G1 to G licence Ontario: complete timeline & costs (2025)

Planning to get your driver’s licence in Ontario? Most people need 20–24 months from G1 to full G and should budget $251 in government fees (first-try passes). You can cut the first wait by four months with an approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course, and you can often find earlier road-test dates by checking multiple DriveTest locations. This guide lays out each stage, what you’ll pay in 2025, the 8-month shortcut, and a sample timeline with real dates.

Read: Ontario Photo Card vs driver’s licence

At a glance

• Total time: 20 months (with approved BDE) or 24 months (without)
• Total cost: $251 (fees only, first-try passes) → ~$900–$1,200 with BDE + any re-tests
• Requirements: Age 16+, pass vision screening and knowledge test, proper ID
• Licence window: Up to 5 years to finish the graduated program
• Key rule: Zero alcohol (0.00% BAC) for all G1 and G2 drivers

How Ontario’s graduated licensing works

• Three stages: G1 → G2 → G.
• Two road tests: G2 test (G1 exit) and G test (G2 exit).
• Timeframe: Most drivers finish in 20–24 months; you have up to 5 years to complete the program.

Read: How to get an Ontario Health Card (OHIP)

G1 to G licence Ontario – Mandatory wait times

• G1 → G2: 12 months, or 8 months with BDE from a government-approved school.
• G2 → G: 12 months (no shortcut).
• If you’re nearing 5 years: You may requalify as G2 for another 5 years by passing the G2 test again (fees apply). If your novice licence expires with no booked test, you may need to restart at G1.

BDE basics (2025): The standard BDE load is 20 hours theory + 10 hours homework/flexible + 10 hours in-car. Typical pricing in Ontario runs ~$600–$900+ (often higher in the GTA).

Test fees and licensing costs in 2025

All fees include HST (CAD).

Item (Class G)	2025 fee
G1 package (knowledge test + one G2 road-test attempt + 5-year licence)	$159.75
Knowledge test re-attempt	$16.00
G2 road test (standalone/re-attempt)	$53.75
G road test (G2 exit)	$91.25
Five-year licence (renewal)	$90.00

Typical first-try total (no school): $159.75 + $91.25 = $251.00
Illustrative “with school + one re-test”: ~$159.75 + ~$700 (BDE mid-range) + $53.75 + $91.25 ≈ $1,004.75 (varies by city/school).

Booking and payments: You can book online or by phone; give 48+ hours notice to cancel or reschedule without losing your fee. If you fail, you generally must wait at least 10 days and pay the test fee again.

G1 to G licence Ontario Sample timelines with real dates (appointments vary)

Assume you pass each test on the first attempt and can find dates within 2–5 weeks of eligibility. Start date: January 15, 2026.

Without BDE (24-month path)

• Jan 15, 2026: G1 knowledge test & vision screening at a DriveTest Centre (or the ServiceOntario Bay & College location in Toronto).
• Jan 16, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027: Practice with a supervising driver (12-month wait).
• Jan 15, 2027: Eligible to book G2 (G1 exit).
• Early–Mid Feb 2027: Take G2 and get your G2 licence.
• Feb 2027 – Feb 2028: Drive on G2 (12-month wait).
• Mid Feb 2028: Eligible to book G (G2 exit).
• Early–Mid Mar 2028: Take G and receive full G.

With approved BDE (20-month path)

• Jan 15, 2026: G1 at DriveTest.
• Feb–Mar 2026: Complete BDE (20+10+10 hours).
• Sep 15, 2026: Eligible to book G2 (8 months).
• Early–Mid Oct 2026: Take G2 → get G2 licence.
• Oct 2026 – Oct 2027: Drive on G2 (12 months).
• Oct 8, 2027: Eligible to book G.
• Nov 2027: Take G → full G.

Availability varies by centre. Smaller towns often have earlier dates than busy GTA locations. Check multiple sites and watch for cancellations.

What you can and cannot do on each licence

G1 (learner’s permit)

• Supervision: A fully licensed G driver with 4+ years experience must be in the front passenger seat.
• Zero alcohol: 0.00% BAC.
• No driving midnight–5 a.m.
• No 400-series highways / high-speed expressways (e.g., 401, 403, QEW, Gardiner, Conestoga Parkway) unless your supervisor is a licensed driving instructor.
• Seatbelts: One working seatbelt per person.

