Graduated licensing in Ontario
Like most people I know, I obtained my driver’s license prior to the implementation of graduated licensing in the province of Ontario. This meant that from the moment I received my license, I was able to drive on 400 series highways at 2am on my own. However, since April 1, 1994, newly licensed drivers have not been able to legally do this because of the graduated licensing system.
Under the graduated licensing scheme, new drivers start a two-step process that takes at least 20 months to complete and must be completed within five years. The system “lets new drivers get driving experience and skills gradually”, according to the MTO. Assuming you’re at least 16 years old, pass a vision test and a knowledge test of the rules of the road and signs, you will receive a Class G1 license.
A Class G1 license allows the holder to drive a vehicle provided that they have no alcohol in their bloodstream, are accompanied by a reasonably sober (less than 0.05%) fully licensed driver who is the only other person in the front seat, but doesn’t allow them on 400-series highways or highspeed expressways such as the QEW, Don Valley, Gardner or a couple of others I’ve never heard of. And, they cannot drive the vehicle between midnight and 5am. If the person sitting next to you is a driving instructor licensed in the province of Ontario, you are allowed to drive on the “prohibited” roads.
You have to hold a G1 license for at least 12 months, unless you’ve passed an approved course in which case you can reduce this to 8 months. After this 8 or 12 month period has passed, you get to try a G1 road test. If you pass it, you get a Class G2 license.
A Class G2 license allows the holder to drive on any road in Ontario without a “co-pilot” provided that they have no alcohol in their bloodstream and do not have more passengers in the vehicle than working seatbelts, which is also a condition for the G1. As of September 1, 2005, there are limits on the number of “young passengers” (19 years old or under) a G2 driver 19 years or under can carry between midnight and 5am. G2 drivers who are 19 years or under who have had a G2 for less than six months can only carry one young passenger. Once they’ve had their G2 for more than six months or turn 20, they can carry three young passengers. There’s an exception to this rule if the passengers are immediate family members or if there’s a fully licensed G driver onboard.
Once you’ve had a G2 for at least a year, you can try a G2 road test, which will give you a full G license if you pass.
You’re probably asking yourself “so what?”.
Well, I’ve noticed over the last few years that the number of drivers on the Queensway who travel along at 80 to 90 km/h has markedly increased since I got my license under the old system in the mid- to late-80’s. I have been speculating that this is a result of the graduated licensing system. Drivers who have been driving on a G1 for a year or two probably haven’t had a whole lot of experience driving at speeds in excess of 80 km/h. When they finally graduate to a G2 license, they are able to drive on roads with speed limits 25% higher than they’re used to. Consequently, they tend to drive in their comfort zone, rather than at the 100 km/h speed limit found on 400 series highways and highspeed expressways. I don’t have any empirical data to support this, of course, just a gut feeling based on a steadily increasing incidence of drivers travelling below the speed limit, primarily on the 417 in Ottawa, when 100 km/h is appropriate to the road and weather conditions.
The Ministry of Transportation’s website claims that the graduated licensing system has been a “resounding success” and reduced death and injury among new drivers. Their research also shows a link between the number of teenage passengers onboard and the likelihood of a serious or even fatal collision, with new teenage drivers being nearly three times as likely to experience such a collision. That’s why the G2 has restrictions on when and how many young passengers a G2 driver can carry.
I have no doubts that the graduated licensing system has indeed had an impact on the accident rates for new drivers. But at the same time, I believe it’s producing drivers who are less confident in driving at 400 series/expressway speeds, which has potentially significant ramifications to other drivers on these roads. Drivers who drive below the speed the rest of the traffic is moving at are just as dangerous as those who weave in and out of traffic. They lead to other drivers having to break unexpectedly for no reason other than they’re travelling too slowly.
What I’d like to see are some statistics correlating driving speed on a 400 series/expressway, license class and years that class has been held. I think the real story would emerge then. Perhaps some sort of voluntary black-box vehicle tracking system which was excluded from being used against the driver if they did get stopped for some moving violation, would allow statistics to be gathered on driving habits and new drivers.
If the statistics on young drivers and teenage passengers are true, then I would have no problems with restrictions similar to those in the G2 license being in force if the graduated system were scrapped. At most, it would inconvenience new young drivers for a couple of years.
AKA Keeper of Maps, I'm a geocacher who lives in Ottawa, Canada.
What happens if you have an accident with your G1, can you still get your G2 license?
Very good question, Melissa!
I read over the Ministry of Transportation’s page about the graduated licensing system (see the original blog entry for a link), and there’s nothing in there that talks about accidents when you have a G1. Depending on the nature of the accident, you may be eligible for demerit points, as any driver is. It doesn’t say that you can’t get a G2 if you have demerit points, but then again, it doesn’t say that. I’d suggest that if you’re getting demerit points as the holder of a G1 license that you should probably take some additional driving lessons focusing on the problem(s) leading to the demerits.
Of course, I’m not an expert on this and you should probably ask the Ministry of Transportation for clarification. If you do, please feel free to post a comment here with what they tell you. š
Can someone leave ontario with their G2 liscence or do they need a full G?
Hi,
My son recently (2 days ago)got his G2 license in Ontario. Is he allowed to drive in the Province of Quebec? In the US?
Thanks
Hi Nick and John…
I never had to go through the graduated licensing system, so I don’t know. The MTO’s website (see the link in the first paragraph of the blog entry) has the phrase “you may drive without an accompanying driver on all Ontario roads anytime” in the section on the G2. It may be that they don’t talk about extra-provincial situations because those are not within their jurisdiction.
The best thing to do would be to contact the MTO. In fact, I may do this tomorrow if I have some free time.
If you find out, please feel free to post a comment here. š
ok, yes, you can.
this taken from: http://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content15555.aspx
Ontario, Canada has a graduated licensing system which you are going through. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for Ontario has restrictions in place for both G1 and G2 drivers. The restrictions list for a G2 license does not include driving out of the providence or into the United States.
Before driving into the U.S. with your G2 license you might want to check with the MTO, http://www.mto.gov.on.ca. It is likely that your Canadian restrictions will still be in place even while driving outside of Canada.
Also contact the State or States Department of Motor Vehicles in which you plan to drive. By checking with the DMVs you will be assured that these States will recognize your G2 license and can make certain that there are not any other restrictions put onto your according to various state laws.
Finally, you have to check with your insurance company to see if coverage will extend to a G2 license holder on the vehicle you are driving.
For more information on the restrictions of the G2 licence read our article Ontario, Canada Graduated Licensing System – G2.
I have my G2 currently and will be taking my G test soon. I am looking to purchase a car before my test date. Do I need a full G lic. to purchase a car and licence my vehicle?
I’m not sure you even need a drivers license to purchase/license a vehicle. I believe all you have to do is provide proof of insurance to be able to take the vehicle off the lot. I’d definitely check with the MTO and your insurance company about this.
hello, i have been driving with my g1 ( i am 16) and i got pulledover and my car did not have insurance and it stolen plates and i did not transfer the car on 2 my name had if that was not enof i had 4 passengers in my car. what do you think will happen to me ?
elias…
Hopefully, you’re just having some fun on my blog, but if this seriously happened to you then I’m guessing you probably should have spent some rather uncomfortable time with some police officers explaining exactly why they shouldn’t arrest you. Though not an expert on the whole graduated licensing, if the person in the right front seat was a sober licensed driver, the passengers may not be an issue.
i am very serious about this, i got alot of tickts and i have 3 or 4 court dates and the two cops said that i will get off with comunity serveice (wich i do not belive) if i go to all of my court dates. so can you tell me if they are luying ? and what what kind of fines i shuold expect? and i am planning to play guilty on all of my charges, because i really can not make up a good lie for what i did. and these are the things i am being charged for. 1.stolen licence plates 2.i failed to transfer the car on 2 my name 3.no insurance
4. no g1 licence. and no one in my car was drunk or anithing like that. Thanx for replieng my first question so fast.
later….
sry i meant G2 licence
Elias, as a minimum, I would expect your licence to be revoked for some period of time, guaranteed.
Realistically, for possessing stolen plates (better not be a plate that was stolen off my car, incidentally) you might get community service and probation if it is your first offence. For an unregistered car and no insurance, expect fines in the $500 range, each.
So in summary, you will likely get a driving suspension because you have a G2 licence and a bunch of tickets (I think it’s typically a 6-month suspension), about $1000-ish in fines and probably something like 20 hours community service and 6 months probation. Since stolen licence plates is probably going to be treated as a criminal matter and you must be over 16 since you have a G2 licence, you will almost certainly end up with a permanent criminal record. That could affect your ability to travel to other countries, such as the USA, and may adversely affect your ability to find employment. The tickets, registration and insurance are not a huge deal if you have learned something from the experience.
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer, and nothing I say can or should be construed as legal advice. Please seek professional counsel at your first opportunity, because it really sounds like you need it.
I think Squid has summed it up nicely. If you don’t waste the judge’s time by saying you didn’t do it, things will probably go better. Depending on your age (I think you said you were 16), you might get some time with a CAS worker, too, which I would take advantage of.
Frankly, this is the start of a path in life that you do not want to go down because it’ll only come back to haunt you. Your current problems will probably cause you some grief for a while, but that’ll be fairly minor compared to what you’ll experience if you don’t clean up your act ASAP.
Disclaimer: Like Squid, I am not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice. You really should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
Please post and let us know how it goes. Good luck!
thanx alot for the answer i really apritiate it.
i have a g1 licence and i was charge with wreckless driving. i have a meeting with the mto to tell them why i should keep my licence and i was wondering what the likelyhood that it will be revoked is
I guess the first question is: Were you driving wrecklessly?
If you were, was this an isolated incident or part of a pattern? Is there anything you’d propose to reduce the likelihood of this happening again, such as additional 1-on-1 driver’s ed classes?
Another thing to ponder is what you think should happen to someone else who was driving like you were when you were charged with wreckless driving.
It’s a bit cliché, but driving really is a privilege. The way you drive can have a direct and profound impact on the other drivers on the road around you. (No pun intended.) Screw up and people can die, including yourself.
Please post and let us know how it goes. Good luck!
Disclaimer: You might want to seek professional legal advice on this matter. I am not a lawyer.
i was going 55 in a 50 zone, it was a rainy day and i began to slow down as i was attempting to make a left turn then i hydro plained on woter and could neithier control my turn or slow down
Hmm… well, I can see how that would have resulted in the charge. From your description, it sounds like you were driving too fast for the conditions. The speed limits are set for ideal conditions and the onus is on the driver to lower the speed they’re driving at if the conditions are poorer.
I’d be up front and honest in your meeting with the MTO. Presumably, you’ve learned something from the whole experience and plan on changing your driving habits. I’d imagine that if you try to pass the responsibility on to the weather/water/roads that they’ll be less inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Good luck and please post how it turns out.
hello it is me again, i have been to court these couple of days and for stealing plates i got off with this program i have to do it is called “egs” or something. and with my insurance, plates not authorzed for vehicle, fail to transfer car on to my name, and the part where i did not have a g2 licence. they just set me another court date. is there any way i can take care of this without a trial ? . and if someone was charged with the same ofences please let me know how it turned out i reallty need to know.
I’m just curious. What is the percentage of Ontario drivers that have failed their G test their first time?
i know someone who is driving alone without insurance and only has their g1. they’re about 40 years old. what would the fine be if they got pulled over?
