1. What is the status of the strike?
The labour disruption involving United Steelworkers local 9511(USW) and Serco has ended.
All 56 DriveTest Centres across the province will re-open Monday January 4, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. For a full list of services available and hours of operation at DriveTest Centres and part time "Travel Points" visit www.drivetest.ca or call 1-888-570-6110. In Toronto call 416-325-8580.
All road test appointments currently booked for anytime after January 4, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. will be honoured. Customers should arrive at the DriveTest Centre 30 minutes before their scheduled appointment time. All driver examination appointments scheduled prior to January 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm were cancelled at no cost to the customer. These customers will have to re-book their road tests.
For a full list of services available and hours of operation at your local DriveTest Centre, visit www.drivetest.ca or call 1-888-570-6110. In Toronto call 416-325-8580.
2. Will all driver examination services be available?
Yes. All driver examination services will be available as of 1:00 p.m. January 4, 2010. This includes scheduled road tests, vision and written tests, as well as other services normally offered at DriveTest Centres.
High customer volumes are anticipated. If you have an existing licence that is extended by the regulation it may be more convenient for you to wait a few weeks before visiting a DriveTest Centre.
You will have until July 1, 2010 to complete your test requirements and, if necessary, you can attempt your road test more than once while the regulation is in place.
3. Will DriveTest Centres be open extended hours to help reduce the backlog as quickly as possible?
DriveTest will be monitoring the demand for services and may adjust resources and operating hours as required.
For a full list of services available and hours of operation at your local DriveTest Centre, visit www.drivetest.ca or call 1-888-570-6110. In Toronto call 416-325-8580.
4. I need to take a test to renew my driver’s licence, but my Ontario driver’s licence expired during the DriveTest service disruption. Is my Ontario driver’s licence still valid, and am I still able to drive?
Yes, if your driver’s licence expired on or after August 24, 2009 and you require a test to renew it, your driver’s licence has been temporarily extended by regulation and you can continue to drive while the regulation is in effect. The extension also applies to temporary driver’s licences.
5. I do not have to take a test to renew my driver’s licence. Is my Ontario driver’s licence also extended?
No. Your licence will expire on the date shown on your licence.
To renew your licence go to your local ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.
6. I am a senior driver over 80 years old who requires a road test to renew my licence. How will I know when to take my test?
If a Ministry of Transportation counsellor referred you to DriveTest to take a road test, please call 1-888-570-6110 to book your road test. In Toronto call 416-325-8580. During the call, you will be asked to enter your driver’s licence number and expiry date. You will then be transferred to a customer service agent who will assist you in booking your road test. You may also book a road test in-person by visiting any of the 56 DriveTest Centres.
In the meantime you are covered under the interim regulation referenced in question 4. If your driver’s licence expired on or after August 24, 2009 and you require a test to renew it, your driver’s licence has been temporarily extended by regulation and you can continue to drive while the regulation is in effect. The extension also applies to temporary driver’s licences.
7. How long do I have to take my test before the Ministry revokes the regulation extending driver licences?
The regulation will remain in effect until July 1, 2010. This means you should plan to have you test requirements completed by July 1, 2010.
You will be permitted to attempt your road test more than once while the regulation is in place. Applicants should monitor the ministry’s website for updates http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/index.shtml.
8. My road test was cancelled because of the service disruption. When do I take my road test?
If your road test was cancelled during the service disruption, you must re-book your road test. To get started, visit www.drivetest.ca.
Important: IF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE HAS EXPIRED you will not be able to book a road test using the online booking system.
If your licence has expired, you will need to speak with an operator during normal business hours (Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Please contact the Automated Road Test Booking Line at 1-888-570-6110 or 416-325-8580. You will be required to enter your driver’s licence number and expiry date before you can be transferred to a customer service agent who will assist you in booking your road test. You may also book a road test by visiting any of the 56 DriveTest Centres in person.
If you require a written or vision test, you don’t need to book an appointment, just go to your local DriveTest Centre during regular business hours. For a full list of services available and hours of operation at your local DriveTest Centre, visit www.drivetest.ca or call 1-888-570-6110. In Toronto call 416-325-8580.
