In Ontario you start with zero demerit points and gain them when you are convicted of certain driving offences. Points stay on your record for two years from the offence date, and new drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L and M2-L) lose their licence with far fewer points than fully licensed drivers. Questions about points and penalties can come up on the G1 test.
What happens at each level
| Points | New drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2) | Full licence |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | Warning letter | No letter |
| 6 to 8 | Second warning letter | Warning letter |
| 9 to 14 | 60-day suspension (at 9 or more) | Second warning letter |
| 15 or more | 60-day suspension | 30-day suspension |
When a licence is suspended, the Ministry of Transportation sends a letter with the date the suspension starts. You must surrender your licence at a ServiceOntario centre or by mail (not at a DriveTest centre). If you do not, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
Points for each offence
7 points
- Failing to remain at the scene of a collision
- Failing to stop when signalled or asked by a police officer
6 points
- Careless driving
- Racing
- Exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h or more on roads with a limit under 80 km/h
- Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
- Failing to stop for a school bus
5 points
- Failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing (bus drivers only)
4 points
- Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h
- Following too closely
- Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover
3 points
- Driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless communications or entertainment device
- Driving while viewing a display screen unrelated to driving
- Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
- Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
- Driving the wrong way on a divided road, or going the wrong way on a one-way road
- Driving on a closed road
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Failing to obey a stop sign, traffic control stop/slow sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
- Failing to obey the directions of a police officer
- Failing to report a collision to a police officer
- Failing to slow down and carefully pass, or to move into another lane where possible, when passing a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
- Improper passing, or improper driving when the road is divided into lanes
- Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
- Crowding the driver's seat
- Driving a vehicle equipped with a radar detector
- Improper use of a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
2 points
- Improper right or left turn, or a prohibited turn
- Improper opening of a vehicle door
- Towing people on toboggans, bicycles or skis
- Unnecessary slow driving, or backing on a highway
- Failing to lower headlamp beams
- Failing to obey signs, or to stop at a pedestrian crossing
- Failing to share the road, or to signal
- Driver not wearing a seat belt
- Driver not making sure a child is properly secured in a child car seat or booster seat, or that a passenger under 16 is wearing a seat belt
Escalating penalties for new drivers
G1, G2, M1 and M2 drivers can also face escalating penalties, which get stricter with each offence. They apply if you are convicted of breaking a graduated licensing rule (for example, a G1 driving alone or after midnight), or of an offence worth 4 or more demerit points:
- First offence: 30-day licence suspension.
- Second offence: 90-day licence suspension.
- Third offence: you lose your novice licence and must start again, taking all tests and paying all fees.
After a suspension
You may need to take your vision, written and road tests again. When your licence is reinstated, your points are reduced to 7 (full licence) or 4 (novice licence). If you reach too many points again, the next suspension is 6 months.
Offences outside Ontario
Convictions in another Canadian province or territory, New York State or Michigan add points to your Ontario record as if they happened in Ontario: speeding, failing to obey a stop sign or signal light, failing to stop for a school bus, racing, leaving the scene of a collision and careless driving.
Keep learning
- Ontario rules of the road, including G1 and G2 conditions, alcohol limits and stunt driving.
- Ontario road signs and their meanings.
- Free Ontario G1 mock tests in the real 40-question format.
Source: Understanding demerit points, Government of Ontario (Ministry of Transportation).
Checked against official sources on 18 October 2026.