Ontario G1 Supervising Driver Requirements: Licence Class, Experience and BAC Limits (2026)

A supervising driver must be fully licensed to drive the Class G vehicle, have at least four years of licensed driving experience in Ontario or another jurisdiction, and meet Ontario BAC rules.

A supervising driver must hold a full licence that authorizes them to drive the Class G vehicle, have at least four years of licensed driving experience, and meet Ontario BAC rules.

• A qualifying Ontario licence can be Class A, B, C, D, E, F or G when it authorizes the person to drive the vehicle. An equivalent full licence from another jurisdiction can also qualify.
• If the supervisor is 22 or older, BAC must be below 0.05%. If the supervisor is 21 or under, BAC must be 0.00%.
• Out-of-province full-licence holders can qualify if the licence authorizes the vehicle and they have at least four years of licensed experience.
• The supervisor must sit in the front passenger seat.
• Prepare with Ontario G1 practice tests.

Who legally qualifies to supervise an Ontario G1 driver in the vehicle?

The supervisor must be fully licensed to drive the Class G vehicle, have at least four years of licensed driving experience, meet the applicable BAC rule, and sit in the front passenger seat.

The supervisor does not need to be a parent or guardian. Any person who meets the legal requirements can supervise.

Licence Classes, Four-Year Experience and Out-of-Province Supervisors

The qualified supervising driver must meet Ontario's licence, experience and BAC rules.

Complete Ontario permit details are on the Ontario permit guide.

• Licence Class: A fully licensed Class A, B, C, D, E, F or G driver can qualify when the licence authorizes the Class G vehicle. A G1 or G2 licence does not qualify, and an M-only licence does not make the person a fully licensed Class G driver.
• Driving Experience: The supervisor needs at least four years of licensed driving experience. Time spent with a valid, non-suspended G2 licence counts toward those four years. Ontario cards may show four dots as a quick indicator of four or more years of experience.
• Out-of-Province or Foreign Licence: An equivalent full licence from another jurisdiction can qualify if it authorizes the person to drive the vehicle and the person has at least four years of licensed experience.
• Age and BAC: There is no separate minimum supervisor age beyond the licence and experience requirements. A qualifying supervisor who is 21 or under must have zero BAC; a qualifying supervisor who is 22 or older must remain below 0.05%.
• Demerit Points: Demerit points alone do not disqualify a supervisor. The licence must still be valid and not suspended.

Can someone with an out-of-province licence supervise an Ontario G1 driver?

Yes, if the person holds an equivalent full licence that authorizes them to drive the vehicle, has at least four years of licensed experience and meets the other Ontario accompanying-driver rules.

Does time with a G2 licence count toward the supervisor's four years of experience?

Yes. Time spent at the G2 level counts as long as the G2 licence was valid and not suspended.

Can someone with demerit points supervise a G1 driver?

Yes. Demerit points by themselves do not disqualify the supervisor, but a suspended licence does.

Can a 21-year-old supervise an Ontario G1 driver?

Yes, if the person is fully licensed and already has at least four years of licensed driving experience. A supervisor who is 21 or under must have zero BAC while supervising.

Can a Class A, B, C, D, E or F driver supervise a G1 driver? Yes, if the full licence authorizes the person to drive the Class G vehicle and all other accompanying-driver requirements are met.

Supervisor Responsibilities and Legal Limits

The supervisor has specific legal duties and must be fit to drive.

Common G1 Supervisor Mistakes

These examples highlight frequent errors in G1 licence supervision rules.

• Insufficient Experience: If the accompanying driver has less than four years of licensed experience, the G1 driver is not meeting the supervision condition. The current set fine for driving contrary to a licence condition is $85; a qualifying conviction can then trigger a 30-day novice-driver suspension.
• Out-of-Province Licence: A full licence from another jurisdiction is not automatically disqualified. It can qualify if it is equivalent, authorizes the vehicle and the person has at least four years of licensed experience.
• Prohibited Highway: A parent or other ordinary supervisor does not create an exception for restricted highways. A G1 driver may use those highways only when accompanied by a licensed Ontario driving instructor as allowed by the G1 rules.

Before driving, confirm that the supervisor's licence is valid, not suspended, authorizes the vehicle and that they have the required four years of licensed experience. If you are using an out-of-province licence, check the equivalent licence and experience rather than relying on Ontario-card markings alone.