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Ontario handbook · chapter 1 · 14 min read

Graduated licensing requirements

Note: Direct identification by a parent or guardian is not acceptable.

Graduated licensing requirements

Here are the rules you must follow at each level:

Level One (Class G1)

Level One lasts 12 months. The Ministry of Transportation encourages all new drivers to take an approved driver-education course to help learn the proper driving skills and knowledge. You should begin your training as soon as you become a Level One driver so you can get as much driving experience as possible. If you pass an approved course, you can complete Level One in eight months. While at Level One, the following rules apply:

You must pass a road test of your driving skills to move to Level Two. At this time, you will be given a Class G2 licence.

G1 knowledge test – checklist

Before taking the G1 knowledge test, make sure you have studied the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook.

Bring the following items to the test:

G1 exit test – checklist

Before taking the G1 exit test, make sure you have studied the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook.

Bring the following items to the test:

Level Two (Class G2):

Level Two lasts at least 12 months. At this level, you have more privileges because of your driving experience.

At Level Two:

In addition, the following restrictions apply between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. to G2 drivers aged 19 years and under.

Exemptions: The passenger restrictions for G2 drivers aged 19 and under do not apply if you are accompanied by a fully–licensed driver (https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/getting-your-drivers- licence#level-one) in the front passenger seat, or if the passengers are members of your immediate family (a guardian or those related to you by blood, marriage, common–law relationship or adoption).

After 12 months at Level Two, you may take a road test to qualify for full licence privileges. You must pass this test to get a Class G licence.

Note: It is now law that all young drivers 21 and under, regardless of licence class, must have a blood-alcohol level of zero.

Note: A restricted Class M licence for limited-speed motorcycle and moped drivers allows licence holders to drive only a limited-speed motorcycle and moped. You are not permitted to drive a limited-speed motorcycle or moped on any driver’s licence other than a class M licence (including M1, M2(L),M2, M(L) or M). For more information on how to obtain a restricted Class M licence to drive a moped, and graduated licensing requirements, please read the Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/publications/handbooks.shtml#Motorcycle) .

Road tests

Road tests check your driving skills in the vehicle and in traffic. You will be tested on your ability to follow the rules of the road and safe driving practices.

When you feel qualified to drive safely and confident enough to take your road test, schedule an appointment by internet, phone or in-person at any DriveTest Centre. You can contact the DriveTest Centre at 647-776-0331 or 1-888-570-6110 , or go online to DriveTest.ca (https://drivetest.ca/) .

You must bring the appropriate vehicle to your road test. The vehicle must be fit, in proper working condition, plated and insured.

If you are a Level One driver, an accompanying driver must come with you to the test centre. If you are a Level Two driver, be prepared to take alternate transportation home in case you fail your road test and are unqualified to drive.

No pets or passengers other than the driver examiner are allowed in the vehicle during a road test. Driving instructors, friends, relatives and translators may not accompany you during the test.

All road tests have a set time frame. Before you begin your test, the examiner will inform you of the time you have to complete the test. You will not be asked to do anything illegal during the road test. The examiner will explain the test, and you should follow his or her instructions. The examiner is not allowed to coach you during the test, so if you have any questions, ask them before you begin.

Electronic driving aids such as automatic parallel-parking systems, lane monitoring, cruise control, and back cameras may not be used during the road test. On a road test, you are required to demonstrate the proper skills in operating a motor vehicle without the reliance of driving aids (for example, shoulder checks, mirror checks and so on).

At the end of each test, the examiner will give you a complete report of your skills, and explain any mistakes you have made. If you fail the test, the report will show you where you need to improve. When you have had more practice, you can make an appointment to take the test again. You must wait at least 10 days between tests.

G2 exit test – checklist

You must have highway driving experience (experience driving on highways with speed limits of at least 80 km/h) before taking the G2 exit test. You must complete a Declaration of Highway Driving Experience form, describing the highway driving experience you have, before taking the road test. Bring the following items to the test:

Failure to attend road test, or short notice cancellation

If you cancel or reschedule your road test appointment with less than 48 hours notice, or if you fail to attend your appointment, your prepaid road-test fee will not be refunded. Under certain extenuating circumstances only (such as a death in your immediate family), the road-test fee will remain as a credit on your driving record.

Out-of-order road test

If your vehicle does not meet ministry standards for the purpose of a road test, or if there is a non-vehicle-related reason for which the examiner determines that the road test cannot be completed, the examiner declares the road test out-of-order. If your road test is declared out-of-order, you lose 50% of your road test fee. The other 50% of the fee remains as a credit on your driving record, and may be applied when booking a new road test. In order to book the new road test, you will have to pay the 50% of the fee deducted due to the out-of-order.

If you have any concerns that your road test may be declared out-of-order, contact the DriveTest Centre (http://www.drivetest.ca) before your scheduled test to discuss it.

New Ontario residents

If you are a new resident of Ontario and have a valid driver’s licence from another province or country, you can use that licence for 60 days in Ontario. If you want to continue to drive after 60 days, you must get an Ontario driver’s licence.

