Access Nova Scotia · Port Hawkesbury
Port Hawkesbury Drive Test Routes (Class 5)
Port Hawkesbury · Last verified October 31, 2026
Quick facts
Port Hawkesbury
- Address
- 218 MacSween Street, Suite 22, Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2H5
- Tests listed
- Class 5
- Testing body
- Access Nova Scotia
- Hours & phone
- Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Thursday evening hours to 7:00 p.m. are for Registry of Motor Vehicles services only). Road tests by appointment.
1-800-898-7668 (Registry of Motor Vehicles road test booking, toll-free) or 902-424-5851
Practice route
Class 5 practice test route
This is a practice test route that starts and ends at the Port Hawkesbury test centre.
Turn-by-turn directions
- Drive northwest.0.08 km
- Turn right onto MacSween Street.0.03 km
- Turn left onto MacQuarrie Drive.0.19 km
- Turn right onto Pine Ridge Drive.0.39 km
- Turn left onto Crandall Road.3.74 km
- Turn left onto Kings Road.3.28 km
- Turn left onto Charles MacLean Road.0.76 km
- Turn left onto NS 4/Reeves Street.1.38 km
- Bear right onto Granville Street.1.1 km
- Turn left onto MacSween Street.0.65 km
- Turn left onto Crandall Drive.0.7 km
- Turn left onto Crandall Road.3.74 km
- Turn left onto Kings Road.3.28 km
- Turn left onto Charles MacLean Road.0.76 km
- Turn left onto NS 4/Reeves Street.1.38 km
- Bear right onto Granville Street.1.92 km
- Turn left onto Sydney Road.0.37 km
- Make a sharp left onto Queen Street.0.06 km
- Turn right onto Reynolds Street.0.24 km
- Turn left onto NS 4/Reeves Street.0.63 km
- Turn right onto MacSween Street.0.23 km
- Turn right.0.08 km
- Your destination is on the left.
Test-day preparation
Before you leave
- Confirm your appointment and test type with Access Nova Scotia.
- Bring the required licence and a safe, insured vehicle.
- Arrive early enough to park, check in, and settle your nerves.
- Follow road signs and your examiner’s directions on the day.
Getting there
Parking & access
- Parking: Map data shows a parking lot about 95 m from the building, with more about 125–145 m away.
Know the area
Roads to be ready for near Port Hawkesbury
- Reeves Street (Route 4), four lanes at 50 km/h, is about 260 m away
- Traffic lights about 290 m and 500 m away
- A railway level crossing about 880 m away
- Tamarac Education Centre about 1.1 km away and the NSCC Strait Area Campus about 1.4 km away
Local tips
The Port Hawkesbury Access Nova Scotia office is in Suite 22 at 218 MacSween Street, close to Reeves Street, the town's main commercial road. It's open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and map data shows parking about 95 metres from the building. Reeves Street carries Route 4 on four lanes at 50 km/h, with traffic lights about 290 and 500 metres from the office, so expect lane choices and turning traffic in and out of plazas. There's a railway level crossing about 880 metres away. Our 25.0 km practice route uses MacSween Street, MacQuarrie Drive and Pine Ridge Drive to reach Crandall Road and Kings Road, then Charles MacLean Road, Reeves Street and Granville Street. It drives that loop twice, and the second time it adds Sydney Road, a sharp left onto Queen Street, and Reynolds Street. The sharp left is a good one to practice slowly: signal early, reduce speed, and look through the turn.
Common questions
Port Hawkesbury road test FAQ
What are the hours at Port Hawkesbury?
The province lists: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Thursday evening hours to 7:00 p.m. are for Registry of Motor Vehicles services only). Road tests by appointment. Check novascotia.ca before you go, especially around holidays and in bad weather.
How do I book a road test?
Book online at novascotia.ca/book-a-road-test, or call 1-800-898-7668 (local 902-424-5851), Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Class 5 road test costs $52.54 including HST and takes about 30 minutes. You can reschedule or cancel for free up to 48 hours before; with less notice you have to pay again when you rebook.
What do I need to bring?
You supply the vehicle. Bring your valid licence, proof of liability insurance, a valid vehicle permit, proof of a valid motor vehicle inspection, and your certificate from a recognized driver training school if you took a course. The examiner does a safety check of the vehicle before the test.
How long do I need my learner's licence first, and what if I fail?
Most new drivers must hold a learner's licence for 12 months before the road test. That drops to 9 months if you complete an approved driver education course and your instructor says you're ready. If your test is incomplete or unsuccessful, you must wait until the next day before booking another one.
Is a practice route available for Port Hawkesbury?
Yes. This page has a 25.0 km Class 5 practice test route that starts and ends at the centre, with a map and turn-by-turn directions.
Sources
Resources
- Government of Nova Scotia – Service Nova Scotia contacts (Registry of Motor Vehicles locations)
- Government of Nova Scotia – Access Nova Scotia locations, hours and services
- Government of Nova Scotia – Book a Road Test
- Government of Nova Scotia – Reschedule a Road Test
- Service Nova Scotia – Registry of Motor Vehicles: Who takes the exam