There are certain considerations in place for Armed Forces personnel who are looking to obtain or upgrade their Manitoba driver’s licence.
New to Manitoba
Members of NATO forces visiting Manitoba, and their spouses, are exempt from the requirement to obtain a Class 5 Manitoba driver’s licence within three months of arrival, provided that they maintain a valid driver’s licence from their home jurisdiction. When applying for a Manitoba driver’s licence, reciprocity will be granted to members of NATO Forces personnel and their family members (subject to proof of military and/or dependent status). Reciprocity allows for exchange of a valid out-of-country licence for the equivalent Manitoba Class 5 or Class 6 licence without knowledge testing or road testing. Note that reciprocity is not available for driver’s licences from Denmark.
Active Canadian Regular Force or Reserve Force Class B or C members who are new to, or returning to, Manitoba will move up the DSR scale for each claims and conviction-free year (or input factor-free year) to the maximum allowable level of DSR. This is based on their concurrent driving history and claims experience provided from applicable jurisdictions.
For members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who’s Manitoba-issued or out-of-province-issued driver’s licence has become inactive, lapsed, or suspended for non-payment while you were actively serving out of country, the military experience record will be accepted to close the gap in the driver record.
These same rules apply to any dependant (spouse, common-law partner, or child) living with the member.
Obtaining a Manitoba licence
A Manitoba resident can use their equivalent DND 404 licence to obtain a Manitoba class 1, 2, 3, 4 and/or 5 driver’s licence. No additional testing is required.
Active members and members who have retired within the last two years require these documents to receive a licence:
- DND Driver / Operator Proficiency Record which indicates:
— Member’s name and date of birth
— DND-404 Licence number
— Licence class(es), and air brake endorsement (if applicable)
— Restrictions
— Licence effective & expiry dates
— Licence status
— If applicable, other provincial driver’s licence number, licence class & expiry date - Driver Qualification Letter:
— Dated within three months of applying for a Manitoba licence. For retired members, the letter can be dated within two years of applying for a Manitoba licence.
— Authorized & signed by approved DND personnel.
— Confirms the veteran held a DND-404 equivalent class 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 driver’s licence that was not expired, revoked, or suspended at the time of surrender to DND (for retired personnel).
— Includes the date of retirement from active military service (if applicable). - A full physical medical report for a class 1, 2, 3, or 4 driver’s licence signed and dated within six months by a physician, if an approved medical report is not already on file with MPI.
Support our Troops
Support our Troops specialty licence plates are available for sale through Autopac agents. A set of the new plates will cost $70, with $30 of each purchase going towards educational scholarships for qualifying military members, their spouses, partners or children planning to study in Manitoba. More information is available here.