New drivers in View Royal can now skip a trip to the licensing office and take their first knowledge test from home. The Province of British Columbia and ICBC launched an online option for the Learner’s licence test on June 9, 2026, giving people a more convenient way to get started behind the wheel.
The online test works for passenger vehicle and motorcycle licences, covering Classes 5, 6, 7, and 8. Anyone aiming for a commercial licence still has to go to an office. The at-home version is the same as the in-person test: 50 questions, needing at least 40 right, with a 45-minute time limit. It’s offered in 12 languages, just like the office version.
To take it, you need a desktop or laptop with a camera and a steady internet connection. Phones and tablets won’t work. ICBC says the system uses identity checks, constant webcam monitoring, and behaviour tracking to catch cheating. Once passed, the results stay valid for one year. But the test alone doesn’t put a licence in your pocket. You still have to visit a driver licensing office afterwards to prove your identity, do a vision check, get your photo taken, and pay the fee before receiving the actual Learner’s licence.
For View Royal residents, the closest office is in Victoria on McKenzie Avenue. The change means saving that trip until after passing the test, which ICBC says will free up in-person slots for other services like road exams. The Crown corporation runs more than 337,000 knowledge tests every year across B.C., and the online shift is a first step in a wider plan to modernize licensing. Online renewals and replacements for driver’s licences and BCIDs are expected in 2027.
The rollout also lines up with other updates to the Graduated Licensing Program. Starting in summer 2026, drivers with a Class 7 Novice licence and a clean record won’t have to take a second road test for a full Class 5 licence. Instead, they’ll face a 12-month period where safe driving is required. It’s part of an effort to bring B.C.’s rules more in step with other provinces, while keeping road safety front and centre.
