Getting your driver’s licence in Ontario is not something you can squeeze into a free weekend. University and college students need to be aware that the Graduated Licensing System (GLS) has deadlines, costs, and the clock starts ticking from the moment you pass your first test, no matter how ready you feel to actually get behind the wheel. Approach the test like you’re prepared to “fail” the occasional “exam,” and you’ll be just fine. Put it off until you’re already trying to secure a job in your final year, and you’ll be adding another $1,000 to dad’s credit card.
What the GLS is, and why Ontario has it
Ontario rolled out the Graduated Licensing System in 1994, and all provinces have some sort of similar system to help inexperienced 16 year olds gain experience before driving independently during rush hour. What is it exactly? It’s pretty simple, really. To earn your full licence you must learn and master driving in stages before being awarded your full driving privileges (G1, G2, full G).
Why? Because road accidents are the leading cause of death among Canadian 15-24 year olds according to Transport Canada, and it serves as a logical foundation for the driver training and education system designed to limit the risks to novice drivers.
The G1 knowledge test: structure, cost, and passing with no second try
DriveTest centers offer a 40 question written exam as the G1 knowledge test, split equally between rules of the road and road signs. You need to correctly answer 16 out of 20 in each section, and if you get 17 in one section and 15 in the other, you still fail the test. You’ve paid $160 for the G1 package, which includes the written test and a 5 year license, and you certainly don’t want to pay that again if you have to retest. Part-time minimum wage is not exactly conducive to paying for a second try, so it’s best to be prepared.
A great method to do this is to use the Practice for G1 exam resource – it’s a practice test that mirrors the two sections of the official written test (rules of the road and road signs), each scored out of 20. The Ministry Handbook contains all the material needed to complete the test, and you’ll find while using the Practice for G1 exam that you can pinpoint exactly what material you need to review prior to booking your test at a DriveTest center. DriveTest centers near major ON campuses are Etobicoke and Downsview for Toronto, Waterloo for Laurier and UW, Hamilton for McMaster, and Ottawa Walkley for Carleton and UOttawa. You would be surprised how quickly slots fill up, and it’s not uncommon for students to leave booking their test until the last minute.
Students should also have on hand valid identification stating their full legal name, date of birth and status in Canada (this doesn’t apply for international students – it’s best to consult with DriveTest regarding acceptable documentation).
Important restrictions to be aware of once you get your G1:
Once you get your G1, you can finally get behind the wheel. Here are 4 things to keep in mind at all times:
Under no circumstances should you drive with any blood alcohol content. Even if your friends decide they’re going to split a six-pack and share the driving responsibilities, as a G1 you should not be behind the wheel under any influence. The roadside alcohol check threshold changes frequently, but you should assume even a tiny amount could lead to a roadside suspension.
Your supervisor must have a full Licence (G) and have held it for at least 4 years. Don’t forget this one!
Driving between the hours of midnight and 5am is prohibited. This is regardless if you have an after-hours job, a late-night study session, or another commitment. The curfew simply does not change.
You cannot drive on 400 series highways. You can stick to the local roads and the busier, but slower, roads in and around your area. Most people who take G1 lessons around the Greater Toronto Area spend much of their practice time in the parking lots of nearby malls or on the empty streets of their neighborhoods.
Furthermore, you are prohibited from driving on any road with a posted speed limit higher than 80km/h. This substantially limits your options for any travel outside the city or even between major centers within the region.
Fast-tracking through BDE is a smart decision
The time required between passing your G1 and writing the road test is normally 12 months. However, those who take an MTO approved Beginner Driver Education course can cut that time by 4 months.
It does not seem like a lot, but 4 months can sometimes be the difference between getting your G2 in time for summer vacation and being stuck without a vehicle until after the holidays.
If you pass your G1 in September first year, completing a BDE course will allow you to write your G2 road test in the summer (May to be exact). This provides a perfect opportunity if you’re planning on taking a co-op or summer job that requires a clean driving record. BDE courses also provide a certificate of completion that many insurance companies acknowledge with a discount on your premium. It’s well-known among insurers that students who complete these courses generally possess safer driving habits (however it still falls under the higher-risk young driver category so it won’t dramatically reduce your rates). If you’re on your dad’s policy as an occasional driver the certificate matters to them as well.
What changes when you have a G2 licence
A G2 licence allows you to drive alone, and the majority of restrictions that are in place for G1 drivers are lifted, such as the prohibition on driving on 400 series highways and the ban on driving between midnight and 5 AM. The blood alcohol content is still zero, however, that doesn’t change until you get your full licence.
The one thing most drivers forget to practice before their G2 exit exam (the test that moves you from G2 to full G) is driving on a 400 series highway. G1 drivers have to practice on lower-speed roads so those who went through a BDE course may not have much experience on the QEW, 401 etc. Before booking your G exit test, spend some time on 400 series highways with a supervising driver, practicing your acceleration, merging and lane changing. Don’t wait until the day of the test to realize that driving on 400 series highways is completely different from driving on local roads.
The situation for international students
As an international student you can drive for 60 days on your home country’s driver’s licence before you’re required to write the G1 knowledge exam. In other words, you have just over 2 months to figure out the city, find a grocery store that carries the food you’re used to, and generally settle in before you have to write your G1. However, this rule only applies if your home country’s driver’s licence is eligible for direct exchange
Some aren’t, in which case you will need to write the G1 knowledge test like any other student, with no exemptions and little time to spare.
The 5-year expiry trap international students get caught in
The $160 G1 package mentioned above is valid for 5 years from the day you pass the licence test. Within that 5 year window you have to complete the G2 phase, and the G exit test before your new licence expires and you have to start the process all over again
5 years sounds like plenty of time, and it is for students attending 2, 3, and 4 year college programs, but if you’re in a 4 year honours undergrad program with one year mandatory co-op, placements, or study abroad, it goes by extremely quick. Students who get their G1 in first year, then spend a semester abroad (or on co-op in the city with no car), and a year working in the city in between, can be caught in second or third year trying to figure out how they’re going to complete the G2 before their G1 expires. Add the expiry date of your G1 to your phone as a calendar alert, with a note set to remind you 1 year in advance. Trust me, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario is not going to send you a reminder to renew your learner’s permit to encourage you to go to extra lengths to complete the GLS.
Why you need a licence just to get a job
Ontario has a very robust system of public transit in place, but it primarily exists in the downtown core of each major city. That being said all the suburban neighborhoods, most residential areas, office parks (where many co-ops are based), and hospitals outside of this downtown core – are all largely car-dependent.
Students applying for co-op jobs in these car dependent office parks are competing at a disadvantage if they don’t have at least a G2 licence.
That’s not to say having a licence will automatically get you a job, but being able to tell a hiring manager you’re well-versed in fundamentals of business and extremely likely to show up to work on time because you can get there independently, could potentially give you the edge in the hiring process. That edge could mean the difference between scoring an interview or not, and that one interview, out of 20, could result in your dream job.
Housing outside of the city is often times a large consideration for students who want to live more affordably, but are located more than a reasonable distance from the nearest good grocery store or restaurant.
Start the process the first month of your first year. Pass the knowledge test before midterms. Take the BDE course and schedule your G2 road test for May – that timeline works. Every month you delay makes that timeline less likely to work.
