Osama Siddique

16 October, 2022

You’ve passed your G1 written test, completed a Beginner Driver Education course (it’s not mandatory, only highly, highly encouraged), and now you’re “gearing up” for the road test (ha!). There’s a big decision that stands between you and the ability to drive on your own (or if you’re going for a G license test, the pride of being a fully licensed driver) – that is, which DriveTest location should you book with? Although the answer isn’t straightforward, the good news is that you have all the information to make the right decision for yourself. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Your road test route will be very close to the DriveTest location you choose 

This is a bit of an obvious one but still very important to consider. If you’ve mostly learned and practiced driving in suburban streets and open roads, you probably don’t want to pick a DriveTest location that’s in a crowded area. Chances are that you’ll be navigating a new environment, and although it’s important to get driving experience in these areas as well, it may not be the best choice for a road test. Remember, driving instructors are not legally allowed to deliver lessons near DriveTest locations. Why? Because the ministry needs to maintain an equal playing field for all students taking the road test.

Our recommendation: Pick a DriveTest location in an area that closely resembles where you learned to drive.

2. The time slot you choose could make or break your road test 

Taking a road test with little to no traffic feels a lot easier than being bumper to bumper with impatient drivers. There’s a lot more opportunity for you to make mistakes when the roads are crowded and you need to consider the (potentially unpredictable) actions of those around you. Maneuvers like merging into lanes, maintaining a good following distance, and making a left turn could become much more difficult with traffic. With that being said, many students have taken their road tests during rush hours and passed with flying colours – so if you aren’t able to find that perfect time slot, don’t sweat it!

Our recommendation: Try to find a DriveTest location with availability between 10am – 3pm.

3. A long commute could go a long way for your road test success 

Not all DriveTest centres are created equal. As you can see in Table 1, the success rates for the G2 and G tests vary greatly between test centres across Ontario.

  Top 3 Highest G2 Pass Rates:

1. Kenora (93%)
2. Sault Ste. Marie (89%)
3. Sudbury (86%)

  Top 3 Lowest G2 Pass Rates:

1. Brampton (47%)
2. Toronto Downsview (48%)
3. Toronto Etobicoke (49%)

  Top 3 Highest G Pass Rates:

1. Espanola (93%)
2. Kapuskasing (91%)
3. Sudbury (89%)

  Top 3 Lowest G Pass Rates:

1. Toronto Etobicoke (53%)
2. Toronto Port Union (54%)
3. Toronto Downsview (55%)

There are tons of factors that contribute to these success rates – number of students served, traffic around the location, and the complexity of the route may be a few of them.

Our recommendation: If you live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and are willing to commute long distances to take your road test, book at a location with a higher success rate.

Table 1 – DriveTest Centre Pass Rates by Location for G2 and G Tests

Toronto

The bottom line

Choosing a DriveTest centre is no easy task. To maximize your chances of success, we recommend booking a location…

1. In an area that closely resembles where you learned to drive.
2. With availability between 10am – 3pm.
3. With higher G2 and G success rates.

Remember, nothing beats good ol’ practice! If you take lessons with a qualified driving instructor, chances are that you’ll be prepared for any DriveTest centre you book with. If you’re looking for a driving instructor to practice with or to take you to your road test (local or out-of-town), check out our Road Test Package here. To learn more about getting your driver’s license, check out our step-by-step guide to getting your G1, G2 and G licenses in Ontario.