What you will see
Your record sets out, in one document:
- Licence status: whether it is valid, expired or subject to a suspension.
- Licence class and conditions: for example G, G2 or a commercial class, along with any restrictions such as corrective lenses.
- Expiry date, and the earliest licence date on file.
- Convictions and suspensions from roughly the past three years.
- Current demerit point total.
A walkthrough of the layout, section by section, is in how to read your Ontario driver abstract.
When checking is worth doing
Before shopping for insurance
Knowing what an insurer will see lets you have an accurate conversation rather than a hopeful one, and avoids a quote being revised after the fact. See driver abstracts for insurance.
Before a job application
If a driving role is likely to ask for a record, seeing it first means no surprises at the offer stage, and gives you the chance to explain something in context rather than have it discovered.
After a ticket or conviction
Checking confirms exactly what was recorded, including how many points were applied. Drivers frequently misremember the detail of an offence from months earlier.
Routine peace of mind
An annual check catches anything unexpected, including, rarely, entries that should not be there at all.
What you need
- Your licence number: 15 characters: one letter and fourteen digits.
- Your name exactly as it appears on the licence, middle name included.
- An email address to receive the PDF.
The complete process is covered in how to get a driver abstract in Ontario.
A note on “free driving record” searches
Ontario driving records carry a fee however they are obtained. There is no official free copy, so any site offering to show your real driving record for nothing is either not showing an official record or is after your personal information.
Your licence number is sensitive. Treat it the way you would treat other identity documents and only enter it where you are confident about who is receiving it.
If something looks wrong
Errors are uncommon but not unheard of, a conviction recorded against the wrong licence, or an entry that should have aged off. Order the record first so you have the document itself, then take it up with the Ministry of Transportation.
Before assuming an error, check the timing. Convictions and demerit points run on different schedules, so an entry you expected to be gone may legitimately still be there; how long convictions stay on your record explains why.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check my driving record in Ontario?
Order an uncertified 3-year driver record. It lists your licence status and class along with convictions, suspensions and current demerit points from roughly the past three years, and arrives as a PDF, usually within minutes.
How do I check my demerit points in Ontario?
Demerit points appear on your driver record. There is no separate demerit points document, ordering an uncertified 3-year driving record shows your current total along with the convictions behind it.
Can I check my driving record for free?
Ontario driving records are issued for a fee regardless of how they are ordered, so there is no free official copy. Be cautious of any site claiming to show your official record at no cost.
How often should I check my driving record?
Once a year is sensible for most drivers, and always before shopping insurance, applying for a driving job or signing up to a rideshare platform. Checking after any conviction is also worthwhile so you know exactly what was recorded.
What should I do if my driving record is wrong?
Order the record first so you have the document in hand, then raise the discrepancy with the Ministry of Transportation. Having the actual record makes the correction process far more straightforward than describing the problem from memory.