Photo: Raysonho, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Under Ontario’s G2 rules, every G2 driver must have zero alcohol and no more passengers than working seatbelts. If you are 19 or under, there is one more rule between midnight and 5 a.m.: one passenger aged 19 or under in your first six months, then up to three until you get your full G or turn 20. This guide explains the limits, the exemptions and the penalties.
What a G2 driver can do in Ontario
- Drive without an accompanying driver.
- Drive on all Ontario roads, including 400-series highways.
- Drive at any time of day (with the passenger limit below if you are 19 or under).
Rules for every G2 driver, any age
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Zero alcohol | Blood-alcohol level must be zero. |
| Zero drugs | Ontario’s zero tolerance law for G1, G2, M1 and M2 drivers covers drugs, including cannabis. |
| Seatbelts | Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt. |
G2 passenger rules for drivers 19 and under
These apply only between midnight and 5 a.m.
| Time on your G2 | Passengers aged 19 or under allowed |
|---|---|
| First 6 months | 1 |
| After 6 months, until you get your full G or turn 20 | Up to 3 |
Passengers aged 20 or over do not count toward the limit, but every passenger still needs a working seatbelt.
Exemptions
The passenger limit does not apply if:
- a fully licensed driver with at least four years’ experience and a blood-alcohol level under .05% is in the front passenger seat, with no one else in the front, or
- your passengers are immediate family: a guardian, or people related to you by blood, marriage, common-law relationship or adoption.
Worked examples
- You are 18, two months into your G2, driving at 12:30 a.m. with two friends aged 17 and 18. Not allowed: only one passenger aged 19 or under in the first six months.
- Same night, but your passengers are your brother (16) and your cousin (17). Allowed: both are family, so the exemption applies.
- You are 19, eight months into your G2, at 2 a.m. with three friends aged 18. Allowed: up to three after six months.
- You are 19, eight months in, at 2 a.m. with four friends aged 18 in a seven-seat car. Not allowed: four is over the limit of three.
- You are 22 on a G2, at 1 a.m. with four friends. Allowed if everyone has a working seatbelt: the passenger rule only applies to drivers 19 and under.
Zero alcohol: G2 and every driver 21 and under
Zero alcohol applies to every G2 driver, whatever their age. Separately, every driver aged 21 or under must have zero blood alcohol, even with a full G. For young and novice drivers who break it, Ontario.ca lists:
| Occurrence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First | 7-day immediate suspension, 8-hour education course, $250 penalty, $60 to $1,000 fine if convicted |
| Second | 14-day immediate suspension, 16-hour treatment program, $350 penalty, $60 to $1,000 fine if convicted |
| Third | 30-day immediate suspension, 16-hour treatment program, six-month ignition interlock condition, $450 penalty, $60 to $1,000 fine if convicted |
A conviction can add a further 30 or 90-day suspension or cancellation, depending on your age and licence class. A reinstatement fee is due each time. National context: impaired driving in Canada for new drivers.
What happens if you break a G2 condition?
A conviction for breaking any graduated licensing condition, including the passenger limit, brings escalating sanctions:
- first offence: 30-day suspension
- second: 90-day suspension
- third: your novice licence is cancelled, and you restart graduated licensing with all tests and fees
How this works alongside demerit points: Ontario demerit points for new drivers.
Common questions
Can a G2 driver have a beer before driving?
No. Every G2 driver must have a blood-alcohol level of zero.
Can I drive on the 401 with a G2?
Yes. G2 drivers can drive on all Ontario roads. Highway practice is what you need for the G road test.
Do the passenger limits apply during the day?
No. Between 5 a.m. and midnight the only limit is one passenger per working seatbelt.
When do the passenger rules stop?
When you get your full G licence or turn 20, whichever comes first.
Does my girlfriend or boyfriend count as family?
Only if you are married or in a common-law relationship. Otherwise they count toward the limit if 19 or under.
Is there a G2 curfew?
No. Unlike a G1, a G2 driver can drive between midnight and 5 a.m. Drivers 19 and under just have the passenger limit at those hours.
Compare these rules with other provinces in Canadian graduated licensing compared, or see the full route in learning to drive in Ontario.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “Get a G driver’s licence: new drivers” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting your driver’s licence” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Impaired driving” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Understanding demerit points” (ontario.ca)