This chapter explains what license you have to drive in Ontario and how to obtain one, whether you are a first-time driver, a visitor, or a current resident.

This chapter covers the graded licensing system, how to register for a license, the exams you must pass, and the driving rights you will receive at each license level if you are looking for your first license.

Ontario’s Driving Requirements

To travel in Ontario, residents need to be at least 16 years old and possess a valid Ontario driver’s license.

Visitors who wish to drive in Ontario should be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license from their home province, state, or nation. You must have an International Driver’s Permit from your home country if you are visiting Ontario for further than three months.

New citizens to Ontario who have a valid driver’s license from some other province, state, or nation may utilize it for 60 days after they arrive.

If you move to Ontario permanently, you must obtain an Ontario driver’s license from the best driving school in Ontario.

Graduated licensing

New drivers in Ontario enter the graded licensing system when they apply for their first automobile or motorbike license. Novice drivers can gradually acquire driving skills and experience through graduated licensing. It takes a minimum of 20 months to finish the two-step licensing process.

To apply for a license, you should be at least 16 years old, complete a vision exam, and demonstrate awareness of traffic laws and signage. After passing these examinations, you will be admitted to Level One and issued a Class G1 license.

To obtain a full license, you need to pass two road exams. Clearing the first road test advances you to Level Two (Class G2) while passing the second grants you regular Class G driving rights.

Applying for a License

To apply for a license, you must provide documentation of your legal name and birth date (showing day, month, and year of birth). Original and valid documents are required. Photocopies and papers that have expired are not accepted.

Bring the necessary paperwork to a DriveTest Centre or Travel Station (a temporary Test Centre where there is no regional center). Call ahead to determine the location and hours of operation of the nearest Travel Point.

When you apply, you must pay a charge. This charge covers the knowledge exam, your initial road test, and a five-year license. There are additional fees for your next road test as well as any retests you may be required to take. To make a road-test session, you must pay the price in advance.

When you register for your license, you will be addressed with health-related questions. For safety reasons, people with these physical or medical problems are not permitted to drive. When you apply, you will be informed if your health or medical condition prevents you from becoming licensed.

Once you’ve obtained your license, you must report any changes in your health condition that may jeopardize your ability to safely drive. Doctors and optometrists are required by law to disclose the address and name of anybody over the age of 16 who has a disability that may make driving risky.