How to check driver's licence status in Ontario
4 minute read Published on Jun 22, 2024 by BrokerLink Communications
There are several reasons why you might need to check the status of your driver’s licence in Ontario. For example, it’s a smart idea to do this before renewing your licence in Ontario or purchasing car insurance. Continue reading for more information how to check your driver’s licence status, including information on Ontario's new driver’s licence check service.
Checking your driver’s licence
No matter what Canadian province or territory you live in, you can only legally drive if you have a valid driver’s licence. To confirm that your driver’s licence is valid, you can perform a driver’s licence status check. The process of how to check your licence status varies between provinces. However, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that their licence is valid, and if it isn’t, to take steps to obtain a valid licence before getting behind the wheel again.
In Ontario, drivers can check the status of their G1, G2, and G licences. You can find more information on G1 license restrictions here.
It is worth noting that in addition to a valid licence, you need a valid auto insurance policy in order to drive a car anywhere in Canada. Thus, if your policy is about to expire, make sure to renew your car insurance before it does. Otherwise, you may have to go through the expired car insurance renewal process, which is possible but can be tricky and might result in higher rates.
Please note that you will need to obtain a new driver’s licence if you move to another province or country.
Ontario’s new driver’s licence check service
Ontario recently introduced a new driver’s licence check service that is available to both individuals and businesses. Through this new service, the previous cost of checking your licence status has been eliminated, which means the new system is free (the old system was $2 per check).
In addition, checking your driver’s licence status can be done quickly and easily online via the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s website. Although you previously had the option of checking your driver’s licence status online or at a ServiceOntario centre, accessing and using the provincial government’s website is now even easier. For example, individuals can check their licence statuses by scanning their licence cards on a mobile device.
Further, businesses are now able to enter up to 100 licence numbers at one time, which makes it easier to conduct a larger volume of licence checks at once. The previous maximum number of licences that a business could end was nine.
Types of driver’s licence statuses in Ontario
When you check the status of your driver’s licence in Ontario, there are a few possible outcomes. There are five types of status that you can receive when you check your licence. They are as follows:
Valid
Valid is the type of driver’s licence status that you should be looking for. Valid indicates that your driver’s licence is functional, meaning that it has not been cancelled or suspended and it has not expired. In other words, a valid status means that the individual is legally allowed to operate the vehicle for which they are licensed.
Not valid
Not Valid is the opposite of valid. A not valid status means that your driver’s licence has been suspended, cancelled, expired, or a combination of these. In this instance, the individual is not legally allowed to operate a vehicle.
Not found
A Not Found status simply means that the system has not recognized the Ontario driver’s licence number you entered. If you believe this is an error, contact ServiceOntario as soon as possible.
Valid with ignition interlock
A valid ignition interlock status means that the individual is only allowed to operate vehicles that have an approved ignition interlock device. An ignition interlock device is a type of breath-testing device that is connected to the car’s ignition system. The purpose of this type of device is to prevent an individual from driving when their blood alcohol level is above a specific limit.
Valid with "W" code
Valid with “W” code is the last possible driver’s licence status you could receive when you check your status. A “W” code means that the individual is not allowed to operate a commercial vehicle due to a medical condition that they have.
Checking your Ontario driver’s licence status
Now that you are aware of the different kinds of driver’s licence statuses that you could receive let’s provide a quick overview of how you can check your Ontario driver’s licence status.
First, to perform the check, you will need your driver’s licence number, which can be found on your driver’s licence card, and your contact information.
After entering this information on the Ministry of Transportation website, you will receive a digital document that states the status of your driver’s licence and the specific licensing conditions.
As you can see, checking your driver’s licence in Ontario is quick and simple, partly due to the provincial government’s new driver’s licence check process.
A driver’s abstract contains your driver’s licence status
While your driver’s licence status will simply tell you if your licence is valid or not, you can find a complete copy of your driving record via your Ontario driver’s abstract. An Ontario driver’s abstract will contain all kinds of information, such as:
- Speeding tickets
- Parking tickets
- Red light camera tickets
- Careless driving tickets
- If you were involved in an accident
Learn more about how accidents affect car insurance rates and how long demerit points last here.
Contact BrokerLink to learn more about checking your driver's licence status
If you want to learn more about how to check your driver’s licence status, get in touch with BrokerLink today. A BrokerLink insurance broker can help you navigate this process and find a car insurance policy for the types of auto insurance you need. We can also explain what documents you need for car insurance and give you a free quote. Get in touch today to get started!