Are you in the process of buying a wheelchair van but you don’t know what license you need to drive it in Canada?
Or, are you struggling to find information on what license you need in your province specifically?
At MoveMobility, we understand it can be hard to find information on license classes you need for different mobility products.
That’s why in this article we’ve created a list of the license class you need for a wheelchair accessible full size van or minivan based on which province you live in, along with resources* for you to refer to as you’re moving through your licensing process.
Ultimately, the type of license you need to drive a wheelchair van in Canada depends on the province you live in. Each province has different rules.
*All of the resources we’ve provided in this article are based on information provided by the government of that specific province. The rules and regulations may change based on when you go to register your full size van or minivan.
License class to drive a wheelchair van province by province
Every province requires a specific license to be able to drive a wheelchair van.
The different types of license classes are based on what kinds of vehicle you are allowed to drive.
In most provinces, you need to have a Class 5 license to be able to drive a wheelchair van. Which means you’re in luck–most drivers have a Class 5 license, meaning if you already have a Class 5, you can likely drive a wheelchair van without going through the lengthy process of getting a specialized license.
Now, let’s break down the license class you need for a full size van or minivan, province by province.
Manitoba license class
In Manitoba, you need a Class 5 license to be able to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about license classes in Manitoba, check out this page on the Manitoba Public Insurance website.
Saskatchewan license class
In Saskatchewan, you need a Class 5 license to be able to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about license classes in Saskatchewan, check out this page on the Saskatchewan Government Insurance website.
Alberta license class
In Alberta, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about the Class 5 license in Alberta, check out this article.
British Columbia license class
British Columbia is a bit different than the other provinces, and the licensing regulations can be confusing.
Rather than Class 5, British Columbia requires you have a Class 4 license to drive wheelchair vans.
Their Class 4, however, is split into two categories: restricted and unrestricted.
Class 4 restricted license
A Class 4 restricted license allows you to have 10 people in one van at once including the driver.
Class 4 unrestricted license
A Class 4 unrestricted license allows you to have 25 people in an accessible bus or other wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
For more information on license regulations in British Columbia, visit this page on the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia website.
Yukon license class
In Yukon, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about getting a Class 5 license in Yukon, check out this article from icandrive.ca.
Northwest Territories license class
In the Northwest Territories, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about getting a Class 5 license in the Northwest Territories, check out this article from icandrive.ca.
Nunavut license class
In Nunavut, you need a NU Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
The process of getting a Class 5 driver’s license in Nunavut is a bit different from any other province.
First, you need to get a Class 7 Learner’s License, and then you can apply for a NU Class 5 license.
Read this article on icandrive.ca to learn more about getting a Class 5 license in Nunavut.
Newfoundland and Labrador license class
In Newfoundland and Labrador, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
Check out this page on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador website to learn more about getting a Class 5 license.
Prince Edward Island license class
In PEI, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
For more information on getting your Class 5 license in PEI, check out this link on the Government of Prince Edward Island website.
Nova Scotia license class
In Nova Scotia, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
To learn more about the regulations of a Class 5 license in Nova Scotia, visit this page.
New Brunswick license class
In New Brunswick, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
Check out this website to learn more about the Class 5 regulations in New Brunswick.
Quebec license class
In Quebec, you need a Class 5 license to drive most wheelchair vans.
If you’re curious about the regulations of a Class 5 license in Quebec, check out this page on the Government of Quebec website.
Ontario license class
In Ontario, you need a Class G license to drive most wheelchair vans.
If you want to learn more about the Class G license, visit this page on the Government of Ontario website.
Your next steps to getting the right license to drive a wheelchair van in Canada
You came to this article wondering which license class you need to drive a wheelchair van in your province.
Now you know which class you need for each province, and some resources to help you along your way to driving your wheelchair van.
If you have any other questions about license requirements for different wheelchair vans in Canada, talk to an expert now.
Or, if you’d like to read more on the different vans we offer here at MoveMobility, and which license you need to drive them, check out these related articles:
