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Insurance Bureau of Canada/on/Auto/Graduated Licensing

Graduated Licensing

​To become fully licensed, new Ontario drivers must pass all stages of the province’s graduated licensing program. If your licence is suspended, contact your insurer. ​

​​How Do I Get Insured As a New Driver?

Before you buy auto insurance, you need to apply to complete Ontario’s 3-step licensing process. To get started, you must:Be at least 16 years oldPass a vision testPass a written test about road rules and traffic signsWhile you have a G1 licence, insurers do not rate you.  If you possess a G1 license, in order to be insured, you must be insured on another person’s policy – someone with a G2 or G licence who may live in your household or is a friend or family member. You cannot be a listed car operator with a G1 licence. If you own a car and have a G1 licence, you cannot drive your car without the mandatory insurance and a G2 or G level driver in the vehicle. As you learn to drive, it’s also important to understand the unique restrictions that apply to G1 and G2 licences.

​What Happens with Insurance If My Licence Is Suspended?

You must report your licence suspension to your insurer immediately. 

If you break a traffic law, your driver’s licence will be suspended. For a first offence, your licence is suspended for 30 days 

How Long Does It Take to Get Licensed?

It takes about 20 months to complete the entire process. You can take a road test after 12 months practicing driving with a G1 licence. If you complete a government-approved driver education course, you can take a road test after 8 months. Once you pass your G1 road test, you must practice driving with a G2 licence for 12 months.

​Why Are There So Many Steps to Get Licenced?

Novice drivers cause many traffic-related deaths and injuries. In response to collision statistics and successful licensing systems used in other countries, provincial and territorial governments in Canada introduced new driver licensing standards earlier this century.  

Graduated licensing is based on research that clearly demonstrates the safety value of this approach over more conventional ones. Most programs include a multi-stage system with mandatory learner and intermediate stages that take place over set time periods before graduation to a full licence. 

IBC and Best Practices for Graduated Licensing in Canada

In 2005, IBC supported research conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), a national, independent charitable road safety institute. TIRF’s mission is to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries. IBC circulated a draft of this report​ to all relevant contacts in driver licensing agencies, or their equivalent, in all jurisdictions in  Canada.