According to the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.25, s. 2(3)., anyone who operates a vehicle without valid insurance “is guilty of an offence and is liable on a first conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $25,000 and on a subsequent conviction to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000 and, in addition, his or her drivers licence may be suspended for a period of not more than one year. R.S.O. 1990, c. C.25, s. 2 (3); 1996, c. 21, s. 50 (4).”
So, basically your friend is looking at a fine of at least $5000, possibly more, the first time they get stopped. If they are stopped a second time, they’re facing a fine of at least $10000 and possible suspension of their license for as long as year. Your friend really should get proper insurance (or stop driving).
Note: I am not a lawyer, so you should check with one before relying on my interpretation of this.
i have a g1 license i want to know what will happen if i get pulled over by cops… my friend said he got pulled over one time but they gave him a warning.. want to know if this is really true??…
HELLO, MY G1 WAS SUSPENDED FOR 10 MONTH AND I AM PLANNING ON GETTING MY G2 IN 3 MONTH OR SO. CAN I STILL GET IT ? IS IT GOING TO BE UNDER SUSPENSION ?
THANX FOR UR TIME. HOPE TO HEAR SOON FROM YOU.
AND JORDAN I GOT PULLED OVER WITH MY G1 AND I HAD NO INSURANCE THEY GAVE ME WHOLE BUNCH OF TICKETS AND COURT DATES. TRUST ME IT IS NOT WORTH IT JUST WAIT TILL YOU GET YOUR G2. AND THERE IS NO WAY THE WILL JUST GIVE YOU A WARNING. THEY WILL ATLEAST GIVE YOU A FINE AND TOW YOUR CAR. YUR FRIEND IS LYING.
Hi Elias…
Thanks for letting us know what happened. I would be surprised if you could get your G2 while your G1 is suspended, but the Ministry of Transportation would be able to tell you this for certain.
With respect to getting a warning when you’ve been stopped by the police, I expect it makes a difference as to why they stopped you in the first place and how you behaved when they stopped you. I imagine that you could be stopped by the police for having a burnt out head light and receive a warning as opposed to a ticket. Being stopped for driving without insurance, on the other hand, is a very serious offense that they don’t take lightly.
In any event, I’m glad to hear that you only received a license suspension as opposed to incarceration, so you’ve been given a chance to change your ways and get back on the right path. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to go driving during the ten months because I’m sure they would take more drastic measures if they stopped you.
Have a safe and happy holiday season! š
thanx for the help man.
I currently have me G2 which will expire in one month, I have not been practising on the highway, can I tack on a few more years to my G2 and go for my G when I’m ready. Will the MTO take my license away from me if I don’t go for my G. What about if I don’t do well on the highway, but do very good on the city roads, won’t they increase my time to obtain my G?
hello, can you quyz help me out. as you already heard my g1 is under suspension for 10 month and i need to drive to work. can i get a m1 license (motorcycle license) while my g1 is under suspension ? and if no than is there any programs or any ways i can decrease my suspension. cause it is really hard to go to work to orangwille from toronto.
I don’t if you can, Elias. A quite perusal of the MTO’s website didn’t find anything in the description of the M1 license that says you can’t, but that doesn’t mean that you necessarily can. You should talk to your lawyer about finding ways to reduce your suspension, but my guess is that you probably can’t given the circumstances.
What route do you take to Orangeville from Toronto because there are restrictions as to which roads you can use an M1 or G1 license on?
well when i had my car i used to take the 410 and then up hurontario st
elias,
I don’t know for certain, but I think you are out of luck as far as being allowed to drive at all before your suspension is up.
Go Transit can take you to Orangeville, I believe?
Both the G1 and M1 licenses prohibit holders from driving on “400-series” highways. And the description of the M1 says that you can’t go on highways with a speedlimit higher than 80 km/h, “except highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144, 655”, so Riley’s suggestion of taking GO Transit to Orangeville is probably the best solution.
so i can not get an m1 licese for sure ? if no, can i get it in another province and drive in ontario ?
