driver’s summary.

How a lot does it price for a brand new driver to be insured in B.C.?

After you have your full licence, you’ll have to get insured. In B.C., automobile insurance coverage is offered by means of the Insurance coverage Company of British Columbia (ICBC). For brand new drivers, insurance coverage can price as a lot as $3,000 per 12 months.

Your insurance coverage charges will rely upon a number of elements, together with the kind of licence you maintain, your driving expertise and your automobile. As a brand new driver, your charges could also be increased, however they will lower over time in case you keep a protected driving file. As talked about earlier, attending driving college sadly doesn’t decrease insurance coverage charges in B.C., however sustaining a protected driving file, mixed with exploring low-kilometre and distance-based reductions, can add up. 

Auto insurance coverage in British Columbia might be bought by means of any of the ICBC’s 900-plus licenced Autoplan brokers. After you have insurance coverage and your full, unrestricted licence, you’ll be able to drive.

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