Can You Drive at Night with a G2 Licence in Ontario?

No. According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, there is no curfew or time-of-day restriction that prevents G2 drivers from operating a vehicle at night. A G2 licence allows you to drive at any hour, including late at night and early in the morning. This is a common misconception, likely because other provinces and U.S. states do impose nighttime driving restrictions on new drivers. Ontario does not.

The only nighttime rule for G2 drivers relates to passengers, not driving itself. Under Ontario's graduated licensing regulations, G2 drivers who are under 20 years old and have held their G2 for less than 6 months can carry a maximum of 1 passenger aged 19 or under between midnight and 5 AM. This rule does not prevent the driver from being on the road. It only limits who can ride with them during those hours.

While night driving is legally permitted, statistics from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation show that nighttime collisions are disproportionately more likely to result in serious injury or death. Reduced visibility, fatigue, and a higher likelihood of encountering impaired drivers all contribute to elevated risk. New G2 drivers should build nighttime driving experience gradually, starting on familiar, well-lit roads before progressing to highways or rural routes at night.

Safe night driving requires specific skills that should be practiced with intention:

At the G1 stage, night driving is technically permitted but requires a fully licensed accompanying driver in the front passenger seat at all times. Under the G2 licence, you can drive alone at night with no supervisor. This is one of the major freedoms gained when upgrading from G1 to G2. According to Ontario's graduated licensing framework, the progression from G1 to G2 to full G is designed to grant increasing independence as drivers build experience.