How to get a learner's permit in PEI
How to get a Class 7 Instruction Driver's Permit in Prince Edward Island: who can apply, the documents to bring to Access PEI, the written, sign and vision tests, fees, learner rules and the road test. Every fact links to princeedwardisland.ca.
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- Checked October 17, 2026
On Prince Edward Island the learner's permit is called the Instruction Driver's Permit, or Class 7 licence, and it is the first stage of the Graduated Driver Licensing program for new drivers of any age. You book at Access PEI, bring ID and proof of residency, and pass a vision test and a written test that includes sign recognition.
This short guide covers the steps, the documents, the fees set in provincial regulations, the rules for the first stage and the road test, with each fact linked to the Government of Prince Edward Island page or publication it comes from.
Step by step
Check that you can apply
You must be 16 or older. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign the consent form found in the Co-Pilot brochure.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEIGather your documents
Bring valid identification such as a birth certificate, passport or immigration papers, plus two pieces of proof of residency with your PEI address, such as a utility bill, lease, pay stub or bank statement.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEIStudy the PEI Driver's Handbook
The written test is based on the driving rules and safety information in the PEI Driver's Handbook, which is also available in Arabic, Chinese and French.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEIBook and pass the tests at Access PEI
When you feel ready for the written and sign-recognition tests, book an appointment with Access PEI and bring your documents and fees. You also pass a vision test. If you fail, wait at least seven days before rewriting; there is no extra fee for the rewrite.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEIDrive under the Stage 1 rules
An accompanying driver who has been licensed for at least four years must ride in the front seat. Your blood alcohol and drug levels must be zero, the only other passengers can be the accompanying driver's immediate family, and drivers under 21 may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Display the yellow L decal.
Source: PEI Graduated Driver Licensing Program booklet (updated August 2023)Take the Novice Driver Course
Unless you are in a certified driver education program, you must complete the five-hour Novice Driver Course before the road test. Register in advance at Highway Safety or Access PEI.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEIBook the road test after one year
You must hold the permit for one full year before the road test. Book with Access PEI and arrive with a driver licensed for at least four years, a fully inspected vehicle with its registration and insurance slips, your permit and proof of the Novice Driver Course. After a failed test you wait at least 14 days; the retest has no extra fee.
Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
Who can get it
- At least 16 years old. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- Parent or legal guardian consent if you are under 18, using the form in the Co-Pilot brochure. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- Valid identification and two pieces of proof of PEI residency. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- All new drivers living in PEI, regardless of age, start the GDL program with the Class 7 permit. Source: PEI Graduated Driver Licensing Program booklet (updated August 2023)
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Test for instruction permit | $20 | Source: PEI Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, Table 5 (consolidation current to May 11, 2024) |
| Instruction permit | $20 | Source: PEI Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, Table 5 (consolidation current to May 11, 2024) |
| Novice driver course | $100 | Source: PEI Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, Table 5 (consolidation current to May 11, 2024) |
| Road test for a Class 5 licence | $20 | Source: PEI Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, Table 5 (consolidation current to May 11, 2024) |
| Driver's license, five-year period | $116 | Source: PEI Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, Table 5 (consolidation current to May 11, 2024) |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Licence services are offered at Access PEI locations across the Island. Road tests can be scheduled at Access PEI in O'Leary, Summerside, Charlottetown, Montague and Souris, and once a week at the Cornwall location. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting a PEI Driver's License
What to bring or have ready
- Valid identification: a birth certificate, passport or immigration papers. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- Two pieces of proof of residency with your PEI address, such as utility bills, a lease, an employment letter or pay stub, government mail or bank documents. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- The parent or guardian consent form from the Co-Pilot brochure if you are under 18. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- The required fees. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
After you pass
After you pass the road test and pay the fees, your photo is taken for a Class 5 licence. You enter Stage 2 of GDL for one full year and get a G decal for your vehicle. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
Validity and renewal
Your Instruction Permit is valid for two years from the date it is issued. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
Common mistakes
- Bringing only one proof of residency. Access PEI asks for two pieces showing your PEI address. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
- Driving friends around. Only the accompanying driver's immediate family may ride with a Stage 1 driver. Source: PEI Graduated Driver Licensing Program booklet (updated August 2023)
- Driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. if you are under 21, which Stage 1 forbids. Source: PEI Graduated Driver Licensing Program booklet (updated August 2023)
- Using a hand-held phone or headphones while driving. Any violation with demerit points suspends the permit for at least 30 days. Source: PEI Graduated Driver Licensing Program booklet (updated August 2023)
- Booking the road test before a full year with the permit or without proof of the Novice Driver Course. Source: princeedwardisland.ca — Getting an Instruction Driver's Permit in PEI
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- PEI Class 7 practice tests278 original practice questions with explanations
- PEI driving test practice (PDF)100 original PEI Class 7 practice questions on one printable sheet, signs and rules mixed, with an answer key on separate pages. Print or save as PDF.
- PEI Class 7 study guideFree PEI Class 7 study guide: 296 key points from the Prince Edward Island Driver's Handbook in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- PEI Class 7 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- PEI Class 7 exam simulator30 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a learner's permit in PEI: common questions
How much does a learner's permit cost in PEI?