Licence Exchange for Countries with Reciprocating Jurisdictions

Ontario has licence-exchange agreements with every Canadian province and territory (including Canadian Forces Europe). There are also agreements with Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United States.

Drivers will receive a full Class G licence, provided they have an equivalent class licence. If you have fewer than two years of driving experience, you may get credit for your experience and enter Level Two of the graduated licensing system. Once you have a total of two years of driving experience, you may take the Level Two road test to earn full driving privileges.

Licence Exchange for Non-reciprocating Jurisdictions

All applicants for an Ontario driver’s licence are required to present a valid foreign driver’s licence pass a vision test, a knowledge test, pay all applicable fees and provide acceptable proof of identity.

Driving customs vary from place to place. That is why experienced drivers from other countries should familiarize themselves with Ontario’s laws. The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook and the Ministry of Transportation website are great resources.

Could You Pass?

The rest of this handbook gives you information you need to pass your tests and to keep your driving privileges once you get your licence. The written test may ask you about:

The road tests will test how well you use your knowledge while driving. You will be tested on:

Make sure you know the information in this handbook before you take these tests. Sample test questions (https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers- handbook/test-yourself-sample-knowledge-test-questions) that could appear on the knowledge test.

Choosing a driving school

As a new driver, your choice of professional driving instruction may be the best way to put yourself safely in the driver’s seat.

A beginner driver education (BDE) course in a driving school that has been approved by the provincial government can teach you the skills and attitudes you need to be a safe and responsible driver. The BDE course may also make you eligible to take your road test sooner and allow you to save money on insurance premiums.

As well as teaching the basics, driver training emphasizes strategic driving techniques, positive driving attitudes and behaviour, avoiding driver distractions, risk perception and management, freeway driving, night driving and driving in adverse conditions. Most programs are designed for new drivers, but many driving schools also provide courses and services to upgrade your skills.

If you graduate from an approved BDE course, this will be noted in your driver’s licence history, and will reduce the time you must spend at Level 1 by four months. It may also bring you savings on your car insurance.

All ministry-licenced driving schools offer in-class and in-car training for a fee. All lessons are taught by a ministry-licensed driving instructor.

Ministry-approved BDE courses, offered by driving schools, must last a minimum of 40 hours. This may consist of at least 20 hours in-class, 10 hours in-vehicle and 10 hours of flexible instruction that may include the following:

The ministry licenses all driving schools offering a BDE course in Ontario. Licences are renewed every three years, if driving schools continue to meet legislative and program requirements. Only licensed instructors working for licensed schools can teach the BDE course.

All ministry-approved driving schools (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/driver/driving- schools.shtml) are listed on the ministry’s website.

Note: The ministry also lists revoked driving schools (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/driver/revoked-driving-schools.shtml) that are not on the list of approved schools.

Look at the website for an active ministry-approved driving school that offers high- quality instruction and a comfortable learning environment. Please make sure the school offers a ministry-approved BDE course of a minimum of 40 hours. The school should also be equipped with up-to-date videotapes, DVDs, projectors, overheads, computers, and other audio-visual aids.

To help you choose the best driving school and course for you, please use the following checklist:

Protect yourself from fraud and identity theft

After getting your driver’s licence, do not:

For accurate road tests information, only use ontario.ca and drivetest.ca.

Important things to note:

Summary

By the end of this chapter, you should know:

Safe and Responsible Driving

Being a safe and responsible driver takes a combination of knowledge, skill and attitude.

To begin, you must know the traffic laws and driving practices that help traffic move safely. Breaking these “rules of the road” is the major cause of collisions.

Traffic laws are made by federal, provincial and municipal governments, and police from each level can enforce them. If you break a traffic law, you may be fined, sent to jail or lose your driver’s licence. If you get caught driving while your licence is suspended, your vehicle may be impounded.

But you need to do more than just obey the rules. You must care about the safety of others on the road. Everyone is responsible for avoiding collisions. Even if someone else does something wrong, you may be found responsible for a collision if you could have done something to avoid it.

Because drivers have to co-operate to keep traffic moving safely, you must also be predictable, doing what other people using the road expect you to do. And you must be courteous. Courteous driving means giving other drivers space to change lanes, not cutting them off and signalling your turns and lane changes properly.

You must be able to see dangerous situations before they happen and to respond quickly and effectively to prevent them. This is called defensive or strategic driving. There are collision avoidance courses available where you can practice these techniques.

Defensive driving is based on three ideas: visibility, space and communication.

Visibility is about seeing and being seen. You should always be aware of traffic in front, behind and beside you. Keep your eyes constantly moving, scanning the road ahead and to the side and checking your mirrors every five seconds or so. The farther ahead you look, the less likely you will be surprised, and you will have time to avoid any hazards. Make sure other drivers can see you by using your signal lights as required.

Managing the space around your vehicle lets you see and be seen and gives you time and space to avoid a collision. Leave a cushion of space ahead, behind and to both sides. Because the greatest risk of a collision is in front of you, stay well back.

Communicate with other road users to make sure they see you and know what you are doing. Make eye contact with pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at intersections and signal whenever you want to slow down, stop, turn or change lanes. If you need to get another person’s attention, use your horn.

Next chapter
Getting ready to drive