New driver? Here’s what you need to know in Ontario

March 16, 2023 · 0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

If you plan on driving in Ontario, you must go through a series of steps before becoming a fully licensed driver.

Ontario has 15 types of licenses for different vehicles. If you plan on driving a typical passenger car, van or truck, you will need a G Class license.

To apply for a driver’s license in Ontario, you need to be at least 16 years old, pass an eye test, and pass a knowledge test about the rules of the road and traffic signs. You can apply and take the required knowledge tests at a DriveTest centre.

Ontario’s Official Driver Handbook will help you prepare for the knowledge test. It covers the rules of the road and practical driving tips.

You must bring original identification that shows your legal name and date of birth.

After passing the eye and knowledge tests, you will get a G1 license. When you have a G1 license, you must maintain a zero-blood alcohol level, make sure every passenger with you wears a seatbelt, not drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m., not drive on a 400 series highway, and must have a fully licensed driver with you who has at least four years of driving experience. That other driver must be the only other person in the front seat.

You can graduate with a G2 license after 12 months of driving with a G1 license. This test includes basic driving skills such as turning left and right, stopping, parallel parking, one-way streets, lane changes, 3-point turns, and traffic lights, stop and yield signs.

After finishing a government-approved driver education course, you can take your first road test after eight months.

With a G2 license, you can drive without another experienced driver in the car on all Ontario roads anytime. You must still have a zero-blood alcohol level and carry only as many passengers as there are working seatbelts.

The G2 road test is the second of two road tests you take as a new driver.

Once you pass, you get a full G license.

To book a road test, you will need to provide your Ontario driver’s license number, a preferred location for taking the test, a second and third choice of location, and a preferred date and time.