How to Get Your G1 Licence in Ontario (2026 Complete Guide)

How to Get Your G1 Licence in Ontario (2026 Complete Guide)

Everyone's first step toward driving in Ontario goes the same way. A trip to a DriveTest centre, a written test, and a little plastic card that doesn't actually let you drive much yet, but officially starts the clock. That's your G1.

It's not complicated, but a few things trip people up, especially what the test covers and what you're allowed to do the moment you walk out holding it. Here's the full picture, no fluff.

G1 Licence at a Glance

Requirement Details

Minimum age 16 years old

Test. Vision test + 40-question knowledge test

Passing score 16/20 correct in each section

Cost G1 package fee (check current DriveTest fee)

Wait before G2 12 months, or 8 months with a BDE course

Appointment Not required at most DriveTest centres

What You Need Before You Even Show Up

Three things, really.

You need to be at least 16. There's no upper limit, so plenty of adults get their G1 well past their teenage years, no questions asked.

You need to pass a vision test. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them. Skipping this is an easy, completely avoidable way to walk out without a G1 on day one.

And you need to pass a written knowledge test covering Ontario's rules of the road and road signs. This is the part people actually prepare for, and it's the part that decides whether you leave with your G1 or a "come back another day."

No appointment needed for the knowledge test itself. Walk into any DriveTest centre. Some get busy though, so showing up early saves you from standing around longer than you'd like.

What's Actually on the Test

Forty multiple-choice questions, split evenly: 20 on rules of the road, 20 on road signs. You need 16 out of 20 correct in each section, separately. So a strong score on signs can't carry a weak score on rules of the road. Both sides have to hold up on their own.

Most people finish in 20 to 30 minutes. Every question comes straight from the official MTO Driver's Handbook, which means reading that handbook properly is, hands down, the most reliable prep there is.

Worth knowing going in: a lot of people don't pass on the first try. It happens often enough that it's not some personal failing if you're one of them. You can retake it as many times as needed, and if you retake within a year of your first attempt, you only redo the section you missed, not the whole thing. Wait past a year, though, and you're starting over on both sections.

What It Actually Costs

The G1 licence comes as a package rather than a single flat fee, bundling your written test, your first G2 road test attempt down the line, and a five-year licence once you're fully licensed. The G1 package fee is set by the Ontario government and can change over time. Before you head to a DriveTest centre, it's worth checking the current fee on the official DriveTest website rather than trusting a number from any article, including this one.

Fail the knowledge test and need another shot? There's a smaller retest fee per attempt, also government-set and subject to change. Not a huge cost on its own, but it adds up fast if you walk in unprepared, so treat the first try like it actually matters.

What You're Allowed to Do With a G1

Here's where most people get genuinely confused.

You can drive, but only with a fully licensed driver sitting in the front passenger seat, someone with at least four years of experience. Not a friend who just got their license. Not someone riding in the back. Four years, front seat, no exceptions.

No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. That window's simply closed at this stage.

No highways or expressways over 80 km/h, things like the 400-series or the Gardiner, unless your accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor giving you an actual lesson. Outside a lesson, those roads aren't available to you yet. Honestly, this alone is a decent reason to start driving lessons in Toronto sooner rather than later, since it's the only legal way to get highway practice before your G2.

Zero blood alcohol for you, always. Your accompanying driver needs to be under 0.05%, or zero if they're under 21.

None of this is random bureaucracy for its own sake. New drivers are statistically more likely to crash in their first months behind the wheel, so the restrictions exist to lower that risk while you're still figuring things out.

How Long You Have to Hold It

Standard wait between your G1 and being eligible for the G2 road test is 12 months. Complete a government-approved BDE course during that stretch, and the wait drops to 8 months instead.

Four months might not sound like much, but if you're working toward a deadline, school, a job, whatever it is, that's a real difference. The BDE course is really the only part of this whole timeline you actually have control over. Everything else is locked in by age or by the clock.

Roughly, the path looks like this:

Turn 16 → Pass your G1 → Start practicing → Take a BDE course (optional) → Wait 8 months with BDE, or 12 without → Book your G2 road test

So You Passed. Now What?

This is usually where people stall out a bit. G1 in hand, technically allowed to drive, but no one's reliably free to sit beside you for hours, and figuring out where to even begin feels harder than it should.

A licensed instructor solves exactly this. Beyond the actual teaching, they're the only person who can legally take you onto a highway at this stage, something a regular experienced driver simply can't do for you. It's also a natural moment to think seriously about a BDE course, since it's what knocks four months off your wait and sets you up properly for what the G2 test will actually expect.

Trying to figure out who should teach you once you've got your G1 sorted? Our guide on how to choose a driving instructor in Toronto covers what actually matters beyond just the hourly rate. And once you've logged some real practice, it's worth reading how many driving lessons you actually need to pass your G2 before locking anything in.

Passing your G1 is really just the start. Build good habits early and the G2 road test stops feeling like this big intimidating thing waiting at the end. Whether you're practicing with a family member, an instructor, or both, the goal is the same: feel ready before test day, not scrambling the week before it. If a BDE course or driving lessons in Toronto are on your radar, now's genuinely the right time to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to get a G1 licence in Ontario?
At least 16. No upper age limit.

How many questions are on the G1 knowledge test, and what score do I need?
40 multiple-choice questions, split into two 20-question sections, rules of the road and road signs. You need at least 16 correct in each section.

What happens if I fail the G1 test?
You can retake it. Within a year of your first attempt, you only redo the section you failed. After a year, both sections again.

How much does the G1 licence cost?
The fee is set by the Ontario government and can change, so check the current amount directly on the official DriveTest website before you go.

How long do I have to hold my G1 before taking my G2 road test?
12 months standard, or 8 months if you complete a government-approved BDE course.

Can a G1 driver go on the highway?
Only with a licensed driving instructor during an actual lesson. Otherwise, no.

Related reading:

• What Is a BDE Course in Ontario?
• How Many Driving Lessons Do You Need to Pass Your G2?
• Best GTA DriveTest Centres for Your G2 Test
• How to Pass Your G2 Road Test in Toronto