9. When I re-book my road test, will I have to pay the fee again?
No, you will not have to pay a fee again to rebook your test, unless you already paid, took your road test and did not pass.
10. Will I be charged a fee because I could not take my road test during the strike?
No, a driver who had a road test appointment cancelled during the labour disruption (August 24, 2009 to January 4, 2010 1:00 p.m.) will not be charged the fee.
As of January 4, 2010, the normal policy will apply to cancelling and booking road tests. You are required to give 48 hours notice of test cancellation (or rebooking) to avoid loss of the test fee.
11. What will happen to me if I am stopped by police and my licence shows an expired date?
The government implemented an interim regulation that automatically extends the validity of a driver's licence that requires a test at a driver examination centre in order to be renewed. All Ontario police services have been notified of the interim regulation.
Police agencies, border officials, and licensing administrators across North America have been notified of the service disruption and are aware of the temporary measure in place to extend the licences of drivers who were affected by the DriveTest service disruption.
If you are stopped by police you may provide a copy of the letter from the Ontario Registrar of Motor vehicles which explains the licence extension and provides numbers for them to call should they have questions.
For a downloadable copy of the letter, please visit: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/driver-exam-web-nov-03-2009.pdf
If you wish to obtain a copy of the interim regulation, please visit: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/elaws_src_regs_r09318_e.htm.
12. What should I do if I get a ticket from the police for driving with an expired driver’s licence?
If you have reason to believe that you have been wrongly given a ticket for driving with an expired driver’s licence you should contact your local or municipal prosecutor as soon as possible and discuss the circumstances of your ticket. The court services phone number is available on the back of your ticket.
If you require further information on the status of your licence at the time you were ticketed, please contact ServiceOntario at 416-235-2999.
If you wish to obtain a copy of the interim regulation, please visit: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/elaws_src_regs_r09318_e.htm.
13. What if I am travelling outside Ontario and my driver’s licence has expired?
If you are driver who requires driver examination services (i.e., a written examination, vision test or road test) as part of your driver’s licence renewal and you will be travelling outside of Ontario, your licence will remain valid while the temporary regulation is in place. You will have until July 1, 2010 to complete your test requirements and can attempt your road test more than once while the regulation is in place.
The ministry has notified Canadian and US jurisdictions about the labour disruption and the regulation to extend Ontario driver licences. Travellers may download an official letter from the ministry website regarding the extension and the validity of their licence at: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/statement.shtml.
For specific inquiries regarding the validity of your driver’s licence, please call ServiceOntario at (416) 235-2999 or at 1-800-387-3445 (within Canada).
14. My cyclical medical was due during the strike. Will my licence be downgraded or suspended for not filing the medical report?
During the strike commercial drivers were required to submit their cyclical medical reports directly to MTO’s Driver Improvement Office.
Those commercial drivers who failed to file their medical report have had their driver’s licence downgraded.
Medical reports can be sent to the Driver Improvement Office:
15. My out-of-country driver’s licence expired during the strike, can I exchange it for an Ontario driver’s licence?
Drivers whose out-of-country licences expired during the labour disruption may be processed based on their licence status as of August 22, 2009.
If your licence was valid and met the requirements to complete a licence exchange on August 22, 2009, your licence exchange may be processed.
If your licence was not valid and/or did not meet the requirements to complete a licence exchange on August 22, 2009, your licence cannot be exchanged. You will be required to apply as a new Ontario driver.
16. Can I legally drive with my expired out-of-province driver’s licence?
No. The interim regulation extending driver’s licences only applies to Ontario driver licence holders. If your out-of-province driver’s licence is expired you may not legally drive in Ontario until you either renew your driver’s licence from your originating jurisdiction or exchange it for an Ontario driver’s licence.
17. How can I find out more information about driver examination services?
For more information, please visit www.drivetest.ca or call 1-888-570-6110 or 416-325-8580.
18. Now that the strike at SERCO is over, where do I submit my medical report?
You may submit your cyclical medical report to: