Getting a Full G Licence in Ontario

How long you need to hold a G2 first

To become eligible for a full G licence, you generally need to hold your G2 for a minimum of 12 months. Unlike the G1-to-G2 step, there’s no driver-education shortcut that reduces this waiting period — it applies uniformly. If you’re still working through the G2 stage, see getting a G2 licence and G2 licence restrictions for what applies until then.

The G exit road test

Once eligible, you book what’s generally referred to as the exit road test through DriveTest. It builds on the skills assessed at the G2 stage, generally with an expectation of more advanced driving situations and greater independence behind the wheel. Our road-test requirements page covers, in general terms, what these tests tend to look for.

As with the G2 test, if you don’t pass on your first attempt you can typically book another test after a waiting period. Booking procedures, wait times, and test-day requirements can change, so confirm current details with DriveTest or ServiceOntario before your appointment.

What a full G licence means

Passing the exit road test removes the novice-driver restrictions that applied at the G1 and G2 stages. There’s no more mandatory accompanying driver, and the general novice-driver demerit-point thresholds no longer apply — you move onto the standard framework that applies to fully licensed drivers. A full G licence is also generally valid for a longer period, commonly cited as up to 5 years, before renewal is required, compared to the shorter validity typical of G1 and G2 licences. See our licence renewal page for what that renewal process generally looks like.

Looking back at the whole journey

Most drivers complete the full path from G1 through G2 to a full G licence in about 20 to 24 months, though Ontario allows up to 5 years total to finish the process if needed. If a G1 or G2 expires before you’ve completed the next stage, additional steps may apply — our driving on an expired Ontario licence page covers the general consequences of an expired licence at any stage.

Sources