What to Expect on the G2 Road Test

The G2 road test at a glance

The G2 road test checks basic driving skills in real traffic. DriveTest calls it a "city test" and says it usually takes about 20 minutes. Pass it and you earn your G2 licence.

A professional DriveTest driver examiner rides with you, gives directions and scores how you apply the rules of the road, handle your vehicle and drive safely. Road tests for G2 run year-round.

Before you go: what to bring

Bring these to the DriveTest centre:

• A vehicle in good working order, with enough gas for the test
• Your current driver's licence
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive
• Your booking confirmation (showing it on your phone is fine)
• Money for test fees, only if you're hoping for a standby test

As a G1 driver, you can't drive home alone if you don't pass. The handbook says an accompanying driver must come with you to the test centre.

Check your car against the G2 vehicle requirements a few days ahead. If it doesn't meet them, the test is cancelled and you lose half your fee.

Check-in: arrive 30 minutes early

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Park, then go inside to check in. Most centres have a self-serve kiosk; otherwise see a customer service agent.

After check-in, go back to your car and wait for the examiner. If no one arrives within 30 minutes of your appointment time, go back inside to Counter A.

A few rules apply from the moment you check in:

• No passengers or pets. Anyone who came with you waits in a designated area.
• No recording. Phone, dash and action cameras must be off. If a built-in camera can't be turned off, you must confirm out loud that it isn't recording the cabin or pointed at the examiner.
• Weather. Tests go ahead in any weather unless you're told otherwise. In extreme weather, DriveTest may reschedule. Check DriveTest's Service Disruptions page on the day if conditions look bad.

The vehicle check

Before you drive, the examiner walks around your car looking for damage, safety hazards and anything that would stop the test. They may ask you to work the turn signals and brake lights.

The examiner may stop the test, or refuse to start it, if your vehicle isn't in good working order, you show signs of impairment from alcohol or drugs, or your driving skills aren't good enough to finish the test safely.

The examiner also explains the test before you start. They aren't allowed to coach you, so ask any questions first. You won't be asked to do anything illegal.

What the examiner assesses

Ontario lists these skills on the G2 road test:

• Turning left and right
• Stopping
• Traffic lights, stop signs and yield signs
• Lane changes
• One-way streets
• Driving in residential neighbourhoods
• Parallel parking
• Three-point turns

The examiner scores you against set criteria on a scoresheet. In its road test chapter, the Official MTO Driver's Handbook breaks each task into specific actions. A few that apply on almost every G2 route:

• Stops: come to a complete stop with no rolling forward or back. Stop behind the stop line; if there isn't one, at the crosswalk, then the sidewalk edge, then the edge of the intersection.
• Turns: check traffic, signal before slowing, keep both hands on the wheel and finish in the matching lane without crossing lane markings or curbs.
• Lane changes: check mirrors and your blind spot, signal early enough for others to react, and move smoothly into the centre of the new lane.
• Space: keep at least a two- to three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead.
• Residential streets: check your mirrors every five to 10 seconds and watch for driveways, school entrances and crosswalks.
• Parallel parking: stop at least 60 centimetres beside the parked car in front of the space, back in without hitting the curb or another vehicle, then set the parking brake.

DriveTest allows cars with rear cameras, but you still have to show good observation: turn your head, check mirrors and look around when backing. The handbook adds that driving aids like automatic parking and back cameras may not be relied on during the test.

Want to see the full breakdown? Our free G2 lessons and G2 road test checklist cover each task.

Results: what happens after the drive

The examiner gives you a brief verbal summary of your skills right away.

If you pass: go back inside and apply your results. You'll get a temporary licence, valid for 90 days or until your G2 card arrives in the mail. Apply your results within 12 months, or they expire and you'll need to retest. See what changes after you pass.

If you don't pass: your scoresheet shows where to improve. You can book again while your licence is valid. DriveTest says you generally must wait at least 10 days between tests, and you'll pay the road test fee again.

Need your scoresheet? If your test was recorded on a tablet, you can download results online within 15 days after verifying your identity. Paper copies are available on request within 13 months of the test.

Practise the kind of roads you'll see

The route is chosen by the examiner on the day, so practise a mix of roads near your centre: residential streets, busy intersections, one-way streets and places to parallel park.

For more on the whole G2 process, visit the G2 road test hub.