Ontario graduated licensing stages

By the end of this topic you can

• You can name the three car licence levels in Ontario and the order you move through them.
• You can state the minimum time at G1 and G2, and how driver education changes it.
• You can list the main conditions that apply to G1 and G2 drivers.
• You can explain what happens if you do not finish the process within five years.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 16 years old and pass a vision test and a knowledge test to get a G1 licence.
• G1 lasts 12 months, or 8 months if you pass a ministry-approved beginner driver education course.
• G2 lasts at least 12 months before you can take the G road test.
• The whole process takes at least 20 months and includes two road tests.
• G1 and G2 drivers must have a blood alcohol level of zero, and so must every driver aged 21 and under.
• You have five years to complete graduated licensing; otherwise you must requalify or start again.

The path from beginner to fully licensed

Each step unlocks more freedom, but only after you have spent the minimum time at the level before it and passed a road test.

1. Pass a vision test and the knowledge test to receive a G1 licence.
2. Practise for 12 months at G1 (8 months with an approved course).
3. Pass the G2 road test, which checks basic driving skills, to receive a G2 licence.
4. Drive for at least 12 months at G2.
5. Pass the G road test, which includes expressway driving, to receive a full G licence.

What G1 drivers may and may not do

A G1 driver is still a learner and can only drive with a qualified accompanying driver in the front passenger seat. That person must hold a full G licence (or higher), have at least four years of driving experience and have a blood alcohol level under 0.05 per cent. If they are 21 or under, theirs must be zero.

• No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
• No 400-series highways with a posted limit over 80 km/h, and no listed high-speed expressways such as the QEW, Gardiner Expressway or Don Valley Parkway, unless the accompanying driver is a driving instructor.
• Only the accompanying driver may sit in the front with you.
• Every passenger needs a working seatbelt.

G2: driving alone with some limits

At G2 you can drive alone, on any road, at most hours. You still need zero alcohol and a working seatbelt for each passenger. Drivers aged 19 and under also face passenger limits between midnight and 5 a.m. Our separate guide on Ontario G2 rules for under-19s covers these in detail.

Running out of time

Novice licences (G1 and G2) give you five years to finish. If your G2 is about to expire before you pass the G road test, you can requalify by passing the G2 road test again, which gives you another five years at G2. If your G1 expires before you pass the G2 road test, you must start again and pay the fees again.

Common mistakes

• Assuming you can book the G2 road test before your G1 time is up. Count from the date your G1 was issued, and check whether your course is ministry-approved before relying on the 8-month option.
• Thinking one drink is fine at G2. Novice drivers must have zero alcohol, and so must anyone aged 21 or under, even with a full G.
• Letting a friend with a new licence supervise you. The accompanying driver needs at least four years of experience.
• Forgetting the five-year clock. Plan your road tests early so your licence does not expire mid-process.

Test yourself: Ontario graduated licensing stages

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• How to Get a G Licence in Ontario
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