Photo: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a G1 licence in Ontario you must pass a vision test. The standard is visual acuity no poorer than 20/50 with both eyes open (glasses or contact lenses allowed), and a field of view of at least 120 continuous degrees horizontally and 15 continuous degrees above and below fixation. If you fall short only on peripheral vision, you may be able to apply for a Class G vision waiver. Ontario is also the only province that accepts telescopic (bioptic) lenses for a Class G licence, a change made by regulation in October 2020.
This page explains the licensing rules only. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can tell you how your own vision measures up.
The Ontario vision standard (Class G, G1, G2)
| Measure | Standard |
|---|---|
| Visual acuity | Not poorer than 20/50 (Snellen), both eyes tested together, with or without glasses or contacts |
| Horizontal field | At least 120 continuous degrees |
| Vertical field | At least 15 continuous degrees above and below fixation |
| One eye | If you have vision in only one eye, that eye is tested |
These rules are in Ontario Regulation 340/94, section 18.
The Class G vision waiver
The waiver is for people who don’t meet the field part of the standard but may still drive safely. It is set out in section 21.2 of Regulation 340/94.
Who can apply
- No more than six demerit points
- No licence suspension in the past five years for certain Criminal Code or Highway Traffic Act matters
- No qualifying collision convictions
- No other condition that would significantly impair your driving
- You meet all other requirements for your licence class
Steps
- Send a satisfactory medical report and a vision assessment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- If approved to continue, complete a functional assessment at an approved centre that offers Class G vision waiver assessments. It includes standardised in-clinic and on-road tests.
- Check before booking: not every functional assessment centre offers vision waiver assessments. Centres are approved by the Ministry of Transportation but are independent of it.
Telescopic (bioptic) lenses in Ontario
- The change: Ontario Regulation 535/20, filed on October 1, 2020, amended the Drivers’ Licences regulation (340/94). The amendment allows the Class G acuity standard to be met with telescopic lenses.
- Why it matters: the national CCMTA standard used by other provinces says telescopic lens aids cannot be used to meet the vision standard. Ontario is the exception in Canada.
- The detail: the conditions, such as maximum telescope power, the acuity needed through the carrier lens, assessments or re-examinations, are set by the Ministry. Ask the Ministry of Transportation’s medical review section, and your low-vision specialist, what applies before you start.
Who must report vision problems
Physicians, nurse practitioners and optometrists must report patients who have, or appear to have, certain high-risk medical, vision or functional conditions. Optometrists report vision only. If the report confirms you don’t meet the standard, your licence is suspended until you show that you do. Full details are in does your doctor have to report you.
After a suspension for vision
- You receive a Notice of Suspension and a letter saying what information is needed.
- Once the information arrives, your file is reviewed in date order; complex cases may go to the Medical Advisory Committee, which includes ophthalmology.
- If you meet the standard, a reinstatement notice comes by mail.
- Medical suspensions can usually be appealed to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, but vision suspensions are excluded from that appeal right.
Common questions
Can I take the G1 vision test with my glasses?
Yes. Both eyes are tested together, with or without glasses or contact lenses, so wear the ones you use for distance.
I passed acuity but my field is narrow. Can I still get a G1?
Not through the standard route. Ask your eye specialist whether the Class G vision waiver could suit you.
Do other provinces accept my Ontario bioptic licence?
Check with the other province before you move. The national standard used elsewhere does not accept telescopic lenses.
Related guides
- Driving with a medical condition or disability in Canada (national overview)
- Canadian driving vision standard explained
- Vision test for your learner’s licence in every province
- Learning to drive in Ontario
- Ontario G1 knowledge test
Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Canada letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “Medical review for Ontario drivers” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 535/20: Drivers’ Licences, filed October 1, 2020 (ontario.ca)
- Ministry of Transportation, “Official MTO Driver’s Handbook”, Getting your driver’s licence (ontario.ca)
- Government of British Columbia, “Chapter 22: Vision”, CCMTA Medical Standards for Drivers (gov.bc.ca)