Total cost to get your licence calculator

How the calculator counts

1. Government fees come from each licensing office for the path you choose. For example, an experienced driver taking tests in Ontario pays the $159.75 G1 package and the $91.25 G road test.
2. Retakes add one road test fee each.
3. Lessons are hours × your hourly price.
4. Car for road tests is multiplied by the number of road tests: two in Ontario (G2 and G), two for new drivers in BC (Class 7 and Class 5), one elsewhere, plus retakes.
5. For an exchange, lessons and test costs are left out because you do not take a road test.

Worked example

Maria drove for 8 years in Brazil and moves to Toronto. Brazil is not on Ontario’s exchange list.

• G1 package: $159.75. G road test: $91.25. Government total: $251.
• 4 lessons at $60: $240.
• Car for two road tests at $150: $300.

Total: about $791. If she fails the G2 test once, add $53.75 and another $150 car rental: about $995.

Provinces in the calculator

Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia have full official fee lists built in. For BC, we include the test fees ($15 knowledge, $35 Class 7 road, $50 Class 5 road); add the licence issue fee from ICBC under “Other government fees”. Alberta registry agents set their own prices, and we could not find a current published list for Saskatchewan or New Brunswick, so choose “Another province” and enter the quotes you get. See all fees in licence costs by province.

What lessons and courses cost

Private costs vary more than government fees. MoneySense reported BC driving lessons at $75 to $150 an hour in 2024, and Class 7 road test preparation packages at $900 to $1,500. Prices in other cities can be lower or higher. Before you choose a school:

• Ask whether the price includes the car for the road test and a warm-up lesson.
• Ask whether the instructor is licensed by the province and whether the school offers an approved beginner course.
• Ask for a package for experienced drivers. You may only need help with local rules and test routes, not a full course.

An experienced driver often needs 2 to 6 hours. A brand-new driver may need 20 hours or more, plus practice with a family member or friend who holds a full licence.

How to spend less

• Check first whether you can exchange your licence. An exchange skips lessons and road tests.
• Bring proof of experience so you are not treated as a beginner.
• Study the free official handbook and practice tests before the knowledge test.
• Book the road test only when you are ready: each retake costs a test fee and another car rental.

Next steps

• Not sure which path applies? Use the licence path finder.
• Read the full guide to getting your licence.
• Then plan the bigger cost: a car. Try the car cost of ownership calculator.

Common questions

Sources

• DriveTest (Ontario): Fees (modified Jul 23, 2026)
• Ontario: Get a G driver’s licence, new drivers (updated Sep 11, 2026)
• SAAQ: Driver’s licence fees (effective Dec 23, 2025)
• Manitoba Public Insurance: Licensing fees and other charges (Aug 4, 2026)
• Manitoba Public Insurance: New or returning to Manitoba
• Nova Scotia: Take a driver knowledge test (Class 7)
• Nova Scotia: Book a road test
• Nova Scotia: Driver’s licence fees
• ICBC: Driver licensing fees
• MoneySense: The cost of getting your B.C. driver’s licence (March 2024)
• ICBC: Graduated licensing
• Alberta: Driver’s road test

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