In Canada, drivers’ licences are issued by the government of the province or territory in which the driver is residing. Specific regulations relating to drivers’ licences vary from province to province, though overall they are quite similar.
Each Canadian jurisdiction establishes licensing requirements for drivers licensed in that jurisdiction. Once a driver has a license, the on-road activities of the driver are tracked on the driver’s abstract. There are both standard driver abstracts and commercial driver abstracts. Motor carriers are most often concerned with commercial driver abstracts.
The class licence system is used in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwestern Territories, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
A Class 1 licence allows you to drive any type of motor vehicle, including semi-trailer trucks. A Class 2 licence allows you to operate buses as well as vehicles under classes 3, 4, and 5. With a class 3 licence, you can drive trucks with two or more axles (three or more axles in Alberta) and vehicles under class 5. Class 4 gives you licence to drive vehicles such as taxis, ambulances, and certain types of buses as well as Class 5 vehicles. The Class 5 licence allows you to drive a passenger vehicle. This is the kind of licence most non-commercial drivers get once they have passed the initial stages of licensing. Class 6 is a motorcycle cycle licence.
However, Ontario uses a different classification scheme for different kinds of driver’s licence. In Ontario, a G licence allows you to operate a passenger vehicle with no restrictions. New drivers go through the learner’s permit (G1) and probationary licence (G2) before they can obtain a G licence. Class A allows the driver to operate any tractor-trailer combination, as well as Class D and Class G vehicles. Class B is a licence to operate any type of school bus as well as Class C, D, E, F, and G vehicles. Class C allows the driver to operate any regular bus in addition to Class D, F, and G vehicles. Class D allows the holder to drive all trucks or combination as long as the towed vehicle weighs 4,600 kg or less. Vehicles under class G are also allowed. Class E restricts drivers to operating school buses with a maximum of 24 passengers, as well as Class F and Class G vehicles. Class F allows the holder to drive regular buses with a maximum capacity of 24 passengers, as well as ambulances and Class G vehicles and Class M is a motorcycle licence, which can also serve as the equivalent of a G1 licence.
A driver’s permit, learner’s permit, learner’s license, or provisional license is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive but has not yet satisfied the prerequisite to obtain a driver’s license. Having a learner’s permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements (along with a driver’s education and a road test) for applying for a full driver’s license. To get a learner’s permit, one must typically pass a written permit test, take a basic competency test in the vehicle, or both.
In Canada, the minimum age varies from province to province and may be 14 or 16.
Canada’s driving age is determined on a province-by-province basis. The age to begin driving varies by province, with the earliest being Alberta at 14 years of age. The provinces use a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for a standard car and light-truck licence to ensure the proficiency of drivers.
An endorsement is a permissive status on a driver’s licence that allows an individual to drive a vehicle with a special characteristic. Endorsements are typically for upgrading your licence classifications, such as operating a vehicle with air brakes.
A restriction means a term of licensing that is imposed on an individual or an individual’s licence by the authority. Restrictions are placed on a licence to ensure that you can safely operate a motor vehicle based on your experience, qualifications, specific skills, and abilities. Restrictions on your licence may include corrective lenses required.
Driving while disqualified refers to an indictable offence if the accused is found driving a motor vehicle despite being served the driving disqualification via court orders, thereby violating the court’s orders. Usually, licence disqualifications will be followed by a conviction for a criminal felony like dangerous driving, impaired driving offence, or trying to escape from the authorities if you get disqualified from driving as a part of criminal sentencing. Driving while disqualified is also a type of offence that’s punishable on summary conviction. Driving while disqualified is an indictable offence that’s punishable under section 259 of the Canadian Criminal Code, resulting in a criminal record.
A driver’s medical examination is part of the licensing process for Class 1 through 4 licenses in all Canadian provinces, drivers are not issued a separate medical certificate card, and the licences themselves are therefore considered proof of medical fitness by the U.S. through a reciprocal agreement with Canada.
Some drivers are required to undergo medical examinations. You may have a medical condition or a physical disability that causes a risk to your ability to drive safely. There is also a specific medical examination requirement for seniors with a Class 3, 5, 6, and 7 driver’s licence.
An unsatisfactory medical may result in a restriction being placed on your driver’s licence.
The United States has reciprocal recognition of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) with Canada. A Canadian CDL generally serves as confirmation that the Canadian driver is medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in the United States.
