FAQ Home | Drivers FAQ | Vehicles FAQ | Safety FAQ | Other FAQ
To identify you, the ministry will need your driver's licence or Registrant Identification Number (RIN), your full name and old address (as it appears on driver's licence or vehicle permit).
You will also need your new address including street number, street name, apartment number or lot concession (if applicable), township and rural route, city and postal code. The ministry requires a complete residential address — a post office box is not sufficient.
Address changes are limited to the principal licence holder as well as other individuals in the same residence, spouses and children.
There is no charge for address changes.
Address information is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Internet transactions are secured through data encryption.
No picture is required to process an address change.
By law, drivers and vehicle/plate owners are required to advise the ministry within six days of the address being changed.
You should receive your new licence within 8 weeks through the mail. A new permit is not issued — a confirmation slip is issued which will be sent to the addressee, and this should be attached to the old vehicle permit.
If you need a new vehicle permit showing your current address, you must provide your original vehicle permit at a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office. Then they will issue a new free vehicle permit for you.
Once you have your new driver's licence, destroy the old one. A new vehicle permit is not issued — a confirmation slip is issued which will be sent to the addressee, and this should be attached to the old vehicle permit.
Call the ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licensing Call Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free 1-800-387-3445(Canada wide) or visit your local Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.
An Ontario residential address is required on drivers' licences and vehicle permits. If you change the address on your driver's licence, the address on your vehicle permit will be automatically changed (and vice versa). However, the vehicle must be registered in your name for this change to take effect.
No, a replacement driver’s licence or vehicle permit cannot be ordered online.
To replace a driver’s licence, visit a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehilce Licence Issuing Office to have your photo retaken. You must provide acceptable identification that shows you legal name, date of birth and signature, and pay a $10 fee. You will get a temporary licence to use until your permanent one is mailed to you. Please refer to the DriveTest website at
http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/HowToApply.aspx for a list of acceptable identify documents.
If your driver’s licence has been lost or stolen, be sure to report it to your local police.
To replace your vehicle permit visit a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office provide acceptable identification to verify your name, date of birth and signature and pay a $10.00 fee.
An address change affects all vehicles/plates registered under a particular Registrant Identification Number (RIN).
The RIN for an individual is their driver’s licence number. The ministry assigns a nine-digit RIN for non-individuals.
If you have more than one RIN you must file an address change for each RIN.
You can update up to five vehicles at a time using this service.
An Ontario residential address is required and will appear on your driver's licence and vehicle permits. However, the ministry will require your mailing address to send your driver's licence and vehicle permits, as well as any other future correspondence/products such as renewal notices. If your mailing address changes, please notify the ministry within six days of the change.
If you had previously filed a mailing address with the ministry and no longer wish to use that mailing address, you must file an address change with the ministry to remove the mailing address. Otherwise, renewal notices etc. will still be sent to the mailing address showing on ministry computer files.
Drivers who want a handbook may purchase one at a DriveTest centre or select a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Office. Book stores and many other commercial retail outlets province wide also carry these books. The cost is $14.95 plus applicable taxes. Individual copies are also available for viewing at public libraries and some Ontario government libraries.
Currently an online version of the ministry's Official Driver's Handbook is available for viewing on the ministry's web site, as a guide to improve road safety. In addition, the web site contains a number of practice questions of the type found on the ministry's knowledge tests.
The ministry's licensing manuals are published as reference materials and are available in a book form that can be easily kept in a vehicle glove box.
