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UPDATED
January 13, 2026
You have studied the handbook, passed your practice tests, and feel ready to get your G1 license. Now you need to actually book the test. This step trips up more people than you might expect.
Ontario offers multiple ways to schedule your G1 knowledge test, and the best option depends on your situation. Some people prefer booking online in advance while others walk into a DriveTest centre and test the same day. Both approaches work, but each has trade-offs worth understanding before you decide.
This guide walks you through every booking option so you can get your test scheduled without confusion or wasted trips.
All G1 knowledge tests in Ontario take place at DriveTest centres. These are the official testing facilities operated by the province's licensing authority. ServiceOntario locations handle some license-related services but do not administer the G1 knowledge test itself.
Ontario has roughly 100 DriveTest centres spread across the province. Major cities have multiple locations while smaller towns may have one centre serving a larger region. Rural areas in northern Ontario have fewer options, which can mean longer drives to reach a testing location.
Each DriveTest centre offers the same G1 test on the same computer system. Your score at a busy Toronto location counts exactly the same as your score at a quieter centre in a smaller city. The test content does not vary by location.
Finding your nearest DriveTest centre is straightforward. The official DriveTest website maintains a location finder where you can search by city or postal code. The results show addresses, hours of operation, and available services for each centre.
The most convenient way to schedule your G1 test is through the DriveTest website. Online booking lets you choose your preferred location, date, and time without making phone calls or visiting in person.
To book online, visit the DriveTest website and navigate to their booking system. You will need to create an account if you have not used the system before. The account requires basic information including your name and contact details.
Once logged in, select the G1 knowledge test from the available services. Choose your preferred DriveTest centre from the list of locations. The system will show available appointment slots for that centre.
Available time slots vary by location and demand. Popular urban centres may have limited availability, especially during peak periods like summer months when many young people are getting their licenses. Smaller centres often have more open slots.
Select the date and time that works for your schedule. Confirm your booking and save the confirmation details. You will typically receive an email confirmation that you should bring to your appointment or have accessible on your phone.
Online bookings can be made days or weeks in advance depending on availability. Booking ahead guarantees you a specific time slot and reduces waiting at the centre.
Not every G1 test requires an advance appointment. Many DriveTest centres accept walk-in customers for the knowledge test on a first-come, first-served basis.
Walk-in availability varies by location and time of day. Some centres dedicate specific hours to walk-ins while others accept them throughout the day as capacity allows. Calling ahead or checking the DriveTest website for your specific location helps you understand their walk-in policy.
The advantage of walking in is flexibility. If you decide today that you are ready to test, you can potentially complete your G1 test this afternoon without waiting for a scheduled appointment days away.
The disadvantage is uncertainty. Walk-in customers may face significant wait times, especially at busy locations. If the centre reaches capacity for the day, walk-ins may be turned away entirely. You could arrive ready to test and leave without having taken it.
Walk-ins work best at less busy locations or during off-peak hours. Early mornings on weekdays tend to be quieter than afternoons or weekends. Mid-week days often have shorter waits than Mondays or Fridays.
If you choose the walk-in route, arrive early in the day. Bring something to occupy yourself during potential wait times. Be prepared for the possibility that you might not test that day if the centre is overwhelmed.
Some people prefer speaking with a human rather than navigating websites. DriveTest offers phone booking as an alternative to online scheduling.
Call the DriveTest customer service line during business hours to book your appointment. The representative can check availability at your preferred location and schedule your test over the phone.
Phone booking takes longer than online booking since you are working through the process verbally with another person. Wait times to reach a representative vary depending on call volume. Peak periods may mean extended holds before someone is available to help you.
Phone booking makes sense if you have questions about the process, need assistance understanding your options, or have difficulty using the online system. The representative can answer questions while helping you schedule.
Have your personal information ready before calling. Knowing your preferred location, desired dates, and having your identification details accessible speeds up the phone booking process.
With dozens of DriveTest centres across Ontario, choosing where to test involves weighing several factors.
