How to Practice Driving with a G1 Licence in Ontario

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the person sitting with you when you practice must meet specific requirements.

Under Ontario's graduated licensing system, with a G1, you can drive on most roads in Ontario. The main restriction is 400-series highways, including the 401, 400, 404, 407, QEW, and others. You cannot drive on these highways unless your accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor. You can drive on regular multi-lane roads and arterials as long as they are not designated 400-series highways.

Beyond the highway restriction, G1 drivers must follow these rules.

Random driving does not build test-ready skills efficiently. Follow a structured approach: practice specific manoeuvres in one session (turns, three-point turns), then move to intersections, then busier roads. Ask your supervising driver to give you specific feedback rather than general instructions. Review your driving school lessons between professional lessons to reinforce what you learned.

Parent or family practice is valuable for building seat time, but professional lessons teach technique that passes the road test. Book your first professional lesson early to build correct habits from the start. Then use parent-supervised practice to reinforce those techniques between lessons. This combination is faster and more effective than either approach alone.