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Earning your driver's licence in Ontario's graduated licensing system

How to get an Ontario driver's licence

First, you must be at least 16 years old.

Before you apply for a licence, read the Driver's Handbook if you want to drive automobiles. For a motorcycle licence, read the Motorcycle Driver's Handbook. Your local DriveTest Driver Examination Centre or select Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices has both handbooks for sale. Handbooks can also be obtained via the MTO Web site and at some local retailers.

When you apply for a Level 1 (Class G1) licence at a DriveTest Driver Examination Centre, your eyesight and your understanding of the rules of the road will be tested. Applicants also respond to medical questions. If medical requirements are not met, no further licensing business may be conducted. If you meet the medical requirements and pass both tests, you will get a novice or Level 1 (Class G1) driver's licence that is valid up to 5 years.

Level 1 (Class G1)

For Automobile Drivers

In Level 1 (Class G1) as a novice driver, you can begin learning to drive cars, vans or small trucks. In Level 1 (Class G1), six conditions help make your driving practice safer:

You must not drive alone. A licensed driver instructor or a fully licensed driver who has at least four years of driving experience must sit in the front passenger seat. Note: On an Ontario driver's licence, the photo of the licence holder with four or more years of driving experience has, under it, a red bar with four white dots. These are the only persons who can be in the front seat with you while you drive. This person's blood alcohol content must be less than .05 per cent, the legal suspension limit for fully licensed drivers.
You must ensure the accompanying driver is the only other person in the front seat.
You must not drink any alcohol if you are going to drive. Your blood alcohol content must be zero when you're driving.
You must not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
Each person in the vehicle must have a seat belt, so everyone is protected and your vehicle is not over-crowded.
You must not drive on 400-series highways with a posted speed limit over 80km/h. Also you must not drive on certain high-speed roads including the Queen Elizabeth Way, Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway in the Greater Toronto Area, the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor and the Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener-Waterloo. However, if your accompanying driver is a driving instructor, you may drive on any road.

Note: If your accompanying driver is a Driving Instructor in Ontario, you may drive on any road.

Level 1 (Class G1) lasts at least 12 months, but no more than 60 months. You can reduce that time to 8 months by completing a Ministry-approved driver education course (click here for more information about approved courses).

At the end of Level 1 (Class G1), you must pass a road test to move to Level 2 (Class G2).

Level 2 (Class G2)

For Automobile Drivers

In Level 2 (Class G2) as a novice driver, which lasts at least 12 months, you can drive at any time of day or night, without an accompanying driver. You may also drive on any Ontario road.

Two important conditions still apply in Level 2 (Class G2):

You must not drink any alcohol if you are going to drive. Your blood alcohol must still be zero when you're driving.
Each person must have a seat belt, so your vehicle is not over-crowded and every passenger is protected.

It will take at least 20 months from the time you start in Level 1 (Class G1) to the time you can take the Level 2 (Class G2) test to earn full driving privileges. The final test measures your overall driving ability.

Illustration of driver and passenger You must pass the Level 2 (Class G2) road test to become a fully licensed class G driver. Novice Driver Re-qualification: Your Level 1 (Class G1) or Level 2 (Class G2) novice licence will expire if you do not exit the Graduated Licensing Program within 5 years after you obtained your novice licence. To keep your driving privileges, you can take the appropriate road test to graduate to the next level of licence, example, take Level 1 (Class G1) road test to graduate to Level 2 (Class G2), or Level 2 (Class G2) road test to graduate to a full class licence. If not, your licence will expire and you will have to take the knowledge test to re-qualify for Level 1 (Class G1), or take Level 1 (Class G1) road test to re-qualify for Level 2 (Class G2).

Level 1 (Class M1)

For Motorcycle Drivers

In Level 1 (Class M1) as a novice driver, you can begin learning to drive motorcycles, with four conditions that help make your driving practice safer: Illustration of motorcyclist

You must not drink any alcohol if you are going to drive. Your blood alcohol content must be zero when you are driving.
You may only drive during daylight hours (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset).
You must drive only on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or less. You may drive on highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144 and 655.
You may not carry passengers.

Level 1 (Class M1) lasts at least 60 days, and the licence is valid for 90 days. Before moving to Level 2 (Class M2), you must pass a road test, either as part of a Ministry-approved motorcycle safety course or at a DriveTest Driver Examination Centre.

Level 2 (Class M2)

For Motorcycle Drivers

In Level 2 (Class M2), which lasts 22 months, (or 18 months if you complete a ministry-approved motorcycle safety course in either level), you have the experience and skills to carry a passenger and drive at any time of day or night, on any Ontario road. You must still not drink any alcohol if you will be driving.

It will take at least 20 months from the time you start in Level 1 (Class M1) to the time you can take the Level 2 (Class M2) test for full driving privileges. The final test measures your overall riding ability.

Frequently Asked Questions