Ontario G1 Test Cost & Requirements 2026 — Everything You Need

Updated October 2026 · 6 min read

Bottom lineThe Ontario G1 licensing package is $158.25 in 2026, you must be at least 16, and you must bring two pieces of accepted ID to any DriveTest centre. The package covers one knowledge test attempt, your G1 licence, and one G2 road test attempt. Nothing is bookable before you have your name, address, and ID squared away.

What the G1 package actually buys you in 2026

Ontario sells the G1 as a single licensing package, not as a one-off knowledge test. In 2026 the package is $158.25 and includes three things, in this order:

The G1 knowledge test — 40 multiple-choice questions, 20 signs and 20 rules, with 80% needed per section. One attempt is included; a retest of a failed section carries its own fee at the counter.
The G1 licence itself — printed and valid for five years from the date you pass.
One G2 road test attempt — the practical driving test you book after you have held your G1 for 12 months (or 8 months with an MTO-approved driver education course).

You pay the full $158.25 at your first visit, no matter which parts of the package you use. The amount is set by the Province of Ontario; it is the same at every DriveTest centre.

Age and residency

You must be at least 16 years old on test day. There is no maximum age; Ontario regularly licenses first-time drivers in their 50s and 60s. You must be a resident of Ontario and able to produce documents that prove your legal name, date of birth, and (where applicable) legal presence in Canada.

ID you need to bring

DriveTest's ID rules are strict in 2026. You need documents that together prove three things: legal name, date of birth, and signature. One document can cover more than one; a few examples:

Canadian passport (name, DOB, signature) — one document, all three covered.
Permanent resident card plus a signed credit or debit card.
Canadian citizenship card plus a signed debit card.
Birth certificate plus a signed debit card (no photo required for the G1, but DriveTest keeps a photo as part of your file).

A school ID alone is not accepted. If you are unsure your paperwork is enough, check the current ID list on drivetest.ca before you drive to the centre — it is updated every few months.

How to book — walk-in vs. appointment

Most DriveTest centres take walk-ins for the knowledge test, though the Greater Toronto Area and other high-demand centres fill their counters before noon. You can book an appointment online at drivetest.ca at any centre that offers it, which saves the wait but costs nothing extra. If you walk in, go first thing in the morning on a weekday.

What happens on test day

Vision test — a standard eye chart. Bring your glasses or contacts if you need them.
Photograph — DriveTest adds a photo to your file.
Payment — $158.25, debit or credit most common.
Knowledge test — on a touchscreen or paper, depending on the centre. Not timed. Most people finish in 20–30 minutes.
Results — immediate. If you pass both sections, you walk out with a temporary paper G1 the same day and a plastic card in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks.

What you can and cannot do with a G1

Passing your G1 is the start of Ontario's Graduated Licensing System. The G1 licence has restrictions designed to pair you with an experienced driver until you have enough practice to take the G2 road test. The restrictions in 2026 are:

Fully licensed Class G driver in the front passenger seat at all times, with at least four years of driving experience, zero blood alcohol, and under 0.05 if their licence is G1 or G2 themselves (which disqualifies them as a supervisor).
Zero blood alcohol for the G1 driver.
No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
No 400-series highways or high-speed expressways listed in the handbook, unless accompanied by a licensed Ministry of Transportation driving instructor.
Seatbelts for every passenger, no exceptions.
No handheld electronic devices, including hands-free devices if you are under 19 (G1 and G2 drivers under 22 must have zero blood alcohol as well, which overlaps).

Break any of these and your G1 can be suspended on the spot by an officer. The restrictions ease at G2 and lift completely at full G.

What happens if you fail

You rebook the failed section at any DriveTest centre. Each retake has its own fee, there is no mandatory waiting period, and there is no cap on attempts. DriveTest prints a short breakdown of what you missed so you know which chapter of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook to re-read.

Study before you book

Everything on the test is in the handbook, but a focused study pass beats re-reading cover to cover. The Ontario G1 hub on this site has a 500-question practice bank, a 40-question G1 mock test, and separate drills for signs and rules of the road — all free, no sign-up, built straight from the 2026 handbook.