Proximity matters for obvious reasons. A centre close to your home or work means less travel time and lower transportation costs. If you fail and need to retest, a nearby location makes return visits easier.
Wait times differ significantly between locations. Urban centres in the Greater Toronto Area tend to be busier with longer waits and fewer available appointment slots. Centres in smaller cities or towns often have shorter waits and more booking flexibility.
Some people deliberately choose centres outside their immediate area to find shorter wait times or earlier available appointments. Driving an extra 30 minutes to a less busy centre might mean testing this week rather than waiting three weeks for an appointment at your local location.
Check reviews and feedback about specific locations if you want insight into typical experiences. Online forums and social media groups for Ontario drivers often discuss which centres have smoother processes or friendlier staff.
The test itself is identical everywhere. Do not choose a location based on beliefs that some centres have easier tests. The questions come from the same database regardless of where you sit.
Timing your test strategically can reduce wait times and improve your experience.
Summer months see the highest demand for G1 tests. Students out of school, people turning 16, and families with flexible schedules all converge on DriveTest centres between June and August. Booking during summer often means longer waits for appointments and busier centres on test day.
Fall and winter months typically have lower demand. September through April, excluding holiday periods, often offers easier booking and calmer testing environments.
Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded than afternoons. Many centres see their busiest periods after school and work hours when people try to squeeze in tests around other obligations.
Avoid the first and last days of the month if possible. Some administrative patterns create minor rushes around month boundaries.
School holidays and long weekends increase demand as people use their time off to handle licensing tasks. The week after a holiday Monday is often busier than a typical week.
Life happens. Sometimes you need to change or cancel a booked appointment.
The DriveTest online system allows you to reschedule appointments through your account. Log in, find your existing booking, and select the option to change your date or time. You can then choose a new slot from available options.
Cancellations also happen through the online system or by phone. If you need to cancel entirely rather than reschedule, the system will release your appointment slot for others to book.
Rescheduling and cancellation policies may have time requirements. Making changes well in advance of your appointment is generally straightforward. Last-minute changes within 24 to 48 hours of your appointment may have restrictions or may not be possible at all.
If you simply do not show up for your appointment without canceling, you forfeit that slot. Depending on the circumstances, this might affect your ability to book future appointments or require you to pay fees again.
When you reschedule, appointment availability resets. Your new booking depends on what slots are open at that time. If availability was tight when you originally booked, it may be even tighter when you reschedule, potentially pushing your test date further out.
Understanding the arrival process helps you budget time appropriately on test day.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This buffer allows time for parking, finding the entrance, checking in, and completing preliminary steps before your actual test time.
At check-in, you will present your identification documents and pay the licensing fee if you have not already paid online. Staff will verify your eligibility and process your application.
The vision screening happens before the knowledge test. You will complete this brief check to confirm your eyesight meets driving standards.
After passing the vision screening, you will be directed to a computer terminal for the knowledge test. Wait times between check-in and actually starting the test vary by how busy the centre is that day.
Once you complete the knowledge test, you receive your results immediately. If you pass, the process continues with having your photo taken and receiving your G1 license. The entire visit typically takes one to two hours depending on wait times.
A few practical considerations make the booking process smoother.
Book your test only when you are genuinely ready to pass. Having an appointment creates helpful urgency for studying, but booking before you can pass practice tests consistently just wastes money when you fail.
Save your confirmation email or screenshot your booking details. Having proof of your appointment prevents confusion if there are any questions at check-in.
Note the centre's address and hours carefully. Some centres have moved or changed hours. Verify details close to your appointment date rather than relying on information you looked up weeks earlier.
Consider transportation to the centre. If someone is driving you, confirm they are available for the time you booked. If using transit, check schedules and plan your route in advance.
The day before your test, do a final review of what documents you need to bring. Forgetting required identification means you cannot test regardless of your appointment.
Ready to book your G1 test and prove what you have learned? Make sure you are fully prepared by taking practice tests at G1 Ready CA until you consistently pass both sections. For a complete breakdown of what the test covers, review the G1 knowledge test guide so you know exactly what to expect when you sit down at that computer terminal.
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