To get your G2 faster, you need to complete an Ontario approved driving school program. After completing the course, the driving school will certify you and update your student driving record online. Once that is updated and confirmed by the Ministry of Transportation, you'll be able to take your G2 test after 8 months of having your G1 license (instead of 12).
Driving in Ontario
To be able to drive a car in the province, you must have a driver's license, and there are several steps you have to take to get one. We created a comprehensive guide to help you through the process of obtaining or exchanging your driver's license, as well as helpful tips to make the process faster, cheaper, and more convenient.
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Learning to Drive in Ontario, Canada
If you want to learn how to drive in Ontario, there are two things you can do that will help.
First, buy the Official MTO Driver's Handbook. It teaches all of the fundamental laws and rules for driving in Ontario, gives tips for safe driving practices, and outlines the process of getting your driver's license. If you are going to take the G1 written exam, the section on driving laws and street signs will teach you everything you need to know.
Second, you can take driving lessons from a company that the Government of Ontario has approved. You can find Driving Schools anywhere in the province, from the big cities like Toronto to the small towns like Goderich. Certified lessons will have two portions: the classroom portion, which covers the basic laws and knowledge you need, and the practical driving lesson portion, where an instructor helps teach you safe driving practices and techniques.
How To Get a Driver's License in Ontario
To get an Ontario Driver's License, there are three exams in the Graduated Licensing program that you need to pass. Each exam you pass allows you to drive in the province with fewer restrictions.
First, you need to pass a written test on standard Ontario driving laws to obtain your G1 Driver's License. The G1 is a learner's permit, as once you have it, you can take lessons and operate a vehicle with some restrictions. You are allowed to take the written test the day you turn 16 years old.
After 8 to 12 months of getting your G1, you can take a practical driving exam to obtain a G2 Driver's License.
How do you get your G2 in 8 months? Simply complete an Ontario-approved driving lessons program, and you can take the G2 exam after 8 months with a G1 license. Otherwise, you will have to wait the full 12 months.
After you successfully obtain your G2, you can take another practical driving exam to get your full G Driver's License. This is the final level in Ontario's Graduated Licensing program. After you successfully pass the exam, there are no further restrictions on your ability to drive in the province.
What is the G2 to G wait time? You can take the G test after 12 months with a G2 license.
Useful Tip !
Completing a driving lessons program will lower your insurance rates. It helps show the insurance company that you have professional training and can drive safely.
Driver's License Cost
For every level of Ontario's Graduated Licensing program, you will be required to pay a fee. The total cost of an Ontario driving license depends on your license level and how many exam attempts you make. Here is a breakdown of the various costs you might incur as you go through getting your license:
| License Level | Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| G1 | G1 License Package - includes the written test, a G2 driving exam, and a five-year license | $159.75 |
| One G1 written test attempt (after the first) | $16.00 | |
| Official MTO Driver’s Handbook - use to study for G1 written test | $18.00 | |
| G2 | One G2 driving exam attempt | $53.75 |
| G | One G driving exam attempt | $91.25 |
| All | Five-year license/License renewal fee | $90.00 |
What is the price of an Ontario G1 test? You can obtain your G1 after doing a written knowledge exam. The written exam is packaged with a five-year license and the G2 driving exam, which has a total cost of $159.75. That said, the G1 exam fee costs only $16 after the first attempt.
If you want to know more about the different Driver's License tests, you can read our guide on them here.
Did You Know ?
Ontario drivers can get an enhanced driver's license that can be used instead of a passport to show legal identity and citizenship at a Canada-USA border crossing (except by flights). To obtain one you must complete a separate process at a ServiceOntario location.
Driver's License Restrictions
There are several restrictions under Ontario Law that you have to abide by, depending on your age and current driver's license level. These restrictions cover the legally allowed blood alcohol level, the orientation and seatbelt usage of passengers, times of the day when you can drive, and what types of roads you can drive on.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
| License Level | Age | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| G1 | All | Cannot be operating a vehicle with any alcohol in your blood |
| All | Every passenger must be wearing a functional seat belt | |
| All | Cannot drive on any 400-series highways or expressways (e.g., 401, 403, QEW, Gardiner Expressway) unless you are driving with a certified driver's instructor | |
| All | Must be driving with a passenger in the other front seat who has at least 4 years of driving experience and has a blood alcohol level below 0.5 (if the passenger is 21 years old or younger their blood alcohol level must be zero) | |
| G2 | 19 and under | For the first six months: between midnight and 5:00 am, if you do not have a fully licensed driver in the car you are only allowed to have one passenger who is 19 years old or under. After that, you are allowed up to three. These restrictions do not apply to immediate family members. |
| All | Cannot be operating a vehicle with any alcohol in your blood | |
| All | Every passenger must be wearing a functional seat belt | |
| G | All | No restrictions |
Did You Know ?
There are over 1,200 Government-approved driving schools in cities and towns throughout Ontario. With so many choices, you can pick a driving school that best suits your location, schedule, and budget.
Driver's License Exchange
If you are immigrating to Ontario from another country, you might be eligible to exchange your driver's license for a full G-level Ontario driver's license. Here is a list of countries that are eligible for such an exchange:
- USA
- Australia
- Austria
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- France
- United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, North Ireland, Isle of Man
- Ireland
- Japan
- Korea
- New Zealand
- Taiwan
Proper documentation is necessary for any exchange. Suppose you are coming from a country that is not eligible for a license exchange. In that case, you can still use your license and years of driving experience to get credit towards reducing the requirements for your driver's license testing. How much it is reduced depends on the amount of experience you have accumulated.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can only get your G2 license faster than 8 months if you have a foreign driver's license. Those with a valid foreign driver's license can use their driving experience to skip or expedite parts of the Ontario Graduated Licensing Program. For more information, read our guide on Foreign Driver's License Exchange in Ontario, Canada.
The total cost to get your license in Ontario is $251. This includes the following: a Class G1 license package (including G1 exam fees, G2 road test fees, and a 5-year license), and the Class G road test fee. This cost can go up if you need to retake any exams. You will also need to renew your license every 5 years for $90.
You can get your G license 12 months after you pass your G2 test.
Summary
Getting or exchanging a driver's license can be a lengthy process. Thankfully the Ontario government has refined the system so that each step is clear and there are lots of resources available to help. Whether you're a new driver preparing for your G1 written test, an adult finishing up your full G driving exam, or a new Canadian immigrating to Canada and trying to exchange your driver's license from your home country, we hope that this guide was one more helpful resource for you. Good luck!
