GRADUATED LICENSING, 5 YEAR COUNTDOWN FOR NOVICE DRIVERS

Important! All novice drivers who hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 class driver's licence or any combination of novice class licences such as G2/M2, have 5 years to complete the graduated licensing program and obtain a full class licence.

With the introduction of Ontario's Graduated Licensing System in 1994, new drivers must complete a two-stage program with mandatory time periods for each stage, and pass required road tests. Novice licence holders have five years to complete Level 1 and Level 2 of the program (G1, G2 or M1, M2) and graduate to a full class licence (G or M).

You are a novice driver if you have a G1, G2, M1 or M2 class driver's licence, or a driver's licence with any combination of novice classes such as G2M2. If you have a combination of a full class licence and a novice class licence, such as AM2 OR MG2, you are a novice driver only for the novice class.

Check the expiry date on your novice class driver's licence. If you do not exit out of the Graduated Licensing Program in 5 years, or take a test to retain you current class, your licence expires.

In addition, you will receive a notice in the mail before your licence expires. The "Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry" will alert you to the expiry date of your licence and explain the test options avilable to you. Read it carefully.

Option 1:

take appropriate road test to graduate to the next level of licence.

Example - take Level 1 road test to graduate to Level 2, or Level 2 road test to graduate to a full class licence.

OR

Option 2:

take appropriate test to requalify to retain your current novice class licence.

Example - take the knowledge test to requalify for Level 1, or Level 1 road test to requalify for Level 2.

When you have decided which option is best for you, contact the nearest Driver Examination Center to book the appropriate test. Remember to book your test appointment as soon as possible.

If you do not exit out of the Graduated Licensing Program within 5 years of obtaining your Level 1 novice licence, it will expire. Unlike a full class driver's licence, a novice class licence is not renewable. However, you may reapply (requalify) for a novice class licence by passing a test and paying the five-year licensing fee. If you do not exit Graduated Licensing or requalify before you novice class licence expires, you will not have a licence to drive.

Insurance note:

Drivers who successfully exit from Graduated Licensing, from Level 2 to a full class licence, are eligible for insurance rate discounts. Check with your insurance company, or to call our school's insurance agent Mr. Galano LI by (416)315-6680, e-mail at: galano_li@hotmail.com.

COMMON ASK QUESTIONS:

I have a G1 class licence coming up for expiry. What are my options?
A G1 licence holder may:
--take the G1 road test to graduate to G2, or,
--take the knowledge and vision tests to keep their G1 licence.
When you pass the test, you pay the $50 licensing fee and receive a new licence good for another 5 years.

I want to take the road test to graduate from a G1 class licence to G2. What happens if I fail the test?
You will remain a G1 licence holder until your licence expires or you pass another road test.
You may also take the G knowledge and vision tests to requalify for your G1 licence.

What about a class M1 licence?
A class M1 licence is valid for only 90 days. Holders of this licence do not receive a notice of expiry in the mail.

My G2 (or M2) class licence is coming up for expiry. What are my options?
A G2 (or M2) licence holder may:
-- take the G2 (or M2) road test to graduate to a full G (or M) licence, or,
-- take the G1 (or M1) road test to keep their G2 (or M2) licence.
When you pass the test, you pay the $50 licensing fee and receive a new licence good for another 5 years.

I want to take the G2 (or M2) road test to graduate to a full G (or M) licence. What happens if I fail?
You will remain a G2 (or M2) licence holder until it expires or you pass another road test. You may try the G2 (or M2) road test again<, or take the G1 (or M1) road test to requalify for your G2 (or M2) before it expires.

I want to keep my G2 (or M2) licence by taking the G1 (or M1) road test. What happens if I fail?
Your licence will be downgraded to G1 (or M1). You may take the G1 (or M1) road test to regain your G2 (or M2) licence, before it expires.

Do I have to take a road test if I have already passed one during the past year?
No. If you have passed a road test in the past twelve months before your licence expires, it can be counted toward your novice requalification. Go to the nearest Driver Examination Center to pay the $50 licensing fee and receive a new licence. For example, if you pass the G1 road test to become a G2 driver a month before receiving your expiry notice, you do not need to take the test again.

What happens if I can't get a road test before my novice class licence expires?
If the earliest road test you can get is after your licence expiry date, the Driver Examination Center will issue you a Temporary Driver's Licence so you can drive up until the day of your test.

What happens if I fail my road test while holding a Temporary Driver's Licence?
The licence will be expired. You may be eligible to book another road test and receive a one-day Temporary Driver's Licence for the day of the test, or you may re-apply for a G1 (or M1) licence by passing the knowledge and vision tests, and paying the licensing fee. If you take the road test on a Temporary Driver's Licence, be sure to make alternate arrangements for getting home in the event you are unqualified to drive after the test.

I have a licence with two novice classes (e.g. G2M2). What happens on expiry date?
You will receive a Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry for each class. Usually, your licence expiry date is the expiry date of the first novice class licence you obtained. You must exit from or reequalify for each class of licence separately, by passing the appropriate road test.

I have a licence with a full class and a novice class (e.g. GM2). What happens?
Your licence expiry date will usually be the expiry date of the full class licence, but your novice class may have a different expiry date. You will receive a "Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry" for the novice class, and you must then decide if you want to retain that class by passing the appropriate road test.

If you have a question, or you would like more information about Graduated Licensing and novice class licences, contact your nearest Ministry of Transportation Driver Examination Center. The addrresses of these centers are listed in the blue pages of your telephone directory.

Or Call the Ministry of Transportation at:
(416)235-2999 or 1-800-387-3445