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Ontario licence guide

How to get your driver's licence in Ontario

Ontario's graduated licensing takes every new driver through three stages — G1, G2, then full G — with two road tests along the way. Here's the whole journey explained: requirements, restrictions, timelines, and the legal shortcuts most people don't know about.

G1 G2 Full G
Start with the BDE course Courses & pricing
The journey

Three stages, two road tests, one licence

The minimum path takes about 20 months. You have five years from your G1 to finish everything — run out, and you start over.

G1 — the learner's licence

Hold 12 mo · 8 with BDE

At 16 or older, pass a vision test and the written knowledge test on road rules and signs at a DriveTest centre. Now the practice phase begins.

You can
  • Drive with a fully licensed driver (4+ years of experience) beside you
  • Drive any road with a certified driving instructor — highways included
  • Start your BDE course right away
You can't
  • Drive alone, ever
  • Drive 400-series highways or expressways like the 401, QEW or Gardiner (unless with an instructor)
  • Drive between midnight and 5 a.m., or with any alcohol in your system

This is where our MTO-approved BDE course does its work — structured hours, certified instructors, and the 8-month fast track.

G2 — driving on your own

Hold 12 mo before G test

Pass the G1 exit road test — city streets, turns, parking, intersections — and the supervision requirement disappears.

You can
  • Drive alone, anywhere in Ontario, highways included
  • Drive at any hour of the day or night
  • Build the year of experience the full G requires
You can't
  • Drive with any alcohol in your system — zero tolerance
  • If you're 19 or under: carry more than one passenger aged 19-or-under between midnight and 5 a.m. for your first six months (up to three after that)

Rusty by test time? A few targeted in-car lessons before your G test beats relearning bad habits on test day.

Full G — the complete licence

Yours for good

The G2 exit test steps up to highway driving — merging, maintaining speed and space, lane discipline at 100 km/h. Pass it and the graduated restrictions fall away.

You can
  • Drive with full, unrestricted Class G privileges
  • Accompany a G1 driver once you have 4+ years of experience
Still applies
  • Zero alcohol until you turn 22 — Ontario's rule for all drivers 21 and under

Coming from a G2 or a foreign licence? Our full G preparation is built exactly for this test.

On the road

Practice built around test day

Every G2 and G road test follows patterns — the routes, the moves examiners score, the mistakes that fail people. We build lessons backwards from exactly that.

  • Lessons on real local test-day routes
  • Mock road tests scored the way examiners score
  • Free pickup & drop-off — home, school or work
See courses & pricing
Know your tests

The three tests, decoded

Each stage ends with a test — and each test fails people for predictable, preventable reasons.

Written · G1

The knowledge test

Two sections — road rules and road signs — done at a DriveTest centre after a vision check. Everything comes from the Official MTO Driver's Handbook.

Where people slipMemorizing answers instead of understanding rules — practice tests plus the handbook beats cramming.
Road test · G2

The G1 exit test

City driving fundamentals: turns, intersections, lane changes, parallel parking, three-point turns and steady observation habits.

Where people slipRolling stops and missed shoulder checks — the small habits examiners watch hardest. We drill them until they're automatic.
Road test · Full G

The G2 exit test

Everything from the G2 test plus highway driving: merging on and off, maintaining speed and space at 100 km/h, and lane discipline in fast traffic.

Where people slipHesitant merges and following too close — highway confidence is exactly what focused full G lessons build.
Fully legal shortcuts

Two ways to shorten the journey

The five-year clock is generous, but nobody wants to use all of it.

Take the BDE course — cut four months

An MTO-approved BDE course drops your G1 waiting period from 12 months to 8, adds insurance discount eligibility, and puts certification on your DriveTest record.

Explore the BDE course →

Driving experience from abroad? Claim it

Ontario exchanges licences with some countries outright, and can credit foreign driving experience so you enter at G2 — or go straight to the full G test. The rules depend on your country and history.

Ask us about your path →
Guide FAQ

The fine print, answered

The details of graduated licensing that trip people up.

How old do I have to be to start?
Sixteen. That's the minimum age to take the G1 knowledge test in Ontario — there's no upper limit, and we teach plenty of adults starting later in life.
Can I ever drive alone with a G1?
No — never. A G1 requires a fully licensed driver with at least four years of experience in the front passenger seat every time. Driving alone on a G1 risks charges, suspension and being set back in the licensing process.
Can I drive on the 401 with my G1?
Only with a certified driving instructor beside you — that's the one exception. Otherwise, 400-series highways and high-speed expressways like the 401, QEW and Gardiner are off-limits until your G2.
What happens if my licence expires mid-process?
If your G1 expires, you start over — new tests, new fees. If your G2 is about to expire, there's a lesser-known fix: retake the G1 road test and you get five more years as a G2 to finish. Better plan: don't cut it close.
Do I need my own car for the road test?
You must bring a vehicle in proper working order — most students use a family car. It needs valid plates and insurance, and the examiner will check basics like signals and brake lights before you leave the lot.
How long does the whole process take?
A minimum of about 20 months with BDE (8 months at G1, then 12 months at G2), and a maximum of five years before the clock resets. Most City Star students who start BDE right after their G1 are fully licensed in about two years.

Wherever you are in the journey, start here

Pick your stage — we'll handle the rest, with free pickup across Toronto, Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

G1 Just got my G1 Take the MTO-approved BDE course — reach your G2 road test in 8 months instead of 12. G2 → G Holding a G2 Highway-focused full G preparation so merging at 100 km/h feels routine on test day. New to Ontario Licensed abroad Exchange or credit your experience — one call and we'll map your fastest legal path.

Or just call 416 996 9395 — open 7 days, 9 AM–9 PM · Register today