If you want to drive in Ontario, you will need to go through their Driver’s License Graduated System. Through this system, you can earn a higher level of license based on your skill as a driver. In this article, we will talk about the first step in this process which is the G1 License.
1. Go to a DriveTest Centre
You will go through the process of getting a G1 License in your chosen DriveTest Centre. To check the nearest one near you, check the Ontario DriveTest website.
2. Give them your identification and the information they ask for
From your ID, they will get your name and date of birth. If your date of birth is not there, they will ask you for it. They will also ask you for your address and your zip code.
Because I didn’t have any Canadian ID yet, I gave them my Foreign passport, and they accepted that. I also brought my Confirmation of Permanent Resident, but they didn’t ask for it.
They will not ask for your SIN. If somebody asks for your SIN, it may be a scam.
3. Answer the Questionaire
The DriveTest centre employee will give you a questionnaire. We were made to answer four questions about our eye health and the potential for losing consciousness behind the wheel. At the bottom of the questionnaire, you will need to leave your signature before giving the document back to the employee.
4. Go through the Eye Exam
In most DriveTest facilities, they make you look into a device. They will ask you a few questions while you are looking inside:
- They may ask you to say the numbers you see
- A series of lights will show one at a time. You will say if it is on the right side or the left.
5. Confirm your details printed on the questionnaire and pay the fee
After passing the eye exam, the employee assigned to you will print your name and address on the questionnaire you answered earlier. If everything is in order, it’s time to pay. In our case, we paid $159.75.
This amount includes the knowledge test, a Class G2 road test (to earn your G2 licence), and a five-year licence if you pass the road test.
To confirm the amount that you need to pay, you can check DriveTest.ca list of fees.
After payment, they will give you a receipt and your instructions for the G1 exam.
6. Take the G1 License Exam
The employee who received your payment should tell you where to go to take the exam. When I took the exam, it was in another room, separate from the lobby of the DriveTest Centre.
In my case, the exam was computer-based. It’s pretty straightforward. You sit down in front of a computer, read the instructions and take the test.
Be prepared because the exam room may be quite noisy at times, especially during weekends when there are a lot more applicants.
A good number of people failed the test. In the testing center where we took the test, you can pay around $16 and retake the test if you fail.
Thankfully, I passed the test on my first attempt. If you want to learn how I reviewed the G1 test, click here.