How Much Does the G1 Test Cost?

If you are budgeting for your G1, here is the good news: Ontario keeps the pricing simple. You do not buy a ticket for the knowledge test on its own. Instead, you pay for one licence package at the DriveTest counter, and the test is included in it.

This guide breaks down exactly what that package costs, what is bundled into it, what costs extra, and how to pay. Every figure below comes from DriveTest’s current fee schedule — checked at the time of writing, never guessed.

The Short Answer: $159.75

The Class G1 licence package costs $159.75. That is the total you hand over when you apply — one payment, made at the DriveTest centre on the day you write the test.

Think of it less as a test fee and more as a starter bundle for your driving journey. The knowledge test is the first thing you use it for, but the package keeps working for you for years after that day.

All DriveTest fees are in Canadian dollars, include all applicable taxes, and are set by the Government of Ontario. Individual centres do not set their own prices, so the number is the same whether you test in Toronto, Ottawa, or Thunder Bay.

Where Your $159.75 Goes

The package has three parts. Understanding each one shows why the fee is structured this way — and why it is better value than it first looks.

1. The knowledge test. This is the 40-question written test you came for — 20 questions on road signs and 20 on rules of the road. New to the format? Here is exactly how many questions are on the G1 test and how the scoring works.
2. One Class G2 road test attempt. Your future driving test is already paid for. When you are ready for your G2 — after the required practice period — you book it without paying the $53.75 road-test fee again.
3. A five-year licence. Your G1, your G2, and the time after are all covered by this single licence term. You will not pay another licence fee until renewal, five years down the road.

That second item surprises most people. A large share of the package’s value sits in the prepaid G2 road test — which is exactly why retaking the knowledge test later costs so little by comparison.

If you ever wondered why Ontario does not sell the knowledge test separately, this is why. The province wants every new driver financially committed to the full graduated journey from day one, not just the written exam.

How and When You Pay

You pay at the time of application. In plain terms: there is nothing to pay in advance. You walk into the DriveTest centre, present your ID, and pay at the counter before you sit down at the test computer.

DriveTest accepts more payment methods than most people expect:

• Cash
• Debit card
• Credit card (VISA or MasterCard)
• Certified business cheque or certified personal cheque
• Bank draft
• Money order (made payable to Serco Canada Inc., which operates DriveTest centres)
• Traveller’s cheque (Canadian or American)

Wondering what else to have ready besides payment? Our checklist of what to bring to the G1 test covers ID, documents, and the small things people forget.

The Retake Fee: What Failing Costs

Here is where the package structure works in your favour. If you do not pass the knowledge test, you do not repay the $159.75. Each extra attempt at the knowledge test costs just $16.00.

You can rewrite the test as many times as you need — each sitting is another $16. The rules around retakes are more generous than most learners expect, as our guide to how many times you can take the G1 test explains in full.

Do the quick math: two failed attempts add $32 to your total. That is still a fraction of the package price — but it is also entirely avoidable with preparation.

This is the cheapest argument for studying properly. A few evenings with the handbook and practice questions cost you nothing; walking in unprepared can cost you $16 a visit plus the trip back.

Fees That Catch People Off Guard

The package covers the big items, but a few smaller fees surprise first-timers. None of them are hidden — they are all on the public fee schedule — but few people read it before test day.

• Official MTO Driver’s Handbook — $18.00 at the centre, cash only. The handbook is also free online, so this one is entirely optional.
• Extra G2 road test attempts — $53.75 each, only if you need more than the one attempt your package already includes.
• Class G road test — $91.25 per attempt, paid much later when you go for your full licence.
• Licence renewal — $90.00 every five years, long after your G1 days.

None of these are due on knowledge-test day. They matter because they shape your total budget for the whole licensing journey — which brings us to the bigger picture.

Do Newcomers or Exchange Drivers Pay the Same?

Not always. If you are exchanging a valid licence from a jurisdiction with a reciprocal agreement, you pay $90.00 — the cost of the five-year licence — rather than the full G1 package.

That is because the package exists to fund the graduated journey: the knowledge test, the G2 test, and five years of licensing. An experienced driver exchanging a licence skips that journey, so the fee reflects only the licence itself.

Everyone else starting from scratch in Ontario — teens, adults learning late, and newcomers without an exchangeable licence — pays the $159.75 package. If you are unsure which category you fall into, ask at the centre before you pay.

The Full Journey, in Dollars

Zoom out, and the G1 fee is just the first line of a longer budget. Here is the minimum you will ever pay DriveTest on the road from G1 to a full G licence:

• G1 licence package: $159.75
• Class G road test (one attempt): $91.25
• Minimum total: $251.00

That $251.00 assumes you pass everything on the first attempt. Every retake nudges it upward — $16 for each extra knowledge test, $53.75 for each extra G2 attempt, $91.25 for each extra G attempt.

Seeing it laid out this way makes the strategy obvious: the single cheapest thing you can do is pass each test the first time. Preparation is the only discount DriveTest offers.

Five Ways to Keep the Total Down

You cannot negotiate DriveTest fees, but you can absolutely control how many of them you pay. These five habits keep your total at the minimum:

1. Study before your first attempt. Every $16 retake is a fee you chose to pay. Free practice tests and the handbook cost nothing — use them until you are consistently passing.
2. Bring the right ID the first time. A rejected document means a second trip, and a second trip costs another day off and another drive. Double-check the ID rules before you leave home.
3. Keep your licence and receipts safe for five years. Your package already paid for your G2 road test — losing track of your documents can turn a covered test into a paperwork headache.
4. Skip the $18 handbook at the counter if you are comfortable reading online. The official handbook is free on the web; the printed copy is a convenience, not a requirement.
5. Book your G2 test when you are genuinely ready. Your package includes one attempt — using it before you can drive confidently risks turning a covered attempt into a $53.75 lesson.

G1 Fee Questions, Answered

Is the Knowledge Test Itself Free?

No — but there is no separate price for it either. The test is bundled into the $159.75 G1 licence package, so you never pay a standalone “test fee.”

Can I Pay for the G1 Test Online in Advance?

No. The fee is payable at the time of application, which means you pay in person at the DriveTest centre when you arrive to write the test. Bring an accepted payment method with you.

Do I Get a Refund If I Fail?

No. The package fee is not refundable, and failing does not reset it either — you simply pay $16.00 for each additional attempt at the knowledge test.

Why Do Some Websites Show a Different Price?

Older articles list outdated figures from previous fee schedules. DriveTest’s current schedule lists the G1 package at $159.75 and retakes at $16.00. When in doubt, trust the official fee page over any third-party site — including this one.

Does the $159.75 Really Include My G2 Road Test?

Yes. One Class G2 road test attempt is part of the package. You will only pay the $53.75 road-test fee if you need an additional attempt beyond the included one.

This article is unofficial practice material for general information only and has no affiliation with DriveTest or the Government of Ontario. Fees can change, so always confirm current amounts on the official DriveTest website before your visit.