How to Make a Left Turn in Ontario

The left turn is the move that makes new drivers freeze, because you have to cross the path of oncoming traffic to do it. It is not hard once you know the order of operations, and the same steps work at almost every intersection. Here is how to make a left turn in Ontario without second-guessing yourself.

Set up before the intersection

Signal early, and move into the left-most lane for your direction well before you reach the corner. Getting into position early tells everyone around you what you plan to do and stops you from cutting across a lane at the last second. Check that you are reading the lane markings correctly, since a painted left-turn arrow confirms you are in the right place.

Green light with no arrow

On a plain green light you are allowed to turn left, but you do not have the right of way. Oncoming traffic and pedestrians go first, so you must yield to them. Pull forward into the intersection, keep your wheels straight so a rear-end hit cannot push you into oncoming traffic, and wait for a safe gap. This is the situation where knowing who has the right of way keeps you out of trouble.

Finishing the turn as the light changes

If you are already stopped in the intersection waiting for a gap and the light turns yellow, you are allowed to complete your turn when it is clear. In fact you should, because you need to clear the intersection before the cross traffic moves. Turn when the oncoming lane empties or its light stops it, and do not race an oncoming car for the gap.

The green arrow is different

A green left arrow means a protected turn. Oncoming traffic has a red light and is stopped, so the intersection is yours for the turn. You still have to watch for pedestrians crossing where you are going, but you do not have to yield to oncoming cars while the arrow is lit. When the arrow ends and turns into a plain green, you are back to yielding.

Turn into the right lane

Finish the turn in the lane that matches where you started, which for a left turn is the left-most lane of the road you are entering. Swinging wide into a farther lane is both unsafe and a common test fault. Straighten out, check your speed, and you are done.

Why the left turn is on the test

The G1 knowledge test covers left turns because they combine lane choice, yielding and reading the signal, which is a lot to get right at once. Remember to set up in the left lane, yield on a plain green, take the intersection on a green arrow, and turn into the matching lane, and the move becomes routine.

Keep reading: how to make a right turn, Ontario traffic light rules and how four-way stops work.

Based on the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook and Ontario’s rules for turning at intersections. Last reviewed July 2026.