Under the Highway Traffic Act Fees Regulations, the test for an instruction permit is $20 and the permit itself is $20. The novice driver course is $100 and the Class 5 road test $20.
How old do you have to be for a learner's permit in PEI?
Sixteen. Applicants under 18 need parent or legal guardian consent.
What happens if I fail the PEI learners test?
You wait at least seven days before rewriting, and the rewrite has no additional fee.
Can driver education shorten the wait for the road test?
Yes. Permit holders normally wait 365 days before their first road test, or 275 days if enrolled in driver education. Certified program students write the permit test in class but still go to Access PEI for the vision test.
Who can supervise a learner driver in PEI?
A fully licensed driver who has held a valid licence for at least four years, holds the right class for the vehicle and rides in the front seat, with a blood alcohol concentration under 50 mg per 100 mL.
Where can I practise for the PEI learners test?
Use our free PEI Class 7 practice tests, the road signs chart, the timed mock exam and the printable practice test, all written from the PEI Driver's Handbook.
Keep practising
- PEI road signs chartAll 39 sign drawings from our PEI Class 7 questions on one page, with meanings: shapes and colours, regulatory, warning, construction and railway signs.
- PEI driving test practice (PDF)100 original PEI Class 7 practice questions on one printable sheet, signs and rules mixed, with an answer key on separate pages. Print or save as PDF.
- PEI Class 7 study guide
- PEI Class 7 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- PEI Class 7 Mock Exam 2 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- PEI Class 7 Practice Test 130 questions with explanations
- PEI Class 7 Practice Test 230 questions with explanations
- PEI Class 7 Practice Test 330 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Sign shapes and coloursThe stop, yield and speed limit shapes, what red and green mean on a sign, regulatory, school zone and slow-moving vehicle shapes, wrong-way and playground signs, and square information signs.
- Regulatory signs and lane arrowsDo not enter, no turn and no U-turn signs, one-way and keep right signs, no stopping and no parking, lane arrow signs, the hazard warning marker, school bus stop ahead lights and pedestrian and cycling prohibitions.
- Warning signsNarrow bridges, divided highways, lane endings, stop and signal ahead, chevrons and curve speeds, merges, hills, slippery roads, trucks, T intersections, bicycles, snowmobiles and bridges that freeze first.
- Construction zones and railway crossingsOrange construction signs, flagpersons, the 60 km/h construction zone limit, and railway crossing signs, lights and stopping distances for driving outside PEI, which has no railways.
- Traffic lights and signalsGreen, amber and red lights, green arrows, right turns on red, flashing red and amber lights, school signal lights, pedestrians at signals and police directions.
- Pavement markings and crosswalksYellow and white lines, solid and broken lines, crosshatch markings, stop lines, crosswalk lines, intersection arrows, school crosswalks and special crosswalks with flashing beacons.
- Class 7 permit and graduated licensingWho may apply, documents, the knowledge and vision tests, Stage 1 supervision, passenger and night-time rules, the L decal, waiting periods, the Novice Driver Course and Stages 2 and 3.
- Demerit points and suspensionsWarning, interview and suspension thresholds, new-driver point limits in Stages 2 and 3, point values for common offences, probation, courses that affect points and impoundment.
- Impaired and distracted drivingZero BAC for GDL drivers, the .05 to .08 range, 24-hour and 90-day suspensions, cancellations for convictions, rehabilitation and ignition interlock, alcohol and drug effects, and the hand-held phone ban.
- Speed limits and following distancePEI's basic urban, construction zone and unpaved road limits, the 60 km/h school zone and its hours, doubled fines, slow driving, the three-second rule and stopping distance.
- Right of way and pedestriansFour-way stops, left turns, driveways, stop and yield signs, emergency vehicles, funeral processions with purple lights, crosswalks, white canes and walking on highways.
- Turning, signalling and passingLane changes and blind spots, signalling distances, safe turns, waiting to turn left, right on red, U-turn rules, where passing is forbidden and being passed.
- School buses, trucks and cyclistsAmber and red school bus lights and the 6-metre rule, truck and bus No-Zones, wide right turns, sharing the road with cyclists, bicycle equipment and e-bikes.
- Parking, stopping and backingNo-parking distances from hydrants, crosswalks, stop signs and railway tracks, parallel and angle parking, leaving a vehicle, breakdowns and safe backing.
- Highways, town driving and roundaboutsAcceleration and deceleration lanes, merging, low shoulders, lane use on four-lane highways, town driving, and signalling and lane choice in single- and dual-lane roundabouts.
- Night, winter and bad weatherDimming headlights, over-driving headlights, studded tire dates, winter stopping distances, ABS, black ice, being stranded, skids, wet roads, hydroplaning and fog.
- Seat belts, child seats and collisionsWho must buckle up, infant, toddler and booster seats, belt fit and air bags, when to report a collision, what to report and what to do first at a crash scene.
- Vehicle registration and equipmentRegistration, ownership transfer and inspection, rejected vehicles, headlights and daytime running lights, horn, mirrors, window tint, loads, tires and non-resident vehicles.