I don’t know if you can’t get an M1 for certain — you’d have to talk to the MTO about that. However, if you can get one, you probably couldn’t legally use it to get to work because it has restrictions on the roads you can use it on, as does the G1. If you were stopped driving where you’re license doesn’t permit you to, you’ll almost certainly lose it and probably face some fairly hefty fines, too. If I were you, I’d respect the license suspension imposed by the court and not try to find a loophole to get around it.
As for getting a license in another province, many provinces have reciprocal licensing agreements with each other, so you probably can’t go to another province and get a license there because of you’re current driving status. Also, you’re a resident of the Province of Ontario, which probably excludes you from getting a license in another province.
Please explain: What is, “Requalification” for G2.
Hi Cathy…
I imagine that it probably consists of meeting the requirements for a G2 all over again. I actually have to get my license renewed this week, so I’ll see if there’s any information at the license office. I obtained my license before graduated licensing came into effect so I don’t have any experience with it myself.
Any tips on Highway/Freeway Driving. Going for my “G”
in a couple of weeks, and feeling a little nervous!
What specifically makes you nervous, Cathy?
Elias… I was in a licensing office and asked the guy behind the counter if one can get an M1 if their G1 is suspended. He said that when you’re a license is suspended all driving privileges are suspended, so you can’t get an M1 when your G1 is suspended.
Gordon, Driving at rapid speed and lacking in knowledge of the highway rules. Also, if I don’t pass, will I lose my current license
Knowing the rules of the road is an important part of driving. Without that knowledge you endanger both yourself and other drivers. You might be able to improve your comfort level by booking a few sessions with a driving instructor. A couple of weeks ago you mentioned that you haven’t been practicing driving on highways and that you’re running out of time.
According to the MTO website (click here), if you fail a test you have to wait at least ten days before trying it again after you’ve had some more practice. It also says that the examiner may stop or refuse to start a driving test if “your driving skills are not good enough to finish the test without risking the safety of yourself, the Examiner or other road users”.
This part of the MTO website says that novice licenses (G1, G2, M1, M2 or M2 with condition “L”) are not renewable upon expiry. However, it goes on to say that you can reapply for the license, but it’s a little confusing about whether you come back as a G1 or G2. You should have received something a few months ago that described your options.
Honestly, I’m not sure whether you’re better off to try the test, which it sounds like there’s a fair chance you may not pass based on what you’ve told me, or to re-enter the graduated system and spend some one-on-one time with a driving instructor improving your skills and trying for the full G when you’re ready.
Which ever route you choose, I wish you good luck and hope you’ll post your decision here. š
Gordon, thanks so much for your advise and very valuable information. I’ve decided to take a few more Highway and Freeway lessons with an instructor until I’m ready for my “G” test.
Cathy, I think you’ve made a good decision! Best of luck and let me know how it goes! š
What is the passing percentage you must get for your G1?
I looked at the MTO’s website (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/gradu/index.html) and couldn’t find anything about what mark constitutes a pass. There’s a phone number (1-800-387-3445) listed on http://www.drivetest.ca/en/edu/ReadyRoad.aspx that might be able to provide this information. If you should find out, please post a quick note here. š
Hi Gordon:
My “G” test was on Wednesday Jan. 31st, the test lasted about 40 minutes. The traffic was bumper to bumper, I maintained the proper speed on the city roads and also on the freeway, I checked my mirrors every 5 seconds and changed lanes safely, and, I passed!
That’s great news, Cathy! Congratulations!
Um, I’m a G2 Driver and Got a ticket for 28km/h over the limit…meanwhile I thought the road was a 60 km/h it was only a 50km/h with no signs posted….anyways I got the ticket and everything but will paying the fine affect my insurance? I’m a secondary driver and all under my mom’s name…:S