Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An Ontario beginner driver education (BDE) course cuts your G1 time from 12 months to 8, so you can take the G2 road test four months sooner. It must be a government-approved course of at least 40 hours, and it may earn you an insurance discount, though that is not guaranteed. Here is what the course includes, how to check a school, and how to decide if it is worth it for you.
Key facts
- Time saved: four months off Level One (G1 goes from 12 to 8 months).
- Minimum 40 hours: 20 classroom, 10 in-vehicle, 10 flexible.
- In-vehicle training must be completed within one year of starting the classroom part.
- Only government-approved schools count. The ministry publishes approved and revoked lists.
- Schools set their own prices. The ministry cannot refund driving school fees.
What an approved BDE course must include
| Part | Minimum | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom (digital or in person) | 20 hours | Up to 40 students in person or 20 online. You get the course textbook and the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook. |
| In-vehicle | 10 hours | Licensed instructor; no more than two students per instructor; starts after classroom instruction; finished within one year of starting the classroom part. |
| Flexible | 10 hours | Classroom, digital, in-vehicle, simulator or home-link (homework) instruction. |
Limits on pace: no more than 2 hours of in-vehicle training per day, and after 5 hours of classroom in a day, no more than 1 hour in the car that day.
The handbook says driver training covers strategic driving, risk perception, avoiding distraction, freeway driving, night driving and bad conditions.
How the 8-month shortcut works
- Get your G1 and enrol with an approved school as early as you can.
- Finish the course. The school certifies you online, and your driver record is updated through the ministry.
- Once you have held your G1 for 8 months, you can take the G2 road test.
To prove you completed BDE, you can order your driver’s licence history (a $12 fee applies).
Timing matters: under the licensing regulation, a BDE certificate counts toward the 8-month shortcut for two years from the date it is issued.
The shortcut can be lost. If a third escalating sanction cancels your novice licence, you lose any time discount you earned. See Ontario demerit points and escalating sanctions.
Is BDE worth it? Weigh it up
| Points for | Points against |
|---|---|
| G2 test four months sooner (full G possible in 20 months instead of 24) | Course fees, set by each school |
| Supervised practice from a licensed instructor, who can take a G1 on any road, including 400-series highways | Insurance savings are possible but not guaranteed |
| Possible insurance discount; ask your insurer | Only 10 hours are guaranteed in the car; you still need plenty of practice with your accompanying driver |
| Structured teaching of hazard perception, night and freeway driving | The saving only matters if you are ready for the road test at 8 months |
Quick decision check
- Need your G2 quickly for work or school? BDE is the only way to cut G1 time.
- No experienced accompanying driver at home? Instructor hours give you safe practice, including highway driving you cannot do with a family member on a G1.
- Mainly after cheaper insurance? Get quotes with and without BDE first, because Ontario says a discount is up to your insurer.
How to choose an approved driving school
- Check the school is on the ministry’s list of government-approved driving schools, and not on its revoked list. Not every driving school offers approved courses.
- Confirm the course meets the 20 + 10 + 10 hour minimum.
- Ask for written costs of every part, including use of the car for the road test and any retest.
- Ask about instructor experience, student-to-teacher ratio and progress reports.
- Ask friends or family for recommendations.
Warning signs from the handbook: any school or service that promises a licence without testing, guarantees a road test pass, or charges more than the posted licence fees. The ministry and DriveTest do not charge to book road tests.
Problems with a school
- Complaints about a school or instructor go to the ministry by email at [email protected], with your details, the school and instructor names, what happened, and when and where.
- Fee disputes can go to Consumer Protection Ontario.
- The ministry audits approved schools and can revoke their licences.
Common questions
How much does BDE cost in Ontario?
There is no set price. Government-approved schools set their own rates, which vary across Ontario.
Can I do the BDE classroom part online?
Yes. The 20 classroom hours can be digital or in person. The in-vehicle hours cannot.
Does BDE reduce G2 time too?
No. It only shortens Level One. G2 still lasts at least 12 months.
Can I take BDE if I am new to Ontario?
Yes. With 6 months of credited foreign experience, Ontario says the 12-month G1 wait can be reduced to 8 months with an approved BDE course. See New to Ontario.
Can I use the school’s car for my road test?
Ask the school. The handbook lists use of the vehicle for the road test as something to check in the school contract.
What if my school closes or is revoked?
Revoked schools no longer provide approved courses. Check the ministry’s lists before you pay.
Back to learning to drive in Ontario. Related: G1 rules.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 340/94 (Drivers’ Licences), s. 28 (e-Laws, ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Government-approved driving schools” (ontario.ca)
- 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)
- Government of Ontario, “Understanding demerit points” (ontario.ca)