How to Take Your G1 Test: Booking, the DriveTest Centre, and What Happens

Studying is only half the battle. The other half is knowing how the visit itself works so you walk into the DriveTest centre calm instead of confused. The G1 process is more straightforward than most people expect. Here is exactly what happens, from deciding when to go to walking out with your licence.

Do you need to book?

For the G1 knowledge test, most DriveTest centres take walk-ins, so you usually do not need an appointment. You just show up during opening hours. That said, hours and rules vary by location, and busy centres can have long waits, so it is worth checking your local centre’s hours and current process on the DriveTest website before you go. The later road tests for your G2 and full G do require booking an appointment.

Where you go

Knowledge tests are done at DriveTest centres, which are located across Ontario. Find the one nearest you and confirm it offers the knowledge test and what its hours are. Give yourself a buffer, because arriving with time to spare beats rushing in stressed.

What happens on the day, step by step

The visit follows a clear order:

• Check in with acceptable identification and pay the licensing fee.
• Vision test to confirm your eyesight meets the standard. Wear your glasses or contacts if you need them.
• Knowledge test: 40 multiple-choice questions, split into 20 on the rules of the road and 20 on traffic signs. It is not timed.
• Pass with at least 80 percent in each section, which is 16 out of 20 on both.
• Photo and licence: your photo is taken and you walk out with your G1 the same day.

What if you do not pass?

It is not the end of the world. If you fall short in one or both sections, you can study your weak areas and rebook to try again, usually for a small retest fee. Most people who fail do so on the signs section, which is the easiest to fix with focused practice. Treat a miss as information about what to study, not a verdict.

Set yourself up to pass the first time

The single best thing you can do before test day is take full mock exams until you are comfortably above the pass mark in both sections. That way the real test feels familiar and nerves do not cost you. FreeG1 mock exams are free and scored exactly like the real G1, alongside practice questions and a traffic signs trainer. Walk in ready and the process is the easy part.

Keep reading: what to bring so you are not turned away and the complete guide to the G1 test.

Sources: DriveTest and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Confirm current hours, fees and booking rules on the official sites. Last reviewed July 2026.