Operating a Car
Renewing your motor vehicle registration? Notifying Registry of Motor Vehicles of an address change? Paying a parking ticket? Do it online and save time. Find information, forms, and payment options online. Learning to drive? Life Events links you to Service Nova Scotia's Motor Vehicle Registry. Learn the process and information required for your driver's test. Pay for your driver's test and buy the Driver's Handbook online, a guide which every driver should have.
Quick Links
- Online Vehicle Permit Renewals - You may use this quick, convenient service to renew your vehicle permit and plates up to two months in advance for any of the following types of vehicles: Passenger Vehicle or Van, Light-duty trucks, Motorcycles, or Trailer Plates.
- Online Change of Address - You can submit a request to change the address on one or all of the following: Registry of Motor Vehicles (including Driver's License), Nova Scotia Health Card and Halifax Regional Municipality (Taxation Department).
- Online Motor Vehicle Fine Payment - Pay parking tickets online
- Online Driver Test Payments - Pay for a Registry of Motor Vehicles Knowledge Test (written Learner's Test) or to pay for a Registry of Motor Vehicles Road Test using a credit card.
- Online Lien Check - Before purchasing a previously owned item, use Lien Check to check for outstanding loans against it. Use Lien Check to search for loans against cars, boats, trailers, mobile homes, aircraft, and outboard motors.
- Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook - The Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook contains information for new and experienced drivers. The handbook will familiarize the reader with the rules governing the operation of motor vehicles in Nova Scotia. - Buy it online from Government Publications
- Registry of Motor Vehicles - Information on licensing and registering vehicle in Nova Scotia
- Step-by-Step Guide (PDF) - getting a new Nova Scotia driver's licence
- Customer Service Locations - Office locations across the province
- Nova Scotia Wrecked Vehicle Program - Buying a used vehicle, you can check the registration and/or permit to obtain more information about its history
- Bicycle
Safety (PDF) - Similar rules apply to bicycles as for motor vehicles
Changing your Address
You are required by law to advise the Registry of Motor Vehicles of any changes in address within 30 days of your move.
- Online
Change of Address - For your convenience, you can submit a request
to change the address on one or all of the following:
* Registry of Motor Vehicles (including Driver's License)
* Nova Scotia Health Card
* Halifax Regional Municipality (Taxation Department)
See Also - Moving to and Around Nova Scotia
Getting a New Nova Scotia Driver's Licence
You have to come to a Registry of Motor Vehicles office to apply for a Driver's Licence, because a photo must be taken for the licence. For information on the identification you will need, please click here.
Getting a Licence for the First Time?
- Step-by-Step Guide (PDF)
- Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook - The Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook contains information for new and experienced drivers. The handbook will familiarize the reader with the rules governing the operation of motor vehicles in Nova Scotia. - Buy it online from Government Publications
- Parental Approval Form for Class 7 Learner's Licence (PDF)- Required when applicant is under 18 years of age. This form must be presented at the time of examination.
- About the Graduated Driver Licensing System
- Passenger Vehicles or Farm Tractors
- Motorcycles
- Buy a Test Receipt Online - You may use this quick, convenient service to pay for a Registry of Motor Vehicles Knowledge Test (written Learner's Test) or Road Test using a credit card.
Has your Nova Scotia Driver's Licence expired?
- Expired Licences - If your Nova Scotia Driver's Licence expired less than 3 years ago, you can renew it without taking the written test or a road test (Driving Examination), and there is no waiting period.
Moving to Nova Scotia from Another Canadian Province or from Outside Canada?
Renewing your Nova Scotia Driver's Licence
Your Nova Scotia Driver's Licence (excluding the Learner's Licence) is valid for a period of up to five years, and expires on your birthday. The Department will send out a renewal notice before it expires. So be sure to let the Department know within 30 days of changing your address - use our online service to send us your changes in address! At any point during the last 6 months before it expires, you can renew your Driver's Licence.
You have to come to a Registry of Motor Vehicles office to renew your Driver's Licence, because a photo must be taken for the licence. For information on the identification you will need, please click here.
- More Information on Expiry and Renewal
- Expired Licences - Has your Nova Scotia Driver's Licence already expired?
