ICBC has just announced that it will resume Knowledge Tests BY APPOINTMENT, starting in 11 May 2020. Anyone wanting to schedule a knowledge test will have to contact ICBC by phone on or after 27 April 2020 to arrange it.

ICBC will also be conducted Class 6 Road Tests (motorcycles) since ICBC Examiners conduct Class 6 Road Tests from a car while following the examinee and can this maintain social distancing during the Road Test.

For further details, here is the ICBC Press Release:

“Limited knowledge testing by appointment only and motorcycle skills tests starting May 11

Starting May 11, 2020, ICBC will begin conducting limited knowledge testing by appointment only at ICBC driver licensing offices (DLOs), Service BC offices and a limited number of appointed agent offices. A few of our ICBC DLOs may start earlier as we install Plexiglass barriers to help maintain social distancing. Many of our appointed agent offices remain closed, so check our service locator on icbc.com for their current status.

At this time, knowledge testing is being limited to the following:

•              All commercial learner class applicants including air brakes and heavy trailer.

•              New residents to B.C. who require a knowledge test as part of their application for a B.C. driver’s licence. Road tests for these applicants are still not available.

•              Any customer (Class 1-8) where their learner’s licence has expired on or after March 1, or will be expiring within two weeks from when they phone to book their appointment.

Customers will be required to book their knowledge test by calling our Driver Licensing contact centre on or after April 27 and leaving a voicemail message with their name, contact number and the location they wish to take their knowledge test.

Appointment based testing allows us to control the volume of customers attending our DLOs to help maintain social distancing within our offices to further protect our employees and customers. Stand-by or walk-in appointments will not be accommodated at this time.

We’ll continue to review the demand and impacts of these knowledge test appointments before deciding to expand our knowledge testing services.

Motorcycle skills testing starting May 11

Motorcycle skills testing will also begin on May 11 but is only limited to riders who

•              currently hold a motorcycle learner’s licence, or

•              have a motorcycle learner licence that expired on or after March 1.

Riders can begin booking a motorcycle skills test starting April 27 for appointments occurring on or after May 11 using the online road test booking service or by contacting our Driver Licensing contact centre.

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on our driver training web site dtcbc.com.

Lee Olley
Director
Driver Licensing Customer Services
Public Affairs and Driver Licensing Division”

In compliance with precautionary measures announced under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by the B.C. government on 17 March 2020, West Coast Driver Training has not been offering lessons since Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced that the provincial Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has been extended for an additional two weeks until 28 April 2020.

West Coast Driver Training will therefore not be offering Driving Lessons until at least 28 April 2020.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we look forward to resuming lessons for our present clients and with new clients as soon as the present COVID-19 Public health Emergency is over.

Here is Premier John Horgan announcing the extension of the B.C. Public Health Emergency until 28 April 2020:

Here are links to some news reports about these COVID-19 Public Health requirements:

• CTV News – Vancouver Island – 15 April 2020
• CPAC – 15 April 2020
• Global News – 15 April 2020

We just received the following notice from ICBC:

“ICBC road testing suspension continues

In our continuing effort to protect customers, employees, and our driver training school partners, ICBC has extended the suspension of all road testing due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) health concern.

Customers with affected road test appointments will be called by phone by their driver licensing office to let them know that their road test has been cancelled. Driver training schools and drivers will not be able to book road test appointments by phone or online at this time.

We realize that you and your customers are directly impacted by this and thank you for your continued understanding. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will be reassessing the suspension of testing on a regular basis with our federal and provincial health authorities. We also ask that you carefully follow the updated advice of our heath authorities, and continue to keep the health and safety of your employees and trainees as a top priority.

For the latest updates, visit the Our update on COVID-19 (coronavirus) page on icbc.com.”

Based on this information, all ICBC Road Tests are suspended until at least 14 April 2020. We will post future updates from ICBC as we receive them.

In compliance with precautionary measures announced under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by the B.C. government on 17 March 2020, West Coast Driver Training has not been offering lessons since Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

B.C. Premier John Horgan announced that the provincial Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has been extended for an additional two weeks until 14 April 2020.

West Coast Driver Training will therefore not be offering Driving Lessons until at least 14 April 2020.

But the B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has also announced that the COVID-19 emergency is unlikely to end until at least 1 May 2020, so it is quite possible that West Coast Driver Training will not be able to offer any Driving Lessons or Driver Training until at least 1 May 2020.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we look forward to resuming lessons for our present clients and with new clients as soon as the present COVID-19 Public health Emergency is over.

Here is Premier John Horgan announcing the extension of the B.C. Public Health Emergency until 14 April 2020:

Here is Br. Bonnie Henry’s news conference on 31 March 2020:

Here are links to some news reports about these COVID-19 Public Health requirements:

• CTV News – Vancouver Island – 31 March 2020
• Global News – 31 March 2020

We has just frecieved formal notification from ICBC that all Road Testing has been cancelled until further notice due to COVID-19 precautions.

Here is is the statement from ICBC:

Suspension of road testing due to COVID-19 health concern

Based on recommendations from the federal and provincial health authorities, and in an effort to protect customers, employees, and our driver training school partners, ICBC is suspending all road testing due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) health concern.

In addition, every customer that visits an ICBC driver licensing office (DLO) will be asked a set of COVID-19 screening questions. If a customer responds “Yes” to any of these questions, or indicates they have travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days, they’ll be asked to return at a later date. We’ll also be limiting access to our waiting areas at DLOs to ensure appropriate social distancing — instructions and guidance will be provided by DLO employees.

We understand that this decision has a direct impact on you and your customers, and greatly appreciate your understanding. We’ll continue to monitor the situation over the coming few weeks and will be reassessing the suspension of testing on a regular basis with our health authorities.

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on Our update on ​COVID-19 (coronavirus) page on icbc.com.

Ministry of Health self-assessment tool

The Ministry of Health has developed a self-assessment tool to help determine whether someone may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.

BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool