Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You must be 16 years or older to drive. You must pass a vision test to find out if you can see well enough to drive safely. Ontario uses a "Graduated Licensing System", which means that new drivers have to practice driving before getting a full driver's licence.

To apply for a licence, you must show proof of your identity and the date of your birth (you must be at least 16 years old). To get an Ontario driver's licence, you are required to produce two pieces of identification, at least one with your signature. Personal identification is also required. The following documents are acceptable as proof:

Then, you need to visit an Examination Centre and be sure to bring the required payment for a G1 license. An appointment is not necessary.  (G1 Licence - cost includes knowledge test, G1 exit road test and five year licence for $125.00). Bring your documents, which must be original, to a DriveTest Driver Examination Centre and complete the form "Application for Ontario Driver's Licence".

Before you apply for a licence, read the Driver's Handbook  if you want to drive automobiles. When you apply for a Level One licence at a DriveTest Driver Examination Centre, your eyesight and your understanding of the rules of the road will be tested. Applicants also respond to medical questions. If medical requirements are not met, no further licensing business may be conducted. If you meet the medical requirements and pass both tests, you will get a novice or Level One (G1) driver's licence that is valid up to 5 years.

If you're a new automobile driver, it means you'll earn full driving privileges in two stages. In the first stage, Level One (also known as having a G1 licence), you'll learn and practice driving under conditions that reduce your risk of collisions.

When you have more experience, you'll be able to take a road test to enter the second stage, Level Two (also known as G2), with more privileges. After a year in Level Two, you can take another test to qualify for a full class G driver's licence.

We suggest you consult the Official Driver's Handbook if you have further questions about the Graduated Licensing System or call GORD'S Driving School and speak to a member of the staff.

3) When is the best time to take Driver Education? Shouldn't I wait for a while after I get my G1 licence?

Our best advice is to not delay your driver education.  Why?  Several reasons.  The most important being that it's best to learn the correct and safe way to drive as soon as you are able to get behind the wheel of a car.  Waiting to come to Driver Education until you have some "practice driving" is completely unnecessary and may cause you to develop bad driving habits that you will have to "un-learn" later on.

Also, we find that many students who wait until they have a dire "need" to drive (to get to school, for example) tend to want to rush through driver education and obtain a G2 licence well before they have the skills sufficient to do so, essentially asking us to set aside student safety and our own integrity.  Please see question 4) below for further explanation.

We wish to advise all students that it is not our policy to "hold off" on a student's last driving lesson until just before a road test.  All 10 hours of driving lessons are expected to be completed in a reasonable amount of time.  The last lesson is NOT meant to be preparatory to a road test; it is simply part of driver education.  For those who wish to have a practice session to prepare for a road test, we are glad to schedule a separate appointment.  Current fees will apply.

4) I've had my G1 licence for a long time and want to take my road test right away.  Can I get the whole course done in the next three weeks?  I'm going away to university in the fall!

Probably not.  We strongly advise students NOT to wait until their road test date is imminent or has passed and hope that we will "fast track" them through the course in the interest of convenience.  Driving is a life-long skill that takes time and lots of practice in order to master.  DO NOT count on us being able to schedule all of your classroom and in-car lessons within a few weeks.  Our instructor's schedules are sometimes booked solid two or three weeks in advance and, again, it takes TIME and PRACTICE to learn how to drive safely!  Many of our students will wait anywhere from 10 days to 6 weeks to begin in-car lessons and will require roughly 4-8 weeks to complete them.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are not willing to sacrifice safety for any reason.

If you have waited until July or August to come to class and you "need" to drive by September, you have waited too long!!

5) Do I need to have my G1 licence in order to come to class?

No.  It is not necessary to obtain your G1 licence before you sign up for or begin attending one of our courses.  However, Ministry of Transportation policy dictates that you must begin your driving lessons no later than 8 weeks after finishing the classes.  We also need  your licence information in order to register you online with the Ministry of Transportation Driver Education System (DES).  Therefore, we suggest that you do not delay in applying for your licence.  If you get  your G1 licence after you begin attending class, please be sure to hand it to your in-class or in-car instructor as soon as possible so that we may obtain a photocopy.

By taking an M.T.O.-approved Beginner Driver Education Course at a driving school, G1 licence holders may qualify for a four-month reduction in the G1-licensing period as well as a potential reduction in insurance premiums.

Not all driving schools offer Ministry-Approved Beginner Driver Education courses. Look for schools that offer "M.T.O.-Approved Beginner Driver Education courses", or "Ministry-Approved Beginner Driver Education Courses".

7) When do I have to pay for the course?  What payment methods do you accept?

Payment is expected no later than the first day of your chosen course.  (For those who would like to pre-pay the entire course fee at least a week in advance, a $25.00 discount is offered - see the section entitled "Discounts and Rebates" for details.)  All others must pay the full course fee. 

Students who require a payment plan must agree to the following terms:  At least 50% of the course fee is to be paid the first day of the course.  The other 50% must be paid no later than the earlier of these two situations:  a) the last in-car training session, or,  b) 60 days from the start of the course.

Students who are in financial arrears will not be allowed to book a test - if one has previously been booked we reserve the right to cancel it until payment is received in full.  Also, we will not certify any student whose account is not up to date.

NSF cheques are subject to a $5.00 fee.  Post-dated cheques are accepted, but we will wait until a cheque clears before we certify a student or continue with any services.

For your convenience, we accept all standard forms of payment from cash and personal cheque to credit and debit cards.  Our debit machine is also equipped with the new "Chip and PIN" technology capabilities.

8) What exactly does the course fee pay for?

The course fee covers the following services: 

-In-class lesson time (20 hours)

-In-vehicle lessons (10 hours)

- One JETALA stamped and numbered workbook

-Online registration and certification with the Ministry of Transportation

-Booking of the first road test to upgrade to a G2 driver's licence

-If your insurance company requires a letter from us stating you have graduated from Gord's (while you are awaiting the availability of your Driver Licence History/Abstract) we will also provide that at no charge.  For students who have graduated prior to September of 2008, we will provide a photocopy of your Beginner Driver Education Certificate free of charge, upon request.

The course fee does not include:

-The cost of the Ontario Driver's Licence

-Extra lessons beyond the 10 hours provided *

-Car rental for a road test *

-Any fees required to book a road test *

-Replacement JETALA workbooks (may be purchased from Gord's for $10.00)

-Driver's Licence History to prove a student has graduated from Gord's - this is sometimes incorrectly labeled a "Driver's Abstract" by insurance companies. This must be purchased from the Ministry of Transportation for $12.00.  (However, we do provide the application forms to students.)

* For details on these prices, please see the "Fees" section of the website.

9) I started your course last year but didn't finish my lessons.  Can I still graduate and be certified?

Perhaps, yes.  Ministry of Transportation policy allows a student up to one full year to complete both the in-class and driving portions of the course.  What that means is this:  If you started a course on January 1st, 2010, you have until December 31st, 2010 to completely finish the course (classes and driving lessons) and hand in your workbook.  As long as you do so, and your fees have been completely paid, you can be certified with the DES and be eligible for a discount on your insurance.  If you take longer than one full calendar year to complete the course and/or you have not finished paying for the course, you cannot be considered a "graduate" of Gord's Driving School.  You will not be permitted to finish any work or lessons you started; you will have to start the course over again if you want to receive a discount on your insurance.  You may also be required to pay the full course fee again, depending on the circumstances. (Some exceptions will apply.  Call Gord's to speak to a staff member about your situation.)

Please note that all individuals who have had their G1 licence for one calendar year or longer are eligible to take a road test to upgrade to a G2 licence without taking or graduating from a Driver Education course.  However, we insist that our students finish their 10 hours of driving lessons before we will be willing to rent you one of our cars for a road test.

10) My insurance company asked me for my graduation certificate - why didn't I get one?  How much of a discount can I expect to receive on my insurance?

The Ministry of Transportation discontinued the issuance of Beginner Driver's Education Graduation Certificates in September of 2008.  All student certification is now done online using the new M.T.O. Driver Education System or DES.  The M.T.O. no longer issues any hard copies to Driver Education Providers or their students.  Students now have to purchase their own 'Certificate', commonly called a "Driver's Abstract" or "Driver's Licence History" from the Ministry of Transportation.  Please see the section of this website entitled "Insurance Discounts" under the "Beginner Driver Education" heading for details.

Gord's Fort Erie Driving School is not affiliated with any insurance company, nor do we work within the insurance industry.  Therefore, we cannot predict how much a new driver will pay for insurance and do not know how much of a discount various companies give to our graduate students.  Our best advice is to do your research and choose an insurance provider whose products and prices meet your individual needs.

11) When can I take my first road test?

Students who complete a Ministry-Approved Driver Education Course are eligible to take their first road test approximately eight months from the date of issue of the G1 licence.  For example, if you received your G1 licence on January 2nd, 2010, you are eligible to take your first road test on or about September 2nd, 2010.  (The Ministry will adjust your eligibility date to account for weekends, holidays, etc.)  For our students who are very newly licenced, we keep your licence on file and will book your test when your eligibility date approaches.  For students whose eligibility date is fast-approaching or has already passed, we will book your test for shortly after you are expected to graduate.  See question number 12) below.

12) Will GORD'S book my G2 or G road test for me?

If you attend one of our Beginner Driver Education courses then we will book your G2 road test as part of our services.  (In many cases, your road test appointment will have been booked for you by the time you finish the classes.)  For those who are not students, we will book your G2 or G road test upon request if you schedule a minimum of two hours of private driving lessons with us.

It is not our policy to automatically book road tests for previous students who wish to upgrade from a G2 licence to a class-G licence.  However, you may contact GORD'S Driving School and request that we make the appointment for you.*  You may also choose to rent a car and/or have one of our instructors accompany you to your test.  (See Fee Schedule.) 

* The Drive Test Centers charge $40.00 to rebook missed or failed G2 tests and $75.00 to book all G tests.  Gord's Driving School will pre-pay this fee as a courtesy to those who choose to rent our car for their test - we ask to have this fee reimbursed on test day, along with the car rental fee.  Students who will not be renting a car are asked to pay the Drive Test fee up front before we will book a test!

13) What happens if I can't make one of my in-class sessions?

Ministry of Transportation policy dictates that if a student misses a classroom session, he or she may not finish classes until the next session.  What that means is this:  If you were scheduled to come to classroom sessions from Monday to Thursday, but miss Wednesday, you may not come on Thursday either.  You will have to wait until we run the course again and make up BOTH days then, which may be as much as a month later.  Therefore, we strongly advise students to clear their schedules for the days they plan to be in the classroom, in order to avoid these kinds of delays in their driver education.

14) I have a driver's licence but can't find it right now - can I still go ahead with my driving lesson today?

NO!  Anytime you get behind the wheel of a car, you are required by law to have your physical licence with you - whether it's a paper temporary or a plastic card!  

We would like to take a moment to remind our students that having a driver's licence is a privilege, not a right.  A few other important points to remember:

-Your licence does not belong to you!  It belongs to the province in which you reside.

-Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in Canada....likely the world.  Once you lose your licence, you never know who might find it or what they will do with it.  Keep it safe!

-Your driver's licence is a key piece of your personal identification.  Once you have it, it is likely to become the most important piece of I.D. you will ever carry, next to a passport.  And like a passport, it should remain on your person at all times.  "On your person" means it goes where you go - it doesn't get left at home or anywhere else.

If you have misplaced your licence but have a driving lesson coming up, please call our office to let us know as soon as you can.  Unfortunately, it means we will have to suspend your driving lessons until such time as you either find your licence or obtain a temporary licence until your plastic card is re-issued.  However, driving without a licence is illegal and we will not drive with an unlicensed student.

If you have lost your licence, you may go in person to any driver licensing branch of the Ministry of Transportation to report a lost licence and obtain a temporary licence that will allow you to drive.  A new plastic licence will be mailed out to you within a few weeks.

15) I recently moved - will I get a new licence?

You will need to get a new card, yes, but you have to be the one to inform the Ministry of your new address - it will not happen automatically.  The law requires you to report your new address within SIX DAYS of changing your permanent residence, so please do not delay.  Nothing else on your licence will change, just the address listed.  The Ministry of Transportation will allow you to do this online through Service Ontario.  Here's how:

Go to www.ontario.ca/en/residents/index.htm and find the box with the link that leads to the Service Ontario site.  From there, go to the menu on the left hand side and find "Services for Residents".  Under that you will find "Change your home address".  Simply follow the prompts from there.

An exception to this would be if you are moving away for school temporarily, but plan to keep your permanent residence with your family.  This does not require a change of address and the Ministry does not need to be informed.  Only when you change your permanent residence will you need to get it changed on your licence.