Comprehensive Study Guide for the Official MTO Driver's Handbook

Ontario Driver's Licence Classifications

Ontario utilizes a 12-class licensing system. A Class $G$ licence is the prerequisite for all other classes except Class $M$.

• Class A: Permitted to drive any tractor-trailer combination. May also operate vehicles in Classes $D$ and $G$.

• Class B: Permitted to drive any school purposes bus. May also operate vehicles in Classes $C$, $D$, $E$, $F$, and $G$.

• Class C: Permitted to drive any regular bus. May also operate vehicles in Classes $D$, $F$, and $G$.

• Class D: Permitted to drive a motor vehicle exceeding $11,000 kg$ gross weight or any truck/combination if the towed vehicle is not over $4,600 kg$. Also allows driving Class $G$ vehicles.

• Class D with RV Restriction ("Q"): Specific to recreational vehicles of any weight in Class $D$; excludes other Class $D$ vehicles.

• Class E: School purposes buses with a maximum $24$-passenger capacity. Includes Class $F$ and $G$ privileges.

• Class F: Regular buses with a maximum $24$-passenger capacity and ambulances. Includes Class $G$ privileges.

• Class G: Standard car, van, or small truck. Includes combinations up to $11,000 kg$ provided the towed vehicle is no more than $4,600 kg$. Note: Pickup trucks towing house trailers over $4,600 kg$ are deemed Class $G$ if the total weight is under $11,000 kg$.

• Class G1 / G2: Levels One and Two of graduated licensing for Class $G$.

• Class M: Any motorcycle, motor tricycle, limited-speed motorcycle (scooter), and motor-assisted bicycle (moped). Includes G1 conditions for Class $G$ vehicles.

• Class M1 / M2: Levels One and Two of graduated licensing for motorcycles.

• Condition L: Restricts Class $M$ or $M2$ holders to limited-speed motorcycles or mopeds only.

• Condition M: Restricts Class $M$ or $M2$ holders to motor tricycles only.

• Endorsement Z: Required to operate any vehicle equipped with air brakes.

• Endorsement T (RV): Allows Class $E$, $F$, and $G$ holders to operate recreational vehicles weighing up to $14,000 kg$.

Graduated Licensing System (GLS) and Application

New drivers must enter a two-step process taking at least $20$ months to complete.

• Requirements: Must be at least $16$ years old, pass a vision test, and pass a knowledge test of road rules and signs.

• Level One (G1): Lasts $12$ months (reduced to $8$ months with an approved driver-education course). Rules include:

  • Zero blood-alcohol level.

  • Must be accompanied by a driver with a valid Class $G$ (or higher) licence, at least $4$ years of experience, and a blood-alcohol level below 0.05\text{%}.

  • Every person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt.

  • No driving on $400$-series highways with limits over $80 km/h$ or high-speed expressways (e.g., QEW, DVP, Gardiner, Conestoga) unless with a licensed instructor.

  • No driving between midnight and $5 a.m.$.

• Level Two (G2): Lasts at least $12$ months. Features include:

  • Zero blood-alcohol level.

  • Unlimited highway driving.

  • For drivers $19$ and under, between midnight and $5 a.m.$: Only $1$ passenger aged $19$ or under for the first $6$ months; up to $3$ passengers aged $19$ or under after $6$ months until fully licensed or turning $20$ (exemptions apply for family members or if a fully licensed driver is in the front seat).

• Application Documents: Must provide original, valid proof of legal name and date of birth (e.g., Canadian/Foreign Passport, PRC, Canadian Citizenship Card). As of May 11, 2026, applicants must declare Ontario as their primary residence and legal presence in Canada.

Safe and Responsible Driving Operations

Driving requires integration of visibility, space, and communication (Defensive Driving).

• Seating and Vision: Sit high enough to see over the steering wheel and ground $4 m$ in front. Use a $9$ and $3$ o'clock hand position. Adjust mirrors to minimize blind spots (back left/right). Use the Dutch Reach method to open doors (using the right hand to force a shoulder check).

• Following Distance: Maintain a minimum $2$-second gap in ideal conditions. Increase this for bad weather, heavy loads, or when following motorcycles/large trucks.

• Seatbelts and Child Safety: Drivers are responsible for buckling all passengers under $16$. Failure results in fines and $2$ demerit points. Novices must have a seatbelt for every passenger. Infants under $9 kg$ ($20 lbs$) must use rear-facing seats (never in front of an active airbag). Toddlers $9$ to $18 kg$ ($20-40 lbs$) use forward-facing seats with tethers. Children under $8$ years old, weighing $18-36 kg$ ($40-80 lbs$), or shorter than $145 cm$ ($4 ft 9 in$) must use booster seats.

