The Basics
In Ontario, we have a graduated licensing system: you start with a written exam to get your G1. This allows you to drive in the presence of a driving instructor or an experienced G license holder (in other words, someone who has had their G for 5 years, uninterrupted). After that, you get to do your G1 exit road test. This allows you to get a G2. A G2 allows you to drive all by yourself. The only difference between a G and a G2 are:- You must have zero blood alcohol level (generally a good thing to follow, even if you are a G)
- Everyone in the car must have a working seatbelt
- If you are under 19 years of age:
- In the first six months after receiving your G2 licence, you can carry only one passenger aged 19 or under.
- After six months with your G2 licence and until you obtain your full G licence or turn 20, you are allowed to carry up to three passengers aged 19 or under.
- Insurance rates are generally lower for a G holder compared to a G2 holder
- Your G2 expires in 5 years. If you don't pass your G2 exit test, you will have to redo the written test and G1 exit test all over again.
Finally, you get to do your G2 exit test a year after you got your G2 license (unless you are an immigrant who had a license in your home country. You are given credit for that experience and can take your G2 exit test without having to wait a year). This would be your last official driving test you will have to take until you are in 70s.
How to Pass the Test
To be honest, the G2 exit test is more about showmanship than it is about driving. If you have been driving for a long time, you probably have a set of skills to help you navigate Ontario streets. Unfortunately, for those 20 mins of the test, you have to forget those skills and show a different set of skills the examiners are looking for. Here is how to do that.
First, take a look at the official handbook online. It will give you a good idea of what you are expected to do. In essence, each maneuver is broken into several different moves that you need to perform in order to pass the test. The most important maneuvers you will be required to do are:
- Starting from a parked position
- Passing a STOP intersection
- Passing an ALL WAY STOP intersection
- Passing a traffic intersection
- Changing lanes in a residential or business area
- Entering and exiting highways
- Changing lanes on a highway
- Three-point turn
- Emergency stop
- Parellel parking
Tips for Passing
The following are just some of the common mistakes you should probably avoid:
- Be familiar with the test routes. We publish them on our website.
- Always change lanes to the rightmost lane, especially after a left turn. You will lose points if you don't. Don't expect the examiner to prompt you to change to the correct lane.
- Check your blindspot whenever you turn or change lanes. Make sure you turn your head and make it obvious you are doing so. You can also verbally announce it so your examiner knows you are doing it.
- Check traffic when approaching an intersection. Even if it is green, make sure to move your head left and right and then left. To be safe, you can loudly announce: "traffic check!" to let your examiner know you are doing it.
- Reach the highway driving speed (usually 100 km/hr) before merging.
- Merge into the exit lane from the highway as soon as it appears.
Drive Test Route Maps
See our posts for user-submitted maps of potential routes for the test!
After You Pass the Test
Congratulations! You are now an officially certified Ontario driver! Always be safe when driving and never get too confident!
We have some tips on saving on auto insurance since your next step now is probably calling your insurance company to share the good news with them!
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