Once you turn 80, an Ontario G licence has to be renewed every two years, and the renewal is not a road test. It is a short appointment at ServiceOntario with a vision check and a 5-minute clock-drawing exercise, followed by a $36 renewal fee.
A road test only comes into it if you are asked to take one after that appointment. Knowing the real steps takes most of the dread out of the letter, for the driver and for the family wondering how it will go.
Below: what the test is in 2026 and a one-screen summary of renewal day. Then what changed in 2025, what happens if a step does not go well, and how to prepare. Whether a parent should keep driving is a separate question, covered in our post on signs it may be time for an aging parent to stop driving.
What is the driving test for seniors in Ontario?
Ontario's seniors driving test is a screening, not a drive. At a ServiceOntario appointment, drivers 80 and over complete a vision assessment and a 5-minute clock-drawing exercise. If those go well, you pay the $36 fee and renew. A road test, a doctor's follow-up or an eye report is needed only if you are asked.
The whole appointment takes about 15 to 20 minutes, according to DriveTest, which administers Ontario's driving tests. You repeat it every two years for as long as you hold a G licence.
Whether you are asked to do anything more depends on how you did on the vision check and the screening exercise, DriveTest says. This post covers the regular G licence. Commercial licences (classes A to F) and the Z air brake endorsement follow a different renewal at a DriveTest centre.
Renewal day at a glance
The renewal has a fixed order: a letter in the mail, a short video at home, a booked appointment, two quick screenings, the fee, and a new card by mail. Here is each step, based on Ontario's official renewal page and DriveTest's senior renewals page, both checked on October 14, 2026.
| Step | What happens | How long | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The letter | A renewal letter and application form arrive by mail | Up to 90 days before your licence expires | Keep the form for your appointment |
| 2. Watch and read | Watch the senior driver education video and review the Official Ministry of Transportation Drivers' Handbook | At home, on your own time | A computer, tablet or a printed handbook |
| 3. Book | Book a ServiceOntario appointment online or by phone at 1-800-396-4233 (416-235-3579 in the Toronto area) | As soon as the letter arrives | Your driver's licence number |
| 4. Vision check | A vision screener tests your eyesight | Part of a 15 to 20 minute appointment | The glasses or contacts you drive with |
| 5. Clock drawing | A paper exercise: draw a clock face and set the time | 5 minutes | Your reading glasses |
| 6. Pay | Pay the renewal fee at ServiceOntario | At the end of the appointment | $36 |
| 7. New card | Your new licence arrives by mail | 4 to 6 weeks | Nothing more |
| Only if asked | A road test, medical information from your doctor, or a vision report from an eye doctor | You are told by mail or by DriveTest | Follow the letter's instructions |
What to bring to the appointment:
- Your driver's licence (or temporary licence)
- The renewal application form, if you have it
- The glasses or contact lenses you use for driving, and any you use for reading
- Your hearing aids, if you use them
- Original ID showing your legal name, date of birth and signature, but only if your licence has already expired
In Ontario, turning 80 does not mean an automatic road test. The renewal is a vision check and a 5-minute clock drawing at ServiceOntario.
What are the new driving rules for seniors in Ontario?
The big change came on February 3, 2025. Since then, drivers 80 and over do the vision and screening steps and renew in one visit to ServiceOntario. Before that, they went to a separate location for the screening first, then to ServiceOntario to renew.
That is from the province's announcement of January 17, 2025, which said every ServiceOntario location would offer it by the end of spring 2025. The same announcement put Ontario's drivers aged 80 and over at nearly 400,000 as of 2022.
This matters because a lot of what you will read online describes the earlier process. Some guides, including a chapter of Ontario's own seniors' guide, still describe a 60 to 90 minute group education session with an in-class screening. The renewal steps Ontario lists today do not include one. Some also describe a review of your driving record as a step. Today's official steps do not list that either.
Here is what is current, as of October 14, 2026:
- Education is a video you watch at home, plus the driver's handbook.
- The appointment is at ServiceOntario, not a DriveTest centre.
- The screening is still the clock-drawing exercise, as Ontario's renewal page describes it.
- A road test is still possible, but only when you are asked.
What are the cognitive tests for senior drivers in Ontario?
There is one: a paper clock-drawing exercise. You get 5 minutes to draw a large circle, add all the numbers so it looks like a clock face, and set the hands to ten minutes after eleven. Ontario says it measures your capacity to recognize and organize information.
The province says the exercise does not rely on language, and it "cannot be taken orally." It is not a computer test, and there are no trick questions about road signs. When you finish, you stop, and the form is collected after five minutes.
Ontario posts the instructions translated into many languages, including Punjabi, Tamil, Chinese and Italian. If English is not your first language, it can help to read them in advance. When you book by phone, DriveTest says you can also mention any language barrier and ask for accommodations, such as a sign-language interpreter.
Bring the reading glasses you would use for a crossword. A clock drawn without them is harder for anyone.
What happens at the vision test?
A vision screener checks your eyesight while you wear the glasses or contacts you drive with. If you would rather skip it, bring a report from your eye doctor instead. It must be signed or dated within six months of your appointment and include both your sharpness of vision (acuity) and side (peripheral) vision.
Bring your most current prescription glasses either way. Ontario notes that some eye reports are sent for medical review, so the report route is not always faster.
If the check shows your eyesight has changed, it is worth acting on for more than the car. Changes in vision affect balance and footing at home too, which we cover in our post on how vision loss affects fall risk.
Do you have to retake your driving test at 80?
No, not automatically. Most of the renewal is the two screenings. You only take a road test if you are asked to, based on how the screening went or what a medical review finds. DriveTest then contacts you to book it.