• Lighting: Headlights must be on between $1/2$ hour before sunset and $1/2$ hour after sunrise, or in poor visibility (less than $150 m$). Switch to low beams within $150 m$ of oncoming vehicles or $60 m$ when following.

• Police Interaction: If signalled to pull over, stop at the right-hand curb, stay in the vehicle, and immediately surrender licence, permit, and insurance. Failing to stop can lead to prison time or licence suspension.

Intersection and Manoeuvre Protocols

• Right-of-Way: At uncontrolled intersections, yield to the vehicle on the right if arriving simultaneously. At all-way stops, yield to the first vehicle to stop. Left-turners must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

• Roundabouts: Traffic moves counter-clockwise. Traffic inside has the right-of-way. Signal right before exiting. Do not change lanes within the roundabout.

• U-Turns: Prohibited on curves, hilltops, or near railways/tunnels/bridges where visibility is under $150 m$ in either direction.

• Passing: Most passing is on the left. Passing on the right is allowed on multi-lane/one-way roads or to pass a left-turning vehicle. Do not pass within $30 m$ of a pedestrian crossover or railway crossing.

• Railway Crossings: Stop at least $5 m$ from the nearest rail. School buses must stop at all unprotected crossings.

• Parking on Hills: Downhill: turn wheels toward curb/right. Uphill with curb: turn wheels toward road/left. Uphill without curb: turn wheels to the right.

Sharing the Road with Special Users

• Pedestrians: Yield for the entire roadway at crossovers and school crossings until everybody has cleared the road.

• Cyclists: Maintain at least $1 m$ distance when passing. Cyclists can use any part of the lane for safety.

• Large Vehicles: Beware of huge blind spots ("No-Zones"); if you can't see the driver's face in their mirror, they can't see you. Buses leaving bus bays must be granted right-of-way.

• School Buses: When overhead red lights flash, stop whether behind or approaching (except on roads with a median where only following traffic stops). Stop at least $20 m$ behind a bus.

• Emergency Vehicles: Pull to the right and stop immediately for red/blue lights or sirens. If an emergency vehicle/tow truck is stopped with lights flashing, slow down and move over one lane if safe.

Adverse Conditions and Emergencies

• Skids: Ease off gas/brake, steer in the direction you want to go. Do not oversteer.

• Hydroplaning: Tires lose contact with wet roads. Reduce speed and avoid puddles.

• Fog/Whiteouts: Use low beams (high beams reflect off droplets/particles). Use the right edge of the road as a guide. If zero visibility, pull off the road entirely.

• Vehicle Failures: If brakes fail, pump the pedal or use the parking brake gently. If gas pedal sticks, shift to neutral and stop. If a tire blows out, steer firmly and ease off the gas.

• Collisions: Reports are mandatory if injuries occur or property damage exceeds $2,000$. Failure to remain at the scene carries $7$ demerit points.

Distracted and Impaired Driving

• Distracted Driving: Texting/browsing increases crash risk $10$ times. Texting drivers travel $28 m$ further before hazard response. Handheld use is illegal even at red lights. Hands-free (Bluetooth) is permitted.

• Impaired Driving: As of 2026, all drivers $21$ and under must have a $0.0$ BAC. For others, the legal limit is $0.08$, with a "Warn Range" of $0.05$ to $0.08$ resulting in immediate roadside suspensions ($3$, $7$, or $30$ days). Criminal Code convictions result in at least a $1$-year suspension and mandatory "Back on Track" programs.

Demerit Point System and Offence Table

Points stay on record for $2$ years from the offence date.

• Fully Licensed ($G$): Warning at $6$ points; interview at $9$ points; $30$-day suspension at $15$ points.

• Novice (G1/G2): Warning at $2$ points; interview at $6$ points; $60$-day suspension at $9$ points.

• 7 Points: Failure to remain at collision; failing to stop for police.

• 6 Points: Careless driving; racing; exceeding speed by $50 km/h$ or more (or $40 km/h$ in <80 km/h zones); failing to stop for school bus.

• 4 Points: Exceeding speed by $30-49 km/h$; following too closely.

• 3 Points: Exceeding speed by $16-29 km/h$; driving through/under railway barriers; failing to yield; disobeying stop signs/lights; distracted driving handheld use.

• 2 Points: Improper turns; failing to signal; failing to share the road; seatbelt violations.

Vehicle Maintenance and Registration

• Tires: Replace if tread is under $1.5 mm$ ($3.0 mm$ for vehicles over $4,500 kg$). Studded tires are legal in Northern Ontario.

• Registration: License plates follow the owner, not the vehicle. New residents have $30$ days to register vehicles.

• Insurance: Compulsory for all vehicles; governed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).

• Towing: Class $G$ holders can tow up to $4,600 kg$. Safety chains must be crossed under the tongue. passengers are prohibited inside any moving trailer.