Ontario to Gradually Reopen DriveTest Centres Across Province
Province resumes driver testing in safe, phased approach to support physical distancing
TORONTO – Ontario’s driver testing services provider, DriveTest, will begin offering limited services across the province beginning Monday, June 22, 2020, with the expectation of restoring full services by September. This gradual, staggered approach, based on customer date of birth, will ensure that strict protocols are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“As Ontario continues to gradually and safely reopen, reopening DriveTest centres will help get more people back to every day life,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “By resuming driver testing in a phased, staggered approach, important health and safety measures, such as physical distancing and extensive cleaning, can be maintained.”
DriveTest centres will begin serving customers based on when they were born to reduce crowding, support new requirements for physical distancing, health checks and enhanced sanitation. People with birthdays between January to June will be allowed to visit a centre the first week of reopening, and people with birthdays between July to December will have access to DriveTest services the following week. Access to DriveTest services will continue to alternate weekly until full services are restored.
In the first phase, all 56 full-time DriveTest centres will reopen on Monday for G1 and M1 knowledge tests, driver’s licence exchanges and commercial driver’s licence applications and upgrades. Commercial road tests will also be available by appointment at 28 locations across Ontario.
“We encourage applicants to be patient when visiting a centre and hold off visiting DriveTest where possible to support physical distancing and reduce crowding,” said Minister Mulroney. “We have extended the validity of all driver’s licences, so we would ask that everyone hold off on visiting a DriveTest centre unless the need for a driver’s licence is urgent. I can assure you that no one will lose their licence as a result of COVID-19.”
To protect the safety of Ontarians, DriveTest will also require customers to wear face coverings inside centres and during road tests, sanitize their hands when they enter the building and undergo temperature checks before road tests. All DriveTest staff will wear personal protective equipment when serving customers. Driver examiners will also be equipped with face shields, sanitizer packages and seat covers when conducting road tests.
Details of the DriveTest reopening plan, which outline the driver testing services available, how to access DriveTest centres, and which customers are being served each week, will be updated every Monday on DriveTest.ca.
Quick Facts
- All 56 DriveTest centres and 39 Travel Point locations were closed on March 23, 2020, in response to COVID-19.
- All full-time DriveTest centres will reopen June 22, 2020. Part-time Travel Point locations will begin reopening more gradually.
- Starting June 22nd, DriveTest will offer the following transactions to customers based on when they were born (between January and June or between July and December) on alternating weeks: applications for G and M Class driver’s licences (knowledge tests), driver’s licence exchanges, commercial driver’s licence upgrades and renewals, and Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) testing.
- Information about which customers (those born between January and June or between July and December) are being served will be posted at DriveTest.ca weekly. Please visit DriveTest.ca to plan your visit before arriving at a DriveTest centre.