It was recognized several years ago that for licensing manuals to be easily accessible to drivers, they needed to be available in commercial outlets as well as in government offices. To this end, the ministry entered into a distribution arrangement with a book distributor. The books are now in major book chains and other commercial retail outlets province wide.
| Fee Table: Getting a Licence | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| G1 Licence - cost includes knowledge test, G1 road test and five year licence | $125.00 | |
| Knowledge Test | $10.00 | |
| Class G1 or M1 Road Test | $40.00 | |
| Five Year Licence | $75.00 | |
| M1 Licence - cost includes knowledge test and 90 day licence | $17.50 | |
| Knowledge Test | $10.00 | |
| 90 Day Licence | $7.50 | |
| Class G2 or M2 Road Test | $75.00 | |
| Classified Licence (class A, B, C, D, E, F) Test Fees | Cost | |
| Complete Classified Test - cost includes knowledge test and road test | $85.00 | |
| Knowledge Test | $10.00 | |
| Road Test | $75.00 | |
| Complete Air Brake (Z) Endorsement Test | $50.00 | |
| Air Brake (Z) Endorsement Practical Test | $40.00 | |
Payments can be made using cash, certified personal cheque, debit card, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, traveller's cheque or money order.
Payments can be made using cash, debit card, VISA, Mastercard, traveller's cheques or money order. Please note that personal cheques are not accepted at DriveTest Centres.
This chart reflects the number of new driver licence permits (G1 and M1) issued monthly in Ontario. These numbers represent applicants who are being licensed for the first time.
This chart reflects the number of new driver licence permits (G1 and M1) issued monthly in Ontario. These numbers represent applicants who are being licensed for the first time.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 G1 | - | - | - | - | 18,114 | 25,032 | 28,765 | 31,363 | 19,728 | 20,604 | 17,122 | 16,344 |
| 2002 M1 | - | - | - | - | 6,110 | 5,069 | 4,033 | 3,052 | 2,190 | 778 | 114 | 73 |
| 2003 G1 | 17,874 | 14,733 | 20,122 | 16,800 | 18,687 | 19,303 | 19,041 | 20,863 | 19,701 | 20,166 | 16,271 | 16,541 |
| 2003 M1 | 241 | 842 | 2,857 | 4,448 | 4,757 | 4,473 | 3,286 | 2,311 | 2,191 | 757 | 91 | 80 |
| 2004 G1 | 15,270 | 14,851 | 22,607 | 17,617 | 16,983 | 16,161 | 22,728 | 11,260 | 19,361 | 17,579 | 16,325 | 16,415 |
| 2004 M1 | 166 | 832 | 3,329 | 4,556 | 4,337 | 4,427 | 3,644 | 1,469 | 1,866 | 741 | 109 | 45 |
| 2005 G1 | 15,131 | 17,662 | 21,827 | 20,854 | 20,734 | 21,269 | 25,766 | 31,877 | 22,307 | 20,948 | 19,832 | 19,025 |
| 2005 M1 | 162 | 821 | 2,501 | 5,808 | 4,654 | 4,267 | 3,524 | 3,015 | 2,186 | 788 | 117 | 40 |
| 2006 G1 | 20,622 | 16,889 | 24,638 | 18,016 | 20,829 | 20,655 | 24,045 | 29,874 | 20,203 | 19,575 | 18,810 | 16,410 |
| 2006 M1 | 297 | 863 | 3,445 | 5,423 | 5,804 | 5,003 | 3,971 | 3,356 | 1,767 | 675 | 131 | 69 |
| 2007 G1 | 19,872 | 15,601 | 21,724 | 17,614 | 19,184 | 19,367 | 24,875 | 30,615 | 18,042 | 20,626 | 18,489 | 14,710 |
| 2006 M1 | 239 | 738 | 3,496 | 5,664 | 6,486 | 5,465 | 4,648 | 3,888 | 2,115 | 1,065 | 155 | 53 |
| 2008 G1 | 19,855 | 16,057 | 20,717 | 21,255 | 19,503 | 19,473 | 25,479 | 27,807 | 20,333 | 20.785 | 17,581 | 20,136 |
| 2006 M1 | 304 | 1,094 | 2,825 | 8,442 | 7,315 | 6,604 | 6,169 | 4,207 | 2,563 | 997 | 145 | 43 |
| 2009 G1 | 17,360 | 15,449 | 23,788 | 19,356 | 19,399 | |||||||
| 2009 M1 | 211 | 1,082 | 4,871 | 6,662 | 6,052 |
No. The Ministry of the Attorney General reviewed all Ontario laws that set a minimum age requirement. This was done to ensure they obeyed provisions prohibiting age discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights. After this review, the government decided to maintain 16 years as the minimum legal age for many "adult" activities in Ontario, such as leaving school, working full-time, and driving.
