Easy Places in Vancouver to Practice Driving When You're Just Starting Out

If you're working toward your Class 7 learner’s licence, or even your full Class 5 licence, this guide will help you pick some of the best places in town to get more confident behind the wheel.

Start Somewhere Quiet: Kitsilano Has Great Streets

If you're close to Kitsilano, you're already lucky. Kits is full of quiet residential streets with stop signs, wide lanes, and not too much traffic. Try streets like West 12th Avenue, Waterloo Street, or Carnarvon Street. These are great for practicing right and left turns, full stops, and scanning intersections.

Kitsilano is also where Kits Elite Driving School is based. But even if you live in another part of Vancouver, you can still book lessons or practice routes that suit your area.

UBC Campus and Surrounding Areas

UBC might sound busy, but there are lots of calm streets inside the campus and nearby. Agronomy Road, Wesbrook Mall, and East Mall are good choices during evenings or weekends when it’s quiet. These are perfect for practicing lane control, school zones, and roundabouts.

Just be sure to check for speed bumps and students walking around. UBC is full of pedestrians and cyclists, so it’s a good place to get used to paying attention to your surroundings.

Mount Pleasant and East Van (But Stick to the Right Parts)

Not every street in East Van is beginner-friendly, but areas around John Street, East 16th Avenue, and Prince Edward Street are nice and steady. These areas have a mix of 2-way stops, school zones, and parallel parking spots.

Mount Pleasant also has a few steeper streets, which are good for getting the feel of stopping and starting on a hill.

Try Driving Early in the Day or on Sundays

If you're still new to driving, don’t go out during busy rush hours. That means avoid 7–9 a.m. and 3–6 p.m. on weekdays. Weekends are usually quieter. Sunday mornings are especially good. Less traffic means less pressure and more room to focus.

Rainy weather is common in Vancouver too, so don’t worry if it’s wet outside. In fact, it's good to get used to driving when the roads are slippery, as long as you're going slow and staying careful.

Downtown Vancouver? Wait a Bit

Downtown can be chaotic for beginners. There are one-way streets, bike lanes, buses, and lots of pedestrians. It’s not the best place to start practicing unless you're with an instructor.

Save downtown for later, maybe when you're working on your Class 5 road test and feeling confident.

A Few Other Good Spots

• Point Grey: Calm, wide streets with ocean views (bonus!)
• Kerrisdale: Nice for lane changes, stops, and general practice
• Marpole: Less traffic and some good parallel parking areas
• Fraserview: Not too steep, with steady-paced traffic

Don’t Forget to Practice These Skills

Wherever you go, make sure you try:

• Full stops at stop signs
• Right turns into the correct lane
• Shoulder checks
• Parking (especially parallel and reverse stall parking)
• Navigating 4-way stops and T-intersections
• Checking mirrors often

These are all things that show up during your road test.

Practice Is Great, But a Driving Instructor Makes a Huge Difference

Even if you drive with a parent or friend, a qualified instructor will show you the small details that help you pass the test. At Kits Elite Driving School, we teach students from all over Vancouver. Whether you're just starting with your Class 7 or moving up to your Class 5, we’re here to help.

You can check our rates here and book lessons when it works for your schedule.