This guide covers the G1 knowledge test, the written test you pass to get your first Ontario driver’s licence. Pass it and you can start learning to drive. You’ll see how it’s marked, what it covers and what to bring to DriveTest. When you feel ready, there’s a free practice test further down.
2Sections: road signs, and rules of the road
80%Total score needed to pass (official rule)
No limitTake the time you need, until the office closes
Updated October 2026 · Written from the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook
Key facts
At a glance
Format
Multiple choice, in two sections: signs and rules
To pass
A total score of 80% or more
Time limit
None. It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes
Fee
$159.75 G1 package (test, G2 driving test and licence)
Where
Any DriveTest Centre, no appointment needed
Languages
32, including French, Punjabi and Arabic
How it works
How the testing works: road signs, then rules of the road
You take the G1 knowledge test at a DriveTest Centre. You do not need an appointment: people are served first come, first served.
In downtown Toronto, the ServiceOntario centre at Bay and College also gives the test, by appointment only.
To apply, you must be at least 16 years old and live in Ontario. Visitors cannot apply.
Since May 11, 2026, you must also declare that Ontario is your primary residence and that your presence in Canada is legal.
At the counter, you show your ID, fill in forms and pay. A customer service agent then gives you a short vision test.
For the vision test, you look into a machine and read letters or numbers that get smaller. You also say when a light flashes, and on which side.
You need vision of 20/50 or better with both eyes open together, with or without glasses. You also need a 120-degree field of vision.
Topics
What’s on the test
01
Getting Your G1 Licence
Who can apply, what the knowledge test involves, and the rules for G1 and G2 drivers.
Key points (4)
You must be at least 16 years old and an Ontario resident to apply for an Ontario driver’s licence.
A new Ontario resident may drive on a valid outside licence for 60 days. A visitor staying more than 3 months needs an international driver’s permit.
Level One lasts 12 months, or eight months if you pass a ministry-approved beginner driver education course.
A G1 driver must have an accompanying driver in the front passenger seat. That driver needs a Class G licence or higher, at least four years of experience and a BAC under .05.
02
Road Signs
What Ontario’s road signs look like and what each one tells you to do.
Key points (4)
A stop sign has eight sides, a red background and white letters. It tells you to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
A school zone sign has five sides and a fluorescent yellow-green background with black symbols. It tells you a school zone is just ahead.
The yield sign is a white triangle with a red edge. You must let vehicles in or near the intersection go first.
The railway crossing sign is a white X with a red edge. It marks the spot where train tracks cross the road.
03
Traffic Lights, Pedestrian Signals and Pavement Markings
How to read traffic lights, beacons, pedestrian signals and the lines painted on the road.
Key points (4)
A green light means you may go straight, turn left or turn right. First, yield to vehicles and pedestrians that are already in the intersection.
A yellow light, also called amber, means the light is about to turn red. Stop if you can do so safely. If you cannot stop safely, go through with caution.
A red light means you must come to a complete stop. Wait until the light turns green and the intersection is clear before you move.
A flashing red light means come to a complete stop. Go only when it is safe. A flashing yellow light means drive with caution as you approach and cross the intersection.
04
Safe Driving Basics
Getting ready to drive, seatbelts and child seats, lights, signals, speed limits and following distance.
Key points (4)
Defensive driving rests on visibility, space and communication. Check your mirrors every five seconds or so.
A driver who does not wear a seatbelt can be fined and gets two demerit points.
The driver is responsible for making sure every passenger under 16 is properly buckled in.
Headlights must be on from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise. They must also be on whenever fog, snow or rain stops you clearly seeing people or vehicles less than 150 metres away.
05
Intersections, Right-of-Way and Turns
Who goes first, where to stop, and how to turn, back up and turn around safely.
Key points (4)
At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to any vehicle that got there before you. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.
When every corner has a stop sign, whoever comes to a full stop first goes first. If two drivers stop together, the one on the left lets the one on the right go.
Signalling does not give you the right-of-way. You must still make sure the way is clear.
Use the first stopping point that is there: the stop line, then the crosswalk, then the sidewalk’s edge, then the intersection’s edge.
06
Sharing the Road
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, trucks, buses, school buses, trains and emergency vehicles.
Key points (4)
In most cases, a driver yields to a pedestrian. To yield means to slow down or stop and let the other person go first.
Do not pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. It may have stopped because a pedestrian is crossing in front of it.
At a pedestrian crossover, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield the whole width of the road. You may go only when the pedestrian has crossed and is safely on the sidewalk.
When you pass a cyclist, leave at least one metre between your vehicle and the cyclist, where practical. Breaking this rule can bring a fine and two demerit points.
07
Lane Changes, Passing, Freeways and Parking
Changing lanes, passing safely, using freeways and HOV lanes, and parking legally.
