Downsview DriveTest Centre: G2 Road Test Route Guide
Everything you need to know about the Downsview DriveTest G2 road test route. Street-by-street breakdown, speed zones, required manoeuvres, and the hazards that trip up unprepared drivers.
In this article
Downsview DriveTest Centre: Location and What to Know Before You Arrive
The Downsview DriveTest Centre is located at 37 Carl Hall Road in Toronto, inside Downsview Park near Sheppard Avenue West and Allen Road. Parking is available on site. The centre is well-served by transit: Downsview Park Station (Line 1 subway) and the Downsview Park GO Station are both nearby, and six TTC bus routes operate in close proximity. If you are driving yourself to the test, be aware that TTC buses and the 101 bus route run on Carl Hall Road itself, which is also your first test road.
The G2 Test Route: Street by Street
The Downsview G2 test route follows a consistent pattern, though minor variations occur. The core route uses these roads in sequence.
- Exit the DriveTest parking lot and turn left onto Carl Hall Road (30 km/h zone): watch for the train tracks immediately
- Right onto John Drury Drive (30 km/h zone), residential and quiet
- Right onto Sheppard Avenue West (50 km/h zone): busier arterial with traffic pressure to speed
- Left onto Bakersfield Street (50 km/h zone): unmarked intersection, must yield carefully
- Left onto St. Regis Crescent North (30 km/h zone): residential crescent where manoeuvres are performed
- Emergency stop, parallel parking, and 3-point turn in this area near Tuscan Gate
- Right onto Tuscan Gate, then right back onto Sheppard Avenue West
- Left lane change, then left onto John Drury Drive
- Left back onto Carl Hall Road, return to DriveTest centre
- Final forward or reverse parking manoeuvre at the centre
Speed Zones: The Two Places Most Students Lose Points
The immediate exit from the parking lot drops you into a 30 km/h zone on Carl Hall Road. This catches many drivers off guard. The instinct after sitting in a parking lot is to accelerate to 50 km/h. Do not. Stay at 30 km/h on Carl Hall and John Drury Drive. The second common error is on Sheppard Avenue West: the posted limit is 50 km/h, but traffic around you will often be moving faster. Do not follow traffic. Hold 50 to 55 km/h. Examiners watch for this specifically because it tests whether you follow the law or follow the crowd.
Manoeuvres: What to Expect
Three manoeuvres are typically required on the Downsview G2 route. All occur in the St. Regis Crescent North area.
- Emergency stop: examiner will signal you to stop quickly and safely, check mirrors before braking
- Parallel parking: between two marked reference points on the residential street
- 3-point turn: complete turn within the width of the road, signal each direction, full observations
Hazards Specific to This Route
Downsview has a higher density of transit activity than most test routes in Ontario. Expect TTC buses to be present on Carl Hall Road at or near the time of your test. There are also train tracks on Carl Hall Road that require a complete stop before crossing. The GO Station and subway station generate pedestrian activity near the centre entrance. Treat every crossing and intersection with full observation habits, and do not let a bus, pedestrian, or train rattle your composure.
- Train tracks on Carl Hall Road: must stop completely before crossing
- TTC 101 bus and six other TTC routes operate on the test roads
- Pedestrian activity near Downsview Park Station and GO Station
- Bakersfield Street at Sheppard is an unmarked intersection: full yield to through traffic
How to Prepare
Drive the Carl Hall Road area before your test day. Do at least one practice run along the full route sequence: Carl Hall to John Drury to Sheppard to Bakersfield to St. Regis Crescent. Practice your 3-point turn and parallel parking specifically in that neighbourhood. The street widths and sight lines on St. Regis Crescent are what you will face on test day. Arrive 30 minutes early. Find parking away from the centre entrance if possible to avoid the bus and pedestrian activity near the front.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Bring your valid G1 licence, a vehicle with valid insurance and registration, and your BDE certificate if you have one. The vehicle must pass a basic safety check by the examiner before the test begins. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
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Certain actions on the G2 road test result in an immediate automatic fail, regardless of how well you did otherwise. These include running a red light or stop sign, driving dangerously, hitting any object, failing to yield to a pedestrian, or any action that forces the examiner to grab the wheel or use the dual controls.
Read answerHow to Parallel Park for the G2 Test (30 cm of the Curb)
Parallel parking may or may not be tested on your G2 road test depending on the DriveTest centre. Where it is tested, you must park within 30 cm of the curb without touching any cones. The standard method: signal, position beside the front car, reverse to a 45-degree angle, turn the wheel sharply toward the curb, then straighten and pull forward to centre.
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The G2 road test in Ontario is approximately 20 minutes of driving with an MTO examiner in the passenger seat. You will be tested on turns, lane changes, intersections, parking manoeuvres, and general safe driving habits. You must demonstrate controlled, predictable driving and avoid critical errors. Most tests do not include highway driving.
Read answerReady to Start Driving?
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