Mandatory Entry-Level training (MELT) is an entry-level driver training standard that sets minimum training instructions for new commercial vehicle drivers. Before drivers can obtain a certain class of license, they must prove they’ve obtained the necessary MELT. Currently, only 5 of the 13 provinces and territories have introduced mandatory training into legislation for licensing Class 1/A truck drivers.
Schools offering MELT must be certified by the provincial government agency to be able to offer the training. Currently, MELT is only required in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba.
Your driving record, also called a driver’s abstract, is a record of your driving history. It lists when your driver’s licence was first issued, plus any driving tickets or other offences you’ve received in the previous years. A driver’s abstract is available for a three, five, or ten-year period. There are 2 types of abstracts that can be requested:
In Ontario, the commercial driver abstract is referred to as a commercial vehicle operator’s record (CVOR).
You can obtain a driver abstract from your provincial government or the Ministry of Transportation via on-line services. The fee to obtain a driving record is relatively low. In most provinces, the cost of a driver’s abstract varies but is typically under $20. The documents you need to provide are different depending on how you want to obtain your abstract. You may need a driver record to apply for a job as an employer considering candidates for vehicle insurance, for example when you apply to apply for a driver’s licence in another province, territory, or country.
Other parties may be authorized to request an individuals driver’s abstract, such as an employer, prospective employer, or a lawyer, as long as they have the individual’s valid written consent.
A standard driver abstract provides information from an individual’s personal driving record, including:
The driver abstract doesn’t show the individual’s driving experience or the date first licensed.
A commercial driver abstract allows for employers to assess safety risks associated with a driver prior to hiring them. It provides most of the same information as the standard driver abstract plus information about Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspections. However, the commercial driver abstract does not include information about the driver’s appearance.
A CVOR driver’s abstract is a report that shows a driver’s commercial motor vehicle operating record. It includes information on violations, accidents, and convictions. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation maintains the CVOR system. Drivers’ abstracts are available from the ministry or any authorized service provider.
Distracted driving puts Canadian road users at risk. Learn about distracted driving, how you can avoid it, and what is happening in Canada to prevent distraction on our roads.
Distracted driving happens when a driver’s attention is taken away from the driving task because they are focused on something else. This could be, for example:
The risk of a collision goes up when a driver’s eyes and attention are taken off the road. This is because distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the road. Or they may miss them entirely.
While distracted driving is against the law across Canada, provinces and territories follow their own set of rules, so penalties can vary greatly. Depending on where a driver lives, driving while distracted can result in fines, demerit points, and even licence suspensions.
The class licence system is used in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwestern Territories, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
A Class 1 licence allows you to drive any type of motor vehicle, including semi-trailer trucks. A Class 2 licence allows you to operate buses as well as vehicles under classes 3, 4, and 5. With a class 3 licence, you can drive trucks with two or more axles (three or more axles in Alberta) and vehicles under class 5. Class 4 gives you licence to drive vehicles such as taxis, ambulances, and certain types of buses as well as Class 5 vehicles. The Class 5 licence allows you to drive a passenger vehicle. This is the kind of licence most non-commercial drivers get once they have passed the initial stages of licensing. Class 6 is a motorcycle cycle licence.
However, Ontario uses a different classification scheme for different kinds of driver’s licence. In Ontario, a G licence allows you to operate a passenger vehicle with no restrictions. New drivers go through the learner’s permit (G1) and probationary licence (G2) before they can obtain a G licence. Class A allows the driver to operate any tractor-trailer combination, as well as Class D and Class G vehicles. Class B is a licence to operate any type of school bus as well as Class C, D, E, F, and G vehicles. Class C allows the driver to operate any regular bus in addition to Class D, F, and G vehicles. Class D allows the holder to drive all trucks or combination as long as the towed vehicle weighs 4,600 kg or less. Vehicles under class G are also allowed. Class E restricts drivers to operating school buses with a maximum of 24 passengers, as well as Class F and Class G vehicles. Class F allows the holder to drive regular buses with a maximum capacity of 24 passengers, as well as ambulances and Class G vehicles and Class M is a motorcycle licence, which can also serve as the equivalent of a G1 licence.
A driver’s permit, learner’s permit, learner’s license, or provisional license is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive but has not yet satisfied the prerequisite to obtain a driver’s license. Having a learner’s permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements (along with a driver’s education and a road test) for applying for a full driver’s license. To get a learner’s permit, one must typically pass a written permit test, take a basic competency test in the vehicle, or both.
