Traffic Offences
G1/G2 Passenger Restriction Violations
Young G2 drivers face a late-night limit on how many under-20 passengers they can carry — one that loosens after the first six months.
Quick answer: Between midnight and 5 a.m., a G2 driver aged 19 or under can generally carry only one passenger under 20 during their first six months, rising to three after six months or once they turn 20. Immediate family members and the daytime hours aren't counted toward the limit.
Key Takeaways
- Applies only between midnight and 5 a.m. -- no restriction the rest of the day.
- Limited to one under-20 passenger for the first six months on a G2.
- Rises to three under-20 passengers after six months, or once the driver turns 20.
- Immediate family members don't count toward the limit, and a supervising G driver removes it.
What the rule requires
Under Ontario's graduated licensing regulations, a G2 driver who is 19 or under faces a passenger limit specifically between midnight and 5 a.m. During the first six months of holding a G2 licence, no more than one passenger under the age of 20 is generally allowed in the vehicle during those hours. After six months — or once the driver turns 20, whichever comes first — the limit generally rises to three passengers under 20. Outside those overnight hours, this specific restriction generally doesn’t apply.
Who doesn’t count toward the limit
Passengers who are members of the novice driver’s immediate family are generally not counted toward either limit. Separately, the overnight passenger restriction generally doesn’t apply at all if a fully licensed driver with at least 4 years of driving experience (including time spent as a G2 driver) is sitting in the front passenger seat, provided that supervising driver's blood alcohol level is below the generally applicable threshold. Regardless of any of these rules, a vehicle is always limited to as many passengers as it has working seatbelts.
Why this rule exists
This restriction reflects a broader graduated-licensing principle: newer, younger drivers face a higher standard while they build experience, and late-night driving with multiple young passengers is generally treated as carrying added risk. It sits alongside other novice-specific rules on this site, including zero blood-alcohol requirements for novice and under-21 drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this restriction apply during the day?
No, it's specifically a midnight-to-5-a.m. restriction. The daytime hours generally aren't subject to this particular passenger limit.
Do my siblings count toward the passenger limit?
Generally no -- immediate family members are not counted toward either the one-passenger or three-passenger limit.
Does having an experienced driver with me remove the restriction?
Generally yes -- a fully licensed driver with at least 4 years of driving experience in the front passenger seat, meeting the applicable blood-alcohol requirement, generally removes this specific overnight restriction.
Sources
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