Top 15 Ontario Driver's Licence Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) About Ontario Driver's Licences

As a car insurance broker, we receive all kinds of questions about Ontario Driver's Licences. Some are simple and others more complicated. They range from questions about driver education, to our system of graduated licencing, to switching a licence from another province.

So we’ve taken the Top 15 Questions our customers ask us about Ontario Driver's Licences with brief answers. There are additional links for those who want to get more details. We hope you find this list of questions and answers helpful.

Just click on the question below to go the the answer.

1. I just moved to Ontario, how do I get (switch or exchange my licence for) an Ontario driver's licence?
2. How do I change my Ontario address? Can I do it online?
3. How do I get (apply for) my driver's licence?
4. What is Ontario Graduated driver's licencing and what is the difference in the various G class licences?
5. What is an Enhanced Driver's Licence?
6. What are the various Ontario driver's licence classifications?
7. What is DriveTest?
8. What is the Senior G Driver's Licence Renewal program?
9. What should I do if my driver’s licence was lost, stolen or damaged?
10. How do I get information or reports about my driver's licence and driving history?
11. My driver's licence is suspended, how do I get it reinstated?
12. My driver's licence is expired how do I renew it?
13. Why should you do a Beginners Driver Education course and where is a list of MTO approved courses?
14. What is a Road Test and how do I schedule one?
15. What should I do if I fail my road test?

1. I just moved to Ontario, how do I get (switch or exchange my licence for) an Ontario driver's licence?

Switch from another province

In Ontario, you can legally drive with an out-of-province licence for up to 60 days. After 60 days, you will have to apply for or exchange your existing driver's licence for an Ontario licence.

If you have a full, valid licence from another Canadian province or territory, you can exchange your driver's licence for an Ontario licence. Just go to a DriveTest Centre near you .

Switch from another country

If you have a valid driver's licence from another country, you need to find out if your country has a licence exchange agreement with Ontario. You can find out from this list of eligible countries .

You can exchange your driver's licence if your country is on this list. The exchange process is the same as if you’re from a Canadian province. Some conditions apply to drivers who do not have a full driver's licence or are in a learning program. Find out more information for drivers who don't have full licence and are moving to Ontario .

More information :
How to exchange your out-of-province driver's licence
Exchange out-of-country driver's licences

2. How do I change my Ontario address? Can I do it online?

You can change your driver's licence address in-person or online.

To change your address In Person :

1. Go to your nearest Service Ontario office. Here’s a handy Service Ontario location finder.
2. Bring your licence or your driver’s licence number or registrant identification number and have the date of issue on your driver’s licence. Remember to bring along these documents to prove your identity .

To change your address Online :

1. Begin by logging into Service Ontario.
2. Follow the prompts.
3. NOTE: When you change your address at the Ministry of Transportation website, you must also change your address with the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care. This makes the process a little longer.

More information :
Info on changing your driver's licence
Change your health card and driver's licence address

3. How do I get (apply for) my driver's licence?

Before you drive you have to take a written and a vision test. You will want to pick up a Drivers Handbook to begin to learn the rules of the road.

You will also have to pay licencing and test fees. Bring the right identity documents to prove your age, your legal name and where you were born. You don’t want to have to go back for a second time. Here’s the list of what is acceptable ID .

More information :
Where to get the Ontario Drivers Handbook
ID you need to apply for your licence
Getting a G licence
Tips for saving on car insurance for new and young drivers

4. What is Ontario Graduated driver's licencing and what is the difference in the various G class licences?

Ontario Graduated Driver's Licencing is a 2-step process for new and young drivers. The goal is to give new drivers practice and experience over a 20-month period – this length of time is the minimum it will take for a driver to pass through the graduated licencing system.

There are driving restrictions for the G1 and G2 class licences. Below are some of the main restrictions :

G1 licence drivers

• Must pass a written and vision test.
• Must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver (4+ years).
• Can drive between 5 am and midnight.
• Can't drive on 400 series highways.
• Blood alcohol level must be zero.

G2 licence drivers

• Can drive and practice without another licenced driver.
• Must maintain a zero blood alcohol level.
• Can only carry as many passengers as there are working seatbelts.

There are more restrictions for G2 drivers under 19 years of age. Once a driver graduates to a full G licence, they have no driving restrictions.

More information :
A guide to Ontario’s graduated licencing system
Top 10 Questions about Ontario’s graduated G licence

5. What is an Enhanced Driver's Licence?

An Enhanced Driver's Licence is a driver's licence that can also be used as a travel document for proof of identity and citizenship between Canada and the United States. It can only be used for land or water travel and is not permitted for air travel.

More information :
How to apply for an Enhanced Driver's Licence

6. What are the various Ontario driver's licence classifications?

Ontario has 16 classifications of driver's licences. Each classification allows you to drive different types of vehicles. The two most common ones are :

• Class G is for regular drivers of vehicles or a combination of vehicle and trailer that is not over 11,000 kilograms in weight and maximum capacity of 11 passengers. There are G1 and G2 classes that must be graduated from before a driver can get a full G class licence.
• Class M is for motorcycles and other limited speed motorcylces like scooters and mopeds. There are M1 and M2 classes that must be graduated from before a rider can get a full M class license.