If you are asked, there is no fee for that road test. Ontario's driver licensing regulation (O. Reg. 340/94, section 26) says there is no fee for a re-examination required because a driver has reached 80. You still pay the $36 renewal fee.
On the day, DriveTest asks you to bring your current licence and the renewal form you got in the mail. Every DriveTest centre is accessible, with dedicated parking, railings and ramps. Bring a fully licensed driver with over four years of experience with you. The next section explains why.
If Ontario asks an 80-plus driver to take a road test as part of renewal, there is no fee for it under the province's licensing regulation.
What happens if a senior fails the driving test in Ontario?
It depends on the step. A screening that does not go well can lead to a letter asking for medical information from your doctor, or to a road test. Not passing the road test does not end things either: DriveTest says you can take it again, though your licence may revert to a G1, the beginner level, until you pass.
Here is how each path works, according to DriveTest and Ontario's medical review page:
- A letter from the Ministry. If you need to see your doctor, the letter lists the medical information required and the date to send it to the Ministry of Transportation's Driver Medical Review office. Send it on time. Ontario says a missed deadline leads to a suspension notice.
- A road test. DriveTest calls to book it. If you do not pass, you may take it again.
- A G1 in the meantime. Your licence may revert to a Class G1 until you pass. This is why DriveTest asks you to bring a fully licensed driver with over four years of experience on test day.
- A medical review. If a medical report confirms you do not meet the medical standards, your licence is suspended. Other outcomes include no action at all, more tests, or a request for more information.
None of these happen on the spot at ServiceOntario. You hear by mail or from DriveTest.
How can you prepare for the senior driver renewal?
Book soon after the letter arrives, watch the education video, and bring the right glasses. If your eyes have been checked in the last six months, ask your eye doctor for a written report. A driving refresher course can also help you feel ready.
A short list that covers it:
- Watch the video early. DriveTest says it covers the effects of aging on driving, common rules of the road, and how to renew.
- Skim the handbook. Rules change over the years, and the handbook is the version the province expects you to know.
- Book an eye exam if you are due anyway, and ask for a report with acuity and peripheral vision measured.
- Read the clock instructions in the language you are most comfortable with, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
- Plan around travel. If you will be out of Ontario when your licence expires, you can renew as early as 180 days before. The appointment itself only happens in Ontario.
Ontario's seniors page also points to two refreshers: the Canada Safety Council's 55 Alive Driver Refresher Course, and the Canadian Automobile Association's (CAA) Senior Drivers Toolkit. The CAA toolkit is written for drivers and their families, which makes it a good thing to look through together.
How to talk about the renewal as a family
Start with the facts, not the worry. For most families, the most useful thing an adult child can do is help with the logistics: booking, a lift to ServiceOntario, finding the right glasses. That keeps the renewal what it is, a routine appointment, and keeps the decision with the driver.
Some ways to keep the conversation easy:
- Ask, "Has the renewal letter come yet?" rather than "Are you still okay to drive?"
- Offer to go along. Many people like company at a government office.
- If a road test is booked, offer to be the licensed driver who comes along.
Small changes in wording go a long way here. Our post on what not to say to aging parents, and what to say instead has more phrasing that keeps respect at the centre.
If you are seeing real changes in how a parent drives, that is a different conversation. Our post on the signs an aging parent should stop driving covers what to look for and how to raise it with respect.
Getting around if driving changes
Even if your renewal goes smoothly, it helps to know the other ways to get around. Ontario lists volunteer driver programs, a GO Transit discount for people 65 and over, and local transportation services you can find through 211 Ontario.
According to Ontario's seniors driving and transportation page, the options include:
- Volunteer drivers through the Canadian Red Cross, your Royal Canadian Legion branch, or a Seniors Active Living Centre program
- A GO Transit discount on train and bus rides if you are 65 or older
- 211 Ontario, to search for public transit, specialized transit and community transportation near you
- Ontario Health atHome, which can help you find a local provider that arranges transportation when you need help
Many people choose to drive less over time: fewer night trips, fewer highway runs, more walking and more rides with friends. That is a good time to think about how you would call for help when you are out without the car. Our comparison of GPS and home medical alert systems explains which kinds work away from the house. For the wider picture of staying independent at home, see our safety guide for seniors living alone in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
How do you book a seniors driving test in Ontario?
Wait for the renewal letter, then book a ServiceOntario appointment online or by phone at 1-800-396-4233 (416-235-3579 in the Toronto area), weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Have your driver's licence number ready, and mention any language barrier or accommodation you need. If a road test is required later, DriveTest contacts you to book it.
Can you renew early if you will be away when your licence expires?
Yes. If you will be out of Ontario when your licence expires, you can renew as early as 180 days before the expiry date. The screening appointment is only available in Ontario, so snowbirds should book before leaving. DriveTest notes that if you are already away, you may be able to apply for a temporary licence.
Do drivers over 70 have to take a test after a collision?
They may. DriveTest says a driver 70 or over who is involved in a collision could receive a notice listing tests to complete, with 60 days to do them. This is separate from the regular renewal at 80. If a notice arrives, follow its instructions and book within the time it gives you.
Can an eye doctor's report replace the vision test?
Yes. Bring a vision report from your eye doctor with complete results, signed or dated within six months of your appointment, that measures both acuity and peripheral vision. Then no vision screening is needed at the session. Ontario notes that some reports are sent for medical review, which can add a step.
Your next step
When the letter comes, book the appointment, watch the video, and put your driving glasses and reading glasses by the door. That is most of the preparation.
If you are the adult child, offer the lift rather than the lecture. The renewal is a routine appointment. Treating it like one is the kindest thing a family can do.
