In Ontario, you must be at least 16 years of age to drive legally. No matter what your age or driving experience, we highly recommend reading the relevant driver’s handbook prior to driving on Ontario’s roads. Each driver’s handbook contains information on the rules of the road and safe driving practices for that vehicle type.
Ontario has licence exchange agreements with certain provinces, states, and countries. If you are from one of these jurisdictions, you may be eligible to do a direct licence exchange for an Ontario licence without all the required testing. However, if you have a probationary licence (e.g., learner’s permit), you may be entitled only to have driving experience credited.
Canadian military DND 404 permit holders (both active and retired members) may have driver’s licence testing requirements waived. Drivers with a DND 404 permit and a valid licence (within the last 3 years) issued by another Canadian licensing jurisdiction may be eligible, with appropriate ID and documentation, for Ontario licence classes A, C, D, F, G, and Z endorsement without testing and without surrendering their permit. See the Waived Testing Requirements for DND 404 Holders page for details.
Foreign Licence Applications
If you have a licence from a country that does not have a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, you may be eligible to receive credit for your foreign driving experience. However, you are still required to pass all applicable tests to earn your Ontario driver’s licence.
Driving Experience for Protected Persons
Ontario will credit foreign driving experience for protected persons, including refugee claimants, to ease the burden on applicants assimilating into their new communities by allowing them to bypass some of the requirements to obtain an Ontario driver’s licence.
Protected persons can present a photocopy of a foreign driver’s licence, from a non-reciprocating jurisdiction, bearing a stamp from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) or a Border Services Officer as acceptable proof of their foreign driving experience when applying for an Ontario driver’s licence.
The foreign driver’s licence, on the stamped photocopy, can be expired up to one year at the time of application and must be in English or French or must comply with current document translation requirements. The foreign driver’s licence must be from the country of citizenship.
At the time of application, the protected person must provide one of the following original documents in order to be eligible to present a stamped photocopy of their foreign driver’s licence:
- Acknowledge of Claim and Notice to Return for Interview
- Refugee Protection Claimant Document
- Notice of Decision
- Verification of Status
All other identification requirements proving the applicant’s legal name, date of birth, and signature must still be met.
Identification, Drivers’ Abstracts, and Letters of Authentication
When you visit a DriveTest Centre to apply for a licence, you must bring your current driver’s licence, acceptable ID, and possibly a letter of authentication or a driver’s abstract issued within the last six months to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.
To be eligible for an exchange or credit towards an Ontario licence, an out-of-province or out-of-country driver’s licence needs to be in English or French, original, and valid. Ideally, your licence will also display an issue date or visible expiry date; however, an applicant who does not have an issue date or an expiry date (not both) is still able to receive up to 12 months of driving experience credit upon application. If your driver’s licence is not in English or French, it must be accompanied by a written translation from a qualified translator.
Your application must show proof of your legal name, date of birth (must state the day, month, and year of birth), and signature. If there is any variation in the names on the legal identification you present and the name that appears on your licence, you will need to provide acceptable ID or documentation (e.g., marriage certificate; change of name or divorce certificate; or court order) to link your records.