G2 (intermediate)

• Zero alcohol: 0.00% BAC while you hold G2.
• Night passenger limits (drivers 19 or under only):
  • First 6 months: one passenger 19 or under, midnight–5 a.m.
  • After 6 months: up to three passengers 19 or under, midnight–5 a.m.
  • Limits are waived with a fully licensed (4+ years) accompanying driver or if passengers are immediate family.
• Highways allowed: You may drive on all Ontario roads.

Full G

• No novice restrictions. Standard impairment and traffic laws apply. You may supervise G1 drivers once you’ve held G long enough (typically 4+ years for accompanying-driver eligibility).

If you fail a road test

• Wait: Generally 10 days between attempts.
• Fees: Pay the road-test fee each time.
• Attempts: No set limit while your licence remains valid.
• Keep driving on G2: If you fail the G test, your G2 stays valid until expiry.

Common fail points & quick fixes

• Rolling stops → full stop; count “one-two” before proceeding.
• Lane changes without shoulder checks → mirror-signal-shoulder every time.
• Speed control (too fast/slow) → practise on multi-lane roads with varying limits.
• Highway merges → match speed, signal early, pick a gap and commit.

Booking your road test: strategy that works

• Cast a wide net: Search your home centre and nearby towns (Lindsay, Orangeville, Walkerton, Port Hope, etc.).
• Check often: Cancellations appear throughout the day; refresh the portal.
• Plan ahead: Book as soon as you hit 8 or 12 months of eligibility.
• Know the rules: Cancel/reschedule 48+ hours before your slot to keep your fee; arrive 30+ minutes early; tests typically run in most weather (watch the Service Disruptions page on the day).
• Paperwork: Bring your licence, a roadworthy, insured vehicle, and any required BDE completion info in the system (schools must upload it before you can book at 8 months).

Step-by-step checklist

Stage 1: Getting your G1

• Confirm age 16+ and gather ID (legal name + date of birth + signature).
• Study the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook.
• Take your G1 knowledge test & vision screening at a DriveTest Centre (walk-in at most). In Toronto, the ServiceOntario Bay & College location also offers knowledge tests by appointment.
• Pay $159.75 (includes G1 test + one G2 attempt + 5-year licence).
• Receive your G1 if you pass.

Stage 2: G1 → G2

• Decide on BDE (reduces wait from 12 to 8 months).
• Practise with a supervising driver; keep logs if it helps.
• Book G2 as soon as eligible; ensure your school uploaded your BDE record if using the 8-month path.
• Pass G2; your G2 is valid up to 5 years from the date you first got G1.

Stage 3: G2 → G

• Drive for 12 months on G2; practise highway driving, parallel parking, three-point turns, and roadside stops.
• Book G; bring a safe, insured vehicle.
• Pass G; your full G is valid 5 years and renewable.

FAQ

Key takeaways

• Fastest path: 20 months with approved BDE; standard path 24 months.
• Fees for first-try passes total $251; add BDE (~$600–$900+) and any re-tests.
• Zero BAC for G1/G2; night passenger limits apply only to G2 drivers aged 19 or under.
• Book early, search multiple centres, and obey the 48-hour cancellation rule.

Source:

Who: Compiled by LearnOntario’s research team; reviewed by an MTO-licensed Class G instructor (12 years’ experience).
How: Cross-checked DriveTest fee tables, graduated licensing rules, booking/cancellation policies, and retest waits; verified BDE curriculum hours and the approved-schools directory; noted that knowledge tests are at DriveTest Centres with the Toronto Bay & College exception. Checks completed 2025-11-10 (ET).

• Ontario Ministry of Transportation — Driver’s Licence Fees, accessed 2025-11-10 at www.ontario.ca/page/get-g-drivers-licence-new-drivers
• Official MTO Driver’s Handbook, 2025 edition, ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook
• DriveTest — Road Test Booking System, accessed 2025-11-10 at drivetest.ca
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation — Approved Driving Schools, accessed 2025-11-10 at ontario.ca/page/find-approved-driving-school