There are many classes for commercial licences such as Class A for tractor trailers or Class B for school buses. You can learn more about all the Ontario licence classifactions at the MTO website.

More information :
Read about each classification on the Ministry of Transportation’s website.
DriveTest driver's licence types and classifications

7. What is DriveTest?

DriveTest is a private company that conducts all driving tests and manages driving documents on behalf of the Ontario government. DriveTest operates 55 DriveTest Centres across Ontario.

More information :
Learn more about DriveTest

8. What is the Senior G Driver's Licence Renewal program?

The Senior G Driver's Licence Renewal Program is an Ontario driving program for seniors 80 years and over to renew their driver's licence every two years. The Ontario government’s website provides comprehensive information about how to renew a licence, about the vision test and in-class screening.

More information :
How to renew your G licence for drivers 80 and over (Government of Ontario website)
Ministry of Transportation Senior driver's licence renewal program
Aging and Driving: Ontario’s Licence Renewal Program for Drivers Age 80 and Above (download pdf)

9. What should I do if my driver’s licence was lost, stolen or damaged?

If you are in Ontario at the time you lose your driver's licence, go to your nearest Service Ontario for a replacement. Remember to bring personal ID to confirm your name, date of birth and your signature (a passport works well). You’ll be given a temporary driver's licence. You’ll receive your permanent driver's licence with your photo in 4-6 weeks.

If you’re outside of Ontario, you can request a one-time replacement of your licence. Once you return to Ontario, you will have to go into Service Ontario to replace your temporary licence.

More information :
How to replace your driver’s licence outside of Ontario
How to replace a lost, stolen or damaged driver’s licence

10. How do I get information or reports about my driver's licence and driving history?

There are a few different types of documents or records a driver can order from Service Ontario that have past driver and license information. So it's important to understand which document is needed prior to ordering it. Be sure to confirm which specific document is needed for your purpose.

Driver's Licence History

A Driver's Licence History record is one of the most common document needed by drivers for reasons such as employment or insurance. It provides information on a driver's current and past driving history. It includes information about the driver (name, height, weight, etc.), present and previous addresses, dates of renewals and class changes (G1, G2 and G), beginner driver education course completion date and a few other things.

The Driver's Licence History report is commonly used by new or young drivers to show proof of completion of a certified beginner driver education course. This report can be obtained online from Service Ontario.

Please go to the Service Ontario website to see a full list of all the driving record reports that are available.

More information :
Learn more about driver history records
Get a Driver's Licence History report online
Full list of Ontario driving record reports

11. My driver's licence is suspended, how do I get it reinstated?

Before you can get your suspended licence reinstated and renewed, you need to :

1. Pay all outstanding fines
2. Complete any court-ordered programs
3. Compile documents to prove that your suspension has been lifted

The length of a licence suspension impacts the steps drivers have to take to have a licence reinstated.

More information :
How to get a driver’s licence back after a suspension
How to surrender your licence
Types of driver's licence suspensions

12. My driver's licence is expired how do I renew it?

Expired Less Than 1 Year

Expired More Than 1 Year But Less Than 3 Years

Expired More Than 3 Years But Less Than 10 Years

More information :
ID you should bring for your licence renewal
More info on what to do if your licence has expired

13. Why should you do a Beginners Driver Education course and where is a list of MTO approved courses?

A beginners driver education course provides lots of benefits to new and young drivers :

• Become A Better And Safer Driver - Driver education helps you build your skills and knowledge with a driving instructor – both in-class and in-car.
• Get Discounts On Car Insurance - When you take drivers education with a certified school, you will receive discounts on your car insurance.
• Get Your G Licence Quicker - Completing a driver education program means you move more quickly through the graduated licencing system (you can take your G1 driving test after 8 months).

More information :
Ontario government approved driver training schools
Car insurance savings tips & discounts for new and young drivers

14. What is a Road Test and how do I schedule one?

A road test is an in-vehicle driving test to ensure that a driver has the required skills to safely drive the type of vehicle for the class of licence they are trying to obtain - G class, M class or a commercial class.

The most common road tests are for regular car (G class) and motorcylce (M class) drivers. To get a full G or M class licence a driver must successfully pass two levels of road tests :

Level One Road Test (or G2 / M2 Road Test)

Level Two Road Test (or G / M Road Test)

Road tests must be completed at a DriveTest location. You can schedule a road test in 3 ways :

1. Online – Go to the MTO website to schedule online
2. At a DriveTest location – Find a DriveTest location
3. By phone - this is an automated booking system. Call 1-888-570-6110 or 647-776-0331

More information :
Road test requirements and information
Road test preparation fact sheet (pdf)
Graduated licensing requirements
Book a road test online
DriveTest locations

15. What should I do if I fail my road test?

When you finish your road test, your examiner will give you a full report on your driving. If you fail your road test, you will have to wait a minimum of 10 days before you can take the test again. Carefully read the examiner's report so you can fix the driving errors the examiner identified during your test and work on improving those driving skills before you book another test.

More information :
Graduated licencing and road tests
Driver Testing (DriveTest website)

We hope you’ve found the answers to our Top 15 Ontario Driver's Licence Questions article helpful. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Transportation’s website.

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