Ontario Graduated Licensing Explained: G1, G2 and G
New drivers in Ontario earn a full licence in three steps: G1, G2 and G. Here is what each level allows, how long it takes, and what changed for newcomers in 2026.
How graduated licensing works
Ontario gives new drivers a licence in three levels: G1, G2 and full G. Each level has conditions. You move up by waiting a minimum time and passing a road test.
The process usually takes about 20 months. You have up to five years to finish it. If you do not get your full G licence in five years, you must start over.
Before you start: who can apply
- You are at least 16 years old.
- You live in Ontario. Visitors and tourists cannot apply.
- You pass a vision test.
- You pass a knowledge test on road rules and traffic signs.
The knowledge test is taken at a DriveTest centre. You can prepare with our free G1 practice test.
Level one: G1 (learner)
You must hold a G1 for at least 12 months, or 8 months if you finish a government-approved driver education course.
G1 conditions
- Your blood alcohol level must be zero.
- Every person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- No driving on 400-series highways with a speed limit over 80 km/h, or on high-speed expressways such as the QEW and Gardiner Expressway.
- A fully licensed driver must sit in the front passenger seat. This driver needs a class G licence (or higher), at least four years of driving experience, and a blood alcohol level under 0.05. If this driver is 21 or under, their level must be zero.
- The accompanying driver must be the only other person in the front seat.
If your accompanying driver is a driving instructor certified in Ontario, you may drive on any road.
The G2 road test
After your minimum G1 time, you can take the G2 road test. It checks basic skills, such as turns, stopping, parallel parking, lane changes, three-point turns, residential driving, and traffic signals and signs. Pass it and you get your G2.
Level two: G2 (intermediate)
You must hold a G2 for at least 12 months before the full G road test. With a G2, you can drive alone, on all Ontario roads, at any time in most cases.
G2 conditions
- Your blood alcohol level must be zero.
- Every passenger must have a working seatbelt.
Extra rules if you are 19 or under
- From midnight to 5 a.m., for your first six months on G2: only one passenger aged 19 or under.
- After six months, until you get your full G or turn 20: up to three passengers aged 19 or under during those hours.
- These limits do not apply if a fully licensed driver with at least four years of experience is in the front passenger seat, or if the passengers are immediate family.
The G road test
After 12 months on G2, you can take the G road test. It checks advanced skills, such as highway driving, merging, speed and spacing, curves, intersections and business areas. You need highway driving experience and must fill in a Declaration of Highway Driving Experience form. Pass the test and you have a full G licence.
The approved driver education course
A government-approved beginner driver education (BDE) course is optional, but it can help you:
- It cuts your G1 time from 12 months to 8 months.
- Approved courses include at least 40 hours: 20 hours in class, 10 hours in a vehicle, and 10 flexible hours.
- It may lower your car insurance premiums.
Only courses on the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) list of approved driving schools count. Check that list before you pay a school.
Zero alcohol and drug rules
If you have a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, or you are 21 or under, you must have no alcohol and no drugs in your system when you drive. This is true even after you get your full G if you are still 21 or under.
Penalties for a first time include:
- A 7-day immediate licence suspension.
- A $250 penalty and an 8-hour education course.
- A $60 to $1,000 fine, if convicted.
Novice drivers who break any G1 or G2 condition can also face escalating suspensions. Normal impaired driving penalties apply as well.
If you fail a road test
- You can take the test again as long as your licence has not expired.
- If your G1 has expired, you must start over and pay the test fees again.
- If your five years are almost over and you have not passed the G test, you can requalify as a G2 driver for another five years by passing the G2 road test again. Fees apply.
2026 changes for newcomers
Primary residence declaration (from May 11, 2026)
Starting May 11, 2026, when you apply for a class G or class M licence, you must declare that:
- Ontario is your primary place of residence, and
- your presence in Canada is legal.
Foreign driving experience (from July 1, 2026)
If your licence is from a country that has a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, you may be able to exchange it. If your country has no exchange agreement, you start with a G1 after passing the vision and knowledge tests.
Starting July 1, 2026, drivers from non-exchange countries can claim up to 12 months of driving experience. You need an original, valid foreign licence. Only experience from the past three years counts.
- Pass the vision and knowledge tests at a DriveTest centre to get your G1.
- Show your original foreign licence. If it is not in English or French, bring a translation from an MTO-recognized translator.
- If your licence does not show all your experience, bring an authentication letter from the licensing authority, embassy, consulate or high commission. It must be issued in the last 6 months and be in English or French.
- With 12 months of credited experience, you can take the G2 road test right away. Then you wait 12 months before the G road test.
- With less than 12 months, you wait the rest of the 12 months before the G2 road test. For example, with 6 months of credit, you hold your G1 for 6 more months.
Insurance company papers and third-party websites are not accepted as proof of experience. If you move to Ontario, you can drive on a valid foreign licence for only 60 days.
Want to drive a motorcycle too? Try the M1 motorcycle practice test.