"Can I drive on the highway with my G1?" is one of the most common questions about Ontario's Level One licence, and one of the most often answered wrong. Some people say "no highways at all." Others say "anything under 80 km/h is fine." Neither is right.
The actual rule is in the Official MTO Driver's Handbook and on ontario.ca. Below is exactly what it says, which roads it names, and the one situation where the ban doesn't apply.
The rule, in the handbook's own words
The Official MTO Driver's Handbook lists the Class G1 conditions. The highway condition reads:
"You must not drive on 400-series highways with a posted speed limit over 80 km/h. Also, you must not drive on certain high-speed roads including the Queen Elizabeth Way, Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway in the Greater Toronto Area, the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor and the Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener-Waterloo."
So the ban has two parts:
- 400-series highways with a posted limit over 80 km/h, such as the 401, 400, 403, 404, 407, 410, 417 and 427.
- Five named high-speed roads that aren't numbered in the 400s but are banned by name anyway.
The second part is the one that catches most people out. Ontario.ca words it more broadly still: G1 drivers can't drive on "400-series highways or high-speed expressways," with the 401, the QEW and the Gardiner given as examples.
The named roads that are banned even though they aren't 400-series
| Road | Where | Why people miss it |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) | Toronto to Niagara | There's no "4" in the name, so people assume it's allowed. It isn't. |
| Don Valley Parkway (DVP) | Toronto | "Parkway" sounds gentle, but it's named in the ban. |
| Gardiner Expressway | Toronto | Also banned by name. |
| E.C. Row Expressway | Windsor | Rarely mentioned outside Windsor, but it's on the official list. |
| Conestoga Parkway | Kitchener-Waterloo | Also on the list. |
The handbook says "certain high-speed roads including" these five. Those are the only roads the Ministry names, but "including" means the list isn't necessarily complete. If you're unsure about a road that isn't listed here, play it safe: if it's a controlled-access expressway with a limit over 80 km/h, don't drive on it with a G1 unless a driving instructor is with you.
The one exception: a certified driving instructor
Right after the list, the handbook adds:
"However, if your accompanying driver is a driving instructor, you may drive on any road."
Ontario.ca says the same thing: "If you are driving with a driver instructor certified in Ontario, you can drive on any road."
So the whole highway ban, including the 401, the QEW and the DVP, is lifted only when the person in the passenger seat is an Ontario-certified driving instructor. A parent who has been driving for 30 years doesn't count, and neither does a friend with a full G. The exception depends on the instructor's certification, not on how experienced the driver beside you is.
The other G1 conditions that still apply
The highway rule is one of several Level One conditions. Even when you're on the highway legally with an instructor, the others still apply. From the same handbook page:
- Accompanying driver: "must have a valid Class G (or higher) licence, at least four years of driving experience and a blood-alcohol level of less than .05% when accompanying you." Ontario.ca adds that if the accompanying driver is 21 or under, their blood alcohol level should be zero.
- Front seat: "an accompanying driver must sit in the front passenger seat. This is the only person who can be in the front seat with you while you drive."
- Zero alcohol for you: "Your blood-alcohol level must be zero."
- Hours: "You must not drive between midnight and 5 a.m."
- Seatbelts: "Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt."
For the full G1 to G2 to G progression, including how long you hold each level and what changes at G2, see G1 to G2 to G: The Full Ontario Licence Timeline.
Why this matters for the knowledge test
The G1 knowledge test is based on the handbook, and the "Getting your driver's licence" chapter, where these conditions are listed, is part of the testable material. Questions about who can supervise a G1 driver, the alcohol limits, and the midnight-to-5 a.m. rule are exactly the kind that come up. They're easy marks if you've read the rule and easy to lose if you're relying on what a friend told you.
To test yourself on them, try our free Rules of the Road mock exam. It has 20 questions and instant explanations. The Ontario G1 practice test app has 250+ questions organized by handbook topic, including the Level One conditions: the accompanying driver, zero alcohol, and the midnight-to-5 a.m. rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can a G1 driver drive on the 401 with a parent?
No. The 401 is a 400-series highway with a posted limit over 80 km/h. A G1 driver can only drive on the 401 if the accompanying driver is an Ontario-certified driving instructor.
Is the QEW a 400-series highway?
It isn't numbered as one, but that doesn't matter: the handbook bans "the Queen Elizabeth Way" by name. G1 drivers can't use the QEW unless a driving instructor is with them.
What about the Gardiner and the DVP?
The handbook names both as high-speed roads G1 drivers can't use. The same instructor-only exception applies.
Can a G1 driver drive on a two-lane highway like Highway 7 or Highway 11?
Neither official source names them. The handbook bans 400-series highways with a posted limit over 80 km/h and "certain high-speed roads including" the five listed above. Ontario.ca says "400-series highways or high-speed expressways." Neither list is meant to be complete, so the deciding question is whether the road you're on is a high-speed expressway. Every other G1 condition (accompanying driver, zero alcohol, no driving from midnight to 5 a.m.) still applies. If you're unsure about a particular road, check the handbook wording or ask DriveTest.
Does the highway ban still apply at G2?
No. The 400-series and expressway ban is a Level One condition. Once you pass the G2 road test, you can drive on any road. The G2 conditions are different, and our G1 to G2 to G timeline covers them.
Can my accompanying driver have had one drink?
The handbook allows the accompanying driver a blood-alcohol level of less than .05%. If they're 21 or under, ontario.ca says it should be zero. You, as the G1 driver, must be at zero no matter what.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, The Official MTO Driver's Handbook: Getting your driver's licence: Class G1 conditions, highway list, driving-instructor exception.
- Government of Ontario, Get a G driver's licence: new drivers: G1 rules, accompanying driver, zero alcohol for accompanying drivers 21 and under, instructor exception.
All quotations were checked against these pages in October 2026. Rules can change, and the handbook is the authority.