Key points (4)
Never change lanes without signalling and checking that the move is safe. Check your mirrors, shoulder check, signal, check again, then steer gradually into the new lane.
Do not pass any vehicle within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossover. Do not pass left of the centre line within 30 metres of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel. Never pass a moving snow plow.
Passing on the shoulder is not allowed, with one exception. If a vehicle ahead is turning left, you may use a paved right shoulder to get around it. Never use the left shoulder to pass.
A G1 driver must not drive on 400-series highways with a speed limit over 80 km/h. G1 drivers also may not use the QEW, Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway, E.C. Row Expressway or Conestoga Parkway. Both bans lift if the accompanying driver is a driving instructor.
08
Hazards, Weather and Emergencies
Distraction, fatigue, work zones, animals, bad weather, skids, breakdowns and what to do after a collision.
Key points (4)
Do not compete with another driver or try to get even. Leave traffic enforcement to the police.
If you think someone is following you, do not drive home. Drive to a police station or a busy public place.
If you notice any of these signs, pull off the road and park in a safe place. Lock the doors and take a nap. Only sleep fixes drowsiness.
While driving, even when stopped in traffic or at a red light, it is illegal to hold or use a hand-held phone. The only exception is calling 911 in an emergency.
09
Keeping Your Licence: Points, Alcohol and Suspensions
Licence laws, demerit points, impaired driving, escalating penalties for new drivers and stunt driving.
Key points (4)
You must carry your licence whenever you drive. If a police officer asks for it, you must hand it over right away.
If your name or address changes, tell the Ministry of Transportation no later than six days after.
If your car licence has expired, you have one year to renew it with no tests. If your licence has been expired, suspended or cancelled for more than three years, you must apply again and go through graduated licensing.
Drivers aged 80 or older must renew their licence every two years.
10
Your Vehicle: Maintenance, Insurance and Towing
Keeping your vehicle safe, insured and registered, and towing a trailer legally.
Key points (4)
It is illegal to drive a vehicle that is in a dangerous condition.
Replace a tire when the tread is less than 1.5 millimetres deep, or when the tread-wear indicators touch the road.
Ontario has compulsory automobile insurance. Every vehicle registered in Ontario must be insured.
Ontario uses a plate-to-owner system. The plates belong to you, not to the vehicle. When you sell or change vehicles, take your plates off.
Road signs
Shape and colour give you half the answer
Stop sign: come to a complete stop
School zone ahead
Yield: let other traffic go first
Railway crossing
Snowmobiles may use this road
No bicycles on this road
No pedestrians on this road
No stopping between the signs
No standing between the signs
No parking between the signs
Parking allowed during the times shown
No left turn
Free practice test
Try 20 questions, half signs and half rules
DriveTest doesn’t publish how many questions there are, but people who’ve sat it report 40: 20 on signs and 20 on rules. Our 20 practice questions keep that same half-and-half split, with the 80% bar, so you need 16 right. After each answer you can ask the tutor to explain it another way, or why a different answer is wrong. Anything you miss comes back at the end.
Question 1 of 20
Your passenger asks to be let out between two of these signs. What should you do?
Sample of the knowledge test: same format, 20 questions.
Test day
What to bring to DriveTest
Original, valid identification that shows your legal name and full date of birth. Photocopies and expired documents are not accepted.
The handbook’s checklist says to bring two pieces of identification. Bring two if you can.
Accepted ID includes a Canadian or foreign passport, a Canadian citizenship card with photo, a Secure Certificate of Indian Status or an Ontario Photo Card.
Permanent residents may use a PR card, a Record of Landing, or a Confirmation of Permanent Residence with a valid passport.
Temporary residents may use a study permit, work permit, visitor record or temporary resident permit, or accepted refugee claim documents. DriveTest lists every accepted document.
The fee. As of October 2026, the latest DriveTest fee list (in effect since July 12, 2019) shows $159.75 for the Class G1 licence package. It covers the knowledge test, the G2 road test and a five-year licence.
Before you go
Study the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook. You can read it free on ontario.ca or buy a printed copy.
Check your DriveTest Centre’s hours on drivetest.ca. Arrive at least one hour before it closes, and earlier on Saturdays and school holidays.
Check the fee list on drivetest.ca before you go. Fees are set by the Government of Ontario and can change.
Practise both kinds of questions. You must know the signs and the rules of the road to pass.
After you pass: you must keep a blood-alcohol level of zero, drive only with a qualified accompanying driver, and stay off the road from midnight to 5 a.m.
Plan your practice. Level One lasts 12 months, or 8 months if you pass an approved beginner driver education course.
Every G1 question is based on the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook, and you can read it free on ontario.ca. Want more practice? We’ve compared the apps, websites and in-person options people in Ontario actually use.
