Alberta Class 7 Driving Restrictions: Supervision, Curfew, and Passengers

You cannot drive a Class 5 vehicle such as a car alone with an Alberta Class 7 licence. A qualified supervisor is required. Alberta does allow a Class 7 holder to operate a moped alone.

• ? For a Class 5 vehicle, the supervisor must be over 18, hold a full Class 5 licence or higher, and sit in the front passenger seat.
• Driving without the required supervisor violates a condition of the Class 7 learner's licence. It is not the same legal status as being unlicensed or suspended.

When Does an Alberta Class 7 Driver Need a Supervisor?

• ? Supervising driver requirements: 18+, full Class 5 licence, front passenger seat, alert and sober.
• Driving without the required supervisor: This is a Class 7 condition violation. If you accumulate 8 or more demerit points as a GDL driver, your licence is suspended for one month. A suspension extends the Class 7 learner period and can delay progression to Class 5-GDL.
• Insurance: Driving outside your licence conditions can also create insurance problems. Keep the detailed insurance consequences in the dedicated Alberta insurance guides.

Before every trip, confirm that the supervising driver is qualified, has a current valid licence, and is seated in the front passenger seat.

Vehicles and Roads Allowed With Alberta Class 7

A Class 7 licence lets you operate a Class 5 vehicle under supervision and a moped by yourself. The learner restrictions still apply whenever you are driving under Class 7 conditions.

Can an Alberta Class 7 driver operate a moped alone?

Yes. Alberta specifically allows a Class 7 licence holder to operate a moped by themselves. The supervision rule applies when driving a Class 5 vehicle such as a car.

Is there a special lower speed limit for Alberta Class 7 drivers?

Alberta does not list a separate province-wide learner-only speed cap among the Class 7 restrictions. Follow the posted speed limit and all school, playground, construction, and weather-related limits.

Can an Alberta Class 7 learner tow a trailer?

A Class 7 learner may operate a vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination that falls within Class 5 privileges while properly supervised. Make sure the vehicle and trailer combination is permitted for Class 5 and does not require a higher class or air-brake qualification.

Alberta Class 7 Midnight-to-5 a.m. Curfew

You cannot drive at night between 12:00 AM (midnight) and 5:00 AM.

• This curfew applies even with a supervising driver present.
• ? No exceptions exist for work, school, or emergencies.

• Penalty: 2 demerit points and fines.
• ? Practice allowed: You can practice night driving outside the prohibited hours, such as from 8 PM to 11:30 PM.

Class 7 Passenger and Seat-Belt Limits

Passenger restrictions for a Class 7 licence are strict.

You can drive with friends in the car only if a qualified supervisor is present and there are enough working seatbelts for everyone.

• Rule: Number of passengers cannot exceed available seatbelts. The supervisor occupies the front passenger seatbelt.
• ? Seat-belt limit: A Class 7 driver cannot carry more people than there are seat belts. For GDL drivers, exceeding the available seat belts carries 2 demerit points; occupant-restraint penalties may also apply. This is separate from the rule requiring a qualified supervisor in a Class 5 vehicle.

Can a Class 7 learner drive with children or younger passengers?

Yes, provided a qualified supervisor is present for a Class 5 vehicle and every passenger is properly restrained. Child-restraint and seat-belt laws still apply, and the number of occupants cannot exceed the available seat belts.

Freeway and Highway Driving

Yes, you can drive on the freeway with an Alberta Class 7 learner's licence, provided all other permit driving rules are followed.

• ? Conditions: A qualified supervisor must be present, the midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew still applies, and the Class 7 zero-alcohol/drug condition remains in force.

On higher-speed roads, follow the posted limit and practise merging, lane changes, and observation with your supervisor. Detailed road-test scoring belongs in the Alberta road-test guides.

You cannot drive a Class 5 vehicle to school or work alone. The supervision requirement has no school or work exception.

Class 7 drivers must follow the same posted school and playground-zone limits as other drivers. Detailed speeding fines and demerit tables belong in the Traffic Violations guide.

• Alcohol and drugs: Class 7 drivers must maintain zero alcohol and drug levels. Detailed IRS ZERO and impaired-driving sanctions belong in the DUI guide.
• Hand-held device use by the driver: Alberta's distracted-driving penalty is $390 and 3 demerit points.
• Supervisor attention: The supervisor should stay alert and able to supervise. A passenger supervisor using a phone is not automatically committing the driver's distracted-driving offence simply because they are holding a device.

Penalties for Breaking Class 7 Restrictions

Consequences depend on the specific restriction that was broken.

• ? Demerit suspension: A GDL driver who reaches 8 or more demerit points receives a one-month suspension. A suspension extends the Class 7 learner period; it does not automatically restart the full year from zero.
• ? Ordinary Class 7 violations: Fines and demerit points vary by offence. A 30-day suspension and vehicle seizure are not automatic consequences of every learner-rule violation.
• ? Alcohol/drug violations: Alberta's IRS ZERO sanctions are separate and are covered in the dedicated DUI guide.