Driving Tests

Demerit Points and Penalties for G1 and G2 Drivers in Ontario

informational·how to guide·Published August 18, 2026

How many demerit points suspend a G1 or G2 licence in Ontario?

A G1 or G2 driver in Ontario gets a 60-day suspension at nine points, a warning letter at two and a second letter at six. Points last two years from the offence date. A first conviction for breaking a G1 or G2 condition, or for an offence worth four or more points, brings 30 days. A second within five years brings 90 days. A third within five years cancels it.

Where the demerit point rules come from

Ontario sets the novice suspensions in O. Reg. 340/94 (version of 1 July 2026). The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) explains the points and letters on its Understanding demerit points page, in the Official MTO Driver's Handbook and on its distracted driving page. This guide is as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Ministry of Transportation (ontario.ca).

How demerit points work for novice drivers in Ontario

You start at zero points. Each conviction for breaking certain traffic laws adds points, and the number depends on the offence. A G1 or G2 driver is a novice driver.

Demerit point limits for G1 and G2 drivers in Ontario

Demerit point limits for G1 and G2 drivers in Ontario
Points on your record	What happens
2 or more points	You get a warning letter.
6 points	You get a second warning letter.
9 or more points in two years	Your licence is suspended for 60 days. The 60 days count from the date you surrender the licence to the Ministry of Transportation.

Example: three 3-point offences in two years

Suppose a G2 driver is convicted of speeding 20 km/h over the limit (3 points), failing to yield (3 points) and failing to obey a stop sign (3 points), and all three offence dates fall within two years. After the first conviction the record shows 3 points, which brings a warning letter. After the second it shows 6 points, which brings the second letter. After the third it shows 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 points, so the licence is suspended for 60 days. Test yourself with the question on how many points suspend a G1 or G2 licence.

What happens after a nine-point suspension

Surrender the licence to the Ministry of Transportation. A driver who does not surrender it can lose it for up to two years. When the suspension ends, you may need to take the vision, written and road tests again. If you pass, the licence is reinstated and your points are reduced to 4. Those points stay on the licence for two years. If you reach nine points again, your licence may be suspended for six months.

Escalating penalties: 30 days, 90 days, then cancellation

Escalating penalties: 30 days, 90 days, then cancellation
Conviction	Penalty
First conviction for an offence in the list below	Your licence is suspended for 30 days.
Second conviction, within five years of the previous one	Your licence is suspended for 90 days.
Third conviction, within five years of the previous one	Your novice licence is cancelled. You must re-apply, take all tests again and pay all fees again. You also lose the time discount or credit you earned and the fees you paid.

Which offences trigger an escalating penalty

Breaking a G1 or G2 condition. O. Reg. 340/94 counts any breach of the conditions in its sections 5 and 6. These are the G1 conditions and the G2 conditions.
An offence worth four or more points. This covers a Highway Traffic Act offence that carries four or more points in the table below, for example street racing or careless driving. The conviction counts whether or not points are recorded.
A court-ordered suspension. This can apply to a Highway Traffic Act offence that would otherwise have carried four or more points.
Distracted driving. A G1 or G2 driver pays the same fines as drivers with A to G licences and gets no demerit points. The 30-day, 90-day and cancellation steps apply instead, with the same five-year limit, and a third conviction also removes you from graduated licensing.

How the escalating penalties and the points fit together

You are convicted of an offence worth four or more points

You get the escalating suspension. The points are recorded as zero and do not count toward the nine-point limit.

You are convicted of an offence such as failing to obey a stop sign, failing to yield or speeding 16 to 29 km/h over the limit

The points are added to your record. They count toward the letters at two and six points and the 60-day suspension at nine.

You are convicted of two or more of the listed offences from the same incident

Only one conviction counts toward the 30-day, 90-day and cancellation steps.

Your next conviction is more than five years after your previous one

The 90-day suspension and the cancellation do not apply.

Demerit points for common offences in Ontario

Demerit points for common offences in Ontario
Points	Common offences	For a G1 or G2 driver
7	Failing to remain at the scene of a collision; failing to stop for police	Escalating penalty
6	Careless driving; racing; speeding 50 km/h or more over the limit; speeding 40 km/h or more over where the limit is under 80 km/h; failing to stop for a school bus	Escalating penalty
4	Speeding 30 to 49 km/h over the limit; following too closely; failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover	Escalating penalty
3	Speeding 16 to 29 km/h over the limit; failing to yield the right-of-way; failing to obey a stop sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal; driving the wrong way on a divided road; driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier; improper opening of a vehicle door; hand-held device use	Points count toward your limits. Hand-held device use brings no points but a suspension (see distracted driving above).
2	Improper right turn; improper left turn; prohibited turns	Points count toward your limits

Key takeaways

Points start at zero, are added for convictions and stay on your record for two years from the offence date.
After a nine-point suspension, you may need to pass the vision, written and road tests again. Then your points go down to 4.
An offence worth four or more points adds nothing to the nine-point total: it brings the 30-day, 90-day and cancellation steps instead.
Next step: practise the licensing and penalties questions on the free Ontario G1 practice test.

Ontario demerit points for novice drivers: common questions

What happens if a G2 driver gets a speeding ticket in Ontario?

It depends on the speed over the limit. A conviction for speeding 16 to 29 km/h over adds 3 points to your record. Speeding 30 to 49 km/h over carries 4 points, and 50 km/h or more over carries 6. For a G1 or G2 driver, an offence worth 4 or more points brings the escalating suspension instead (30 days for a first conviction), and the points are recorded as zero.

Do G1 and G2 drivers get demerit points for using a phone?

No. A G1 or G2 driver gets no demerit points for a distracted driving conviction, so it does not count toward the nine-point limit. The first conviction brings a 30-day suspension. A second within five years brings 90 days, and a third within five years cancels the licence and removes you from graduated licensing.

Do tickets in another province or in New York add points to my Ontario licence?

Yes. Convictions for driving offences in other Canadian provinces and territories, New York State and Michigan can add demerit points to an Ontario licence. Points come from a conviction, not from the ticket alone.

How many demerit points does a full G licence driver need for a suspension?

A driver with a full licence gets a warning letter at six points, a second letter at nine points and a 30-day suspension at 15 points. A G1 or G2 driver is suspended earlier: at nine points, for 60 days.

What is the penalty for careless driving in Ontario?

A conviction may bring six demerit points, a fine up to CAD 2,000 and/or six months in jail, and a licence suspension of up to two years. For a G1 or G2 driver, it also counts as an offence worth four or more points. The escalating penalties can apply, and the points are recorded as zero.