Option
Price
Free to use
Links
Official and free
Official MTO Driver’s HandbookOfficial · webEvery G1 question is based on this. The chapters on getting your licence, safe driving, signs and lights, and keeping your licence cover what the test asks. There’s no official PDF, but the one-page version prints or saves easily. It’s also in French.
Official sample knowledge test questionsOfficial · webThe ministry’s own sample, in the same four-option format as the real test. It’s short, so use it to get a feel for the style rather than as your main practice.
Handbook chapter: Traffic Signs and LightsOfficial · webThis one chapter is the whole signs section of the test. It shows each sign with what it means, plus traffic lights, pedestrian signals and pavement markings.
OOntario G1 Practice Test GenieApp · iPhone and AndroidThe most-rated G1 app by far: 4.7 stars from about 42,000 ratings on the App Store, and 4.7 from about 9,800 reviews on Google Play. It has an exam simulator and a bank that re-asks the questions you miss. Watch the price: alongside the 7-day and 30-day passes there are weekly and monthly subscriptions.
Free with ads, Premium passes from $14.99 for 7 days
The app and some practice; the listing doesn’t spell out which parts
Tests.ca and G1.caWeb · OntarioTwo websites from the same network as the Genie app. The free side is generous, and G1.ca lets you start without signing up. Premium adds a bigger question bank and extra guides.
Free with ads, paid Premium (price not shown)
Lots of G1 tests, including a 60-question signs test and a 20 + 20 exam simulator
GG1 Driver’s Test Ontario (Reev Tech)App · iPhone4.8 stars from about 5,400 ratings on the Canadian App Store. Lessons, mock tests and 400+ questions, according to the listing.
Free with ads ($4.99 a week to $19.99 lifetime to remove them)
GG1 Practice Test Ontario 2026App · iPhone4.7 stars from about 1,300 ratings. More than 200 questions split into signs and rules. Users say none of the questions sit behind a paywall.
G1 walk-throughs on YouTubeVideo · freeLots of channels go through G1 signs and questions out loud. Handy if you learn better by watching. They’re unofficial, so check anything surprising against the handbook.
Ministry-approved driving schools (beginner driver education)Local · approved by the MTOThese courses are mostly about the driving, not the written test. They run at least 40 hours, with 20 in class and 10 in the car. Finish one and you can take your G2 road test after 8 months instead of 12. Some insurers give a discount too. Check that a school is approved, not on the revoked list.
DriveTest doesn’t publish an official number. Most people report 40 multiple-choice questions, 20 on road signs and 20 on rules of the road. What DriveTest does say is that there are two sections and you need a total score of at least 80% to pass.
How long is the G1 test, and is there a time limit for writing it?
There’s no time limit. You can take as long as you need until the centre closes, and DriveTest says it usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Add time for the line, the forms and the eye test, and get there at least an hour before closing.
What are the requirements to write the G1 test?
You need to be at least 16 and live in Ontario. Bring original, valid ID showing your legal name and full date of birth, the $159.75 fee (as of October 2026) and your glasses if you drive with them. You’ll also pass a quick eye test on the same visit. Since May 11, 2026, you also declare at the counter that Ontario is your main home and you’re in Canada legally.
How much does the G1 test cost?
You pay $159.75 when you apply, as of October 2026. That’s a package: it covers the knowledge test, your first road test (the G2) and a five-year licence. If you fail and try again, each extra attempt costs $16.00. Fees include tax.
Do I need to book the G1 driver test, or can I walk in?
No. You can walk into any DriveTest Centre and take it. It’s first come, first served, so get there at least an hour before closing. The one exception is ServiceOntario at Bay and College in downtown Toronto, which gives the test by appointment only.
How do I study and prepare for the G1 test? Is there a preparation booklet?
Yes. The booklet is the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook, free to read on ontario.ca, and every question comes from it. To study and prepare, focus on four chapters: getting your licence, safe driving, signs and lights, and keeping your licence. Then check yourself with practice questions until you score well above 80%.
Does the G1 rule test ask about demerit points?
Yes, it can. The rules section covers demerit points and suspensions along with seatbelts, speed limits, school buses, emergency vehicles, passing and sharing the road. They’re in the handbook’s Keeping Your Driver’s Licence chapter. For new drivers, 9 points within two years means a 60-day suspension.
Who runs the G1 test: the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) or DriveTest?
Both, in a way. The Ministry of Transportation sets the rules and the handbook. DriveTest gives the tests on the ministry’s behalf, at its centres across the province. That’s why you’ll hear “MTO test” and “DriveTest” used for the same thing.
Can I take the G1 test online?
No. You have to take it in person, at a DriveTest Centre or at ServiceOntario Bay and College in Toronto. What you can do online is study: the handbook is free on ontario.ca, and there are plenty of free practice tests.