The Ministry of Transportation agrees that the average 16 year-old has sufficient maturity and judgement to handle the responsibility of driving. Nevertheless, we are concerned by the number of collisions involving young people and inexperienced drivers. That is why we introduced the Graduated Licensing System in 1994.
Graduated licensing introduces beginners into the driving population in a low-risk manner. Under this program, new drivers are expected to earn full driving privileges in two stages. In stage one, they learn while accompanied by a licensed driver who has at least four years of driving experience. This stage lasts 12 months, or is reduced to eight months for those who successfully complete a ministry approved Beginner Driver Education course.
No. The Ontario government reviewed all provincial laws that set a minimum age. Our province wanted to make sure it didn't discriminate under the Ontario Human Rights code and the Canadian Charter of Rights. After this review, the government decided to maintain 16 as the legal minimum age for many "adult" activities such as leaving school, working full-time and driving.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) realizes many teenagers regard a driver's licence as an important step towards independence and adulthood. Some would even like to see the driving age lowered to 15. Statistics, however, show that drivers between 16 and 20 are involved in the greatest number of collisions per age group. MTO is extemely concerned by the number of young people killed and injured in these accidents. That is why we introduced graduated licensing in 1994.
A new driver is any driver in Ontario who holds a G1, G2, M1, or M2 class driver's licence, M2 class driver's license with condition "L" or a driver's licence with any combination of new classes (e.g., G2M2).
A driver who holds a combination of a full class licence and a new class licence (.e.g., AM2 or MG2) is deemed to be a new driver in the novice class only (e.g., M2 or G2).
With the introduction of Ontario's Graduated Licensing System in 1994, new drivers progress through a two-stage program by completing the mandatory time periods for each level and passing the required road tests (also called exit tests). New licence holders have five years to complete the program and graduate from Level 1 (G1 or M1) to Level 2 (G2 or M2 or M2 with condition "L") to a full class licence (G or M or M with condition "L").
If new (novice) drivers do not exit the graduated licensing program in five years, their new class licence expires. Unlike a full class driver's licence (e.g., classes G or M, or M with condition "L"), a new class licence is not renewable and cannot be extended).
New drivers who do not exit graduated licensing or requalify for their new class licence before their new licence expires, will be unlicensed and unable to drive. These drivers will be required to reapply for the Level 1 licence by completing a vision and knowledge test and paying the prescribed fee.
The licence expiry date is printed on the driver's licence.
As well, holders of new class licences receive a notice in the mail before their new class licence expires. The notice is called Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry. It advises new drivers of their licence expiry date and explains the test options available to them. The notice is mailed 6 months before the licence is due to expire to the last address registered with the ministry.
First, they should read the notice carefully. It explains their options for retaining their driver's licence.
Typically, new drivers may either take a test to graduate to the next level of licence (e.g. G1 to G2, or G2 to G); or take a test to requalify for (that is, retain) their current new class (e.g. M2 stays M2).
After they have decided which option they are eligible for and wish to choose, new drivers should then book the appropriate road test at a DriveTest centre or contact the Road Test Booking Call Centre at (416) 325-8580 or 1888-570-6110 or go online.
A G1 driver may:
Upon passing the test, the driver pays the $75.00 licensing fee and receives a new licence good for another five years. Once the licence expires, the driver must reapply for the Level 1 licence.
