Q&A - How To Attach a New Driver Sign

image of N and L new driver sign for BCQuestion: How do I display my N new driver sign if the magnet won't stick to my car? The back window is too dark for it to be on the inside. I've tried mail label envelopes and they only work for a little while. I've lost so many N magnets, I'd like a better solution. Help!

New Driver Sign

The sign that you must attach can only be supplied by ICBC:

"new driver sign" means a sign, issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia for the purposes of this section, to indicate that a motor vehicle is being driven by a person who is learning to drive or by a novice driver.

Clearly Visible & Prominently Displayed

The Regulations require a new driver to display the sign as follows:

unless a new driver sign depicting the letter "L" (or "N") is clearly visible and prominently displayed from the rear of the motor vehicle or trailer, as the case may be.

How Is Up to You

If the back window is too dark to hang the sign in and the back of the vehicle is not made of metal that a magnet will stick to, it's up to you to find another way. This driver finally decided to use glue, but I'd bet most parents would not allow this on the family car.

Using silicone sealant to glue an L or N sign to the back window might be acceptable as this could be carefully removed after the need for the sign has passed. Vinegar will dissolve the sealant.

Other suggestions that I was able to find by browsing the internet include double sided tape and self adhesive velcro tabs. The latter would work nicely if one of your siblings needed to display the sign that you did not.

Expensive If You Don't

Either the Motor Vehicle Act or Regulations may be used to ticket a new driver for failing to display an L or N sign and both cost $109. A conviction under the Act would also result in 3 penalty points.

This would be a good thing to keep in mind before you stick the sign half way under the rear licence plate and drive off.

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But fortunately, you can pick up a few N signs free at your local license office, just slap 'em on the inside of your trunk lid so you have a spare if you need one.

I gotta say, in the Driving School business many of us use magnetic signs without a problem - and without anybody stealing them. The professional classes require a Student Driver sign at minimum, and many of the regular driving schools slap on L & N signs even though they're not required.

So is there really that much of an issue with people stealing N signs? What's up with that, anyway? It's a pointless thing to do.

In reply to by CompetentDrivingBC

I understand from speaking with GLP drivers who did not have a sign that theft is common if they leave it on the back of their vehicle in the school parking lot.

In this case, it is one of the magnet doesn't stick to the body at the rear of the vehicle.

Ended up gluing my N on back when I had to have one, Although it did leave residual behind when I had to remove it. Could look at adding a suction cup to the sign or potentially run a clear bag from trunk so you have something to put the sign in.