- Registry of Motor Vehicles Customer Service Centres
- Online Change of Address
Driver's Licence Upgrades and Endorsements
To upgrade to another class of licence, for example for driving taxis, ambulances, commercial vehicles (truck tractors and tractor-trailers), or buses, you must first meet certain criteria. Depending on the class of licence you want to get, this process may involve classroom training, road testing and knowledge testing. For further information, contact the Department.
- Nova Scotia Driver's Licence Classes - Descriptions and minimum requirements for upgrades
- Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook - The Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook contains information for new and experienced drivers. The handbook will familiarize the reader with the rules governing the operation of motor vehicles in Nova Scotia. - Buy it online from Government Publications
- Medical Examination Form - Required when you first apply for a licence class 1, 2, 3 or 4
Upgrading from Learner's Licence to a Newly Licensed Driver's Licence
- Newly Licensed
Driver's Licence - Anyone in Nova Scotia who has a Learner's Licence
has to graduate to a Newly Licensed Driver's Licence before they can get
a regular Driver's Licence.
Nova Scotia Vehicle Permit
A Nova Scotia Vehicle Permit is needed by anyone who owns a motor vehicle, and wants to drive it on public roads in Nova Scotia. This includes automobiles, vans, sport utility vehicles, trucks, campers, trailers, motorized homes, etc.
A Nova Scotia Vehicle Permit is also needed by anyone who owns an off-highway vehicle, and wants to drive it in Nova Scotia. This includes ATVs, snowmobiles, dune buggies, etc.
Quick Links
- Registry of Motor Vehicles - Information from the Registry of Motor Vehicles on registering vehicles in Nova Scotia
- Customer Service Locations - Office locations across the province
- Renew your Vehicle Permit Online - You will need Statement of Insurance information including your insurance company, policy number, effective date and expiry date.
- Statement of Insurance Form - Required if you will be renewing your permit by mail or in person (you can also get a form at any Registry of Motor Vehicles office) if you are applying in person
- Vehicle Registration Certificate - The Vehicle Certificate of Registration and the Vehicle Permit are often confused. A Certificate of Registration is your proof of ownership (and is used to sell or transfer a vehicle); buying a Vehicle Permit gets you a set of licence plates.
- Vehicle Permit - more information about the vehicle permit
- Accessible Parking Zone Permit or Plates - Information on applying for Identification Permits available for vehicles regularly used for the transportation of persons with disabilities
Choose a Licence Plate to Suit Your Style
- Personalized Plates
- Veteran Plates
- Conservation Plates
- Souvenir Plates plates are also available for the collector
Renewing your Vehicle Permit
Any time a vehicle registration (plate, temporary permit or in-transit) is issued or renewed for a motorized vehicle (excludes off-highway vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, miscellaneous towed vehicles and vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan), insurance information is required. A Statement of Insurance form must be completed for in-person and mail requests. For requests on-line, you must provide this information electronically. - more information . . .
You can renew your vehicle permit online, by mail, or in person at any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.
Information for Non-Residents
Non-Residents - Information for non-residents operating motor vehicles in Nova Scotia
Historic Licence Plates
Want to see what a licence plat looked like in 1907, take a pictorial tour of the history of the Nova Scotia licence plate.
Paying Motor Vehicle-Related Fines
- Pay Defaulted Parking Tickets Online - For paying parking tickets from the HRM that have been processed through the Department of Justice or Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can pay on-line using this service
- More Information about paying motor-vehicle related fines in Nova Scotia
- Summary Offense Tickets Regulations
Suspension and Reinstatement
- Suspension of a Drivers Licence
- The Point System
- Alcohol and Driving
- Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook - The Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook contains information for new and experienced drivers. The handbook will familiarize the reader with the rules governing the operation of motor vehicles in Nova Scotia. - Buy it online from Government Publications
- Registry of Motor Vehicles - Information on licensing and registering vehicle in Nova Scotia
- Customer Service Locations - Office locations across the province
- Pay Driver Test Payments Online - Pay for a Registry of Motor Vehicles Knowledge Test (written Learner's Test) or pay for a Registry of Motor Vehicles Road Test using a credit card.
- Safe Driving Information
- Conditional Driver's licence Information
- Pay Parking Tickets Online - For paying parking tickets from the HRM that have been processed through the Department of Justice or Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can pay on-line using this service
- Driver's Medical Examination Report (PDF)