What Are the Restrictions on a G2 Licence in Ontario?

Under Ontario's graduated licensing system, your G2 licence gives you significantly more freedom than a G1, but several restrictions still apply until you earn your full G licence.

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, fully licensed G drivers face a 0.08 BAC legal limit and warnings starting at 0.05. G2 drivers must have exactly 0.00. Any detectable alcohol while you hold a G2 results in an immediate 24-hour licence suspension at the roadside, regardless of how little you drank. This rule applies until you upgrade to a full G licence.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, if you are under 20 years old and hold a G2, you face a tiered passenger restriction between midnight and 5 AM. In the first 6 months after getting your G2, you may carry only one passenger aged 19 or younger. After 6 months, you may carry up to three passengers aged 19 or younger. These limits do not apply if a fully licensed driver (full G, 25 years or older) is in the front passenger seat.

Using a handheld phone, GPS, or any electronic device while driving is prohibited for all Ontario drivers, including G2 holders. For G2 and G1 drivers, a distracted driving conviction carries extra weight: you will also receive a licence suspension. Hands-free operation through a mounted device or Bluetooth is permitted.

All G2 restrictions are removed once you pass the full G road test. You must wait at least 12 months after receiving your G2 before taking the G road test. After that, you are subject only to the standard rules that apply to all Ontario drivers.