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Registry of Motor Vehicles - 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. Also included in this handbook is information about licensing, registration, inspection and collision reporting.

The contents of this handbook explain the basic provisions of the law in Nova Scotia using language and terms that are easily understood. For the actual expression of the law, refer to the Motor Vehicle Act and Regulations.

This publication is currently being provided in Adobe Acrobat for your convenience.

Illustrations should be printed in color to ensure all information is conveyed.

Please note the following amendments to the Driver’s Handbook:

School zone
When children are present in a school zone, it is an offence to drive in excess of 30 km/h in areas where the approaching speed limit is 50km/h, or 50km/h where the approaching speed limit is higher than 50km/h whatever the time of day.

If you are involved in a collision
The Registry of Motor Vehicles receives written notice of collision particulars in Nova Scotia. This information will appear on your file. The collision report collects information about

  • property damage of $2,000 or more
  • bodily injury to, or death of, any person resulting from a motor vehicle collision

Yield to transit bus
Where a transit bus has stopped at a bus stop and is signalling its intent to re-enter the flow of traffic on a highway, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way to the bus unless the driver cannot yield to the bus in safety.

Graduated Driver's Licence System
Effective April 1, 2015, an additional stage has been added to the Graduated Driver's Licence system called the Restricted Individual stage. Please see the chapter 1 supplement for additional information about the changes.

You may purchase a hardcopy of the Driver's Handbook:

In Person: any Registry of Motor Vehicles transaction counter (check for a location near you by using the information available on this site);

By mail from the Registry of Motor Vehicles:
Service Delivery Division
Registry of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 1652
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2Z3

The fee is $9.29 plus applicable taxes (total $9.75).

Reference copies of the handbook are also available at all public libraries and high schools.


Driver's Licence Information Index

*Please note: These documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF), which uses the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. If you do not have the Reader, you can download the program free of charge.

Get Acrobat Reader

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