In Canada, the minimum age varies from province to province and may be 14 or 16.
Canada’s driving age is determined on a province-by-province basis. The age to begin driving varies by province, with the earliest being Alberta at 14 years of age. The provinces use a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for a standard car and light-truck licence to ensure the proficiency of drivers.
An endorsement is a permissive status on a driver’s licence that allows an individual to drive a vehicle with a special characteristic. Endorsements are typically for upgrading your licence classifications, such as operating a vehicle with air brakes.
A restriction means a term of licensing that is imposed on an individual or an individual’s licence by the authority. Restrictions are placed on a licence to ensure that you can safely operate a motor vehicle based on your experience, qualifications, specific skills, and abilities. Restrictions on your licence may include corrective lenses required.
Driving while disqualified refers to an indictable offence if the accused is found driving a motor vehicle despite being served the driving disqualification via court orders, thereby violating the court’s orders. Usually, licence disqualifications will be followed by a conviction for a criminal felony like dangerous driving, impaired driving offence, or trying to escape from the authorities if you get disqualified from driving as a part of criminal sentencing. Driving while disqualified is also a type of offence that’s punishable on summary conviction. Driving while disqualified is an indictable offence that’s punishable under section 259 of the Canadian Criminal Code, resulting in a criminal record.
A driver’s medical examination is part of the licensing process for Class 1 through 4 licenses in all Canadian provinces, drivers are not issued a separate medical certificate card, and the licences themselves are therefore considered proof of medical fitness by the U.S. through a reciprocal agreement with Canada.
Some drivers are required to undergo medical examinations. You may have a medical condition or a physical disability that causes a risk to your ability to drive safely. There is also a specific medical examination requirement for seniors with a Class 3, 5, 6, and 7 driver’s licence.
An unsatisfactory medical may result in a restriction being placed on your driver’s licence.
The United States has reciprocal recognition of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) with Canada. A Canadian CDL generally serves as confirmation that the Canadian driver is medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in the United States.
A driver’s permit, learner’s permit, learner’s license, or provisional license is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive but has not yet satisfied the prerequisite to obtain a driver’s license. Having a learner’s permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements (along with a driver’s education and a road test) for applying for a full driver’s license. To get a learner’s permit, one must typically pass a written permit test, take a basic competency test in the vehicle, or both.
In Canada, the minimum age varies from province to province and may be 14 or 16.
Canada’s driving age is determined on a province-by-province basis. The age to begin driving varies by province, with the earliest being Alberta at 14 years of age. The provinces use a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for a standard car and light-truck licence to ensure the proficiency of drivers.
An endorsement is a permissive status on a driver’s licence that allows an individual to drive a vehicle with a special characteristic. Endorsements are typically for upgrading your licence classifications, such as operating a vehicle with air brakes.
A restriction means a term of licensing that is imposed on an individual or an individual’s licence by the authority. Restrictions are placed on a licence to ensure that you can safely operate a motor vehicle based on your experience, qualifications, specific skills, and abilities. Restrictions on your licence may include corrective lenses required.
Driving while disqualified refers to an indictable offence if the accused is found driving a motor vehicle despite being served the driving disqualification via court orders, thereby violating the court’s orders. Usually, licence disqualifications will be followed by a conviction for a criminal felony like dangerous driving, impaired driving offence, or trying to escape from the authorities if you get disqualified from driving as a part of criminal sentencing. Driving while disqualified is also a type of offence that’s punishable on summary conviction. Driving while disqualified is an indictable offence that’s punishable under section 259 of the Canadian Criminal Code, resulting in a criminal record.
A driver’s medical examination is part of the licensing process for Class 1 through 4 licenses in all Canadian provinces, drivers are not issued a separate medical certificate card, and the licences themselves are therefore considered proof of medical fitness by the U.S. through a reciprocal agreement with Canada.
Some drivers are required to undergo medical examinations. You may have a medical condition or a physical disability that causes a risk to your ability to drive safely. There is also a specific medical examination requirement for seniors with a Class 3, 5, 6, and 7 driver’s licence.
An unsatisfactory medical may result in a restriction being placed on your driver’s licence.
The United States has reciprocal recognition of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) with Canada. A Canadian CDL generally serves as confirmation that the Canadian driver is medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in the United States.
