Short answer: Ontario uses a graduated licensing system with three steps. You start with a G1 learner’s licence after passing a vision test and a written knowledge test, move to a G2 after a first road test, then earn a full G licence after a second road test that includes highway driving. Each stage normally lasts at least 12 months, and the G1 wait can be shortened to 8 months with an approved driver education course. The whole process must be completed within five years.

Whether you just turned 16 in Scarborough or you recently moved to the GTA, this guide explains each level, its restrictions and how to prepare. Fees, booking rules and test details can change, so always confirm the latest information with the Ontario government and DriveTest before you book.

Step 1: the G1 learner’s licence

You must be at least 16 years old. At a DriveTest centre you pass a vision test and a multiple-choice knowledge test on the rules of the road and traffic signs. The official Driver’s Handbook published by the province is the best study guide, as the questions are based on it.

G1 restrictions

• You must drive with an accompanying driver who holds a full G licence, has at least four years of driving experience and is within the legal blood alcohol limit.
• Your own blood alcohol level must be zero, and you must not have any drugs in your system.
• Only the accompanying driver can sit in the front passenger seat.
• No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
• No driving on 400-series highways or on high-speed expressways such as the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley Parkway and the QEW, unless your accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor.

Step 2: the G2 licence

After holding your G1 for 12 months, or 8 months if you completed a ministry-approved beginner driver education course, you can take the G2 road test. It checks basic driving skills in normal traffic: lane changes, turns at intersections, parking, stopping and observation.

G2 rules

• You can drive alone, at any time, on any road.
• Your blood alcohol level must still be zero.
• Every passenger must have a working seatbelt.
• If you are 19 or under, passenger limits apply between midnight and 5 a.m.: during the first six months, only one passenger aged 19 or under; after six months, up to three. These limits do not apply if a fully licensed driver sits beside you or the passengers are immediate family.

Step 3: the full G licence

After at least 12 months with a G2, you can take the G road test. It is longer and includes highway driving, so you need confidence merging, changing lanes and exiting at speed. Practise on the 401, 404 or 427 in different traffic conditions before test day. Once you pass, the graduated restrictions end, although drivers 21 and under must keep a zero blood alcohol level.

Summary table

Level	How to get it	Minimum time before next step	Key rules
G1	Vision + knowledge test, age 16+	12 months (8 with approved course)	Accompanied, no highways, no driving midnight to 5 a.m.
G2	G2 road test	12 months	Zero alcohol, night passenger limits if 19 or under
G	G road test with highway driving	None	Zero alcohol if 21 or under

Booking a road test in the GTA

Road tests are booked online through DriveTest. Popular Toronto centres can be busy, so many candidates look at centres elsewhere in the GTA or beyond for earlier dates. You must bring your current licence, arrive early and use a vehicle in good working condition with valid insurance and registration. If you are new to the city and rely on transit while learning, our guides to riding the TTC and GO Transit will help you reach test centres outside downtown.

Newcomers with a foreign licence

If you move to Ontario with a licence from another province, a U.S. state or certain countries with exchange agreements, you may be able to exchange it or receive credit for your driving experience instead of starting at G1. Requirements depend on where your licence was issued and how much experience you can prove, so check before your visitor period ends. Our newcomer checklist for moving to Toronto lists this alongside other first-month tasks.

Tips to pass the first time

• Exaggerate your shoulder checks so the examiner sees them.
• Come to a full stop behind the line at every stop sign.
• Keep to the speed limit, and adjust for school and construction zones.
• Practise parallel parking and three-point turns on quiet residential streets.
• Take lessons with a licensed instructor before the G test if highway driving makes you nervous.

FAQ

Can I drive on the 401 with a G1?

Only if your accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor. Otherwise 400-series highways and high-speed expressways are off-limits.

What happens if my G2 expires?

You have five years to complete the graduated system. If time runs out, you may have to start again from G1, so plan your G test ahead.

Is a driving school required?

No, but an approved course can shorten the G1 waiting period to 8 months and may help lower insurance premiums with some insurers.

Can I drive alone with a G2?

Yes. G2 drivers can drive alone at any time and on any road, as long as they respect the zero-alcohol rule and the passenger limits that apply to young drivers at night.