A G1 driver who fails the G1 road test remains G1 until their licence expires or they pass a G1 road test. They may also take the G knowledge and vision tests to requalify for (that is, retain) their G1. A G1 driver may attempt the G1 road test again before the expiry date. After the expiry date, the driver must reapply for the level 1 licence.
A G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") driver may:
Upon passing the G1 or M1 road test, the driver pays the $75.00 licensing fee and receives a new licence good for another five years.
Upon passing the G2 or M2 or M2 with condition "L" road test, the driver pays a licensing fee based on their birth date. The driver must go to a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.
A G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") driver who fails the G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") road test remains G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") until their licence expires or they pass another road test. They may attempt the G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") road test again before the licence expires, or attempt the G1 (or M1) road test to requalify for (that is, retain) G2 (or M2, or M2 with condition "L"), before their licence expires. Once the licence expires, the driver must reapply for the Level 1 licence.
A G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") driver who fails the G1 (or M1) road test will have their licence downgraded to G1 (or M1). They may attempt the G1 (or M1) road test to regain their G2 (or M2 or M2 with condition "L") class licence, before their licence expires. A road test cannot be scheduled after the licence expiry date. The driver must reapply for the Level 1 licence and pay the prescribed fee.
New drivers who have passed a road test anytime within twelve months before their licence expiry date, do not have to take the test again. For example, if the holder of a G1 class licence passed the G1 road test to become G2 eight months before their licence expiry date, they would not have to take the test again to requalify for their G2. They would automatically requalify for G2 and receive a new licence good for another five years by going to a DriveTest centre and paying the $75.00 licensing fee before their licence expires.
New drivers are advised to book their road test early before their licence expires The road test appointment must be booked before the licence expires . If a road test is not available before the licence expires, a temporary driver's licence will be issued to the date of the road test.
Once the licence expires, the driver must reapply for the Level 1 licence.
Drivers who hold two new classes will receive a Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry for each class. Usually, the licence expiry date is the expiry date of the first new class obtained. Holders of two new classes must pass the appropriate test for each class they wish to retain.
Drivers who hold both a full and a new class will receive a Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry for the new class, and they must pass the appropriate test to retain the new class.
The licence expiry date of the licence is usually the expiry date of the full class, so if drivers choose not to retain the new class and do not pass a road test by the expiry date of the new class, their licence will be downgraded to the full class.
To replace a driver's licence, visit a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office to have your photo retaken. You will be required to produce identification to show your legal name, date of birth and signature and pay a $10 fee. You will get a temporary licence to use until your permanent one is mailed to you. Please refer to the DriveTest website at
http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/HowToApply.aspx for a list of acceptable identity documents.
If your driver's licence has been lost or stolen, report it to your local police.
Normally, in order to replace a driver's licence, the ministry requires that you have your photograph retaken. If you will be returning to Ontario within the next six months, the ministry can mail you a temporary licence, provided that your driver's licence is valid and not cancelled or under suspension. When you return to Ontario, please visit a ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office to replace your driver's licence. You will be required to produce identification showing your legal name, date of birth and signature and pay a $10 fee. Please refer to the DriveTest website at
http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/HowToApply.aspx for a list of acceptable identity documents.
If you will be away longer than six months, we may be able to replace your driver's licence with the current photograph and expiry date, provided it is valid and not cancelled or under suspension. For further information, please call the ministry's Service Ontario's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Call Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free (Canada-wide) 1-800-387-3445 or write to:
Ministry of Transportation
Licensing Administration and Support Office
2680 Keele Street
Bldg “A”, Room 178
Downsview, ON M3M 3E6
Fax: 416-235-4414
The ministry will require your out-of-province mailing address, your return date to Ontario, telephone number and either your driver's licence number or your full name and date of birth.
FAQ Home | Drivers FAQ | Vehicles FAQ | Safety FAQ | Other FAQ
This site is maintained by the Government of Ontario
Privacy | Important Notices | External Links Disclaimer
© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2009
Last modified: June 12, 2009