Can I drive a 15-passenger van with a G licence?

Ontario lists a 15-passenger van used as a bus under Class F. A bus is a vehicle designed for 10 or more passengers and used to transport people, so you need at least a Class F licence to drive one as a bus.

Which bus licence lets me drive the most vehicles?

Class B. It covers school buses of any size and also lets you drive Class C, D, E, F and G vehicles.

How often do bus drivers need a new medical report?

Every five years if you are under 46, every three years from 46 to 64, and every year at 65 and older. If you do not file it, your licence class is downgraded.

Do I need a Z endorsement for a bus licence?

Only if the bus has air brakes. You need a Z endorsement to drive any vehicle with air brakes.

What happens if a Class B or E driver gets too many demerit points?

Class B and E holders may have no more than 8 demerit points. Above that, the licence is automatically downgraded, usually to Class C or F, until the points come down.

Ontario Bus Licences: Class B, C, E and F Explained

Ontario has four bus licence classes. This guide explains what each one lets you drive, who can apply, and what the knowledge and road tests include.

The four bus licence classes at a glance

Ontario has four bus licence classes. The one you need depends on two things: how many passengers the bus can carry, and whether it is a school bus. In Ontario, a bus is a motor vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers and used to transport people.

Class B – any school bus (school-purposes bus) with seats for more than 24 passengers. You can also drive Class C, D, E, F and G vehicles.
Class C – any regular bus (not a school bus carrying passengers) with seats for more than 24 passengers, such as a city or coach bus. You can also drive Class D, F and G vehicles.
Class E – a school bus with seats for up to 24 passengers. You can also drive Class F and G vehicles.
Class F – a regular bus with seats for 10 to 24 passengers, including a 15-passenger van, and an ambulance. You can also drive Class G vehicles.

None of these classes lets you ride a motorcycle. If the bus has air brakes, you also need a Z (air brake) endorsement. Practise for it with our air brake Z practice test.

Minimum age

Class B and E (school bus): at least 21 years old.
Class C and F (regular bus and ambulance): at least 18 years old.

Requirements for all bus classes

A valid full Class G (or higher) Ontario licence, or an equivalent licence from another Canadian province or territory. You cannot apply with a G1, G2, M, M1 or M2 licence. Novice drivers cannot hold a bus licence.
A completed ministry medical report. A physician of your choice fills it in. You return it to the DriveTest Centre where you will test. Only applicants with a satisfactory medical report can take the knowledge test.
A vision test.
A knowledge test (see below).
A road test in a vehicle that meets the requirements for the class.
From May 11, 2026: documents showing that Ontario is your primary residence, that you are legally in Canada, and that you are eligible to work in Canada.

Extra requirements for school bus licences (Class B and E)

School bus drivers carry children, so the rules are stricter.

School Bus Driver Improvement Course: you must complete a government-approved course. The course certificate is valid for five years.
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters (CRJM) check: get it from your local police station or an authorized provider, then mail it with your driver's licence number to the MTO Driver Improvement Office.
Demerit points: you must have fewer than 6 demerit points on your record. (The Bus Handbook says "no more than 6", so if you have exactly 6, confirm with DriveTest before you apply.)
No recent serious suspensions: you are not eligible if your licence was suspended in the past 12 months for offences such as driving while suspended, speeding more than 50 km/h over the limit, careless driving, racing, leaving the scene of a collision, a Criminal Code driving offence, or fleeing police.
No disqualifying convictions: for example, two or more Criminal Code driving offences on different dates in the past five years, certain drug offences, or certain sexual or moral offences.

Keeping a Class B or E licence

Once licensed, Class B and E holders may have no more than 8 demerit points. If you go over, your licence is automatically downgraded to the next class you qualify for, usually Class C or F, until your points come down. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date.

What the knowledge test covers

The written test has two parts: traffic sign recognition and operating knowledge for the vehicle.

Class B and E: school bus operating knowledge, such as loading and unloading children, the stopping-for-school-buses law, evacuation and bus care.
Class C and F: operating knowledge of a bus or ambulance.

Bring two pieces of ID or your Ontario driver's licence, your completed medical report, the test fee, and your glasses or contacts if you need them. Study the Official MTO Bus Handbook, then try our free tests: Class B, Class C, Class E and Class F.

What the road test includes

The bus road test has three parts:

Daily inspection test. You show you can check if the bus is safe. You inspect six randomly chosen items from the inspection schedule, explain possible defects and say what you would do about them. You also do an in-cab check by pointing to or touching each listed item. You may make an error on only 1 item.
Backing skills test. You reverse into a space marked by cones: either an alley dock (90-degree backing) or an offset left or right. You must finish in less than 10 minutes and must not hit any cones.
On-road driving test. You drive in traffic: turns, intersections, lane changes, curves, an expressway section, roadside stop and start, and railway crossings. Class B and E applicants are also tested on loading and unloading passengers.

You may make up to 30 errors combined on the backing and on-road tests, with no moving violations.

What to bring to the road test

A suitable bus in good working order.
A valid, completed daily inspection report and the inspection schedule for your vehicle. Without these, the test is cancelled and you lose 50% of your pre-paid fee.
For air brake vehicles: wheel chocks or blocks, a way to time seconds, a way to hold the brake pedal down, and a device to measure pushrod stroke.
Glasses, if you need them to drive.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid a cancellation fee.

How to get your bus licence

Choose the class you need (B, C, E or F).
Get the medical report form from a DriveTest Centre and have a doctor complete it.
For Class B or E: complete the School Bus Driver Improvement Course and send in your CRJM check.
Go to a DriveTest Centre (or ServiceOntario College Park in Toronto) with your original ID and documents. Pay the fees and take the vision and knowledge tests.
Book and pass the road test.

Class B practice test →Class C practice test →Class E practice test →Class F practice test →Air Brake (Z) practice test →