G1 Exit Test
The next thing you have to do after studying all the road signs and passing the Ontario G1 test is to go onto G2 preparation. If you have a G1 you have to pass a road test to get to the G2 level. When you do meet the full requirements for the G1 then you can book a G1 exit test which will test your basic driving skills. If you are using a family vehicle and are worried about unpaid municipal parking or red light tickets, know that under HTA Section 7 (11), these administrative penalties block vehicle license plate renewals, but they generally do not block you from booking your individual road test. You have to have a G1 licence for 12 months before you can try to get your G2. However, if you take a driver education course you can cut that wait time to 8 months. To be ready for this test you should practice driving with the following restrictions:
- You must not drive if you have been drinking alcohol. Your blood alcohol level must be zero.
- You must not drive alone; an accompanying driver must sit in the front passenger seat and have a valid Class G (or higher) licence, at least 4 years of driving experience, and must have BAC level less than .05% when accompanying you.
- Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt. Keep in mind that under HTA Section 106 (4), your liability as a driver for passengers ends at age 16; adults 16 and older are responsible for their own seatbelts and fines, isolating the exact age where you are indemnified from passenger negligence and preventing unfair demerit accumulation on your novice record.
- You must not drive on 400-series highways or high-speed roads with a posted speed limit over 80 km/h, unless you are accompanied by a driving instructor.
- You must not drive between midnight and 5 a.m..
There are a few options for driving practice you can look into:
- in class lessons followed by road lessons to let you do the road test in 8 months;
- go straight to road lessons and take as many as you think you need;
- drive with a family member who has a full G licence and has at least 4 years of driving experience in Canada. This way you can drive their vehicle as much as you want and then wait the 12 month period and take the road test with that same car. However, vehicle owners must be cautious: under HTA s. 172 (9), (12), if you lend your car to a novice who stunts, the vehicle owner faces absolute liability for all towing and impound costs. Parents can be held financially hostage to the impound lot (often $1,000+) regardless of their innocence regarding the child’s stunt driving.
So now that you have passed your G1 exit road test, you will get your G2 licence at the end of eight to twelve months’ period after getting your G1.
G2
With the G2 licence you will have fewer conditions but there are a couple:
- You must not drive if you have been drinking alcohol. Your blood alcohol level must be zero.
- Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt.
- In addition, the following restrictions apply between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. to G2 drivers aged 19 years and under: 1) In the first 6 months after receiving your G2 licence, you are allowed to carry only 1 passenger aged 19 and under. 2) After 6 months with your G2 licence and until you obtain full G licence or turn 20, you are allowed to carry up to 3 passengers aged 19 or under.
Full G Licence
After one year you are ready to take the second road test, to get a full G licence. Now you can drive anywhere at any time and have as much as 0.07% alcohol in your body (but you really should not! and drivers under 21 excepted!).
It is all about a continuation when you are trying to get your licence. There are a number of steps you have to take in order to get your full G licence. However, it is not as daunting as it may seem. You just have to study and be prepared, and taking some classes would be a good idea. As you progress, remember that any infractions can severely impact your novice status; under O. Reg. 339/94, Section 2(1), demerit points are applied retroactively to the offense date, not the conviction date. This destroys the legal strategy of delaying trials to avoid suspension, as the algorithm calculates points based on the day the ticket was issued, meaning you cannot “age out” points by pushing back your trial.
