- Class LMFirst of three GDL levels
- Two testsMotorcycle rules, then a balance test
- Free licenceRoad test $52.54
- 6 monthsOr 3 with an approved course
Step by step
- If you don't have a driver's licence, first qualify for a Class 7 learner's licence: a vision test, a road sign test and a rules of the road test (20 questions each, 16 to pass). Practise those on our main Nova Scotia page.
- Study Chapter 8, "Motorcycles", of the Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook, then pass the written test on motorcycle safety rules. The Motorcycle Learner Licence knowledge test can be taken online.
- Pass the practical skills (balance) test, a form of road test on your own motorcycle: a pre-trip check, basic balance, and stopping and braking. Book an appointment and pay the road test fee, or take an approved motorcycle training course, which includes it.
- Ride with your Class LM licence for at least six months (three with an approved training course), then pass the advanced skills road test to get a newly licensed Class 6N.
- If you already hold a Class 1 to 5 licence, you take the same written and balance tests, ride for three months (one with an approved course), then pass the advanced skills test to get an A or D motorcycle endorsement.
What to bring
- Your Class 7 learner's licence, or your regular driver's licence if you already have one
- For the balance and road tests: your own motorcycle, the right size for you, with its registration, inspection and insurance liability card
- An approved helmet (CSA, Snell, DOT/FMVSS 218, ANSI Z90.1 or BSI) and protective gear
Fees
| Learner motorcycle licence (Class LM) | Free |
| Road test (driver examination) | $52.54 |
| Class 6N licence (first) | $66.95 |
| Motorcycle endorsement (A, C, D or E) | $11.90 |
Fees from the Registry of Motor Vehicles' Motorcycle Driver's Licence page; they may change. An approved training course sets its own fee, which usually includes the balance test.
If you don't pass
A learner motorcycle licence is good for one year. If it expires, you apply for a new one and take all the tests again.
Once you have your licence
- As a motorcycle learner: zero blood alcohol, no passengers at any time, and riding only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
- Any alcohol at all as a learner means a six-month suspension, and you start the full waiting period again afterwards.
- Class 6N (newly licensed): zero blood alcohol and no riding from midnight to 5 a.m. without a written exemption.
- After two years at Class 6N and an approved motorcycle driver improvement program, you move to the restricted individual stage (condition 47) for two more years, then exit the GDL program.
- A licensed driver who earns the motorcycle endorsement has all riding restrictions lifted, with no further wait.
Frequently asked questions
What tests do I take for a Nova Scotia motorcycle learner licence?
A written test on motorcycle safety rules and a practical skills (balance) test on your motorcycle. If you don't have a driver's licence, you first qualify for a Class 7 learner's licence (vision, road signs and rules of the road).
Can I carry a passenger with a learner motorcycle licence?
No. Motorcycle learners can't carry passengers at any time, must have zero blood alcohol, and may ride only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
Does a motorcycle course shorten the wait?
Yes. For a new rider, an approved course cuts the learner period from six months to three. For a licensed driver adding a motorcycle, it cuts the practice period from three months to one, and the course includes both practical tests.
Official sources
- Nova Scotia RMV: Motorcycle Driver's Licence
- Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook (PDF; Chapter 8, Motorcycles)
- Nova Scotia: Take a driver knowledge test
Checked against these sources on November 3, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with Nova Scotia before you go.
More practice: Nova Scotia Motorcycle road signs test · Nova Scotia Motorcycle rules test · All Nova Scotia Motorcycle practice tests