Driver’s Licence Cost by Province in Canada (2026)

Key takeaways

Ontario: $159.75 G1 package plus $91.25 G road test; $90 to exchange a licence
Quebec: $13.50 knowledge test and $33.75 road test, plus the licence fee
Nova Scotia: $15.03 knowledge test, $52.54 road test, $80.15 for a 5-year licence
Alberta registry agents set their own prices, so fees vary by office
Lessons usually cost more than all government fees combined

Official licence fees by province (October 2026)

Province	Knowledge test	Road test	Licence	Exchange
Ontario	$159.75 G1 package (knowledge test, G2 road test, 5-year licence); G road test $91.25; G2 retake $53.75; extra knowledge test $16		Included in G1 package	$90
Quebec	$13.50	$33.75 (Class 5)	Learner’s $88.35 (18 months); probationary $107.96 (24 months); regular up to $63.28 a year	Licence fee only
Manitoba	$12	$35	Base driver premium $45 a year + $12 licence card; MPI lists $75 for a new resident’s licence	$75
Nova Scotia	$15.03	$52.54	Class 7 learner’s $25.10; Class 5 (5 years) $80.15	Licence fee ($80.15 for 5 years)
British Columbia	$15	Class 7 $35; Class 5 $50	Licence fee charged on issue (see ICBC)	Licence fee
Alberta	Registry agents set their own prices for most services and for passenger-vehicle road tests. Ask your local registry.
Saskatchewan	SGI charges a fee for each test and for the licence. Ask SGI or a motor licence issuer.
New Brunswick	Ask Service New Brunswick for current fees.

Fees from DriveTest (modified July 23, 2026), SAAQ (effective December 23, 2025), MPI (modified August 4, 2026), Service Nova Scotia and ICBC, checked October 5, 2026. Fees include tax where the source says so.

What a typical newcomer pays in government fees

Province	Exchange (agreement country)	Experienced driver, tests needed
Ontario	$90	$251 ($159.75 + $91.25)
Quebec	Licence fee (regular licence up to $63.28 a year)	About $155 ($13.50 + $33.75 + $107.96 probationary licence) or less if you get a regular licence
Manitoba	$75	About $122 ($12 + $35 + $75)
Nova Scotia	$80.15	About $148 ($15.03 + $52.54 + $80.15)
British Columbia	Licence fee	$65 in test fees ($15 + $50) plus the licence fee

Each failed road test adds another test fee. In Ontario a G2 retake is $53.75; in Quebec $33.75.

The costs that are not government fees

Driving lessons. Many newcomers take a few lessons to learn local rules and test routes. MoneySense reported BC lessons at $75 to $150 an hour in 2024. Ask several schools for quotes.
Driver education course. In Ontario, an approved beginner course lets a new driver take the G2 test after 8 months instead of 12. In BC, an approved course can shorten the novice stage. These courses often cost several hundred dollars or more.
A car for the test. You must bring a road-worthy, insured car. Driving schools often rent one with a warm-up lesson.
Translation and proof of experience. Certified translations and official letters from home cost money and time.
Insurance. Not a licence fee, but your first-year premium is often the biggest cost of driving.

Add it all up with the licence cost calculator.

Booking and waiting times

Fees are only part of the cost; time matters too. Road test dates in large cities can be weeks away, and you cannot keep driving on your foreign licence after the grace period. Book your knowledge test soon after you arrive. In Ontario, the G1 package already includes your first G2 road test, so book it as soon as you are eligible. In Manitoba, you must wait 14 days after a failed test, and in Quebec, failing the road test now leaves you with a restricted learner’s licence. Each delay can mean more lessons and more car rentals. If you will drive for work, plan the licence first, before you accept a job that needs it.

Which province is cheapest?

On government fees alone, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia are low, and Ontario is higher because of its two road tests. But the difference is small compared with lessons and insurance. The bigger factor is whether you can exchange your licence. An exchange skips lessons and road tests completely. Check your country in the exchange comparison.

What each fee includes

Ontario

The $159.75 G1 package covers the knowledge test, your first G2 road test and a 5-year licence. You pay $91.25 later for the G road test. If you fail a road test, you pay again: $53.75 for the G2 or $91.25 for the G. A second knowledge test attempt is $16. An exchange from an agreement country is $90.

Quebec

The SAAQ charges separately for the knowledge test ($13.50) and the road test ($33.75 for Class 5). The licence itself is priced by period: $107.96 for a 24-month probationary licence, or up to $63.28 a year for a regular licence. A learner’s licence costs $88.35 for 18 months, including photos. Part of what you pay to the SAAQ funds the public injury insurance plan.

Manitoba

MPI lists $12 for the knowledge test and $35 for the road test. Your licence includes a base driver premium of $45 a year and a $12 card fee. MPI’s new-resident page lists a $75 licence fee for an exchange.

Nova Scotia

The knowledge test is $15.03 and the road test $52.54 (tax included). A Class 7 learner’s licence is $25.10 and a 5-year Class 5 licence $80.15.

British Columbia

ICBC charges $15 for the knowledge test, $35 for the Class 7 road test and $50 for the Class 5 road test, plus a licence fee when your licence is issued. ICBC’s fee table loads on its website; check it before you go.

How to keep the cost down

Bring proof of experience from home. It can let you skip a test stage or waiting time.
Study the official handbook for free before the knowledge test. Failing costs a retake fee and time.
Take lessons that target the test, not a full beginner course, if you already drive well.
Book early. Last-minute tests in big cities can push you past your grace period.

Common questions

How much does a G licence cost in Ontario?

As of October 2026, the G1 package is $159.75 (knowledge test, G2 road test and a 5-year licence) and the G road test is $91.25, so $251 in government fees if you pass each test the first time.

How much does it cost to exchange a foreign licence in Ontario?

DriveTest lists $90 for a licence exchange, as of October 2026.

Why are Alberta fees not listed?

In Alberta, private registry agents deliver most services and set their own prices for passenger-vehicle road tests. Prices vary by office, so ask your registry.

Do I pay again if I fail the road test?

Yes. Each new attempt has a fee, for example $53.75 for an Ontario G2 retake or $33.75 in Quebec. Some provinces also make you wait before you try again.

Is insurance included in the licence fee?

In Manitoba and Quebec, part of the licence fee goes to the public insurer. In other provinces, car insurance is separate and bought for the vehicle.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Driver’s licence cost by province: fees compared