Saskatchewan's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program Explained

Every first-time driver in Saskatchewan — no matter their age — must complete all six stages of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program before earning a full, unrestricted licence.

Table of contents
  1. The 6 stages
  2. Driving restrictions during GDL
  3. Staying on track to graduate
  4. Frequently Asked Questions

The 6 stages

  1. Get a Class 7 learner's licence
  2. Complete driver education (6 hrs in-class / 6 hrs in-car independently, or 30 hrs in-class / 6 hrs in-car through high school)
  3. Get a Class 5 Novice 1 licence (pass the road test)
  4. Practice as a Novice 1 driver for 6 months
  5. Practice as a Novice 2 driver for 12 incident-free months
  6. Graduate to an experienced Class 5 driver's licence

Driving restrictions during GDL

Across the learner's, Novice 1 and Novice 2 stages, you can't drive a taxi, limousine or rideshare vehicle, use any cellphone while driving, be a supervising driver, get a commercial licence, or carry more passengers than seatbelts.

  • Learner's licence: a qualified supervising driver must sit beside you at all times, and only immediate family can ride between midnight and 5 a.m.
  • Novice 1: only one non-family passenger allowed at a time.

Staying on track to graduate

To graduate to an experienced Class 5 licence, your 12 months in Novice 2 must be free of at-fault collisions, traffic convictions and licence suspensions. If not, you restart the full 12-month Novice 2 period and are placed in the GDL Improvement program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the full GDL program take?

A minimum of about 27 months from learner's licence to graduation: 9 months minimum as a learner, 6 months as Novice 1, and 12 incident-free months as Novice 2.

Does the GDL program apply to adults too?

Yes — it applies to any first-time driver regardless of age.

For details on the learner's licence and road test steps, see our related guides on getting a Class 7 learner's licence and the Class 5 road test.

Fees and requirements are set by SGI and can change. Always confirm current details on SGI's official site or with your nearest motor licence issuer before visiting.

Liam Friesen

Liam Friesen

I´m a web project creator and digital publisher based in Canada. Through practical guides and streamlined online tools, he simplifies complex local processes—such as vehicle registration and licensing rules in Saskatoon—to help residents navigate everyday administrative tasks with ease.

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