Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This guide is for Ontario learners booking a G2 or G road test with DriveTest. It covers how to book, the 48-hour cancellation rule, what happens if your test is declared out-of-order, and what to do after a fail, including what happens if your G1 or G2 is about to expire.
Key facts
- Book online, by phone (647-776-0331 or 1-888-570-6110) or in person at any DriveTest centre. You prepay the fee to book.
- Cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment or you lose the prepaid road-test fee.
- Out-of-order test: you lose 50% of the fee and must pay it back before you can rebook.
- Fail: wait at least 10 days before the next test.
- You have five years to get from G1 to a full G, or you start over.
How to book a DriveTest road test in Ontario
You need:
- your Ontario driver’s licence number and its expiry date
- a preferred test location, plus a second and third choice
- a preferred date and time
- payment for the road-test fee, which must be prepaid
The handbook says the Ministry of Transportation and DriveTest do not charge any fee just to book a road test. Be wary of anyone offering to book a test for a charge.
When can you book?
| Test | Earliest you can take it |
|---|---|
| G2 road test (G1 exit) | 12 months after getting your G1, or 8 months with a government-approved driver education course |
| G road test (G2 exit) | 12 months after getting your G2 |
For the G test you also need highway experience on roads of 80 km/h or more and must complete a Declaration of Highway Driving Experience form. See the Ontario G road test guide.
Fees
Your first G1 payment covers the knowledge test, your first road test and a five-year licensing fee. Later road tests and retests are paid separately. Check the current fees on DriveTest before booking.
Cancelling or rescheduling: the 48-hour rule
Ontario.ca says you must cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment to avoid a cancellation fee. The handbook is more specific: if you cancel or reschedule with less than 48 hours’ notice, or do not show up, your prepaid road-test fee is not refunded.
The fee stays as a credit on your driving record only in certain extenuating circumstances, such as a death in your immediate family.
DriveTest’s help pages add a few practical points (check them before relying on them):
- You can change or cancel online with your licence number and expiry date.
- Arriving late counts the same as missing the test.
- If bad weather stops you attending, ask to reschedule within 3 days of the missed appointment.
- If DriveTest announces a service disruption, do not cancel online. DriveTest cancels affected tests itself so you keep your fee.
- After several cancellations or reschedules in six months, you have to call instead of using the website.
- Once your licence has expired, you cannot change a booking online.
What is an out-of-order road test?
The examiner declares a test out-of-order when your vehicle does not meet ministry standards, or when some other reason stops the test going ahead. The vehicle must be fit, in proper working condition, plated and insured, and a G1 driver must bring an accompanying driver to the centre.
- You lose 50% of the road-test fee.
- The other 50% stays as a credit on your driving record.
- You must pay the missing 50% before you can book again.
Recording devices: switch off any dash cam, action camera or phone recording before you arrive. A recording device left on is grounds for an out-of-order test. If a built-in camera cannot be turned off, you must tell the examiner it is not recording the inside of the car or pointing at them; if you cannot confirm that, the test is declared out-of-order.
If you think your car might fail the vehicle check, contact the DriveTest centre before your test day. The common vehicle faults are listed in the G2 road test guide.
What happens if you fail a road test in Ontario?
- The examiner gives you a report of your skills and mistakes. Use it to plan practice.
- Wait at least 10 days. That is the minimum gap between road tests.
- Rebook and pay the road-test fee again.
- If you are a G1 driver, your accompanying driver has to drive you home.
Check with DriveTest for any limit on the number of attempts. Your licence expiry dates still apply.
What if your G1 or G2 expires?
| Situation | What Ontario says |
|---|---|
| Failed the G2 test, G1 still valid | Book the road test again. |
| G1 has expired | Start over and pay the test fees again. |
| G2 about to expire | Pass the G1 road test (the G2 test) again to get five more years as a G2. |
| Five years since starting, no full G | Start the whole process again. |
Book early if your expiry date is close. A failed test plus the 10-day wait can push you past it.
Common questions
Can I get a refund if I cancel a day before my test?
No. Cancelling with less than 48 hours’ notice means the prepaid fee is not refunded, except in extenuating circumstances such as a death in your immediate family.
How soon can I retake my G2 test after failing?
After at least 10 days.
Does an out-of-order test count as a fail?
No, but it costs you half the fee, and you must pay that half back before rebooking.
Can someone else book my road test for me?
Anyone with your licence number and expiry date can book. Neither the ministry nor DriveTest charges a booking fee, so do not pay a third party for booking.
Can I take my G road test at a different centre from my G2?
Yes. You choose the location when you book, with second and third choices.
My G1 expired after I failed. Do I keep my knowledge test pass?
No. Ontario says you start over and pay the test fees again.
More Ontario guides: learning to drive in Ontario, the G2 road test, the G road test and the BDE course.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting your driver’s licence” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Get a G driver’s licence: new drivers” (ontario.ca)
- DriveTest, “Payments, Cancellations, & Refunds” and “Cancelling a Road Test Appointment” (drivetest.ca)
- DriveTest, “Road Test Vehicle Requirements” (drivetest.ca)