G1 tips & guides
Straight answers for your Ontario G1: what's on the test, what to bring, how to pass, and where to practise.
How to Remember Demerit Points for the G1 Test
The demerit-point numbers are easy to mix up. Here are simple memory tricks for the ones the G1 test actually asks about: 9 points, 2 years, and the warning steps before them.
How Many Passengers Can a G1 Driver Have?
A G1 driver can carry as many passengers as there are working seatbelts, with one catch: the front seat is only for your accompanying driver. Here is the full rule, plus why G1 and G2 passenger limits differ.
Can a G1 Driver Drive on the Highway?
A G1 driver can't use high-speed freeways like the 401 or the QEW, with one exception: a licensed driving instructor in the car. Here is exactly which roads are off limits and why.
How to Pass the G1 Test on Your First Try
A simple, proven plan to pass the Ontario G1 knowledge test the first time: what to study, how to practise, and what to expect on test day.
What's on the G1 Test: Format, Sections & Pass Mark
The Ontario G1 knowledge test explained: two sections (road signs and rules of the road), multiple-choice questions, and the score you need to pass.
What to Bring to Your G1 Test
A simple checklist for your Ontario G1 test day: the identification you need, how to pay the fee, and the one thing people forget.
The G1 Passing Score Explained (80%)
What score you need to pass the Ontario G1 test: the 80% pass mark, how it applies to each section, and how many questions you can get wrong.
How Many Questions Is the G1 Test (and How Long)?
How many questions are on the Ontario G1 test, how they're split between road signs and rules, and roughly how long the whole thing takes.
How to Get Your Driver's Licence in Ontario: G1 → G2 → G
Getting your Ontario driver's licence means moving through three stages (G1, G2, then full G) under graduated licensing. Here's the whole path, start to finish.
G1 vs G2 vs G: The Three Licence Stages Explained
G1 is your learner stage, G2 lets you drive alone with limits, and G is your full licence. Here's exactly what you can and can't do at each stage in Ontario.
The Graduated Licensing Timeline (and How to Cut the Wait)
Ontario's graduated licensing runs on a clock: at least 12 months at G1 and 12 at G2, within a five-year window, and one legal shortcut can trim four months.
What the G1 Test Costs and Where to Book It
You take the G1 knowledge test through DriveTest, and one application fee bundles the knowledge test, your first road test and a five-year licence. Check the current amount before you go.
The G2 and G Road Tests: What to Expect
Ontario has two road tests (the G2 test that moves you from G1 to G2, and the G2 exit test for your full licence), both booked through DriveTest with clear rules on what to bring.
Getting an Ontario Driver's Licence as a Newcomer
New to Ontario and want to drive? Here's the plain-English path to a driver's licence: prove your identity, pass a vision test, pass the knowledge test, and pay the fees.
Exchanging a Foreign Driver's Licence in Ontario
Already drive back home? You may be able to exchange your foreign licence in Ontario. Here's how exchange works, what decides your path, and where to check the official rules.
Which Countries Can Exchange a Licence in Ontario?
Ontario has licence-exchange agreements with every Canadian province and territory, and with a number of other countries. Here are examples, and why you must check the official current list.
Studying for the G1 When English Is Your Second Language
Studying for the G1 in English as a second language? Simple, proven study tips to learn road signs and rules faster, with plain-English practice that's easy to follow.
Ontario Road Signs Explained: Shapes, Colours & Categories
Learn to read Ontario road signs at a glance: the four main types, and how a sign's shape and colour tell you what it means before you even read the words.
Right-of-Way at Ontario Intersections (Who Goes First?)
Who goes first at a four-way stop, an uncontrolled intersection, or a roundabout? The plain-English right-of-way rules every Ontario driver needs to know.
Ontario Speed Limits (and What Happens If You Break Them)
The default Ontario speed limits when none are posted, how school and construction zones change the rules, and why 'community safety zones' cost you more.
Demerit Points in Ontario, Explained for New Drivers
How Ontario's demerit-point system works: how long points last, and the lower thresholds that suspend a G1 or G2 licence sooner than a full one.
The Zero-Alcohol Rule for New and Young Ontario Drivers
Every G1 and G2 driver, and every driver aged 21 and under, must have zero alcohol in their blood. Here's exactly what that means and what happens if you break it.
Getting Your G1 at 16: A First-Timer's Guide
In Ontario you can apply for your G1 at 16. Here's the whole first-timer's path: the vision test, the knowledge test on signs and rules, what to bring, and what happens after you pass.
Driving With a G1: What You Can and Can't Do
Your G1 lets you practise driving with an experienced driver beside you, but it comes with clear rules: zero alcohol, no driving overnight, no big highways, and always an accompanying driver up front.
A Parent's Guide to Ontario's Graduated Licensing
Your teen just got their G1. Now what? Here's the plain-English parent's guide to Ontario's two-step graduated licensing: the timeline, your role as the supervising driver, and how the whole path works.