Can You Get a Driver's Licence With a Criminal Record in Ontario?

The MTO does not conduct a general criminal background check when you apply for a G1 licence. It evaluates your driving record, which includes traffic convictions, demerit points, and licence suspensions. A non-driving criminal record (e.g., theft, fraud, assault) has no direct effect on your ability to obtain or keep a driver's licence in Ontario.

Certain criminal offences under the Criminal Code of Canada or the Ontario Highway Traffic Act directly result in licence suspensions or revocations.

After serving a criminal driving suspension, the path to getting your licence reinstated depends on the offence. For impaired driving, Ontario requires completion of the Back on Track program, potential ignition interlock conditions, and payment of reinstatement fees. The MTO sets the conditions; they vary based on the number of prior offences and the severity of the conviction.

A federal record suspension (pardon) removes a criminal conviction from the RCMP database, but it does not automatically erase a driving suspension from MTO records. Driving-related convictions are tracked separately in the provincial system. If you have received a pardon and are still facing driving restrictions, contact the MTO directly to understand what steps are required to restore your licence.