You may exchange or apply for an Ontario licence at ANY DriveTest Centre on a walk-in basis.
Please note that appointments to exchange your driver’s licence from another province or country, or to apply for a G1 licence with foreign experience, are available at the following sites. To receive guaranteed service, you must schedule a licence exchange appointment at these locations. Walk-in wait times at these locations may be extended.
Ontario has motorcycle licence exchange agreements with several provinces and Canadian territories, states, and countries. If you are an experienced motorcyclist from one of these jurisdictions, you may be eligible to do a licence exchange for an Ontario Class M licence.
The type of motorcycle licence you receive in exchange can vary. For example:
• If you have been legally driving a regular full speed motorcycle (Class M equivalent) for two or more years, you will receive a regular Class M licence with no conditions.
• If you do not have at least two years of motorcycle driving experience (Class M equivalent), you may receive a Class M2 licence and have limited driving privileges.
• If you drive a limited speed motorcycle or moped with a limit of 70 km/hour, you may receive a Class M with a condition L. However, please note that an exchange for an M(L) driver’s licence is currently available only to applicants from Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, PEI, and Quebec.
• If you drive a three-wheeled motorcycle and come from Quebec, you may receive a Class M with a condition 1.
Eligibility differs based on your driving history, vehicle, and place of origin. Providing original, appropriate documentation and identification is important for completing the licence exchange.
If you have a licence from a country that does not have a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, you may be eligible to receive credit for your foreign driving experience. However, you are still required to pass all applicable tests to earn your Ontario driver’s licence. In some cases, a letter of authentication is required from the jurisdiction. The letter must contain specific features and details related to your licensing experience in order to be accepted.
Some of this documentation may take several weeks, or even months, to obtain. Gather this documentation before you move to Ontario or initiate the process as soon as you arrive. Appointments to exchange your driver’s licence from another province or country are available at the following sites.
The application process varies for those pursuing a car, motorcycle, or commercial licence:
Canadian and Foreign Licence Applications and Exchanges – Overview
Licence Exchanges for Drivers of Cars, Vans, and Small Trucks
Jurisdictions with a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, as well as the documentation requirements for each of those locations, follow. These licence exchange agreements are related to driving motorcycles, mopeds, or scooters. There are different agreements and requirements for those who drive cars, small trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles.
If you do not see your country in this list, you must apply for a new motorcycle licence and complete all steps of the graduated licensing program (although you may get credit for previous driving experience).
For all jurisdictions, an acceptable driver’s abstract or letter of authentication must have the following features. The document may have various titles when requesting an appropriate letter so be sure it includes all of the following:
• Issued within the last 6 months (issue date must be included on document)
• Issued by the licensing authority, Consulate, Embassy or High Commissioner’s Office representing the jurisdiction
• Must be original or electronically provided (no faxes, photocopies or scanned documents)
• The letter and licence must be in English or French or accompanied by a translation from an MTO-recognized translator.
• Must contain the driver’s full name OR licence number for licences from an exchangeable jurisdiction
• Must contain a letterhead, logo, emblem or coat of arms from the issuing government body or licensing authority
• Date first licensed
• Date of birth (if field exists on abstract)
• Licence class(es)
• Licence status
• Expiry date
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• An interprovincial record exchange (IRE) search is mandatory for all applicants from these states and may present a delay in processing an exchange if the search is unsuccessful. A DriveTest employee will conduct the IRE search. However, we recommend that you obtain an original or electronically provided driving record (dated within 6 months of your application and indicating the date the licence was first issued) to prevent any delays in processing.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Original or electronically provided abstract from your jurisdiction dated within 6 months to complete the exchange.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• A ‘Certificate of Entitlement’ issued by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is required, dated within 6 months to complete the exchange.
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Documentation requirements (in English or French):
• Current, valid full class driver’s licence with documentation to satisfy both data elements (legal name, complete date of birth).
• Your current licence must be surrendered.
Anyone from one of the jurisdictions above looking to exchange their licence must complete a vision test. A road test may also be required, depending on the amount of driving experience.
• Exchange your licence for an Ontario Class M2 licence.
• Pass a road test after you have gained a total of two years of driving experience to earn a full Class M licence.
• Present a valid driver’s licence, or one that has been expired for less than one year.
• If indicated in the list above, provide a driver’s history or abstract to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.
• Exchange your licence for a full Ontario Class M licence, or one with an appropriate condition (L or M).
• No road test is required.
• Present a valid driver’s licence, or one that has been expired for less than one year.
• If indicated in the list above, provide a driver’s history or abstract to confirm the status of your licence and length of driving experience.
Steps vary depending on your circumstances. The process, at a high level, follows.
