Ontario G1 Next Steps: Practice Driving, Waiting Period, Training and G2 Test (2026)

After getting your G1, start supervised practice in low-traffic areas and progressively move to highways with an instructor, night driving, and adverse weather. These are the conditions the G2 road test evaluates.

• Your Ontario Class G1 licence is valid for up to five years.
• You may not drive unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver seated in the front passenger seat.
• Prepare with Ontario G1 practice tests.

What should you do immediately after getting your Ontario G1 permit?

Start supervised practice as soon as you are comfortable. An MTO-approved BDE course is optional, but successful completion can reduce the G1-to-G2 wait from 12 months to 8 months once the driving school has entered the certification in the MTO system.

A Driver's Licence History can be ordered as proof of BDE completion when you need it, but it is not required to prove your 8-month road-test eligibility to DriveTest.

How do you know when your BDE completion has been added to the MTO system?

Ask the approved driving school to confirm that it submitted your successful BDE completion. The reduced 8-month G2 eligibility depends on that certification being recorded in the MTO system.

Do you need to bring a BDE certificate to your G2 road test?

No. DriveTest uses the BDE completion recorded in the MTO system for the reduced waiting period. A Driver's Licence History can still be ordered separately if you need proof of completion for another purpose.

G1 Rules to Follow While You Practise

Keep following the core G1 rules while you practise: use a qualified accompanying driver with at least four years of licensed driving experience, do not drive from midnight to 5 a.m., follow the restricted-highway rule, and keep zero alcohol/cannabis as required for novice drivers. A qualifying supervisor must hold a full licence that authorizes the Class G vehicle; if the supervisor is 21 or under, their BAC must be zero.

Detailed restriction, penalty, DUI and supervisor rules belong on their dedicated pages.

How to build the driving skills Ontario examiners test at the G2 level

Ontario does not mandate a logbook, but ample practice is critical for passing your G2 test.

Full Ontario permit rules are at the Ontario learner's permit guide.

• Start a Personal Log: Track at least 40-50 hours of varied driving. Download unofficial log sheets from driving schools to stay accountable.
• Practice Variety:
  • Urban Congestion: Practice lane changes in busy areas like downtown Mississauga or Ottawa.
  • Weather Conditions: Gain experience in rain, fog, and winter snow to understand stopping distances.
  • Rural Roads: Drive on 80 km/h country roads to practice scanning for wildlife and maintaining speed.
• G1 Insurance: You are typically covered under the vehicle owner's policy, but you must notify the insurer a learner is using the car.

Preparing for Your G2 Road Test

Book through DriveTest for a date after your 8- or 12-month eligibility point. You may choose a location that offers the G2 test and has an available appointment; compare current availability rather than assuming one centre is always easier.

Your initial $159.75 G1 package includes the first G2 road test. A later G2 road-test attempt costs $53.75.

Avoid G2 Road-Test Booking and Vehicle Problems

Before test day, confirm your eligibility date, make sure any BDE certification has been entered in the MTO system, and check that the vehicle meets DriveTest requirements.

Make sure your vehicle meets DriveTest requirements before the appointment, because a vehicle problem can prevent the road test from proceeding. See the dedicated vehicle-requirements guide for the inspection and fee rules.

What happens immediately after you pass the G2 road test?

You move from the G1 stage to G2. Follow the G2 rules and use the next 12 months to build the experience needed for the full G road test.

How long after getting G2 can you take the full G road test?

You must hold G2 for at least 12 months before taking the full G road test.