What happens if I fail the G1 test?
You pay $16.00 and try again. Your result stays valid for a year, and if you retry within that year you only redo the sections you didn’t pass. You can usually try again the same day, unless you were caught cheating. Then you have to wait until the next day.
All 20 practice questions with answersA printable list of the practice test above
Your passenger asks to be let out between two of these signs. What should you do?
Drive on and let them out elsewhere. A no stopping sign means you may not stop in the area between the signs, even for a moment. Letting a passenger out would break the rule. Drive on to a place where stopping is allowed.
This sign is on the back of a truck. What should you expect?
A double trailer up to 40 metres long. This placard marks a long commercial vehicle (LCV), a double trailer that can be up to 40 metres long. Expect both its extra length and limited speed when you plan to pass.
What must you do when you come to this sign?
Come to a complete stop. The red eight-sided sign is a stop sign. It means you must bring your vehicle to a complete stop. After stopping, go only when the way is clear.
What does this sign mean?
Traffic lights are ahead. This yellow diamond warns of traffic lights ahead. Slow down.
On truck entrance signs like this, how can you tell which side the entrance is on?
It is on the side the truck is drawn on. This sign warns of a truck entrance ahead. The truck is drawn on the side of the road where the entrance is. If the truck is drawn on the left, the entrance is on the left.
What does this sign mean?
Snowmobiles may use this road. A snowmobile inside a green circle means snowmobiles may use this road. A green circle on a regulatory sign shows an action that is allowed.
What does this sign mean?
Do not turn right on a red light. In Ontario, you may normally turn right on a red light after a complete stop. This sign takes away that choice. You must wait for the light to turn green.
What does this sign warn you about?
Deer often cross this road. This sign warns that deer regularly cross this road. Be alert for animals.
You are in the right lane when you see this sign. What should you do?
Merge into the lane on your left. This sign warns that the right lane ends ahead. If you are in the right lane, you must merge safely with traffic in the lane to the left.
A delivery driver stops between these signs to unload a box. Is this allowed?
Yes, unloading goods is allowed. A no parking sign allows you to stop to load or unload passengers or merchandise. The delivery driver may unload, but must not leave the vehicle parked there.
What new freedom does a G2 licence give you?
You may drive without an accompanying driver. At Level Two you may drive without an accompanying driver, on any Ontario road. You must still have a BAC of zero and a working seatbelt for every person.
Near a freeway exit, you see continuity lines on your right side. What does this mean?
Your lane continues. Continuity lines on your right mean your lane continues. Continuity lines on your left usually mean your lane is ending or exiting.
You signal a lane change. What must you do before moving over?
Check that the way is clear. Signals tell other road users what you plan to do, but a signal does not make a move safe. Check that the way is clear, then move.
While you wait in an intersection to turn left, why should you keep your wheels pointing straight?
A crash from behind could push you into oncoming traffic. Keep your wheels straight while you wait to turn left. If your wheels are turned left and someone hits you from behind, you could be pushed into oncoming traffic. Turn the wheel only when you start the turn.
Failing to slow down and move over for a stopped emergency vehicle is a first offence worth how many points?
3 points. As of October 2026, ontario.ca lists 3 demerit points for failing to slow down or move over for a stopped emergency vehicle, plus a fine, for a first offence. Repeat offences bring higher fines and possible jail of up to six months. The same applies to a stopped tow truck with flashing amber lights.
You start to pass a car, but it speeds up as you pull alongside. What should you do?
Go back to your own lane. If the vehicle you are passing speeds up, do not race it. Go back to your own lane. Passing is only safe when you are sure you can finish without danger.
Pumping the brakes has not helped. How should you use the parking brake to stop?
Hold the button and pull it on firmly. The handbook says to hold the parking brake’s release button and pull the brake on slowly but firmly. Holding the button lets you control how hard it grips. Yanking it can lock the wheels and cause a skid.
You drive to the store and realize you left your licence at home. Which statement is true?
You must carry it every time you drive. In Ontario you must carry your licence whenever you drive. Short trips are not an exception. A police officer can ask for it at any time.
Your car broke down and its engine will not run. It has power brakes and steering. A friend offers to tow it with a rope behind their SUV. What should you do?
Call a tow truck instead. Do not tow a vehicle with power brakes and steering when its engine cannot run. Without the engine, braking and steering are very hard, and a crash can follow. Use a tow truck. Trying to start a car by towing it is also dangerous.
An 18-year-old G2 driver, two months licensed, drives three friends aged 18 home at 2 a.m. Which makes this legal?
A fully licensed driver sits in the front passenger seat. The late-night passenger limits for young G2 drivers do not apply when a fully licensed driver sits in the front passenger seat. They also do not apply when the passengers are immediate family.
Ontario · G1 test