Mandatory Entry-Level training (MELT) is an entry-level driver training standard that sets minimum training instructions for new commercial vehicle drivers. Before drivers can obtain a certain class of license, they must prove they’ve obtained the necessary MELT. Currently, only 5 of the 13 provinces and territories have introduced mandatory training into legislation for licensing Class 1/A truck drivers.
Schools offering MELT must be certified by the provincial government agency to be able to offer the training. Currently, MELT is only required in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba.
Your driving record, also called a driver’s abstract, is a record of your driving history. It lists when your driver’s licence was first issued, plus any driving tickets or other offences you’ve received in the previous years. A driver’s abstract is available for a three, five, or ten-year period. There are 2 types of abstracts that can be requested:
In Ontario, the commercial driver abstract is referred to as a commercial vehicle operator’s record (CVOR).
You can obtain a driver abstract from your provincial government or the Ministry of Transportation via on-line services. The fee to obtain a driving record is relatively low. In most provinces, the cost of a driver’s abstract varies but is typically under $20. The documents you need to provide are different depending on how you want to obtain your abstract. You may need a driver record to apply for a job as an employer considering candidates for vehicle insurance, for example when you apply to apply for a driver’s licence in another province, territory, or country.
Other parties may be authorized to request an individuals driver’s abstract, such as an employer, prospective employer, or a lawyer, as long as they have the individual’s valid written consent.
A standard driver abstract provides information from an individual’s personal driving record, including:
The driver abstract doesn’t show the individual’s driving experience or the date first licensed.
A commercial driver abstract allows for employers to assess safety risks associated with a driver prior to hiring them. It provides most of the same information as the standard driver abstract plus information about Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspections. However, the commercial driver abstract does not include information about the driver’s appearance.
A CVOR driver’s abstract is a report that shows a driver’s commercial motor vehicle operating record. It includes information on violations, accidents, and convictions. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation maintains the CVOR system. Drivers’ abstracts are available from the ministry or any authorized service provider.
Distracted driving puts Canadian road users at risk. Learn about distracted driving, how you can avoid it, and what is happening in Canada to prevent distraction on our roads.
Distracted driving happens when a driver’s attention is taken away from the driving task because they are focused on something else. This could be, for example:
The risk of a collision goes up when a driver’s eyes and attention are taken off the road. This is because distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the road. Or they may miss them entirely.
While distracted driving is against the law across Canada, provinces and territories follow their own set of rules, so penalties can vary greatly. Depending on where a driver lives, driving while distracted can result in fines, demerit points, and even licence suspensions.
You can obtain a driver abstract from your provincial government or the Ministry of Transportation via on-line services. The fee to obtain a driving record is relatively low. In most provinces, the cost of a driver’s abstract varies but is typically under $20. The documents you need to provide are different depending on how you want to obtain your abstract. You may need a driver record to apply for a job as an employer considering candidates for vehicle insurance, for example when you apply to apply for a driver’s licence in another province, territory, or country.
Other parties may be authorized to request an individuals driver’s abstract, such as an employer, prospective employer, or a lawyer, as long as they have the individual’s valid written consent.
A standard driver abstract provides information from an individual’s personal driving record, including:
The driver abstract doesn’t show the individual’s driving experience or the date first licensed.
A commercial driver abstract allows for employers to assess safety risks associated with a driver prior to hiring them. It provides most of the same information as the standard driver abstract plus information about Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspections. However, the commercial driver abstract does not include information about the driver’s appearance.
A CVOR driver’s abstract is a report that shows a driver’s commercial motor vehicle operating record. It includes information on violations, accidents, and convictions. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation maintains the CVOR system. Drivers’ abstracts are available from the ministry or any authorized service provider.
Distracted driving puts Canadian road users at risk. Learn about distracted driving, how you can avoid it, and what is happening in Canada to prevent distraction on our roads.
Distracted driving happens when a driver’s attention is taken away from the driving task because they are focused on something else. This could be, for example:
The risk of a collision goes up when a driver’s eyes and attention are taken off the road. This is because distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the road. Or they may miss them entirely.
While distracted driving is against the law across Canada, provinces and territories follow their own set of rules, so penalties can vary greatly. Depending on where a driver lives, driving while distracted can result in fines, demerit points, and even licence suspensions.
While distracted driving is against the law across Canada, provinces and territories follow their own set of rules, so penalties can vary greatly. Depending on where a driver lives, driving while distracted can result in fines, demerit points, and even licence suspensions.