How to Get a Driver's Licence in Bermuda (2026): Written Exam, Learner's Permit and Road Test

Bermuda does not accept foreign driving licences, so everyone who wants to drive on the island earns a Bermuda licence the same way: pass an electronic written exam at the Transport Control Department (TCD), purchase a learner's permit, and then pass a practical test at the TCD grounds. TCD is located at 11 North Street, Hamilton HM 17. This guide covers the full path in order: who can apply, the documents you need, the written exam and its fees, the learner's permit rules, and the road test. When you are ready to study, start with our free Bermuda practice test.

Key takeaways

Foreign licences are not accepted in Bermuda. Everyone tests, including work-permit holders.
The order is fixed: written exam first, then purchase a learner's permit, then the practical test at TCD grounds.
Minimum age is 18 for private cars and motorcycles over 50 cc, or 16 for 50 cc auxiliary cycles through the Bermuda Youth Licence.
Written exam fees: $38.00 for auxiliary cycles and motorcycles, $54.00 for four-wheel vehicles. A driver's licence (under 65) costs $50.00.
Bermuda drives on the left, and the national speed limit is 35 km/h.

Who can apply for a driver's licence in Bermuda?

The minimum age is 18 for private cars, motorcycles over 50 cc, buses, taxis and heavy trucks. Riders aged 16 to 18 can be licensed for a 50 cc auxiliary cycle through the Bermuda Youth Licence (BYL), which requires successfully completing Project Ride (with its official certificate) and carries its own restrictions, including no passengers and no riding between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

If you are 16 or 17 and want to start on two wheels, read our full Bermuda Youth Licence and Project Ride guide. Visitors and new residents can apply too, provided they will be resident in Bermuda for 30 days or more.

What is the exact sequence to get licensed?

Bermuda's licensing path has three steps, and the order matters. First, you sit and pass the electronic written exam at TCD. Second, you purchase a learner's permit, which lets you practise on the road under the conditions described below. Third, you take the practical test at the TCD grounds.

You cannot buy a learner's permit before passing the written exam, so your study plan should start with the rules of the road, not behind the wheel. TCD administers every stage, from the exam booking to the road test. For a closer look at the department itself, see our TCD Bermuda guide.

What documents do I need?

To sit the written exam, bring your birth certificate, valid passport, or work permit, along with a completed application form. The application includes a doctor's certification of fitness, so you will need a registered Bermuda medical practitioner to certify that you are fit to drive before you apply.

New residents must also prove 30 or more days of residence in Bermuda. Sort out the medical certification early: it is part of the application itself, not an optional extra, and turning up without it means you cannot complete the process.

What is the Bermuda written driving exam like?

The written exam is electronic (computer-based) and tests your general knowledge of the rules of the road, speed limits, and signage. That means the left-hand rule, Bermuda's junction and roundabout priorities, the 35 km/h national speed limit and its lower posted zones, and the island's UK-style road signs.

TCD does not publish the number of questions, the pass mark, or the time limit for the written exam, so treat any site that quotes exact figures with caution. The reliable preparation is to know the Traffic Code thoroughly and practise on realistic questions. Our free Bermuda practice test covers the rules, limits and signage the exam is built on, and you can study every sign in the Bermuda road signs gallery. For a deeper breakdown of the exam itself, read our Bermuda driving test questions and answers guide. ExamReady is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with TCD or the Government of Bermuda.

How much does it cost?

The written exam costs $38.00 for auxiliary cycles, $38.00 for motorcycles, and $54.00 for four-wheel vehicles. Once you have passed both the written and practical tests, a driver's licence for applicants under 65 costs $50.00. These are the official fees published by the Government of Bermuda.

Remember the medical certification as well, since a doctor's certification of fitness is part of the application. Prepare thoroughly so that you pass the written exam on the first attempt.

How does the learner's permit work?

Your learner's permit is valid for 6 months and can be renewed once for another 6 months. While learning, you must display red letter "L" plates measuring 9 in x 6 in, with the letter at least 1.5 in thick, on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

Two rules shape who can sit beside you. Only a licensed driving instructor may teach you for payment, and you may carry no passengers except the instructor. A friend or family member cannot charge you for lessons, and you cannot give anyone else a lift while you are still on the permit. Use the permit period to master the rules in our Bermuda speed limits and road rules guide before your road test.

What happens at the practical test?

The practical test takes place at the TCD grounds. According to gov.bm, for 4-wheel vehicles it includes parallel parking, reversing, and supervised driving, so your practice sessions should cover low-speed control and observation, not just normal road driving.

Remember that Bermuda drives on the left, gives way to traffic from the right at roundabouts, and applies a national limit of 35 km/h with lower posted limits in places like the Town of St. George's and Dockyard at 25 km/h. Knowing the signs cold helps here too: review them in our Bermuda road signs guide.

Can I drive in Bermuda on a foreign licence?

No. Foreign driving licences are not accepted in Bermuda. Everyone who wants a Bermuda driver's licence, including work-permit holders and long-stay visitors, must pass the written exam and the practical test.

Visitors may apply if they will be resident for 30 days or more. If you are visiting for a shorter stay or just arrived, our driving in Bermuda for visitors and new residents guide explains your transport options and what to expect on the island's roads.

How long is a Bermuda driver's licence valid?

Validity depends on your age. According to gov.bm, drivers under 70 can be licensed for up to 10 years, drivers aged 70 and over for 5 years, and drivers aged 75 and over must renew every 2 years. A driver's licence for applicants under 65 costs $50.00.

How do I confirm my exam appointment?

Confirm your TCD examination appointment by calling 292-1271 before 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to your appointment. Build that call into your plan: it is a simple step, but missing it can cost you your slot. Then spend the evening before on a final run through the practice test rather than cramming anything new.

Official sources

gov.bm: How to get a driver's licence (sequence, documents, fees, validity)
Transport Control Department (TCD) (exams, permits and the practical test)
gov.bm: Transport Control Department (the authority behind licensing)
The Traffic Code Handbook, published by TCD, is the official rulebook the written exam draws on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my foreign driver's licence in Bermuda?

No. Foreign driving licences are not accepted in Bermuda. Everyone, including work-permit holders, must pass the electronic written exam and the practical test at TCD.

What is the minimum age for a Bermuda driver's licence?

You must be 18 for private cars, motorcycles over 50 cc, buses, taxis and heavy trucks. From age 16 you can ride a 50 cc auxiliary cycle under the Bermuda Youth Licence, which requires completing Project Ride.

How much does the Bermuda written exam cost?

The exam costs $38.00 for auxiliary cycles, $38.00 for motorcycles, and $54.00 for four-wheel vehicles. A driver's licence for applicants under 65 costs $50.00.

How long is the learner's permit valid, and who can ride with me?

The learner's permit is valid for 6 months and renewable once for another 6 months. You must display red 9 in x 6 in L plates front and rear, only a licensed driving instructor may teach you for payment, and you may carry no passengers except the instructor.

How long does a Bermuda driver's licence last?

Drivers under 70 can be licensed for up to 10 years. From age 70 the licence is issued for 5 years, and from age 75 it must be renewed every 2 years.

How to Get a Driver's Licence in Bermuda (2026): Written Exam, Learner's Permit and Road Test