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Road test guide

The G2 road test in Ontario

The G2 road test is Ontario’s first road test, the “city test”: about 20 minutes of everyday driving with a DriveTest examiner beside you. Pass it and you can drive alone. Here’s what’s on it, the checks the examiner marks on each manoeuvre, and how to get ready.

When

After 12 months with your G1

8 months with an approved BDE course

Length

About 20 minutes

City streets, no highways

Fee

$53.75

First test included in the G1 package

What the examiner checks

Each manoeuvre and the actions marked on it, from the road test chapter of the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook.

  1. 01Left and right turns

    • Check mirrors and traffic, move into the correct lane early and signal in good time.
    • Slow down smoothly and keep a 2 to 3 second gap behind the vehicle ahead.
    • If you stop, stop fully behind the stop line or crosswalk, with your wheels straight while you wait to turn left.
    • Check again (blind spot included) before turning, keep both hands on the wheel and don’t shift gears mid-turn.
    • Finish in the matching lane without crossing markings or touching the curb, then get back up to speed.

  2. 02Stop intersections

    • Stop completely behind the stop line, or the crosswalk or sidewalk edge if there’s no line. No rolling stops.
    • If you’re behind another car, leave room to pull out around it.
    • Look both ways, then go with both hands on the wheel, without shifting in the intersection.

  3. 03Through intersections

    • Scan cross traffic and be ready to brake if someone might enter, without slowing for no reason.
    • Don’t change lanes in the intersection. If it’s blocked, slow or stop rather than going around.
    • Check your mirrors again once you’re through.

  4. 04Lane changes

    • Find a safe gap, signal early, and check your blind spot over your shoulder.
    • Match the speed of the new lane and move smoothly into its centre, keeping a 2 to 3 second gap.
    • Cancel your signal.

  5. 05Curves

    • Slow down before the curve, not in it, and hold a steady speed through it.
    • Look through the curve to stay centred in your lane, and speed up as it straightens.

  6. 06Business areas

    • Watch driveways, side streets, crosswalks and rail crossings.
    • Check mirrors every 5 to 10 seconds, use the safest through lane and stay centred.
    • Stop far enough back to see the rear wheels of the car ahead.

  7. 07Residential streets

    • Watch for schools, crossings, driveways and children near the road.
    • Keep right where you can’t see far ahead, and check mirrors every 5 to 10 seconds.

  8. 08Roadside stop

    • Pick a legal spot, check that traffic is clear, signal and slow down.
    • Stop about 30 cm from the curb without blocking a driveway, put it in park and set the parking brake.
    • To leave: mirrors, left blind spot, signal, then pull out smoothly.

  9. 09Parallel parking

    • Signal and stop about 60 cm beside the vehicle in front of the space.
    • Check all around, including both blind spots, before you reverse.
    • Back in without touching the curb or the other cars, and end up straight within the space.

  10. 10Three-point turn

    • Stop close to the right curb, check traffic and signal.
    • Turn across the road, reverse only once, and never touch the curb.
    • Check mirrors and blind spots at each step.

Before you book

While you’re on your G1, these conditions apply:

  • Your blood-alcohol level must be zero.
  • A fully licensed driver with at least four years of experience sits in the front passenger seat. Their blood-alcohol level must be under 0.05 (zero if they’re 21 or under).
  • Every passenger wears a seat belt.
  • No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
  • No 400-series highways or high-speed expressways (401, 403, QEW, Gardiner, Conestoga Parkway…), unless the accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor.

When your wait is over, book online with your driver’s licence number at DriveTest. You can take the test at any centre that gives the G2. See every DriveTest centre, with distances to the ones nearby if yours is booked up.

On the day

Arrive at least 30 minutes early, check in inside the centre, and wait in your car for the examiner. They’ll walk around the car first. A broken signal light or a warning on the dash can get the test cancelled as “out of order”, so check the car the day before. The examiner can’t coach you, so ask your questions before you start.

Bring:

  • A Class G vehicle in good working order (owned, borrowed or rented: DriveTest doesn’t supply one)
  • Enough gas for the test
  • Your current driver’s licence
  • Your road test confirmation email, printed
  • Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive
  • Money for the fee, if you’re hoping for a standby appointment

Cameras must be off, and no passengers or pets can ride along. If you pass, go back inside to get your temporary licence. Your G2 card comes in the mail.

After the G2

You’ll need 12 months with your G2 before the G road test, the last step to a full licence. The full timeline and G2 rules.

Sources: DriveTest’s road tests and car licences pages and the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook.

Driving lessons

Want a lesson or two before your road test?

Tell us where you are and what you need: a road test refresher, practice on the test routes, or a beginner driver education (BDE) course that lets you take your G2 road test after 8 months instead of 12.

Find a driving school

Questions people ask

+How long do I have to wait to take the G2 road test?

12 months after you get your G1, or 8 months if you finish a Ministry-approved beginner driver education (BDE) course.

+How much is the G2 road test?

$53.75. Your first G2 road test is part of the $159.75 G1 licence package you pay when you apply.

+What happens if I fail my G2 road test?

You get a scoresheet showing what to work on, and you can book again as long as your G1 hasn’t expired. You generally need to wait at least 10 days between tests, and each retest is $53.75.

+Do I need my own car for the G2 road test?

Yes. DriveTest doesn’t supply vehicles. You can use your own, a borrowed or rented car, or a driving school’s car, as long as it’s a Class G vehicle in good working order.

+Is there highway driving on the G2 test?

No. The G2 test is a city test. Highway and expressway driving are on the G road test.

+How long is the G2 road test?

About 20 minutes of driving, plus check-in. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.

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