G2 Road Test Vehicle Requirements

You bring the car, and it has to pass a check

DriveTest centres don't provide vehicles. You bring your own Class G vehicle (a car, van or small truck) to the G2 road test. It can be owned, borrowed or rented, and it doesn't need to be a driving instructor's car.

According to the Official MTO Driver's Handbook, the vehicle must be fit, in proper working condition, plated and insured. Before the test, the examiner does a basic vehicle check and may ask you to help, for example by working the turn signals and brake lights.

Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) can't be used for road tests.

What happens if your car doesn't meet the standard

If the vehicle doesn't meet Ministry of Transportation standards for a road test, the examiner declares the test "out-of-order." It doesn't go ahead.

• You lose 50% of your road test fee.
• The other 50% stays as a credit on your driving record for your next booking.
• You pay the missing 50% to book again.

This applies whether the car is yours, a parent's, a friend's, a driving instructor's or a rental. If you're unsure about something, DriveTest suggests contacting the centre before your appointment.

The official checklist: problems that cancel the test

DriveTest lists the defects that make a road test out-of-order. These are the ones that matter for a typical car.

Lights, signals and visibility

• Brake light not working (left or right)
• Turn signal not working
• Headlights or tail lights not working (when it's dark or visibility is limited)
• Windshield damaged, with large cracks, stars or similar
• Wipers not working, or no washer fluid (if the weather calls for them)
• Defroster or defogger not working (if the weather calls for it)
• No mirror

Brakes, controls and safety equipment

• Foot brake not working
• Horn or speedometer not working
• Seat belt missing or not working, for you or the examiner
• Seat missing or not secured
• Door that won't open or close

Tires, body and exhaust

• A flat tire, or a temporary spare, on any wheel
• Defective tires
• More than one wheel nut missing on a wheel
• Muffler unsecured or defective
• Obvious fuel leaks, or fumes inside the vehicle
• Unsecured parts, such as the hood
• No rear bumper
• Licence plate missing, not secured or altered

Other conditions

• A convertible with the roof down or unsecured
• Recording devices (phone, dash or action cameras) present and not disabled
• A vehicle so unclean it poses a health risk to the examiner, or insects that do
• Any visible or audible defect that breaks the Highway Traffic Act, or any defect that affects safe operation
• A panel van (unless you have a disability or special need and can't reasonably provide another vehicle)

If your car has an ignition interlock device, it must match your licence: a device with no interlock condition on your licence, or a missing device when one is required, both cancel the test.

Plates, insurance and paperwork

The handbook is clear that your road test vehicle must be plated and insured. Ontario has compulsory automobile insurance, and every vehicle registered in the province must be insured. Registration includes licence plates and a vehicle permit.

DriveTest's list also cancels a test for an altered plate, and for a car with yellow-and-black dealer plates if you can't produce a vehicle permit. If you're borrowing or renting a car, confirm the plates and insurance are in order before test day.

Things that aren't about the car, but still cancel the test

Some out-of-order reasons are about you, not your vehicle. You'll lose 50% of your fee if:

• there's a passenger or pet in the car,
• you aren't wearing corrective lenses your licence requires,
• you refuse to wear a seat belt,
• you arrive without a vehicle, or
• you booked the wrong class of test.

Cars with cameras and driving aids

You can use a car with a rear camera. DriveTest says you still have to show good observation: turn your head, check mirrors and look around when backing.

The handbook goes further. It says electronic driving aids such as automatic parallel parking, lane monitoring, cruise control and back cameras may not be used during the road test. You need to show the skills yourself, like shoulder checks and mirror checks.

No-fault problems during the test

Sometimes a problem isn't your fault. DriveTest says the appointment is cancelled and may be rescheduled at no charge if:

• the vehicle won't start,
• a defect appears during the test, such as repeated stalling, a flat tire or failure to accelerate,
• you're in a collision during the test that isn't your fault, or
• you fall ill during the test.

A quick pre-test check you can do at home

Run through this the day before with a helper:

1. Walk around the car and look at all four tires. No temporary spare.
2. Test both brake lights, both turn signals (front and back), headlights and tail lights.
3. Check the horn, wipers and washer fluid.
4. Inspect the windshield for cracks or chips.
5. Make sure every seat belt clicks and releases.
6. Confirm the plates are secure, the insurance is current and the car has enough gas for the test.
7. Clean out loose items, turn off or remove dash cams, and leave pets and passengers at home.

Our free G2 road test checklist has a printable version.

Get comfortable in the car you'll test in

Practise in the same car you'll bring on test day so its mirrors, blind spots and turning feel familiar.

Next, read what to expect on test day or head back to the G2 road test hub.