You should receive a notice in the mail 6 months before your class license expires from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The notice is called Notice of Novice Driver's Licence Expiry. It should advise your of your license expiry date and explains the test options available.

The MTO states that normally new drivers may either take a test to graduate to the next level of license (e.g. G1 to G2, or G2 to G); or take a test to re-qualify for (that is, retain) their current new class (e.g. G1 stays G1).

A G1 driver whose license is going to expire may:

• take the G1 road test (road test fee is $40 if not previously paid) to graduate to G2; or,
• take the knowledge test (knowledge test fee is $10 and the G1 road test fee is $40 if not previously paid) and vision test to keep G1.

Upon passing the test, the driver pays the $75.00 licensing fee and receives a new license good for another five years. If your G1 has expired before you take the road test to obtain the G2 then you driver must reapply for the Level 1 license. So if you do not graduate to the G2 when your G1 license expires you will need to redo your G1 tests to retain a G1 license.

If you pass the G1 road test and acquire the G2 then this license may be good for another 5 years is our understanding though you may want to check with the MTO to be certain this is correct for your situation. Reading through their FAQ section on their site may give you more insight as well.

User Updated: When you receive a G2 license, there is no 5 year extension. If you fail to book a road test to acquire the G class license within 5 years of earning the G1, even if you have a G2, you will be forced to start the entire process from scratch.

If you plan on taking the road test to obtain your G2 then the road test appointment must be booked before your G1 license expires. If a road test is not available before the license expires, a temporary driver's license will be issued by the MTO to the date of the road test. Once the license expires, the driver must reapply for the Level 1 license. 

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