What is a Class G1 licence?
G1 is the first step in receiving your full G licence. Ontario follows a graduated licensing system so that new drivers have adequate time to gain their skills and experience gradually. New drivers applying for their first car or motorcycle licence enter Ontario’s graduated licensing system: G1, G2 and G (fully-licensed). Graduated licensing lets new drivers gain driving experience and skills gradually.
The two-step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete. A G1 licence is the first step of this process. This step consists of a written test of road rules and traffic signs, but there are many G1 licence restrictions that come with this piece of paper.
What are the G1 driving requirements in Ontario?
To apply for a driver’s licence, one must be at least 16 years old, pass a vision test and pass a written test of your knowledge of the rules of the road and traffic signs. Ontario’s Official MTO Driver’s Handbook will be your best friend in helping you prepare for your written knowledge test. It covers rules of the road and practical driving tips, and it can be purchased for $14.95+HST at a DriveTest centre, many retail stores or online through ServiceOntario. This book is generally used by most people who take their G1 test, so if you have some fully-licenced friends or family, ask to borrow theirs! The book proves to be very beneficial in passing your G1 driving test. Once you pass the written test, you will enter the first level and obtain your Class G1 licence as a beginner driver.
If you’ve passed the G1 test, you must wait 12 months to then take your G2 driving test. If you attend a ministry-approved driving school with your G1 licence, you will only have to wait eight months to take your G2 test. You must pass two road tests to achieve a full G licence.
How do I apply for a G1 licence?
In order to apply for an Ontario licence, you must present two pieces of original identification that provide proof of your legal name, date of birth and signature. Documents must be original and valid, meaning photocopies and expired documents are not acceptable. These documents may include a passport, Canadian Citizenship Card, Ontario Photo Card or Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card. For the full list, visit ontario.ca
You are required to bring these documents, as well as money for test fees and glasses/contact lenses (if you require them to drive) to your nearest DriveTest Centre. You can find the nearest centre and hours of operation at drivetest.ca.
For further details on applying for a licence, visit the Ministry of Transportation website.
What fees are associated with my G1 test?
When you are first taking your G1 test, you must pay a $159.75 fee during the application process. This fee includes the cost of the knowledge test, your first G2 road test and a five-year licensing fee. There are more charges for your second road test and for any retests you may need to take, though these may differ depending on your situation.
What types of questions will they ask on my G1 test?
The G1 written test will test your knowledge based on the rules and traffic signs that can be found inside the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook. Generally, the information in the G1 road test is quite basic, but is is absolutely crucial to becoming a fully licenced driver. This handbook will give you the information you need to pass your tests and to keep your driving privileges once you obtain your licence. The written test may ask you about:
- Seatbelts
- Traffic signs and lights
- Emergency vehicles
- How to use headlights
- Speed limits
- Getting on or off a freeway
- What drivers must do when they meet streetcars and school buses
- Driver’s licence suspensions
- The demerit point system
- Passing other vehicles
- Collision reporting
- Sharing the road with other road users
- Rules of the road
What are the G1 licence restrictions in Ontario?
Although you’ve completed Step One of this two-step process, there are many G1 licence restrictions at this level, including:
- You are not allowed to drive alone in the vehicle at any time. According to ontario.ca, “Level One of graduated licensing holders may drive Class G vehicles with an accompanying fully-licensed driver with at least four years driving experience. Subject to certain conditions.” Only this individual is allowed to sit in the front seat with you, with a blood-alcohol level of less than .05%. The accompanying driver’s licence may have demerit points, but it cannot be suspended.
- Your blood-alcohol level must be zero.
- Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt.
- You are prohibited from driving on ANY 400-series highways with a posted speed limit of over 80 km/h. Also, you must not drive on certain high-speed roads, which include the Queen Elizabeth Way, Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway in the Greater Toronto Area, the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor and the Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener-Waterloo. However, if your accompanying driver is a driving instructor, you may drive on any road.
- You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
What if I’m from outside Ontario?
To drive in this province, visitors to Ontario must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s licence from their own province, state or country. New residents in Ontario with a valid driver’s licence from another province, state or country can use it for 60 days after moving to Ontario. If you become a permanent resident of Ontario, you must obtain an Ontario driver’s licence.
Once you’ve obtained your G1 licence, you will have up to five years to finish the whole graduated licensing process. If you do not get your full G licence after five years, you will need to start over from the beginning.
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