To drive a car, van, or small truck in Ontario, drivers must obtain a G-class license. To do this, drivers have to go through the province’s graduated licensing system, which starts with the G1 and ends with the G license. Having a second driver on your insurance policy can raise rates significantly, especially if they’re young.
While you hold a G1 license, you’re considered a learner who must always drive with an experienced driver present in the car. After 12 months, you are allowed to take the G2 road test to obtain your G2 license. When you get your G2, there are still restrictions, but after another 12 months of driving, you can take your G road test to become a fully licensed driver.
There are different costs associated with each step of the graduated program, but we’ll start with the cost of a G1 license.
Cost of a G1 license
To get your G1, which remains valid for five years, it will cost $158.25. This includes the written knowledge test to get the license, and the road test you’ll need to take to obtain your G2. To study for the written test, you’ll want to review the official Ministry of Transportation Driver’s Handbook, which can be purchased for $16.
If you opt to take a driver education program, you’ll have to pay separately for that as well, and this can range anywhere from $200 to $800.
However, you could recoup these costs later in insurance premiums, because most car insurance providers give discounts to drivers who take courses through recognized schools.
If you fail the initial knowledge test to get your G1, there will be an additional fee of $15.75 for each subsequent attempt.
When you add it all up, the cost of a G1 license looks like this:
- $158.25 for the license itself.
- $16 for the handbook.
- $15.75 for the test.
- $200-$800 for the optional driving courses.
That’s $190 for the book, one successful test, and the license. Taking a driver’s ed course could bump that up to anywhere from $390 to $990, but taking that course could save you more money pretty quickly through reduced rates.
Price of the G2 license
Once you have your G2 license, you’ll have to pay a $90 licensing fee, and the license will be valid for five years. However, if you fail the road test, there will be an added fee of $52.50 for an additional test.
That puts the cost of a G2 license between $90 and $144.50. Combined with the previous $190 cost for a G1 license, that’s a running total of $280, not including driver’s education or multiple exam attempts.
Paying for a G license
To get your G license, you’ll need to take the G road test, and the cost for this exam is $89.25. By this stage you’ll have already paid $190 for the cost of a G1 license and $90 for the G2.
When you add all the costs and fees together from the G1, G2, and G licenses, you’ll end up paying a total of $369.25 for a full G-class Ontario driver’s license. This amount, however, doesn’t include driving courses or any additional tests you may want to take.
Costs associated with registering and insuring a vehicle
When you purchase a car, you’ll also have to budget for vehicle registration, which includes your vehicle permit ($32), license plate ($59), and plate sticker ($60 to $120). And don’t forget about the cost of auto insurance, which varies substantially based on a number of factors.
Not including auto insurance (which is legally mandatory in Ontario), the running total for getting everything in order is going to be $580.25, after all the licenses and vehicle registrations are covered. There are many fees associated with getting your G-class driver’s license in Ontario, but a driver can obtain a full license for under $350.
However, there are other costs you may want to budget for, including study guides, additional tests, and driver education courses, which could save you money, in the long run, thanks to discounts from vehicle insurance providers.
